safe system of work plan (sswp) · smoking control smoking is prohibited in enclosed work places....

SAFE SYSTEM OF WORKPLAN (SSWP)

SAFE SYSTEM OF WORKPLAN (SSWP)

GROUND WORKS PICTOGRAMS

GROUND WORKS PICTOGRAMS

SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK PLAN(SSWP)

GROUND WORKS

PICTOGRAMS

Contents

Page

Pictogram Explanations .......................4-36

Abbreviations Used .................................37

Index ...................................................38-39

Guidelines ...........................................40-42

PART 1 – Mandatory Site Requirements

SUPERVISIONEvery activity must be initiated and controlled.Supervision, generally by the person in charge,e.g. the foreman, is essential to ensure theactivity is completed as planned, and to ensure asafe system of work.

SAFE PASSAs identified in the Construction Regulations, allpersons engaged in construction work must be inpossession of a current Safe Pass card, and havesuccessfully completed the one-day Safe Passtraining. Safe Pass cards must be renewed asappropriate.

PLANT/EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATIONIt is a legal requirement that most constructionplant is tested and examined on a regular basis,in particular all lifting appliances and lifting gear.The Certificates relating to these must be kept upto date.

CSCSThe Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS):as outlined in the Construction Regulations,requires that certain construction skills havemandatory training. On successful completion ofthis training, persons are given a CSCS card. CSCScards must be renewed as appropriate.

SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK PLAN – PICTOGRAMS

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INDUCTIONEvery new contractor or new employee to a sitemust undergo an induction process when theyfirst arrive on site. This induction should informthe attendees about site rules and procedures,and the arrangements for their safety andwelfare on site, and also who the key dutyholders are.

COMMUNICATIONTimely and good communication is essential. Such clear communication helps to ensure thattasks are understood and completed in a safemanner. Workers need to know how to do theirwork safely.

WC & WASHINGToilets and a hand washing facility must beprovided on all sites. The facility must include asufficient supply of hot and cold running water,toilet tissue, soap, and towels. The facility mustbe maintained in a clean and hygienic conditionas well as being easily accessible.

CANTEENA facility must be provided for workers to takebreaks. Minimum requirements include a facilityfor boiling water, tables with impermeablesurfaces, and chairs with backs. It must beproperly ventilated, adequately lighted, kept in aclean, hygienic orderly condition not used for thestorage of building materials or plant.

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DRYING/CHANGINGArrangements, separate from the canteen facility,must be in place to allow workers to change anddry clothes.

DRINKING WATERAn adequate supply of wholesome drinkingwater must be provided at a convenient point(s).

SMOKING CONTROLSmoking is prohibited in enclosed work places.

PART 2

ELECTRICITY

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BOARD (ESB)/OR OTHER ELECTRICALUTILITY COMPANY

Where a work activity is to begin, and servicesare unknown, the ESB, or other electrical utilitycompany, must be contacted for drawings andadvice on the position of underground services.


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DIVERT/OFFBefore work is to commence adjacent to overheadand underground services, the ESB, or otherelectrical utility company, must be contacted torequest that, either power lines be diverted awayfrom the work zone, or, if necessary, they can betemporarily switched off to allow work to proceedsafely.

SURVEY MAPBefore work is to commence, a drawing of theunderground services should be procured and theground suitably surveyed and subsequently markedout to identify the position of such services.

DETECTORBefore digging is to commence, the groundshould be scanned with a suitable detector toverify the position of any underground services,and any variances identified should be reflectedon the drawing.

OVERHEAD LINESWorking close to, or having access underoverhead lines by plant and equipment that havethe potential to extend to, or operate close to,the lines can be dangerous. Warning goal postsshould be erected at a safe distance either side ofthe lines, and any such plant required to pass thegoal posts must ensure that they only accessesunder the lines via the goal posts. The exposedlengths of the overhead lines must be guardedfrom unapproved access. Refer to the ESBGuidelines for further information.

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WARNING SIGNSContact with power lines can kill. People workingclose to, or accessing close to, or at power linesmust be made aware of the power lines’ existence,to allow them to apply the necessary controls.Suitable and sufficient Warning Signs should beerected to advise persons of the danger.

NO MECHANICAL DIGGINGMechanical excavating at, or immediately close to,underground electrical services is not permitted. Suchservices should be uncovered or made visible by handdigging only, to minimize the potential of cutting orpuncturing the service. Only with all the lines clearlyvisible should mechanical digging recommence.Consideration may also be given to having arepresentative of the ESB, or other electrical utilitycompany, on site when working close to, orexcavating close to underground services.

