SAFETY AND HEALTH IN

CONSTRUCTION
(PART 1)
RMK 156
Prepared by: Dr. Salman Riazi
Mehdi Riazi
INTRODUCTION
• Construction work is a hazardous land-based job.

• They include many hazardous task and conditions such as working

with height, excavation, noise, dust, power tools and equipment.

• The most common fatalities are caused by the fatal four: falls, being
struck by an object, electrocutions, and being caught in between two
objects.

• Every year many construction site workers are killed or injured as a

result of their work

• The hazards are not, however, restricted to those working on sites.

Children and other members of the public are also killed or injured
because construction activities have not been adequately controlled.
INTRODUCTION
“We can so easily believe that accidents will always
happen to other people and will never touch us. But unless
we all recognise our own vulnerability – and just how
vulnerable others can be – then, as a result of the
decisions we make, construction workers and their families
will continue to witness the unnecessary injuries, pain and
suffering that so tragically afflict the industry.”
INTRODUCTION
Preparing for the Work
• The key to achieving healthy and safe working conditions is to ensure
that health and safety issues are planned, organised, controlled,
monitored and reviewed.

• Everyone controlling site work has health and safety responsibilities.

• Checking that working conditions are healthy and safe before work
begins

• Ensuring that the proposed work is not going to put others at risk
requires planning and organisation.

• Planning has to consider changes to the site as it develops.

Planning the Work
• Gathering as much health and safety information about the
project and the proposed site before work begins is important.

• Information available at tendering should be used so that

allowance is made for the time and resources required to deal
with particular problems.

• Sources of information include:

- the client
- the design team
- contract documents
- the main contractors on the site
- specialist contractors and consultants
- trade and contractor organisations
- equipment and material suppliers
- HSE guidance and British or European Standards.
• Find out about the history of the site and its surroundings.

• See if there are any unusual features which might affect the work,
or how the work will affect others. Pay particular attention to:
- asbestos or other contaminants
- overhead power lines and underground services
- unusual ground conditions
- public rights of way across the site
- nearby schools, footpaths, roads or railways
- other activities going on at the site.

• These information should be found in the pre-construction-stage

health and safety plan @ may need to be gathered separately

• Make sure its contents have been taken into account before
tenders are submitted.
• When estimating costs and preparing the programme, consider any
particular health and safety hazards associated with the work.

• Make sure suitable allowances have been made in the price.

• Having to stop or reschedule work to deal with emergencies wastes

time and money.

• When materials are bought, or equipment is hired, the supplier has a

duty to provide certain health and safety information

• It may be necessary to consider using a specialist who is familiar with

the necessary precautions and carry out an assessment of the health
risks arising from substances or equipment

• Act by either liminating harmful substances where possible, or use

less hazardous method of work, or provide necessary trainings
• When programmes are prepared, consider whether there are any
operations that will affect the health or safety of others working at the
site.

• Discuss and agree on the proposed working methods with

subcontractors before letting contracts.

• Identify any health or safety risks that their operations may create for
others working at the site and agree control measures.

• Decide what plant will be required and check that it will be suitable.

• Plan material deliveries and consider storage needs.

• Plan emergency and rescue procedures, equipment need & who is

trained to operate it.
Organizing the Work
• Decide who will supervise the work – check that they are adequately
trained and experienced.

• Make sure workers have adequate training & can demonstrate their
knowledge on safe working practice before setting them to work.

• Make sure that firms coming onto site provide adequate supervision &
training for their workers.

• Make sure that work methods and safety precautions are agreed and
understood before work is starts

• Make sure that people working for subcontractors also get the
information they require and provide training, supervision etc. as needed.
Setting Up the Site
Site Access
• There should be safe access onto and around the site for people and
vehicles.

• Plan how vehicles will be kept clear of pedestrians loading/unloading

areas, parking and manoeuvring places and areas where drivers’ vision
may be obstructed.

• Doors that open onto traffic routes may need viewing panels or windows.

Welfare Facilities
• Everyone who works on any site must have access to adequate welfare
facilities such as toilet, canteen, personal protective equipment, etc.

• The welfare facilities should be sufficient for everybody who is working on

the site. They should also be kept clean, warm and properly ventilated
and lit.
Site Boundaries
• Site should be fenced off and suitably signed.

• For some jobs the workplace will have to be shared. Agree who
has to control each area.

• Agree what fences, barriers, means of separation or permits to

work are required to keep both construction workers away from
hazards created by others and other people away from hazards
created by the construction work

• Make sure there is a system to ensure necessary precautions

are kept in place during working hours and that night-time and
weekend protection is put in place as required before the site
closes.
Sanitary Convenience
• Adequate numbers of toilets; if possible flushed by water and connected to
a mains drainage system; have washbasin with water, soap & towels; etc.

