Operatives HS&E

8/16/2019 Operatives HS&E

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Health and Safety

Advice for

Construction Operatives


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Where there are unsafe acts illustrated in the photographs - the scenarios were re-created

for illustration purposes and no one was put at risk at any time.


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Contents

Introduction ___________________________________________2

Construction Operative __________________________________4

Health and Safety Law __________________________________6

Health and Safety On Site ________________________________8Health and Safety Training _______________________________9

Health, Hygiene and Welfare Facilities _____________________12

Hand Hygiene ________________________________________13

Chemicals / Dermatitis __________________________________16

Dust and Flying Particles ________________________________20

Asbestos ____________________________________________21

Manual Handling ______________________________________22Power and Hand Tools _________________________________24

Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (Havs) _____________________25

Noise _______________________________________________27

Electricity ____________________________________________28

Struck or Crushed By Moving Vehicles on Site _______________29

Sun Exposure ________________________________________30

Working at Heights ____________________________________31 Access Equipment & Working Platforms ____________________33

Step Ladders ________________________________________ 35

Scaffolding ___________________________________________38

Mobile Elevated Working Platforms (MEWP) ________________39

Alloy Tower Scaffolds __________________________________40

Falling Objects ________________________________________41

Working over Water ____________________________________42Slinging and Load Handling ______________________________43

Safety Critical Work ____________________________________44

Work Related Stress ___________________________________47

Safety in Conned Spaces ______________________________49

Excavations __________________________________________50

Personal Protective Equipment ___________________________52

Fire ________________________________________________53First Aid _____________________________________________54

CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland ___________________55

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INTRODUCTION

This booklet is part of a range that havebeen produced by CITB-ConstructionSkills

Northern Ireland to provide advice andguidance on Health and Safety issues

relating to trade persons working in theConstruction Industry such as Bricklayers,Joiners, Roofers, Plasterers, Painters &

Decorators & Construction Operatives, withthe aim of helping to eliminate and reduce the

risk of, accidents, injury and ill-health.

The booklets are in an easy to use pocket-size format and will

be a good reference point to both existing and new entranttrade persons working in the industry and will also provideadvice to supervisors, managers and directors to help improvehealth and safety performance on site.

Some health and safety risks you may face on site include:

• Falls from height• Exposure to electricity. Overhead and underground

cables• Proximity to ammable or combustible materials• Climbing steps and working platforms• Risk of vehicle overturning• Risk of eye injury from ying particles and dust.

• Cancer risk from Exposure to asbestos• Slips trips and falls due to untidy work area• Manual handling activities• Using various types of machinery and tools.• Moulds, fungi and bacteria.• Dermatitis• Cuts and abrasions• Struck my machinery

• Loss of ngers/limbs• Risk of pain or injury from performing repetitive tasks.

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• Exposure to noise• Struck by falling objects• Vibration white nger• Hand and foot injury

• Sun exposure

Working in the construction industry is both rewarding andsatisfying but as the above list shows you could be exposed tovarious risks if the correct safe methods of work as describedin this booklet are not followed.

Think about the various Health & Safety risks that could be

found on your site, speak to your supervisor or person/s incharge about ways of eliminating or reducing those risks andstay healthy and safe.

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As a construction operative also knownas building operative, ground worker or

labourer, you provide a valuable serviceto the construction industry, you can

be working on all types of constructionprojects, including housing, factories,ofces, roads, bridges, airports and many

others. As a construction operative youhave an extraordinarily wide range of skills,

so it’s probably no surprise to hear your well in demand. Thefollowing list gives a avor of the potential diverse tasks youcould be involved in.

• Prepare building sites• Digging shallow holes and trenches• Foundations• Drain laying• Concreting• Formworking• Steel xing

• Timbering• Erect hoardings & signs• Prepare building materials such as cement and plaster • Erect barriers and site huts• Transport, stack and remove materials• Lay pipes and inspection chambers• Slinging• Operating plant

• Road works• Using hand and power tools• Working with others as part of the team or gang

CONSTRUCTION

OPERATIVES

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As stated your trade provides a valuable service to theconstruction industry but in order to sustain this valuableservice you will need to have received adequate trainingspecic to your work to ensure that you work safely and

without risk to yourself and others, training also keeps youup to date with current Health & Safety to ensure you followproper recognised procedures on site.

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Your health, safety and welfare at work areprotected by law, your employer has a duty

to protect you and keep you informedabout health and safety and provide

adequate information, instruction, trainingand supervision to enable you to carry outyour work in a safe manner.

You also have legal duties too as follows.

• Take reasonable care for your own health and safetyand of others who may be affected by your work suchas other workers or members of the public

• Comply with instructions or control measures such asthe wearing of personal protective equipment.

• Co-operate with your employer on health and safetyand training requirements.

• Correctly use and report any defects on workequipment provided by your employer, this could bemachinery, tools or personal protective equipment

• Do not interfere with or misuse anything provided foryour health, safety or welfare.

Self-employed persons also have duties under the law inrelation to their own Health and Safety and ensure that theirwork does not put others at risk.

If you think there is a health and safety problem on your siteyou should rst discuss it with your supervisor, H & S

adviser or person in charge.

The Construction (Design and Management)Regulations (Northern Ireland) CDM

The updated CDM regulations place aresponsibility on everyone involved in theconstruction process, everyone needsto know about these regulations and thatincludes you.