HAND DIGHand digging should only be used to unearth ormake visible underground services. However, careshould be taken during hand digging, as this canalso result in cutting services, and exposing liveconductors.

BARRIERSWhere services have been uncovered/ made visible,and remain visible or insufficiently backfilled,suitable barriers should be erected at a sufficientdistance around the service area to prevent personsentering the danger area.


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TIPPINGTipping vehicles must pay particular attention tothe position of overhead lines and always remainat a sufficient safe distance from such overheadlines. The erection of warning goal posts shouldbe undertaken.

GAS

BORD GÁIS EIREANN OR OTHER GAS UTILITY COMPANYWhere work activities are to begin, and thepositions of gas services are unknown, Bord GáisEireann, or other gas utility company ifappropriate, must be contacted to obtaindrawings and advice on the position of anyunderground gas services.

DIVERT/OFFBefore work is to commence adjacent to anyunderground gas services, Bord Gáis Eireann, orother gas utility company, must be contacted torequest that, either gas services be diverted awayfrom the work zone, or, if necessary, the gassupply be cut off to allow work to proceed safely.

SURVEY Before work is to commence, a drawing of theunderground gas services should be procured andthe ground suitably surveyed and subsequentlymarked out to identify the position of suchservices.

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DETECTORBefore digging is to commence, the position ofgas mains must be identified. Considerationshould be given to having a representative of theBord Gáis Eireann, or other gas utility company,on site when working close to or excavating closeto underground gas mains.

WARNING SIGNSGas explosions can kill. People working close to,or accessing close to, or at live gas mains must bemade aware of their existence, to allow them toapply the necessary controls. Suitable andsufficient Warning Signs should be erected toadvise persons of the danger.

NO FLAMESGas is highly flammable, so flames or any sourcesof ignition (sparks, static electricity etc.) must notbe allowed to come in contact with, or be in thevicinity of, live gas.

NO MECHANICAL DIGGINGMechanical excavating at, or immediately closeto, underground gas services is not permitted dueto the high risk of inadvertent mains’ ruptureand the possible release of gas.

HAND DIGHand digging should only be used to unearth ormake visible underground gas services.


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BARRIERSWhere gas mains and services have been unearthedmade visible, and remain visible or insufficientlybackfilled, suitable barriers should be erected at asufficient distance around the service area toprevent persons entering the danger area.

STORAGEGas bottles on site must always be stored uprightand chained to prevent their inadvertent falling.

PLANT & EQUIPMENT

CHECK SUITABILITYBefore any piece of plant is used to carry out anactivity it must be checked for its suitability for thetask, e.g. safe working load, accessories available,and reach capability etc. In addition when purchasingand using plant e.g. dumpers and bulldozers etc,consideration must be given to the potential risksto workers from vibration emissions.

CHECK LIFTING GEARLifting gear means any gear or cable by which aload can be attached to a lifting appliance, whichcan include chain sling, rope sling, hook, shackleor eye bolt. Before lifting gear is used it must beexamined to check for SWL, and that defectswhich may reduce its capacity to function safelyare highlighted and repaired. Lifting gear mustbe appropriately certified prior to use.

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ROLL OVER PROTECTIONAll construction plant is required by law toprotect the driver/operator. Where plant canpossibly overturn, Roll Over Protection isrequired, e.g. dump trucks, tractors, and mini-excavators.

WARNING DEVICESWith plant that has restricted visibility,particularly while carrying out reversingoperations, suitable warning devices, or sightseeing devices must be fitted, e.g. CCTV, flashingbeacons, convex mirrors etc.

SEAT BELTSWhere seat belts are fitted they must be worn. Inthe event of an overturn they can save lives.

EXCLUSION ZONEAs a general rule, persons should not be workingwithin the working radius of an excavator boom.People should be kept a safe distance away fromworking plant and barriers should be used wherepossible.

PEDESTRIAN ROUTESWhether they are workers on site or members ofthe public, the separation of pedestrians fromconstruction plant operations is important.Dedicated pedestrian routes that are clearlyidentified must be used.


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FENCINGPlant should be secured when left unattended toprevent unauthorised use, especially whenparked up at the end of the working day.

