Construction Health & Safety

Construction Health & Safety

Improving the safety, health and working conditions ultimately depends on the co-operation of people working together, whether employers or workers. The safety management includes the functions of planning, identifying problem areas, coordination, control and management of security activities on site, all with the aim of preventing accidents and diseases.

The prevention of accidents is often misunderstood, as most people mistakenly believe that "accident" is "injury", which presupposes that an accident is irrelevant unless it involves an injury. A construction manager should obviously be concerned about injuries to workers, but their main concern should be the dangerous conditions that cause them: the "incident" rather than "injury" itself.

On a construction site, there are many more "incidents" than injury. A dangerous action can be performed hundreds of times before it causes an injury and so efforts should focus on eliminating these potential hazards. Therefore security management means taking safety measures before accidents occur. Effective security management has four main objectives:

·        A secure environment;

·        Make work safe;

·        Make the workers are aware of security;

·        Make the equipment, vehicles and machinery safe.

Telescopic Handlers and MEWPs

Construction site machinery and vehicles are major components in the area of health and safety. Without proper supervision, training and maintenance, these machines can be fatal.

Where telescopic handlers are concerned, the machine should be carefully chosen, maintained and operated by qualified drivers. Most injuries and other accidents with telescopic handlers happen when the machinery is moving and hits a person, especially whilst reversing. The other main cause is when the vehicle is lifting and overturns. These types of hazard must be identified through a thorough risk assessment where specific measures can be implemented.

The right telehandler should be picked for the job. However, in general, the telehandler must have good all round visibility around the driver, both in rear and forward positions. The vehicle should not be overloaded as this can cause the telehandler to overturn. Using the vehicle on unstable ground is another hazard worth avoiding as this will affect their operation to varying degrees. Lastly, the telehandler should adhere to the site speed limit, especially when turning round corners.

In terms of health and safety, the use of an MEWP (multi elevating work platform) shares many of the same aspects as a telehandler. The main cause of accident and injuries is through entrapment in the basket, falling, collision with people or vehicles or if the MEWP overturns.

A careful risk assessment should be in place to identify all the potential hazards for the event of an accident. All operators should be trained and the vehicles must be regularly maintained. Any overhead structures and cables need to be identified, alongside ground conditions. The weather can affect the operation of MEWPs, so this is also a factor to consider. Making sure outriggers are extended, guard rails are in place and if necessary, the securing of a harness and work restraint lanyard are all other aspects of health and safety with MEWPs.

Safety Policies

The conditions of safe and healthy working do not happen by chance: it is necessary that employers have a written safety policy in the company to establish the health and safety that aims to achieve this. This policy shall appoint the head manager that standards are applied and authorised to delegate responsibilities for management and supervisors at all levels to fulfil them. The security policy should cover the following aspects:

·        Devices for training at all levels. You need to pay special attention to key areas such as putting up scaffolding and crane handling, and where errors can be especially dangerous.

·        Methods or safe systems of work for risky operations; workers performing these operations must be involved in its preparation;

·        The duties and responsibilities of supervisors in key positions;

·        Devices to disseminate information on health and safety;

·        Measures to establish safety committees;

·        Selection and control of subcontractors.

The organisation of safety on a construction site depends on the size of the area, the employment system and the way the project is organised. You must keep records of health and safety that facilitate the identification and resolution of such problems.

In construction projects where subcontractors are used, the contract shall include the responsibilities, duties and security measures expected in the workforce of the subcontractor. Such measures may include the provision and use of certain safety equipment, methods for specific tasks safely, and inspection and proper handling of tools. The charge of the work must also verify that materials, equipment and tools brought to the same project meet minimum safety standards.

Training should be provided at all levels: management, supervisors and workers. You may also need training to subcontractors and their employees in safety procedures of the work, as different teams of specialised workers can affect their mutual security.

A system should also exist for the management to receive information quickly about unsafe practices and faulty equipment. The tasks of health and safety should be specifically allocated to certain persons. The following are examples of some of the duties that must be included:

·        The supply, construction and maintenance of security installations such as access roads, footpaths and barricades;

·        Construction and installation of safety signs;

·        Testing of lifting equipment such as cranes and cargo cranes and lifting accessories such as ropes and rings;

·        Inspection and correction of access facilities such as scaffolding and ladders;

·        Inspection and cleaning of the common welfare facilities such as toilets, changing rooms and dining rooms;

·        Emergency and evacuation plans.

No plan or security policy will be feasible unless each specific task is assigned to a specific person or is completed within a specified period. The safety plan or policy should be transmitted to the level of workers whose health and safety it is, after all, seeking to safeguard.

Safety managers and supervisors

Construction companies of any size must appoint one or more qualified individuals whose primary and special responsibility will be to promote health and safety. Whoever is appointed should have direct access to the head of the company, and their duties are:

·        The organisation of information to be transmitted from the direction of the workers, including those working for subcontractors;

·        Organising and conducting safety training programs, including basic training for construction workers;

·        Research and study of the circumstances and causes of accidents and occupational diseases, and to advise on preventive measures;

·        Providing consulting services and technical support to the safety committee;

·        Participate in pre-planning of the work.

To fulfil these functions, the safety officer should have experience in the industry and have adequate training and also belong to a professional association recognised in health and safety. You can find out much more on all aspects of health and safety on constructions sites at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/

Contract Lifting

If you don’t have a particular expertise in construction or lack the qualified experience of heavy lifting on such a site, then there are other options. Hiring in a specialist lifting company is often the best way to go, as the teams of trained experts handle the whole operation for you from planning to completion. This eliminates any worry and stress you may have over a project.

GT Lifting provide such a service and are the leading specialists in their field. With a team of highly skilled telehandler and MEWP operators, you can rest at ease, knowing that your project will get off the ground without a hitch.