Tackling major hazards and risks

Working at height

Falls from heights are the most common cause of injury and death. Causes include: working on a scaffold or platform without guard rails or without a safety harness correctly attached; fragile roofs; and ladders that are badly maintained, positioned and secured.

• the best way to prevent a fall from or through a roof is not to go on it in the first place. If the work needs to be done, ask whether it be done without going on the roof or whether the amount of time on the roof can be reduced? It may be possible to partially assemble roof sections at ground level;
• protective measures may be required at the roof edge, openings, access points to the roof and where there are fragile roof lights;
• weather conditions should be taken into account as icy, wet or windy conditions can significantly increase the risk of people or material falling;
• falling material can kill — nothing should be thrown from a roof: use enclosed rubbish chutes, or lower material to the ground; do not let material that could fall accumulate; prevent access to danger areas underneath the roof; use debris netting, covered walkways or similar safeguards to stop falling material causing injury; where possible, avoid carrying large and heavy objects onto roofs;
• work on old roofs needs careful planning. You should: identify fragile parts of the roof; identify preventive measures; where necessary, liaise with the client; carry out a structural survey in some cases; and in all cases carry out a risk assessment.
  

Vehicle accidents in the workplace

Workers are struck or run over by moving vehicles, fall from vehicles, are struck by objects falling from vehicles and are injured by vehicles overturning.

• measures include: separate vehicle and pedestrian routes; signage to warn of hazards; checking reversing lights and sound on vehicles; moving routes away from vulnerable or potentially hazardous structures; and providing training to ensure workers drive safely.

Asbestos

All construction workers are potentially at risk from exposure. Asbestos fibres were used for many years in thermal insulating materials such as lagging and coatings, ‘fireproof’ textiles, paper and boards, asbestos cement products, electrical insulating materials and personal protective equipment. Asbestos fibres can have serious health effects if inhaled, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

• there is no known safe exposure level to asbestos. Before starting work, ask if there has been a check for asbestos. Assume asbestos is present unless proven otherwise. Stop work and seek advice if you suspect there may be asbestos present. Remember, never remove asbestos material unless you have permission and have been trained to do so.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

MSDs are prevalent across a range of trades and particularly so among bricklayers, plasterers and joiners.

• avoid manual handling — where the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) cannot be removed at the planning phase, employers should carry out a risk assessment to identify the hazards, assess the risks, and take action to prevent MSDs developing. If possible, manual handling should be eliminated by, for example, using cranes, hoists, vacuum-lifting devices or conveyor systems.

Exposure to loud noises

This can cause irreversible hearing damage and workplace accidents. Workers may be exposed not only to the noise that their work is making, but also to the background noise of other tasks on site. The main sources of noise include concrete breakers, explosives and engines.

• where possible, the production of noise should be eliminated. This can be achieved by changing the construction or work method. Where elimination is not possible, noise should be controlled. Personal hearing protection should be used as a last resort.

Vibration at work

This includes hand-arm vibration from hand-held or manually guided machines and whole-body vibration. The latter is caused by machines or vehicles that transmit vibration through the operator’s feet, buttocks and back into his or her body.

• employers have to conduct a risk identification and assessment study at workplaces where vibration is a hazard. If the exposure is too high, employers should consider: alternative work procedures; more suitable work equipment; personal protective and supplementary equipment; maintenance programmes; workplace design; information on the proper use of vibrating machines; limiting the duration of exposure; and appropriate shift schedules with breaks.