PROXIMITY TO PUBLICConstruction operations must not interfere with,or obstruct, members of the public. Securefencing, e.g. hoarding, and, where necessarysecurity personnel should be used.

SWLLifting appliances and lifting gear must never beused to lift beyond their stated Safe WorkingLoad (SWL).

LOCKING ATTACHMENTSExcavator buckets when in use must be securedto their Quick Hitch. Generally this requires theinsertion and location of a locking pin, to preventinadvertent dropping of the bucket.

FLAGMANWhere construction work involves managing trafficor pedestrians in public areas, trained flagmenshould be used to control such movements in a safemanner. Flagmen must wear high visibility vests anduse approved Stop/Go signs or flags. Where twoflagmen are required they must be in visible contactor in voice communication with each other.

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BANKSMANA banksman is a trained Slinger and Signaller,and must always be used during liftingoperations.

SPEED SIGNSVehicular speeds must be controlled onconstruction sites. Speed Signs must be erectedand displayed appropriately to advise drivers ofpermitted speeds.

TRAFFIC CONTROLTraffic Control plans must be prepared to helpplan and control traffic movement, especially atthe entrance to any construction site. These mayinclude the use of warning signs, bollards, stop-go systems, ramps, temporary traffic lights, andflagmen. Liaison with local Gardaí may also benecessary. The Department of the Environment’sTraffic Signs Manual should be referred to.

NO PASSENGERSConstruction plant is generally only to beoccupied by the one single person who is incontrol of the vehicle. One seat, one person. Suchplant must not be used to give lifts about the siteto others.


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5km/h

HAND TOOLS

CHECK SUITABILITYBefore any electrically powered hand operatedtool is used to carry out any work activity it mustbe checked for its suitability for the task, e.g.voltage rating, size and condition etc. In additionwhen purchasing and using hand operated powertools e.g. grinders, saws and drills etc, considerationmust be given to the potential risks to workersfrom vibration emissions.

VOLTAGEAll portable electric tools rated below 2 kilowattsused on construction sites must be rated at 110V.

CHECK CABLEBefore using any electric appliance on site,including use of transformers and extension reels,the cables and connectors attached must beexamined to ensure that such components arenot damaged.

GUARDSMany hand/portable tools have rotating shaftsand components, others due to their applicationwill emit fragments including dust and sparks. Suchtools must have suitable guards fitted, e.g. circularsaw guards, power-take-off shaft guards etc.

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CABLE PROTECTIONTrailing electric cables in situations where theyare at risk from damage because of their positionmust be protected from such damage, or a safercable location used.

GENERATORS OUTSIDETo avoid the silent killer, petrol and diesel drivengenerators must always be used outdoors to avoidthe deadly effects of carbon monoxide build-upfrom exhaust gases. Also, all other petrol anddiesel driven vehicles must not be allowed to runin enclosed spaces. Similarly it is recommendedthat flame heaters, e.g. Superser-type gasheaters, should not be used on site.

DUST SUPPRESSIONTools and equipment which generate dust orfume clouds should be fitted with appropriateextraction and/or wetting aids.

MAINTENANCEAll tools and equipment should undergo regularservicing and maintenance checks to ensurefitness for use.


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WORKING CLOSE TO WATER

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICEWhen working close to, or over, water, personalflotation devices should be worn, e.g. inflatablelife- jackets. All personal flotation devices shouldbe properly stored, inspected and serviced.

LIFE RINGWorking adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, water,sufficient workable life rings must be available atthe water’s edge.

BOATWorking over water, it is recommended that arescue boat be readily available.

EDGE PROTECTIONSuitable handrails must be used, whereappropriate, when working close to water.

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SAFETY LINEWorkers whose activity goes up to the water’sedge can also be attached to a safety line forprotection.

FALL ARREST Fall Arrest harnesses with lanyards or retractablereel systems used with suitable anchorages mayalso be appropriate for the protection of workersover or close to water.

GRAB LINESSafety ropes and lines can be erected close to theshore and down stream, so that where a personinadvertently falls into the water they can securetheir own safety by holding on to the grab line,and pulling themselves to the shore.

WORKING CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC

FENCINGConstruction activity should not present anundue risk to members of the public, especially tochildren. Suitably constructed fencing must beused to secure sites.


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HOARDINGParticularly on street-side works, suitablydesigned and constructed hoarding should beerected to secure construction work. Alternativearrangements must be put in place to ensure thatnormal pedestrian and public vehicular traffic isnot put at undue risk as a result of any changesmade.