Washing Facilities
• Apart from normal washing facilities, where the work is particularly dirty or
workers are exposed to toxic or corrosive substances (e.g. during
demolition or work in contaminated ground), showers should be provided.

Rest Facilities
• Facilities should be available for taking breaks, shelter from rain, well
ventilated, etc.
• Some facilities include tables & chairs, a kettle, microwave, etc.

Storing personal equipment

• Make sure there are proper arrangements for storing clothing not worn on
site (e.g. hats, coats), protective clothing needed for site work (e.g. boots,
gloves), personally issued equipment (e.g. goggles, harnesses).
* & many more depending on project & workers needs
Construction Phase Health & Safety
Site Management & Supervision
• Effective management of work activities and competent site supervision
are essential in maintaining healthy and safe conditions.

• The greater the risk, the greater the degree of control and supervision
required.

• Before work starts:

- consider if there are any hazards you can avoid
- decide which risks need to be controlled
- consider the best ways of controlling them
- having decided what needs to be done, make sure it happens.

• Check that:
- everyone is properly trained and competent
- they have the equipment they need; and
- agreed work methods are put into practice.
 C/P H&S -
• When people first come to site, it is important that they receive
information about the site hazards and the steps that have been
taken to control the risks.

• Make sure : PIC can be easily identified; site office is clearly

signed; a site plan can be helpful.

• The principal contractor has a duty to take reasonable steps to

ensure that only authorised people are allowed where construction
work is being done.

• People who are going to work on the site for the first time should
be briefed about risks, welfare facilities and site rules.

• Carrying out routine checks from time to time reminds everyone

that health and safety matters!
C/P H&S – Working at Height
• To prevent or minimise risk when planning for work at height, consider
the work to be done and take a sensible risk-based approach to
identify suitable precautions.

• Those in control of the work must:

- Avoid work at height where they can
- use work equipment to prevent falls where work at height cannot
be avoided;
- where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, use work equipment
to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one
occur;
- always consider measures that protect all those at risk, i.e.
collective protection measures (scaffolds, nets, soft landing
systems) before measures that only protect the individual, i.e.
personal protection measures (a harness);
- ensure work is carried out only when weather conditions do not
jeopardise the health and safety of the workers.
• When deciding upon the safest means of access and selecting the
most suitable work equipment, you will need to consider:

- the distance and consequences of a potential fall;

- how long the work will last and how often it will be undertaken;
- how many people will be working at height and require protection;
- the space available on the site. Each type of platform requires a
minimum amount of space;
- the type of work to be carried out, e.g. some work may require
heavy loads on the platform;
- what risks there will be during the erection and removal of the
platform;
- can the equipment be stabilised, e.g. check if the scaffold can be
tied;
- what will happen in adverse weather conditions;
- whether part of the structure can be provided early in the work so
that there is a permanent working platform; and
- what emergency and rescue procedures are required.
C/P H&S - Site Traffic & Mobile Plant
• Every year, workers are killed on construction sites by moving
vehicles or by vehicles overturning. Many more are seriously injured
in this way. The risks can be reduced if the use of vehicles and mobile
plant is properly managed.

• Limit the number of vehicles on site:

- provide car and van parking for the workforce and visitors away from
the work area and strictly control parking within the work area;
- use gates or barriers etc to control entry into the work area;
- plan the location of stores/goods receiving areas carefully to reduce
any need for delivery vehicles to travel through site.
- Consider ways, other than vehicles, of moving materials to where
they will be used (e.g. self-erecting tower cranes)
• Set appropriate speed limits; provide drive-in/drive-out access to delivery
and work areas; one-way system is good; provide turning circles to allow
vehicles to turn round without reversing, etc.

• Keep pedestrians and vehicles apart - provide separate entry and exit
gateways for vehicles and pedestrians; provide firm, level, well-drained
pedestrian walkways that are separated from vehicle routes; ensure that
vehicles leaving site can see both ways along the footway before they
need to cross it; a trained signaller (e.g. RELA) would we good, etc.

• Make sure that all drivers and pedestrians know and understand the routes
and traffic rules on the site; provide training; site notice boards; provide
standard road signs to warn, guide and instruct drivers on site, etc.

• The risks from working plant must be controlled - protect any temporary
structures, such as scaffolds or falsework, which might be damaged and
made unsafe if struck by a vehicle; protect any excavations and alongside
any areas of water if vehicles may approach close by; don’t overload
vehicle as it may obstruct the driver’s view; consider using machines with
minimal tail swing.
PART 2 – NEXT WEEK
THANK YOU