HEALTH

SAFETY

LAW

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Workers: roles and responsibilities

All those who work in the construction industry have their part toplay looking after their own health and safety and in improving

the industry’s health and safety record

Those with legal duties are commonly known as ‘duty-holders’.

Duty-holders under CDM are:

Clients, CDM Co-Ordinators, Designers, Principal (main)Contractor, Contractors and Workers.

• Ensure you only carry out construction work if you arecompetent

• Report any defect that you think may endanger thehealth and safety of yourself, other persons or membersof the public.

• Co-operate with others and co-ordinate work so as toensure your own health and safety and others who may

be affected by the work.• Follow site health and safety rules and procedures

Contractors: roles and responsibilities

On all projects contractors will need to:

• Plan, manage and monitor their own work and that oftheir workers

• Check the competence of all their appointees andworkers

• Train their own employees• Provide information to their workers• Ensure all workers have site inductions and any further

information and training needed for the work• Ensure that there are adequate welfare facilities for their

workers

The CDM regs are supported by an Approved Code of Practice(ACoP)

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A number of initiatives have been launched topromote and improve good practice and by

reducing accidents and ill health such asBuildHealth.

BuildHealth was launched to improve thehealth of construction workers in Northern

Ireland by: preventing work related illhealth: supporting and rehabilitating ill workers

and using the workplace as a setting in which to improvehealth.

You have a part to play in this process by working safely,staying healthy, preventing injury to yourself and others and notbeing complacent.

Always inspect equipment that you have been given and reportany defects, if you see any defects in scaffolding, ladders andmobile towers this could cause serious injury or death, reportimmediately, only repair if authorized to do so by your employer

or person in charge, and only if trained and competent.

If an accident should happen it must be reported to yoursupervisor, manager or a responsible person and a recordshould be kept. Most employers have a no-blame-culture, andencourage reporting of any problems that you see that couldprevent an accident from happening in the rst place or itsreoccurrence.

Information gained from reported accidents can be used toimprove health and safety on site.

Remember accidents are preventable, by following safesystems of work you can help to improve the standards ofHealth and Safety on your site.

HEALTH

SAFETY

ON SITE

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The following is a list of possible training thatyou may need depending on your specicarea of work. The list is not exhaustive ordenitive.

• Induction training• Tool box talks• Working at Heights• Ladders• Fall Arrest

• Excavations• Concrete Saw• Power & Hand Tools

• Safe use of Abrasive Wheels• Fitting Abrasive Wheels• Conned Spaces• Goods hoist• Elevator • MEWP• Cable Avoidance Tool• Aluminium Mobile Towers• Harness• Specic manufacture type training• Health and Hygiene preventing dermatitis• Manual handling - lifting and handling manual loads• Using plant and equipment like MEWP’s or

Forklift Truck• Dumper/compressor

• Slinger/banksperson• Crane awareness• Fire prevention• Steel Fixing• Fencing• Scaffolding• Formwork• False work

• Street works• First aid• Fire extinguishers• Defensive driving

HEALTH AND

SAFETY

TRAINING

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CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland encourages theadequate training of all those working in the Northern Irelandconstruction industry and support the industry to qualify theirworkforce to national occupational standards and to enroll with

appropriate Industry Registration Schemes. Training is not aone off event that is refreshed every 4 or 5 years, but it is arequirement that all persons receive training where necessaryin order to do their job safely and to a continuing competentstandard.

It is a misconception by some companies to assume that alltime served construction workers are fully qualied in their work

including operating and using the various tools and equipment.Some were trained a number of years ago, even then verylittle or no training was provided. Refresher training, tool boxtalks and other manufacturer type instruction on the differenttechniques and products is a must to ensure an adequatestandard is maintained; those serving their time should follow arecognised apprenticeship and gain a qualication.

All construction personnel should adopt the principlesand practices stated in this document, where reasonablypracticable. This booklet is intended as a good practice healthand safety guide and should be supported by relevant trainingand the HSENI publications.

CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland provides an on-site Mobile Training Unit that visits sites on a daily basis and

provides H&S and other training courses such as abrasivewheels, cartridge tools and slinging courses.

CITB-ConstructionSkills NorthernIreland also publish a TrainingDirectory of grant assisted coursesdelivered by a network of externaltraining providers, you can viewthe Training Directory on the CITBwebsite www.citbcsni.org.uk.

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SOME EXAMPLES OF ACCIDENTS

Example 1

A 42 year old man is likely to remain permanently disabledfollowing an industrial accident in which he sustained serioushead injuries that occurred as he fell 3.5 metres from ascaffolding structure he was using to access his work on aresidential development.

Example 2

A married man with three children died as a result of a trenchhe was working in collapsed, a dumper was lling gravel intothe trench at the time of the collapse, the excavator driverhad to support the dumper with his bucket to prevent it fromfollowing in as the ground gave way.

Example 3

A 20 year old man died as a result of falling 5 metres from aladder that he was using to attach a sling to a water tank, theladder slipped as it was not tied or footed.

Example 4

A groundworker was struck by a concrete lorry and seriouslyinjured as he was talking on his mobile phone; other workers

tried in vain to signal to him but could not prevent the accident.