BARRIERSAll ongoing works, in particular street activities,open excavations, exposed manholes etc., mustbe adequately protected with suitable barriers,and identified with appropriate warning signs.

PEDESTRIAN WAYWhere members of the public have to accessclose to, or around, construction work, suitableand safe routes must be provided to ensure thattheir safety is not put at risk from theconstruction work activity. Consideration mustalso be given to persons with disabilities.

WARNING SIGNSPersons must be given advance warning whenapproaching construction work, and in particularwhere specific hazards may exist. SuitableWarning Signs must be erected to give suchadequate warning, and, where necessary, mustgive clear unambiguous directions to passingmembers of the public.

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HOUSEKEEPINGAll public areas must be kept clear ofconstruction-related debris including the removalof muck, dust, trip hazards, protruding punctureobjects and falling objects etc. Also, wherereinstatement is required it is should becompleted as soon as possible.

TRAFFIC CONTROLTraffic Control plans must be prepared to helpdirect and control traffic movement, especially atthe entrance exit of any construction site. Thesemay include the use of warning signs, bollards,stop-go systems, ramps, temporary traffic lights,and flagmen. Liaison with local Gardaí may also benecessary. The Department of the Environment’sTraffic Signs Manual should be referred to.

SECURITYOnly Authorised Persons should be allowed onconstruction sites. The use of trained SecurityPersonnel can help to control such access.

FLAGMANWhere construction involves managing traffic or pedestrians in public areas adjacent toconstruction activity, trained flagmen should beused to control such movements in a safe manner.Flagmen must wear high visibility vests and useapproved Stop/Go signs or flags. Where two flagmenare required they must be in visible contact or invoice communication with each other.


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BANKSMANA banksman is a trained Slinger and Signaller,and must always be used during liftingoperations.

EXCAVATION

Excavations and trenches greater than 1.25m deep can causeserious accidents from the collapse of their sides resulting inthe burial or crushing of workers inside the excavation.

BATTER BACKBattering back requires the sides of the trench tobe sloped back to a safe angle, making the sidesof the excavation stable and thereby preventingtheir collapse.

TRENCH BOXA Trench Box is a proprietary support system.These trench supports can be put in placewithout requiring people to enter the excavation.When in place people can work safely inside thetrench box.

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SHORINGShoring gives temporary support to the wall of atrench by placing sheeting along its walls withsufficient props both vertically and horizontallyto support the length of the excavation exposed.Adequate shoring is often completed with sheetpiles, and these are particularly used for verydeep excavations where space is restricted, e.g.on or close to streets and busy roads.

EXCLUSION ZONE As a general rule, persons should not be workingwithin the working radius of an excavator boom.People should be kept at a safe distance fromworking plant and barriers should be used wherepossible.

GROUND CONDITIONSThe ground area surrounding the excavationshould be inspected to ensure that it is capable oftaking the weight of any load applied, e.g. plantor equipment which may be used.

NO UNDERMININGBefore excavating, the adjacent area should bechecked to ensure that the excavation work willnot cause other structures to become unstable orcollapse. Underpinning and propping may berequired to stabilize such structures prior to thecommencement of excavation-related works.


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SPOIL BACKAll material removed from the excavation shouldbe stored away from the excavation site toprevent loose materials falling back into theexcavation.

CHOCKA chock is a block which prevents a vehicle fromapproaching too close to the side of anexcavation which could cause the sides of theexcavation to collapse or the vehicle to roll intothe excavation.

ACCESS/EGRESSWorkers must be able to get in and out ofexcavations safely. Generally, ladder access isused. All ladders should be secured to preventslipping/sliding, and must lend themselves to safeaccess onto and egress off, the ladder.

INSPECTA competent person should inspect excavationsat least once a day. The support systems andground conditions should be examined and anyremedial work should take place immediatelyand a report of the inspection should berecorded on the approved form.

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BARRIERSSuitable barriers should be placed aroundexcavations and be sufficiently strong and highenough to prevent people falling into theexcavation.

COVERSSuitable covers (e.g metal decking) can be usedwhere necessary to prevent persons from fallinginto excavations.

WARNING SIGNSPersons must be given advance warning whenapproaching excavation work. The warning signsmust be suitable and appropriate for the dangersthey are referring to. Signs must be clear,unambiguous and be in a language understandableby the relevant workers or persons on site. Wheresigns are used on site they should always becomplied with.

