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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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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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;