Example 5

A construction worker suffered injury whenusing a hammer and bolster/chisel as partof the metal chisel broke and becameimbedded in his eye

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HEALTH, HYGIENE AND WELFAREFACILITIES

Your employer or the person in control

of any site has a legal obligation toensure that sufcient welfare facilities are

provided. These include washing, toiletand rest facilities.

There is also a requirement for facilities to be made availablefor the storage of clothes that are not worn during workinghours, the storage of clothes that are

not taken home and for changing clothes when specialistclothing is required to be worn at the work place.

Washing facilities on site should include hot and cold water,soap and basins large enough to wash forearms.

Do not abuse these facilities ensure you keep them clean and

tidy, and report any vandalism.

If you are working with hazardous substances such asasbestos or lead, specialist welfare facilities must be provided.

HEALTH,

HYGIENE AND

WELFAREFACILITIES

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Hand hygiene is essential. The hands arethe most likely part of the body to comeinto contact with harmful substances.

Failure to take basic precautions can leadto skin complaints.

Dirty hands should be cleaned using propersupplied skin cleansing products. Do not clean

hands with white spirit, thinners, petrol, turpentine etc.

Always ensure that

you wash your handsafter a visit to the toilet

Always ensure thatyour hands are cleanbefore handling food.

Anyone who preparesfood for others musthave been trainedin food hygieneprocedures.

Failure to observe basic hygieneprecautions could lead to food

poisoning, which at worst can befatal.

HAND

HYGIENE

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WORKING

WITH

CONCRETE

Outlined below are some safety measuresthat you can take to stay safe whenworking with concrete, also rememberthat adding water to concrete can alter

the mix and cause problems later dueto frost damage and cracking, ask yoursupervisor or concrete supplier for further

information.

Protect Your Skin

Fresh concrete can cause eye injuries and skin burns. When

working with fresh concrete, wear protective clothing (a long-sleeved shirt, rubber boots, long overalls and rubber gloves)and eye protection to avoid getting fresh concrete on your skinor in your eyes. If you must stand in fresh concrete while it isbeing placed, screeded, or oated, wear rubber boots highenough to prevent concrete from getting into them.

If you do get fresh concrete on your skin, wash it off with

neutral soap and clean water.

Clothing worn as protection from fresh concrete should not beallowed to become saturated with moisture from fresh concretebecause saturated clothing can affect the skin.

Placing and Finishing

Waterproof pads should be used between fresh concretesurfaces and knees, elbows, hands, etc., to protect the bodyduring nishing operations. Eyes and skin that come in contactwith fresh concrete should be ushed thoroughly with cleanwater. Clothing that becomes saturated from contact with freshconcrete should be rinsed out promptly with clear water toprevent continued contact with skin surfaces.

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• oils, soaps and detergents

• some paints and wood preservatives

Employers

• employers must assess the risks of work which couldcause dermatitis

• ensure washing facilities are provided

• prevent employees coming into contact with them asfar as reasonably practicable

• provide those workers with regular health checks

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What you should do:

• ask for health checks to be carried out by theemployer under Control of Substances Hazardous to

Health (COSHH) and ask to see general informationabout the results

• check all substances you come into contact with forlabels identifying potential skin irritation

• insist on substitute products wherever possible

•if substitution is not possible insist on limitedexposure

• ensure you receive the necessary training to reducethe risk

• ensure you are provided with proper washing facilities

• insist on free protective clothing from your employer,such as gloves

• ensure all hazardous chemicals are stored safely

Work-related Asthma

Asthma is a distressing and potentially life-threateningdisease that can be caused by breathing in chemicalscalled sensitisers. These are substances that can trigger anirreversible allergic reaction.

Things to watch for in yourself and the people you work withcan include:

•coughing,

• wheezing

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• tightness of the chest

• constantly runny nose

•

watery, prickly eyes.

Substances known to causeasthma:

• wood dusts

• epoxy resins in some glues and

resins

• isocyanates in some paints

• formaldehyde in some MDF

• some paints and wood preservatives

Other problems caused by dusts

The relationship between asbestos and cancer is well knownas is the link between hardwood dust and nasal cancer. It iscommon sense that breathing in dust of any type is likely tobe harmful and can cause diseases such as bronchitis andemphysema.

Damping surfaces can help to reduce dust as can working withhand tools rather than power tools. Also if you can ‘wet-sanddown’ that is preferred to dry sanding.

Always wear the respiratory protective equipment provided.

Training on how to treat exposure should be given by your

employer, you must tell your supervisor if you see any earlysigns of dermatitis.

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Too much dust of any kind can adverselyaffect your health.

As stated earlier in this booklet breathing

in dusts has been known to causedevelopment of respiratory ill health, inparticular damage to the lung tissue which

can result in serious breathing difculties,depending on the extent of exposure.

Working with certain materials can cause fragments and dustto enter the eye and cause severe eye injuries. Goggles should

be worn at all times to prevent dust particles entering the eye,and the correct type of dust mask to prevent dust entering thebody.

Proper dust extraction equipment should be used, hirecompanies can provide details on the latest equipment such aswet systems or methods available to prevent dust exposure.

DUST AND

FLYING

PARTICLES

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Breathing asbestos dust can cause seriousdamage to the lungs and cause cancer.

There is no known cure for asbestosrelated diseases.