NO STACKINGPipes and other materials should be stacked in asafe manner using wedges to prevent pipes andother materials from falling or rolling on topeople. Large circular sections, e.g. manholesections, should be stored flat not on theircircular sides.


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PROPPINGPropping is any temporary structure used tosupport a permanent structure while it is not self-supporting. In the case of tunnels, adequateand sufficient propping must be in place to preventthe collapse of the walls and ceiling of the tunnel.Normally a temporary works co-ordinator isappointed to ensure that correct proppingprocedures are followed and that operations arecarried out safely.

ACCESS/EGRESSDesignated pedestrian walkways must be in placeto separate site traffic from people entering orleaving tunnels.

AIR SUPPLYWhere tunnelling is necessary, a supply of freshair may be required. Competent advice should be sought.

LIGHTINGSufficient lighting, including emergency lighting,should be installed to allow work to take placesafely and to allow safe access and egress.

COMPOUNDThere should be a designated fenced area for parkingvehicles and storing materials. There should be asafe pedestrian walkway clearly marked out. At theend of the day, the compound must be secured toprevent unauthorised access.

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MISCELLANEOUS

DUST

Excessive amounts of dust can cause eye and respiratoryirritation or injury.

WETWetting, damping down areas prevents dust frombeing dispersed in the air.

VENTILATIONSupplies fresh dust-free air into the work area.

EXTRACTIONLocal exhaust systems removes dust directly fromthe area in which it is produced.


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HARMFUL GASES

Harmful gases include those gases that can cause harm byinhalation or by contact with the skin. All work activity shouldbe planned so that persons are not exposed to the effectscaused by such harmful gases.

SURVEYIf it is suspected that there may be harmful gasespresent, the area should be evacuatedimmediately, following which a controlledthrough examination of the area must be carriedout to detect if harmful gases are present and, ifany, what gases are present.

PERMIT TO WORKA system to ensure that a safe system of work isin place for activities in the area where theharmful gases are present and that onlyauthorised persons who are appropriatelyprotected can enter that work area.

VENTILATIONAppropriate ventilation to allow supplies ofsufficient fresh air into the work area should bein place.

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BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

Micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi,may cause infection, allergy, poisoning or have a toxic effect.

SURVEYIf it is suspected that there may be biologicalagents present, a controlled thorough examinationof the area must be carried out to detect if suchare present and to identify them. It will benecessary to seek medical advice, and to vaccinatethose likely to be exposed to them with HepatitisA, Hepatitis B, and tetanus vaccinations.

PERMIT TO WORKA system should exist to ensure that a safe systemof work is in place for activities in the area wherethe biological agents are present and that onlyauthorised persons can enter the this work area.

MANUAL HANDLING

Manual Handling is the physical movement by a person ofobjects by lifting, pushing or pulling, that is likely to causeinjury or other health problems.


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RISK ASSESSMENTEach activity on site needs to be risk assessed toidentify whether there is a manual handlinghazard. If a risk of injury is identified thenappropriate controls must be put in place toeliminate the risk. If the hazard cannot beeliminated then the risk must be reduced to aslow a level as possible.

MECHANICAL AIDSMechanical Aids are devices used to lift, pull orpush objects, which either eliminate the need tomanually handle the object or reduce the manualhandling required.

WORK ORGANIZATIONWork organization requires that the physicalwork method be assessed to see whether thework can be organized in such a way as toeliminate or minimize the need for manualhandling.

TRAININGManual handling training is a legal requirementwhere it is identified that manual handlingoperations are required at work. This traininginvolves learning how to move loads in a manner,which will not injure the person.

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CONFINED SPACE

Confined Space refers to any place, including any vessel, tank,container, pit, bund, chamber, cellar or any other similar spacewhich, by virtue of its enclosed nature, creates conditions thatgive rise to a likelihood of an accident, harm or injury of such anature as to require emergency action.

SURVEYPrior to entering a confined space to carry outwork activity, a full survey of the work area mustbe carried out to identify all the hazards thatmay exist within, particularly the presence ofharmful gases.

RISK ASSESSMENTBased on the identification of the hazards, a fullrisk assessment must be carried out in writingand all the necessary controls identified andcommunicated to the relevant persons who couldbe exposed to such risks.

PERMIT TO WORKA Permit to Work is a system used to ensure thata safe system of work is in place. Generally suchsystems are used for activities where high levelsof risk can exist and where only authorisedpersons can enter the work area, under verycontrolled laid-down conditions.


