Post on 22-Apr-2018
HEALTH & SAFETY NEWS
Issue 1
Date: 04/04/13
Page: 1 of 11
REFURBISHMENT INSPECTION INITIATIVE
Nearly one in five construction sites visited across Britain have been subject to enforcement action after
failing safety checks.
Between 18 February and 15 March, HSE inspectors visited 2363 sites where refurbishment or repair work was taking place and saw 2976 contractors.
631 enforcement notices were served across 433 sites for poor practices that could put workers at risk,
with 451 notices ordering that work stop immediately until the situation was put right.
During inspections, HSE inspectors considered:
Work at height
jobs that involve working at height had been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place
equipment was correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
Good order
sites were well organised, to avoid trips and falls
walkways and stairs were free from obstructions
work areas were clear of unnecessary materials and waste
Welfare
that suitable PPE, including head protection, was provided and worn at all times
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Examples of issues where Notices were served by the HSE on Contractors:
Notice served after workers found barrowing over makeshift bridge in ice and snow
Bridge made secure with edge protection and support
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Inspectors intervened when they came across this unsafe construction site
Here's how to do it right...
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Prohibition Notice served on this site - 17 metre drop and no edge protection
Prohibition Notice served on this site - 17 metre drop and no edge protection
Scaffold / fall protection installed to allow work to continue safely
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CONSTRUCTION HEALTH & SAFETY
What you need to do
The law on construction health and safety requires action to protect those at work on site and members of the
public who may be affected. The key safety and health topics which require attention are covered in this
newsletter.
There are a number legal requirements concerning notifications, risk assessments, safety plans and examination
reports etc. that must be also produced or submitted
What you need to know
The required notifications, assessments and reports etc. are necessary to support the practical steps taken to
secure health and safety on site.
You must have systems in place to ensure that these requirements are met and that the required ‘paperwork’ is
in order and submitted or available to Inspectors and others as required.
Notifications
CDM projects - the CDM Coordinator appointed by the project client must ensure that notice of the
construction project is given to HSE as soon as the CDM Coordinator is appointed.
Risk assessments
General assessment - employers are required to make an assessment of the health and safety risks to which
employees and others are exposed on construction sites. The significant findings must be recorded where five of
more people are employed.
Specific assessments – certain Regulations require risk assessments for specific hazards and state in more
detail what is required. These include: work at height; hazardous substance (COSHH); manual handling; noise;
vibration and lead.
CDM plan and file
Construction phase plan - the principal contractor must prepare and then update the construction phase
plan throughout the project. The document is designed to help plan, manage and monitor the construction work
so it can be carried out safely.
Health and safety file - the CDM Coordinator must prepare a file containing information relating to the project
which is likely to be needed for safety during any subsequent construction work.
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Date: 04/04/13
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Thorough examination reports
There are strict legal requirements concerning the thorough examination of all lifting equipment e.g. cranes and
slings etc. Records of thorough examinations and tests must be: readily available to enforcing authorities; secure;
and capable of being reproduced in written form.
Inspection reports
Excavations, scaffolds, ladders and fall arrest systems etc must all be inspected at specified times with reports
prepared and retained.
Method statements
The arrangements for carrying out demolition or dismantling must be recorded in writing before the work begins.
This is usually achieved by means of a method statement that can be generated from a risk assessment. Such
statements are prepared for many higher risk construction activities e.g. roof work.
Injuries and dangerous occurrences
Death and injury accidents that occur on site must be recorded and reported to HSE in certain cases
under RIDDOR. The same applies to specified dangerous occurrences.
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Date: 04/04/13
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WORKING AT HEIGHT
Falls and trips in construction - Working at height
There is no distinction made between low and high falls so for all work at height, measures must be taken to
prevent the risk of any fall that could cause injury.
Planning and selecting the right equipment for the job
How long the job will take and how often it will be carried out are important selection issues. For example, a simple
podium or stepladder may be the most suitable equipment to use if the work is low risk, short duration and not
needed very often.
Whoever assembles and uses the equipment must be trained and competent to do so. Mobile elevating work
platforms can provide excellent safe access to high-level work and can be easily moved from one location to
another. Remember, powered access equipment requires the operator to hold a certificate or licence to prove that
they are trained and competent.
Tower scaffolds are widely used and can provide an effective and safe means of access, however poorly erected
and misused tower scaffolds are the cause of numerous accidents each year. Remember, towers should only be
erected by trained and competent people who are following a safe method of work.
Ladders and stepladders are the most commonly used pieces of access equipment for a wide range of tasks and
perhaps the most misused so it is essential that those who use ladders are trained and competent to do so.
Ladders should be your last option. They should only be considered for light work of short duration and where the
use of other more suitable work equipment is not appropriate. If ladders are used, they should be:
of the correct type – class 1 industrial or EN131 is recommended
in good condition
placed on firm level ground
properly secured
and set at the correct length and angle for the job.