Many buildings built or refurbished beforethe mid 1980’s contain asbestos. Asbestos

containing materials should be indemniedbefore work commences to prevent inadvertent

exposure to asbestos. Asbestos insulation board, asbestoscoatings and asbestos insulation should only be removed by alicensed contractor.

If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos or you haveidentied it on site tell your supervisor or person in chargeimmediately

ASBESTOS

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Make sure you have been trainedcorrectly as you could suffer from back

injury and long term pain if you regularlylift or carry loads.

• All loads if possible to be transported and lifted toscaffold or work area using lifting equipment such as atelescopic Handler etc.

• Provision of lifting/loading bay agreed.• Materials to be covered with tarpaulin when

stored on site to prevent taking up water.• Trolley to be used if possible for moving loads around

the scaffold or work area.• Check for any loads over 20kg and make lifting

arrangements.• Any loads over 20kg, should be positioned using

suitable lifting equipment used by trained persons• Avoid awkward postures or repetitive tasks, or take

frequent breaks• Learn safe lifting techniques as it is not just the weigh

of a load that can cause injury, light loads if not liftedcorrectly can also cause problems.

• Keep work areas clear of clutter and equipment.• Use and maintain PPE correctly

• There is a risk of pain or injury from working in awkwardpositions, performing repetitive tasks, or lifting.

Apply the following to help prevent injury

• Avoid lifting manually where possible; use a lifting aid ordevice where practical to do so.

• Bend your knees; use the strong leg muscles instead ofyour back.

• One foot slightly in front of the other use a good stancefor stability

MANUAL

HANDLING

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Use mechanical lifting aids

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All hand tools and equipment should bevisually checked for faults before use,

if using electrical powered equipmenta Residual Current Device (RCD)

connection should be used or equipmentshould be 110 volt or battery operated;

Don’t use a chisel with a mushroom headas particles can y off and enter the eye or

other parts of the body, always use a handprotection grip and gloves, ensurethe mushroomed head is ground off safely by using eyeprotection and grinding in a safe area.

Ensure tools are used correctly and as intended by themanufacture, don’t get involved in horseplay.

Do not use power tools unless you have been trained andauthorised to do so.

Ensure you report any defects and that all equipment is

inspected before and after use.

Your employer should ensure that a maintenance record isavailable and kept up to date, power tools should be pat tested.

POWER AND

HAND TOOLS

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What is Hand-Arm Vibration?

Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmittedonto your hands and arms when you use

hand-held powered work equipment suchas concrete saws.

Prolonged vibration is known to affect bloodvessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and other

body parts.

The main complaint arising from continued vibration from hand

tools is Vibration White Finger (VWF), in which surface bloodvessels become damaged, resulting in circulatory problems,pain and in the worse cases gangrene.

When Are You at Risk?

You are at risk if you regularly use hand-held or hand guidedpower tools and machines such as:

• Chainsaws• Sanders, grinders.• Drills.• Hammers• Saws

How You Can Help Reduce the Risks

It is your employer’s responsibility to protect your welfare,but you should help by asking your employer if your job couldbe done in a different way without using vibrating tools andmachines. If this cannot happen:

• Ask to use suitable low-vibration tools.• Always use the right tool for each job (to do the

job more quickly and expose you to less hand-arm

vibration).• Check tools before using them to make sure they

have been properly maintained and repaired to avoid

HAND-ARM

VIBRATION

SYNDROME(HAVS)

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increased vibration caused by faults or general wear.• Make sure cutting tools are kept sharp so that they

remain efcient.• Reduce the amount of time you use a tool in one go,

by doing other jobs in between.• Avoid gripping or forcing a tool or work piece morethan you have to.

• Store tools so that they do not have very cold handleswhen next used.

Encourage good blood circulation by:

Keeping warm and dry (when necessary, wear gloves, a

hat, waterproofs and use heating pads if available).Giving up or cutting down on smoking because smokingreduces blood ow.

Massaging and exercising your ngers during work breaks.

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From use of equipment e.g. concrete saws,chain saws, planers, machinery etc. if using

this type of equipment or working nearothers doing so you could suffer hearing

loss.• Machines should be inspected for

noise to ensure all panels and guards arecorrectly tted and not rattling or vibrating,

machines can be sited on noise absorbingmaterials to reduce noise.

• Other machines should be sited far enough away fromeach other so as to reduce noise and provide more

work space.• Tell your supervisor if you think that noise is a problem

on your site or machine shop.• Noise assessment to be implemented if noise is a

problem

Hearing protection if required should be worn and maintained,noise induced hearing problems, including deafness, are

all too common in the construction industry. Very often theattitude has been that it is all part of the job. Report defectivemachinery, bearings that are not properly greased can increasenoise levels; loose panels can also increase noise levels.

NOISE

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Electric shock is a major hazard on a buildingsite, a 240 volt supply is often enough to kill

a person, which is way 110 volt suppliesare used. If 110 volt supply cannot be

used always use a Residual CurrentDevise

Don’t take chances with electricity cables,treat all cables as live until you know

otherwise

If using powered hand tools

make sure that the supplyvoltage is correct for theequipment

If using MEWP (cherrypickers) or TelescopicHandlers beware of thedanger of death, treat ever

cable as live until informed ofcially otherwise, do not worknear overhead power lines with these machines.