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DETECTIONWhere the presence or the build-up of harmfulgases are likely to exist, suitable gas detectorsmust be used, which will raise an alarm if orwhen the build-up of harmful levels of gasestakes place.

TRIPODA tripod is a standard piece of rescue equipmentfor persons working in a confined space: anemployee can be lowered into the confined spaceby a “buddy”, and, more importantly, can beraised out of the confined space, using a tripod.

COMMUNICATIONPerson(s) inside the confined space must at alltimes be in verbal contact with those on thesurface. Importantly, the equipment used tocommunicate must be spark-free to prevent itproviding an ignition source.

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EX

PPEPersonal protective equipment (PPE) protects individuals fromresidual harm when all other methods have been employed toeliminate the risk. PPE is a last resort. PPE should bemaintained at all times in good working order. Furthermore,the PPE listed below must conform to the appropriateStandard.

SAFETY HELMETSafety Helmets / Hard Hats are used to protectthe head from falling objects and from strikingthe head off objects. Hard hats should bereplaced periodically.

SAFETY BOOTSSafety Boots, boots are required on all buildingsites. They should have steel toecaps and soleprotection to prevent the toes from been crushedand any object from penetrating the sole.

EYE PROTECTIONEye protection in the form of glasses/goggles orvisors protect the eyes from flying objects, dustand splashes, e.g. when grinding and or cutting.

SAFETY GLOVESSafety gloves protect the hands from cuts andfrom contact with harmful substances and sharpobjects etc.


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EAR PROTECTIONEar protectors help to protect your hearing fromloud sudden noise or from continuous loud noise.There are two action levels, where noise exposureis at or exceeds 80 dBA individual hearingprotectors must be made available and wherenoise exposures is at or exceeds 85 dBA individualhearing protectors must be made available andmust be used. There is also a limit value set at 87dBA which must not be exceeded. The limit valuetakes account of the attenuation provided byindividual hearing protectors worn by the worker.The action values do not take account of theeffect of such protectors. Where risk assessmentreveals a risk to the workers health as a result ofnoise exposure, audiometric testing (hearingcheck) will have to be made available.

HI VISIBILITY VESTHi visibility vests increase your visibility to alldrivers and operators of plant and other sitetraffic.

DUST MASKSDust masks protect you from inhaling harmfuldusts.

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RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENTRespiratory equipment protects you fromexposure to harmful substances by filtering themout from the air you breathe in, provided theyare worn and maintained properly.

FACE PROTECTIONFace protection visors protects your full face fromflying objects, sparks and splashes from hot orharmful substances.

SAFETY HARNESSSafety harnesses with a properly designed fallarrest system, to include other components suchas lanyard, shock absorber, and suitable anchors,are used to protect a person from hitting theground if they fall from a height. Such fall-arrestsystems should be used in conjunction with arescue plan. Safety harnesses and personal fall-arrest equipment are not a substitute for safeworking platforms or collective protection such assafety nets.

SAFETY OVERALLSSafety overalls protect your body from cominginto contact with harmful substances.


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FIRE

The risk of fire is generally ever present on Construction Sites.Fire prevention has to be considered at the various levels ofconstruction planning. Consideration should be given to theprovision of alternative means of escape and the installation of a temporary fire detection and alarm system duringconstruction. Bar heaters should not be used on site, and useof all naked flames must be tightly controlled. Flammablematerials must be stored separately in a well-ventilatedlockable location, away from any likely ignition sources, andsuch liquids should be removed from site when no longerrequired. After hot works have taken place, the area should berevisited to ensure that fires have not developed. Sand and fireblankets can be used in certain circumstances, such as smallsmouldering fire to eliminate the chances of fire developing

EMERGENCY ROUTETo prevent injury from fire allemployees must be instructedas to what should be done inthe event of a fire, what isthe approved escape route,

and where the assembly points are located. Firedrills should be held regularly.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERSFire extinguishers are devices used in putting outa fire. Persons need to be trained in their operation,and they should only be used for small fires.

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WATERWater fire extinguishers are used for cloth, paperand wood fires only.

DRY POWDERDry powder fire extinguishers can be used onmost fires including electrical fires.

CARBON DIOXIDECarbon dioxide extinguishers can be used on firesinvolving flammable liquids or electrical apparatus.Carbon dioxide should not be used in confinedspaces where there is a danger that the fumescan be inhaled.