What inspectors look for
Principal contractors should:
Have a system for the procurement and control of contractors that includes arrangements to check their
competence
Agree with subcontractors the risk control measures they will use
Actively monitor the work of subcontractors to ensure they are actually working to the agreed method
All dutyholders need to:
Identify jobs that involve work at height and plan the work to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place
Have a risk assessment in place that applies the Work at Height Regulations hierarchy*
Have procedures for the selection of correct equipment and ensure that the selected equipment is actually used
Communicate risk control measures to the workforce
Ensure workers are competent to use the equipment that has been correctly installed/assembled
Arrange inspection and maintenance of equipment as appropriate
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Managing work at height follows a hierarchy of controls – avoid, prevent, arrest – which begins with the question –
can the work be done safely from the ground? Fall restraints and safety netting should only be considered as a last
resort if other safety equipment cannot be used.
Assessing work at height - Assess the risks, take precautions, and issue clear method statements for everyone
who will work at height.
Roof work - Plan safe access, and prevent falls from edges and openings.
Fragile surfaces - The hierarchy of controls for working on or near fragile surfaces is avoid, control,
communicate, co-operate.
Ladders - When it’s appropriate to use ladders – and the three key safety issues – position, condition and safe
use.
Tower scaffolds - Select the right tower for the job; erect, use, move and dismantle the tower safely; ensure that
it is stable; inspect it regularly; prevent falls.
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Date: 04/04/13
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Falls and trips in construction - Good order
It is not acceptable for corridors and stairwells to be obstructed with materials, footpaths to be uneven, cables to
be strewn across walkways or for steps into site cabins to be poorly constructed.
What inspectors look for
We look to make sure that sites are properly organised, with waste streams managed, so that walkways are kept
clear of unnecessary obstructions which could cause a trip injury.
Principal contractors should consider how they will
manage the site to ensure that it is kept in good order by:
Segregating traffic routes from pedestrian routes.
Managing the procurement of materials to ensure that only the minimum amount of materials are stored on site
at any time.
Ensuring that everyone working on the site is aware of the site policy for managing the movement and storage
of materials around the site, and the removal of waste from work areas.
Everyone on site including workers needs to play their part by:
Keeping walkways and stairs clear and free from obstructions
Ensuring that footpaths are firm & level, stoned up if necessary, and gritted if icy
Keeping work areas as clear as possible of unnecessary materials and waste
Storing materials safely, whether in the site compound or around the site
Complying with the site arrangements for the removal of waste
Reporting good order problems to site management
Remember: see it, sort it.
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Materials storage and waste management
What you need to do
The law says you must keep every part of your construction site in ‘good order’ and every place of work clean. The
objective is to achieve what is usually called a good standard of ‘housekeeping’ across the site.
In addition, all contractors must plan, manage and monitor their work so it is carried safely and without risks to
health. This includes careful planning on how the site will be kept tidy and housekeeping actively managed.
The standard of housekeeping you achieve on site will be affected by how effective you are at:
Materials storage
Waste management
What you need to know
Each year around 1000 trips or slips on construction sites involve someone fracturing bones or dislocating joints.
These incidents can cause permanent disablement and have a huge impact on both work and personal life. Many of
are caused simply because there is something in the person’s way, such as building materials or waste.
Remember: sensible management of materials can reduce waste, reduce cost whilst improving site safety and
helping to protect the environment.
Materials storage
Safe and efficient materials storage depends on good co-operation and co-ordination between everyone involved
including, client, contractors, suppliers and the construction trades.
On all projects the arrangements for materials storage should be discussed and agreed between contractors and
the project client. Larger notifiable projects should have arrangements for materials storage included in the
Construction phase plan.
Top tips for materials storage on smaller projects:
Storage areas - designate storage areas for plant, materials, waste, flammable substances e.g. foam plastics,
flammable liquids and gases such as propane and hazardous substances e.g. pesticides and timber treatment
chemicals;
Pedestrian routes – do not allow storage to ‘spread’ in an uncontrolled manner on to footpaths and other
walkways. Do not store materials where they obstruct access routes or where they could interfere with
emergency escape;
Flammable materials - will usually need to be stored away from other materials and protected from accidental
ignition;
Storage at height - if materials are stored at height e.g. on top of a container, make sure necessary guard rails
are in place if people could fall when stacking or collecting materials or equipment;
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Tidyness - keep all storage areas tidy, whether in the main compound or on the site itself; and
Deliveries - plan deliveries to keep the amount of materials on site to a minimum.
Waste management
There is other legislation governing the proper disposal of waste, ranging from low risk waste through
to hazardous waste. These laws are enforced by the Environment Agency and Local Authorities.
However, all waste produced can also present a real safety hazard to workers on site if it is not properly managed
throughout the project. You need to decide at an early stage:
How - wastes streams produced during building work will be managed in a timely and effective way; and
Who - is responsible for collecting and disposal of specific wastes produced on site. Problems often arise when
company and individual duties are not made clear before work starts.
Top tips for waste management on smaller projects:
Flammable materials - make sure that all flammable waste materials (such as packaging and timber offcuts)
are cleared away regularly to reduce fire risks;
Work areas - make clearing waste a priority for all trades. Check that everyone is aware of what is required
that it is being done;
Skips - waste materials need storing safely before their removal from the site so make sure that you allow
sufficient space for waste skips and bins etc. Plan where the skips can be positioned and how often they will
need to be collected;
Waste within buildings - consider waste generated inside the building and whether you need to provide
wheeled bins or chutes etc. to enable it to be brought out of the building safely;