All plugs and leads are in good condition a free from defect.

Ensure only correct fuses are used ‘no nails’

Don’t make any temporary repairs, have those that are trainedrepair all equipment.

Keep cables off the ground whenever possible; do not let themrun through water, wet areas or mud

If cables have to be on the ground ensure that they areprotected from damage and not a trip hazard.

Keep extension leads as short as possible

ELECTRICITY

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Too much sunlight is harmful to your skin.

In the short term, even mild reddening ofthe skin from sun exposure is a sign of

damage. Sunburn can blister the skin andmake it peel.

Longer term problems can arise. Too muchsun speeds up ageing of the skin, making it

leathery, mottled and wrinkled. The most serious effect is anincreased chance of developing skin cancer.

What can you do to protect yourself?• Keep your shirt or top on.• Wear a hat with a brim or a ap that covers the ears

and the back of the neck.• Stay in the shade whenever possible, during your

breaks and especially at lunch time.• Use a high factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 on any

exposed skin.• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.• Check your skin regularly for any unusual moles or

spots. See a doctor promptly if you nd anything that ischanging in shape, size or color, itching or bleeding

SUN

EXPOSURE

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Think before you work

Falls from height is the main cause ofdeath in construction, you need to followproper procedures before any work at

height starts, don’t take chances on thisissue, ‘think’ before you start working at height

and conrm with your employer that all proper procedures havebeen followed.

Don’t use a MEWP or working platform unless you havereceived adequate training and keep a look out for overheadcables. Do not start any work at height if cables are near untilyou have reported and received further instruction, you alsohave a duty to warn others about the dangers on site and thatincludes overhead cables.

You will read later in this booklet further information on what

precautions you can take to stay safe on site.

As stated when working at height serious or even fatal injurycould occur, this applies to all work at height.

Make sure that edge protection is in place to stop youand materials falling.

If required use harnesses, safety nets,air bags etc, but don’t take chances.

WORKING AT

HEIGHTS

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Proper risk assessments and method statements prior to any workstarting are essential to prevent or control this type of activity.

Ensure that persons are not working underneath you or if this is notpossible ensure that all precautions have been taken to preventmaterials falling onto them.

Tripping hazards like these are common on site - report them to

your supervisor immediately

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The Working at Height Regulations reinforcethe hierarchy of fall prevention which

means ladders should only be used ifit is not reasonably practicable to use

other safer forms of access: and it isreasonable to use ladders having regardto:

• The nature and duration of the work task and;• The risks to the H & S of the users of the ladders.• The ladder should be angled to minimise the risk of

slipping outwards and as a rule of thumb needs to beone metre out for every four up.• Access ladders should extend about 1m above the

working platform. This provides a handhold for peoplegetting on and off.

• Ensure that ladders are tied on both stiles to preventslipping.

• Ladders should be in good condition and examined

regularly to make sure they are free from defects.• Ladders should not be painted as this can hide

defects.• Ladders used must be in good condition, adequately

secured, or footed and placed on rm surface.• Do not overreach; if you are working from a ladder,

make sure it is long enough and positioned to reachthe work safely.

• Do not climb or work off a ladder unless you canmaintain 3 points of contact.

• Minimise openings in scaffolds that have beencreated for ladder access

• Use anti-slip devices or stabilizing units, xed to thetop or bottom of the ladder, but only if consideredsuitable for the application, and you know how to xcorrectly.

ACCESS

EQUIPMENT

& WORKINGPLATFORMS

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Correct angle, one out for every

four up

Fix a ladder guard to prevent

unauthorised access

Use anti slip devises or

stabilizing units

Microlite and ladder belt restraint

in use

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STEP LADDERS

Step Ladders are not banned but they should only be usedfor short duration work and used with caution, look at otheralternatives but if you use a step ladder follow common-sense

rules for using them safely.

Inspect the ladder :

• Take time to check the condition of the ladder bothbefore and after use.

• Check that the ladder is sufciently robust to supportyour weight.

• Make sure the steps are free of oil, wet paint, mud, orany other potentially slippery substance.

Erecting the ladder:

•Clear the area around the ladder from any clutter.Make sure that no electrical cords or wire leads areclose.

• If the ladder needs to be in front of a door, considerlocking the door to prevent surprise openings.

• Make sure the oor is even and stable. Avoid wet or

slippery surfaces.

• Always support the ladder at four points

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Climbing the ladder :

• Wear suitable shoes – no heels, barefoot is not good,nor are most sandals.

• Never climb onto wet or slippery steps, make surethey are dry.

• Never overstretch – do not climb beyond the lastthree steps of a ladder.

• Keep your shoulders between the rails and don’t

over-reach – move the ladder instead.

• Always keep 3 point contact with the ladder.

• If your ceilings are high, but your ladders too small,don’t try to overreach yourself – renting or borrowinga suitable ladder is much safer.

• Don’t let children climb up the ladder: prevent accessat the end of the day if you have to, or fold it up afteruse.

• Be prepared for an unforeseen vertigo attack – don’tlook down, breath slowly and steadily, and go backdown step by step.

Stepladders are widely used as a means for accessing out ofreach areas and carrying out a range of work at height tasks.The range of ladders available gives potential falls from just offground level to approximately 3 metres. Falls may be due toincorrect ladder selection or usage, incorrect positioning of theladder, failure of the ladder, or a combination of these factors.