FOAMFoam fire extinguishers can be used on oil, fuelfires only.


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CARBONDIOXIDE

Flammable liquids

+ electric

FOAMOil, fuel fires only

WATERCloth, paper, wood only

DRY POWDER

Most fires

+ electric

ABBREVIATIONS USED

CSCS Construction Skills Certification Scheme

ESB Electricity Supply Board

SWL Safe Working Load. Is the maximum load which anitem of lifting equipment may raise, lower orsuspend under the particular service conditions.

CCTV Close Circuit Television

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

MEWP Mobile Elevating Work Platform

CE Community European. Is marked on productsand machines which comply with essentialsafety requirements of any relevant standardswhich are set down by the CEN which is aEuropean standard setting body.

ETCI Electro-Technical Council of Ireland

ACCESS/EGRESS, 23, 25AIR SUPPLY, 25BANKSMAN, 14, 21BARRIERS, 8, 11, 19, 24BATTER BACK, 21BOAT, 17BORD GÁIS EIREANN OR

OTHER GAS UTILITYCOMPANY, 9

CABLE PROTECTION, 16CANTEEN, 5CARBON DIOXIDE, 36CHECK CABLE, 15CHECK LIFTING GEAR, 11CHECK SUITABILITY, 11, 15CHOCK, 23COMMUNICATION, 5, 31COMPOUND, 25COVERS, 24CSCS, 4DETECTION, 7, 10, 31DIVERT/OFF, 7, 9DRINKING WATER, 6DRY POWDER, 36DRYING/CHANGING, 6DUST MASKS, 33DUST SUPPRESSION, 16EAR PROTECTION, 33EDGE PROTECTION, 17ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BOARD

(ESB)/OR OTHER ELECTRICALUTILITY COMPANY, 6

EMERGENCY ROUTE, 35

EXCLUSION ZONE, 12, 22EXTRACTION, 26EYE PROTECTION, 32FACE PROTECTION, 34FALL ARREST, 18FENCING, 13, 18FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, 35FLAGMAN, 13, 20FOAM, 36GENERATORS OUTSIDE, 16GRAB LINES, 18GROUND CONDITIONS, 22GUARDS, 15HAND DIG, 8, 10HI VISIBILITY VEST, 33HOARDING, 19HOUSEKEEPING, 20INDUCTION, 5INSPECT, 23LIFE RING, 17LIGHTING, 25LOCKING ATTACHMENTS, 13MAINTENANCE, 16MECHANICAL AIDS, 29NO FLAMES, 10NO MECHANICAL DIGGING,

8, 10NO PASSENGERS, 14NO STACKING, 24NO UNDERMINING, 22OVERHEAD LINES, 7PEDESTRIAN ROUTES, 12PEDESTRIAN WAY, 19

GROUND WORKS INDEX

PERMIT TO WORK, 27, 28, 30PERSONAL FLOTATION

DEVICE, 17PLANT/EQUIPMENT

CERTIFICATION, 4PROPPING, 25PROXIMITY TO PUBLIC, 13RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT,

34RISK ASSESSMENT, 29, 30ROLL OVER PROTECTION, 12SAFE PASS, 4SAFETY BOOTS, 32SAFETY GLOVES, 32SAFETY HARNESS, 34SAFETY HELMET, 32SAFETY LINE, 18SAFETY OVERALLS, 34SEAT BELTS, 12SECURITY, 20SHORING, 22

SMOKING CONTROL, 6SPEED SIGNS, 14SPOIL BACK, 23STORAGE, 11SUPERVISION, 4SURVEY MAP, 7SURVEY, 9, 27, 28, 30SWL, 13TIPPING, 9TRAFFIC CONTROL, 14, 20TRAINING, 29TRENCH BOX, 21TRIPOD, 31VENTILATION, 26, 27VOLTAGE, 15WARNING DEVICES, 12WARNING SIGNS, 8, 10, 19, 24WATER, 36WC & WASHING, 5WET, 26WORK ORGANIZATION, 29

GROUND WORKS INDEX (cont’d)

The Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP) complements the Safety Statementrequired under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, although it doesnot replace the requirement for such a Safety Statement. Specific Guidelines onSafety Statements are available from the Health and Safety Authority.

This guidance, which is particularly relevant to contractors, self-employedpersons and employees, deals with the completion of SSWP for Construction.

The SSWP will help users to complete construction work activity in a safe manner.

