All Employees and visiting contractors are to be given a site induction by a competant appointed person Contents of an Induction Program could include: 1. Introduction to the organisational structure of the company. 2. Introduction to any occupational health and safety personnel working for the company. 3. Presentation, explanation and discussion of the overall occupational health and safety policy for the company. 4. Provision of information on the Occupational Health and Safety Committee for the company, who the representatives are and how they can be contacted. 5. Safety rules for…
Checklist for Investigations Investigation of Accident, Incident or Near Miss Companies should investigate safety events using a checklist, an example of a standard list is detailed below. Note: In the table below, the term ‘event’ will be used to indicate ‘accident, incident or near miss’. Personal What level of job training had been provided? How was competency assessed? What did the risk assessment identify in regard to areas of special needs? What other factors may have impacted on work performance? Management Who was supervising the task? What steps…
When undertaking small building works such as a new house or larger extension Method statements and Risk Assessments are essential. These Method statements would normally cover :- Concrete Foundations Block and Beam Flooring Brick and Blockwork Drainage Plastering Painting and Decorating The Risk areas and assessments should generally include:- Slips,Trips and Falls. Manual Handling. Work at Height Cutting and Grinding (Abrasive Wheels) Each site will have varied Risk factors and these will require the safe work methods to cover them, The General safe work method should include these general items:-…
Evaluation of Method Statements:- When you (as a main contractor or client) receive method statements you should evaluate them to ensure the contractor has complied with the contract requirements for method statements. The content should include: Task/process and area of specialisation. Sequence of work (The step by step safe work sequence of the works) Supervisory arrangements (Supervisor/s and qualifications and experience to supervise) Monitoring arrangements (if required) Schedule of plant (list of plant and tools) Reference to occupational health Standards? (This is a good idea) First aid ( First aiders,…
The Steps that can be taken to help reduce the risks are:-Before starting sweeping operations. Ensure guards on machinery in place and effective for protection. Always wear protective clothing and PPE as required. Take extra care on uneven and/or sloping ground especially when crossing gradients. No passengers to be carried. Secure vehicle during breaks and when unattended. Machine not to be left unattended with engine running. Controls to be kept free of obstructions. Pre Site Machine Preparation Strip machine down for cleaning. Empty rubbish collection bag and dispose…
Effective Communications to Reduce Risk In today’s economic climate its vital for business’s large and small to reduce costs and maintain a decent level of profit. One of the biggest causes of loss is through lack of communications, between management and between employees and obviously between management and employees. Its a well known fact seen in most offices, the managers will stick together and as long as its in their interest will communicate upwards and very rarely will they communicate down the ladder. I use the word communicate,…
Mobile Scaffold Towers Main Risks 1. Working at height 2. Dropped Tools or Materials 3. Towers Toppling Over 5. Overhead power lines (Risk of arcing or tower in contact with Overhead Power lines) Steps to Reduce Risks 1) Mobile scaffold Towers should only be erected on firm and level ground. 2) Mobile scaffold towers to be erected and dismantled by trained persons only. 3) Mobile towers wheels should not be less than 125mm in diameter with SWL clearly visible, wheels are to have tamper proof breaks. 4) Scaffold tower erection…
Lifting Operations carry a number of risks, some steps that can be taken to reduce these risks are:- Access to be restricted to the site area. All work areas to be kept clear of trip hazards and a good housekeeping standard is required. All operatives to wear project specific PPE including – coveralls or long sleeved t-shirts and trousers, hi-vis coats/vests, hard hats, safety glasses and ankle supported safety boots. Gloves and hearing protection will be available for use when required. A certified Slinger/signaller…
Accidents at Work The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) (UK) NB for Northern Ireland, The USA See Links at the end of this post. All injuries, incidents, and dangerous occurrences at work involving employees or members of the public must be reported and recorded ans Accident Book which is located in the Site office. The following must be reported under RIDDOR Deaths- (Reported immediately) 0845 300 99 23 Major injuries to be (reported immediately) 0845 300 99 23 Reportable major injuries are: Fracture, other than…
Working with excavators and excavations is a medium to high risk activity. Areas that should be addressed and all information obtained should be used to during the planning and preparation for excavation work. Ground conditions ( Have the conditions been checked, is the ground stable? is the ground waterlogged or prone to areas of running sand? Underground structures or water courses ( Underground chambers and tank, underground streams? The location of existing services ( The area MUST be fully checked for existing services, not only buried but above ground, is there…
Continual monitoring of safety performance is critical on all sites, This is very often done by means of the Site Supervisor or Manager conducting a short stroll around the site accompanied by the site foreman, items will be pointed out if seen and in most cases rectified immediately. Its certain that if this is the only method of monitoring and checking performance then the site has poor management, harsh? not really when the only safe steps taken are likely to be “the boss is coming, fix this or do that…
Plaster work requirements will vary with site and contract conditions, this example method statement is generic and the work steps and procedures are basic. Plastering Works Method Statement The work area will be cleared of any items or obstacles to avoid trip hazards; The work area will then be covered with dust protection sheets to protect the flooring. The waste material collected from the dust sheets will be doubled bagged for removal from the site at the end of each day. All works carried out at a height will be…