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Reducing risk of falls

• Avoiding working at height where possible;• Ensuring that all work at height is properly planned

and organised;

• Ensuring that the right equipment is used for work atheight, and that this equipment is used safely;

• Stepladders are only used for short duration, lowrisk tasks, where other work equipment is not moresuitable.

The latter point can be addressed through carrying out athorough risk assessment and ensuring that ladders are the

right kit for the job, are used properly, the users are competentand checking the ladder is in good condition before using it.

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SCAFFOLDING

Remember scaffolding should

be inspected after substantialalternation or repair, after any eventlikely to affect stability like strongwinds and at regular intervals not

exceeding seven days.

Any faults found must be put right,scaffolding should be tagged to warn

others if faults have been found.

Your employer should ensure that other contractors scaffoldingthat you are using is safe.

• Ensure scaffolding requirements, including appropriateload rating and provision of loading bays with youremployer or supervisor.

• Scaffolding could collapse and crush may incur, orworse, if the scaffolding collapses on top of you.• Check with the site manager that the correct scaffold

is provided and inspected, ask for evidence that thescaffold has been erected by a competent person andinspected.

• No one should interfere with or misuse scaffold, onlycompetent persons can erect and inspect scaffolding.

• If you think that a scaffold has been interfered with orcould be unsafe, report this to your supervisor or otherperson in charge immediately.

• Do not make any unauthorized adjustments to anyscaffold, never remove ties or handrails.

• If a harness is required then make sure you wear itcorrectly, use a suitable lanyard and inspect beforeand during use, you must be trained in the safe use of

harnesses.• Ensure any safety equipment provided to prevent injury

from falls is in place and secure.

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MOBILE ELEVATEDWORKING PLATFORMS(MEWP)

Also referred to as cherry

pickers.

“It should not be assumedthat qualied staff, new staffetc, are competent in the useof such equipment, thereforeit is a legal requirement

that no one should be allowed to work at any equipment or

machinery unless they have received adequate training wherenecessary and have demonstrated competence”.

You could be killed if you work near overhead power lines, treatevery power line as live until further controlled information isreceived, working near overhead power lines refer to H & Sdocument GS6, it states that you keep away 9m from woodenpoles and 15m from steel pylons.

• Always inspect machine before use• Log and report faults to your supervisor • Make sure you are trained and authorised to use the

machine• Wear a harness when using the machine (see

reference ‘working over water’)• Make sure you have received instruction on wearing a

harness• Read your operators manual for safe use• Stay clear of overhead power lines• Do not use in windy conditions use a hand-held

anemometer for measuring wind speed (Beaufort scale)• In windy conditions roof sheets can act like a sail and

can seriously affect the stability of the platform resultingin overturning

Beware of a wind funneling effect between buildings

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TOWER SCAFFOLDS

Tower scaffolds are used widely in the construction industryand a number of accidents happen each year mainly due to thetower not being properly erected or used.

Before UseDo not erect or inspect tower scaffolds unless you are trainedand competent to do so.Make sure the tower is resting on rm level ground with thewheels or feet properly supported.Do not use crushable material such as bricks or building blocksto take the weight of any part of the tower.

Some guidance suggests if using steel towers in exposedconditions or outside, the height of the working platform shouldbe no more than three times the minimum base dimension orthree and a half times the dimension if used inside, if usingalloy towers you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions.Our recommendation is before using any tower scaffold thatyou rst check with the manufacturer about the recommendedworking height of the platform.

Remember the following as a guide.• Do not sheet as this could act like a sail and overturn

the tower.• Ensure the tower is on rm level ground.• Do not load with heavy equipment or

materials.• Do not use to hoist heavy materials or

support rubbish chute• Always use ladder for access, do not

climb on the tower.• Always climb from the inside of the

tower • Use a brick guard where necessary• Tower should not be moved with

anyone remaining in the structure• Close platform access door to

prevent falling through.

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• Watch out for overhead power lines before moving.• Do not use vehicles to push or pull the tower.• Ensure brakes are applied.• If tted, check that outriggers are set correctly and

secured.

FALLING OBJECTS

Can cause injury to your head, body and feet, and to someoneworking in the area below you, or members of the publicpassing close to the site. Make sure no debris falls from height,place objects in a safe place and use a suitable Shute formaterials going into a skip.

Make sure all necessary precautions are taken as follows.

• Brick guards kept in position on scaffold lifts.

• Waste materials removed form scaffolding and placedin skip.

• Protective foot wear (with steel toe caps & mid-soles)supplied and worn at all times.

• Safety helmets to be worn and chin strap used whenrequired.

• Encourage other workers to wear safety hats, protectiveclothing and foot wear.

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• When any works are being carriedout which necessitates personnel workingat heights above water the following

precautions are to be taken.• Any works over water are to besubject to the company “Permit to Work”

system• A fence or barrier must be provided to any

structure or scaffold where there is a risk of personsfalling from such structures into water

• Where an independent electrically or mechanically

operated hoist or cradle is used a competent operatormust be provided, or sufcient training be given in itsuse. Some means of communication is to be providedfor use in an emergency, a harness should in mostcases not be used in a MEWP as this could led todrowning, a life jacket should be provided.