Completing and using the SSWP will also help you to meet some of the legalobligations placed on you by health and safety legislation.

The Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP)The primary objective of the SSWP is to identify the major hazards associatedwith your work activities and to ensure that appropriate controls are in placebefore work commences.

The SSWP achieves many other objectives, including:• Links the implementation of the Safety Statement directly to the work

activity.• Focusing on safety for a particular task. The SSWP is completed at the

start of each activity, and can be reviewed at any time during the work. • Increasing awareness. It encourages the users to consider a range of

options to deal with the risks. The users will become familiar with thevarious controls available.

• Communicating through the use of pictograms so that the meaning canbe understood by persons who possess little or no English.

• Being user friendly: just tick the hazards and controls.

The Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP) should be used as a final check toensure that the identified controls for a specific construction work activityare available and in place. However safety starts long before any specificconstruction activity takes place. Hazard identification, risk assessment,the elimination and control of identified hazards must take place throughall stages of construction from the planning stage, through the designprocess, the tendering process and on to the construction stage so thateach specific construction activity will have had safety built in.

SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK PLAN (SSWP) GUIDELINES

SAFE SYSTEM OF WORK PLAN (SSWP) GUIDELINES - cont’d

The SSWP: A 3-part process:• Part 1: Planning the activity• Part 2: Hazard Identification, and Control Identifier• Part 3: Sign off

PART 1This part will be completed by the person planning the activity. Normally thiswill be carried out by the supervisor/foreman and/or self-employed personprior to work starting. Where a site safety officer is employed they should beinvolved in the process.

• Identify who the employer/self-employed person is, e.g. Acme Pipe LayingLtd

• Name of the Supervisor for the activity, e.g. A. McSample• Identify the number of workers in the team, e.g. 3• Identify the specific location of the activity, e.g. gridline x to gridline y• Describe the specific activity, e.g. pipelaying• When the work is to start, the date, e.g. Tuesday, 1st June• What skills are required, e.g. 360 excavator driver, banksman, pipelayer,

flag man• Plant and Equipment required, e.g. Fiat Hitachi EX200, Sling, Shackle• Hazardous Materials, if used, e.g. Acme Bondex XXX, R45• Contact Names & Tel No. in the event of an emergency, e.g. Site Foreman,

Safety Officer• Name of the First Aider, and the location of the nearest First Aid Box• Are Permits to Work required? Tick type• Is a Method Statement required? Tick if required • The final section of this part: list requirements that are identified in the

Construction Regulations and other Legislation as mandatory. Note: For sites where more than 20 persons are normally employed at anyone time, a site safety representative should be appointed.

PART 2This part of the SSWP form deals with hazard identification, risk assessment,and risk control. Normally this will be carried out by the supervisor/foremanand/or self-employed person prior to work starting. Where a site safetyofficer is employed they should be involved in the process.

The Hazards should first be identified by ticking the square boxesin the “Select Hazard” column.

The appropriate Controls to eliminate the hazard or reduce therisk should be identified by ticking the square boxes in the“Select Control” column.

When controls are in place tick the round box. This must be donein conjunction with the workers at the specific work locationprior to the work taking place.

Similarly, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and FireEquipment required, should be selected by ticking the squareboxes in the PPE/Fire sections, and when acquired by ticking theround box.

NOTE: The list of Hazards and Controls depicted in each form is notexhaustive.

Part 2 of the form may also contain several blank hazard triangles, each labelledwith the word “identify”, and several blank control boxes, each labelled withthe word “other”. As the list of hazards depicted is not exhaustive, where otherhazards are identified, these can be written into the blank hazard triangles.Similarly, as the list of controls depicted is not exhaustive, where other controlsare identified, these can be written into the blank control boxes.

PART 3This part deals with the signing off of the SSWP. The purpose of signing off isto identify the person who has prepared the SSWP, and also to confirm thatthe completed SSWP has been brought to the attention of all those to whomthe SSWP applies.Note 1: The completed SSWP must remain at the specific location of the work withthe persons carrying out the work activity.Note 2: A new SSWP must be completed when (1) a new hazard is identified, (2)the task changes, or (3) the environment changes.

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REMEMBER “IF IT’S NOT SAFE DON’T DO IT, AND INFORM SITE MANAGEMENT”

© Copyright The Health and Safety Authority January 2005. All Rights Reserved. “The Health and Safety Authority”,the “HSA” and associated logos are trade marks of The Health and Safety Authority.

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