• Any hoist/cradle is to be checked, maintained andinspected/examined as per manufacturers or statutory

requirements.• Warning signs/notices are to be displayed• There is to be adequate lighting for the whole of the

period of work. Lighting must be adequate for nightwork and must illuminate the immediate surroundingwater surface.

• A buoyancy aid, of a tested and approved pattern, is tobe worn by all personnel working over water

• Suitable rescue equipment, for example a boat,boathook, lifebelt or lifeline is to be in position andchecked as serviceable before works are permitted tocommence.

• The use of any electrical equipment is to be strictlycontrolled and steps are to be taken to ensure thatleads are not long enough to touch the water. Allequipment should be connected to lines to prevent their

accidental dropping into water causing possible electricshocks etc.

WORKING

OVER WATER

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Some jobs in the construction industry involveactivities that can place workers at risk,

unless the person has full, unimpairedcontrol of their physical and mental

capabilities. These jobs are called ‘safetycritical’ and the people who do them are‘safety-critical workers’.

In particular, your employer will need to focuson health conditions that may involve:

• sudden loss of consciousness (e.g. epilepsy, someheart conditions, diabetes (particularly insulin-

dependent diabetes));• Impaired awareness or concentration;• sudden incapacity;• impaired balance or coordination;• restricted mobility; and• impaired vision or hearing.

Before someone starts safety-critical work, it is good practice

for the employer to agree what health checks and/or medicalexamination are required, and record the agreement.

It is important to be clear which aspects of tness are relevantto the safety-critical work, and to specify the required level. Theemployer or self employed need to have clear agreed companypolicies in place to deal with these issues.

Example: Working at Height

Your employer needs to be sure that you:

• can climb the ladder or platform• can see well enough (this might mean making sure

you use prescription lenses); and• that you do not suffer from a condition which might

cause you to lose consciousness or reduce your abilityto concentrate

SAFETY

CRITICAL

WORK

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Medical assessment

Workers who carry out safety-critical tasks need a full medicalassessment. Decisions on tness for work can only be takenby a competent occupational health doctor.

Detailed medical assessments are condential to the workerand the occupational health practitioner or general practitioner.However, an employer can reasonably expect the occupationalhealth practitioner to provide a general report about individualtness in terms of:

• t for work;

• t for work with restrictions;• temporarily does not meet the tness standard; or• unable to meet the tness for work to carry out specic

jobs.

This is the only information that an employer needs to ensurean appropriate match of worker to job.

Ongoing tness

Someone’s tness for work will probably change over time.Your employer will need to decide how to check that safety-critical workers are t enough to continue with their work, e.g.introduce a simple system to recall workers who need ongoinghealth checks.

Tell your employer about any health changes that occurbetween checks which may affect your ability to do your job safely. Sickness absence certicates or observations bysupervisors and managers may also indicate that a safety-critical worker’s health has deteriorated. This might trigger aneed to check health.

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Medication

Some medication can causedrowsiness and affect concentration.

All safety critical workers shouldbe encouraged to ask their generalpractitioner or pharmacist about the

possible side effects of medication.In some cases, it may be necessary

for a worker to do other tasks until thenature and extent of side effects have been

established, and are properly controlled.

Drugs and alcohol

You should not do construction work if you are under theinuence of drugs or alcohol as you or someone else couldsuffer serious injury or death, but drug and alcohol testing is acomplex area and if your employer decides to carry out testing,they will need to consult with health and safety representatives

and employees about the companies policy, position andprocedures.

Disability discrimination

If health conditions are properly controlled a worker could beable to do many construction jobs safely.

Disability Discrimination Law protects workers who have adisability. However, the law allows an employer to prevent aperson doing a specic task if the discrimination is for reasonsthat relate to compliance with health and safety legislation, e.g.it would be justiable to transfer a Roof worker to other duties ifhe/she could no longer see well enough, even with glasses.

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Work-related stress

What is stress?

HSE denes stress as ‘an adverse reaction to excessivepressure’. Pressure is often part and parcel of work and helpsto keep us motivated. Excess, badly-managed exposure topressure can lead to stress. Workers who experience stress,anxiety or depression are unlikely to perform effectively and ifstress levels are not corrected it can lead to serious problems.In safety-critical industries such as construction it could haveserious consequences.

What causes stress?

HSE has identied six aspects of work that can lead to stress.These are:

1. demands: such as workload and pattern, adequacyof the management team, build programme, and the

effects of client expectation and contract penalties;2. control: how much say someone has about the way thatthey work;

3. support: whether employees receive adequateinformation and support from managers andcolleagues.

4. relationships: the nature of work relationships, including

mechanisms to deal with unacceptable behavior suchas bullying;

5. role: whether people understand their jobs and have theskills, experience and support to deliver, and whetherthere is any conict of responsibilities; and

6. change: how change is managed and communicated inthe company, and whether work is secure.

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SAFETY IN CONFINED SPACES

Conned spaces include: -

• shafts• ceiling voids

• tunnels• boilers• sewers• deep excavations• cellars and basements• attics

Conned spaces can be a high risk activity and cause death

and serious injury if proper control methods are not followed.

Entry into a conned space to carry out work that could bedone on the outside should never be allowed.

You should never enter a conned space unless in isabsolutely necessary to do so and never unless you havereceived adequate training.

Never enter a conned space unless a risk assessment hasbeen carried out, emergency procedures are in place and apermit to work has been issued.

If no provision has been put in place to rescue you shouldanything go wrong do not enter.

Those that could be killed include not only people working

in conned spaces but those who try to rescue them withoutproper training andequipment.

Dangers can arisein conned spacesbecause of a lackof oxygen. This can

occur due to a buildup of gases in thespace.

SAFETY IN

CONFINED

SPACES

Preparing for a safe confined space entry

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As with excavations, do not site petrol or diesel-enginedequipment such as generators or compressors in, or near theedge of, a conned space unless fumes can be ducted away orthe area can be ventilated.

Conned spaces should only be entered if a permit to work orenter has been issued, ask questions if in doubt, ask about theemergency procedures, has the equipment been inspectedhave all persons been trained, was the training adequate andprovided by a competent person.

Remember an excavation can also be a conned space.

Every year, people are killed or seriouslyinjured when working in excavations.Excavation work has to be properlyplanned, managed, supervised andcarried out to prevent accidents. This

guide provides advice for those involved in

excavation work.

Before anyone enters an excavation they should ask.

• Are the sides protected from collapse, or have theybeen battered back, do not go into unsupportedtrenches.

• Remember that even work in shallow trenches can be

dangerous. You may be bent down or kneeling in thetrench.• Could materials fall into the excavation or on top of

you?• Could people and/or vehicles fall into the excavation?• Will you be a safe distance from excavators or other

machinery?• Have walls been undermined, could they collapse.

• How are you going to get in and out safely, has a ladderbeen provided and secured, do not climb over the sides

EXCAVATIONS

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Make sure you are provided with PPE if itis required, PPE should always be the

last resort in preventing accidents asit is always better to remove the risk

completely, but where this is not possiblePPE should be worn.

PPE could be hard hats for head protection,high visibility vests or jackets, ear protection

such as full ear muffs or if suitable plugs, safety boots orshoes, overalls etc.

Always ensure that PPE is cleaned, maintained and replaced

when necessary, speak to your supervisor or supplier forfurther guidance on the replacement of certain PPE such asear muffs and hard hats.

Stepping on nails andsharp objects

To help prevent foot injuriesthe following should beimplemented• Safety boots with steeltoe caps and mid solesshould be provided to allthose working on site.• Waste disposed of in

skips.• Nails clinched or removed from waste or stored timber.• Supervisor to explain the need to wear safety boots anddispose of waste in skips.

PERSONAL

PROTECTIVE

EQUIPMENT

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Every year there are reports of res andexplosions which severely damage ordestroy premises or plant.

If involved in hot works make sure that arisk assessment has been completed andthat all approved methods are followed,

ensure the correct re extinguishers areavailable and that adequate training has been

provided where necessary.

Do not put yourself or others at risk, ensure that you orsomeone calls the re service and only ght res if you have

been trained to do so, all persons evacuated should make theirway to a designated muster point.

There have been numerous res started due either to badlymaintained motors, electric sparks, or due to open woodburning stoves and cigarettes.

Make sure that all equipment is cleaned and that dust isnot allowed to accumulate, report any defects you see onequipment.

FIRE

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First aid provision is all about treating aninjured person immediately and contacting

the emergency services if need be. Inextreme cases it saves lives.

All sites should have a sufcient numberof trained rst aid persons in keeping with

the risks and the numbers employed.

The name of the nominated rst aider(s) should be postedin the canteen and other prominent position. Remember thename.

The rst aider should be the rst person contacted in the eventof an injury or health problem on site.

FIRST

AID

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CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland

As an industry training board abd Sector Skills Council the roleof CITB ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland is to encouragethe adequate training of those employed in or intending tobe employed in the construction industry and to improvethe skills and productivity of the industry, to deliver a safe,professional and fully qualied workforce across the whole ofthe construction industry in Northern Ireland.

ConstructionSkills is the Sector Skills Council for the industryfrom professional consultancies to major contractorsand SMEs. Established as a Sector Skills Council in2003, ConstructionSkills is a partnership between CIC,CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland and CITB-ConstructionSkills. All three partners are committed to workingtogether to deliver industry-led skills and training solutionsthrough the Sector Skills Agreement for construction. We work

to negotiate the best partnership and funding deals for theconstruction industry to help raise standards and we developthe skills products and services employers need.

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This booklet is supported by the Health & Safety Executive N.I.(HSENI).

For further information about the role of CITB-

ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland and the current projectscontact:

CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern IrelandNutts Corner Training Centre17 Dundrod RoadCrumlinCo. Antrim

BT 29 4SR

Tel: 028 9082 5466Fax: 028 9082 5693

Email: [email protected]

.

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general

guidance only and should not be regarded as a complete and authoritative statement

of the law. CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland does not accept or assume any

liability or duty of care for any actions taken as a result of the information contained within

this publication. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication

without obtaining specic professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or

implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this

publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland,

its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility

or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in

reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.

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CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland

Nutts Corner Training Centre17 Dundrod Road,CrumlinCo. AntrimBT29 4SR

Tel: 028 9082 5466Fax: 028 9082 5693

Email: [email protected]

Operatives HS&E

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