Safety Management & Site Establishmentsafety zones •Decide how many of the following will be...

Safety Management & Site

Establishment

UNIT 8 Creating a safer construction site

SITE PRACTICE

Classroom Activity:

Stage 1 (30 minutes, learn your subject): Kindly set yourselves in 4 groups: Using a combination of PPT slides, notes and internet based research, get ready to teach your subject to your visiting peers.

Subjects to teach for group 1;

1. General Site Safety Observations

2. Good Scaffold Practice

3. Good Ladder Practice


1. Good Roof Practice

2. Good Excavation Practice,

3. Manual Handling


1. Good Cranage Practice

2. Good Hoist Practice,

3. Good Large Mobile Plants Practice


1. Good Traffic Practice,

2. Good Contaminated Sites Practice

Stage 2 : (6x10 minutes, teach your subject) Teach your subjects to the visiting groups, or, Listen to the subject being thought by your peers and take notes. Get ready to answer questions about these subjects in the next stage. Ask as many questions as you need so that you are ready to answer questions yourself when asked. Stage 3: (Xx5 minutes, answer random questions about what you have learned) Stand up and explain a subject which was

not thought by you when you are asked.

2 3

1 4

Basic questions or observations that should be addressed every time you

are on site:

• Can everyone reach their place of work safely - are roads,

passageways, hoists, stairs, lifts, hoists, ladders, scaffolds etc safe?

• Are excavations safe - are holes protected, guard rails in position etc?

• Are structures stable, adequately

braced to avoid overturning, not

overloaded etc?

• Is the site tidy, free from

dangerous obstructions etc?

• Are materials stored safely?

• Are there proper arrangements

for collecting and disposing of

waste material?

• Is the site adequately lit?

General Site Safety Observations

Basic questions or observations that should be addressed every time you

are on site

• Are scaffolds erected, altered and dismantled by competent staff?

• Is there safe access to the scaffold?

• Are all uprights (standards) provided with base plates and where

necessary sole plates to prevent slipping or sinking?

• Are all uprights, ledgers, braces and struts in position?

• Is the scaffold adequately secured to building or structure to

prevent collapse?

• Are there adequate guard rails and toe boards?

• Are working platforms fully boarded?

• Are there barriers and notices to prevent incomplete scaffolds

being used?

• Is the scaffold inspected regularly by a competent person and are

records kept?

Good Scaffold Practice



Typical prefabricated tower scaffold

Fixed scaffold left in place to fix the gutters



See notes page 2

• Choose a ladder of the correct length for the job

• Set ladder on firm ground and not in a position where it can

be struck

• Not placed on or against fragile material

• Use bracing at window and door openings

• Set at angle close to 750

• Secure firmly

• If vertical height is over 9m use intermediate landing

• only one person on a ladder at any one time

• When climbing & descending use both hands for gripping

• Wear appropriate footwear

Good Ladder Practice

• Tools & materials should be carried in shoulder bag or belt

• Top of ladder must not be repositioned , by jumping, while

standing on rungs

• Lash board to ladder to prevent unauthorized use

• Over-reaching leads to over-balancing

• Maintain ladders

• Extend ladders at least 1m above landing places

• Ladders should only be used as a working place for light,

short duration work

Good Ladder Practice (continued)

Good Ladder Practice

• Be aware of the precautions to be followed when working at

heights

• Display prominent permanent warning notices at the approach

to any fragile roof

• Never walk on fragile materials such as asbestos cement,

plastics, GRP or glass. Beware – they may have been painted

over or covered with insulation or dirt

• Always use a planned means of access

such as crawling boards or a proprietary

system

Good Roof Practice

• On a flat roof make sure that the edge is protected by a

parapet and/or guard rails and that the roof is strong enough

to support you

• Where someone could fall over the edge of the roof, guard

rails and toe boards must be installed or anchorage points for

safety harnesses provided. Make sure that safety harnesses

are worn

• Prevent items falling onto people below – use brick guards,

toe boards and warning notices

• Keep off roofs in bad weather, eg high winds (especially if

carrying sheet materials) or where there may be other

hazards such as fumes or ice.

Good Roof Practice (Continued)

Good Roof Practice (Continued)

• No ground can be considered totally stable: the ground may be

inherently weak, laminated or have previously been disturbed

• Water may create instability in excavations. This can occur

through: • the action of rainwater

• changes in groundwater conditions & seepage

• erosion by water

• frost action

• drying out of soil

• It is essential that all excavations are made safe by: • having sides battered to a safe angle of repose, or

• providing structural supports, e.g. trench sheets and struts,

sheet piling or proprietary systems

Good Excavation Practice


Trench sheeting & struts Sheet piling

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=OJO_QIzVHvoU_M&tbnid=_ftOLtswU-Q6AM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.builderbill-diy-help.com/trench-shoring.html&ei=Lut0UuqsGaKg0QXB84CADQ&bvm=bv.55819444,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNEgensnbMC6Xp2hKYmdUWsEuHvc-w&ust=1383480486387611

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=g7JI1AL_u9RzTM&tbnid=efD5MVQBmJJNUM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://equipment4all.blogspot.com/2010/11/sheet-piling-sheet-piling-is-one-of.html&ei=iux0UuDwA6ar0QWH2IGABw&bvm=bv.55819444,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNFQ8JLgJN8MbGKp_cON0NRB8lTxRQ&ust=1383480813056059



More than 25% of all reported injuries involve manual handling.

Employers

• Avoid manual handling where reasonably practical eg:- use

mechanical equipment

• Assess potentially hazardous manual handling which cannot be

avoided

• Implement measures to reduce the risk of injury as far as possible

Designers

• Designing in good access for plant, equipment and materials

• Considering manual handling during future maintenance

• Careful specification of materials eg:- building blocks and bagged

products

Good Manual Handling Practice

Size up the job: • are the floors sloping, slippery or greasy? • are there obstructions or stairs? • if the object is too heavy to lift, get help • know where the object is to be put down

Stand firmly: • stand close to the load • place your feet about 0.5m apart • place one foot in front of the other in the direction of movement.


Bend your knees: • keep your back straight • keep your chin well in

Get a firm grip: • use the whole of your fingers – not just the finger tips • keep the load close to your body • grip boxes diagonally


Lift with your legs:

• lift by straightening your legs

• keep your back straight

• use the impetus of the lift and start moving off in the

required direction

Putting things down:

• keep your back straight

• bend your knees

• don’t trap your fingers

• put the load down askew and slide it into place.




Better still remove the problem


All lifting operations need to be planned and managed.

Crane access:

• Overall height, width and swept path of

crane for delivery must be checked

• Approach and working areas

to be as level as possible

• Ground surface to be capable of taking loads

• Safe height for passage of underneath power lines to be

determined – by reading the marker plate underneath the wire, or

by phoning the electricity company – and goal posts erected.

Good Cranage Practice

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=S89ve4JLZBjD5M&tbnid=bKwx5NYs7L5m2M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.call2hire.co.in/&ei=LR91UoneB4rM0QWjz4DoDg&bvm=bv.55819444,d.ZGU&psig=AFQjCNHfju-ljqt2rGgp2zAmk-BJAPw-7A&ust=1383493778870376

Crane siting: • All cranes must be sited in a stable position

• Maintain at least a 600mm clearance between cranes and obstructions to prevent anyone becoming trapped

• Barriers to separate cranes from overhead power lines must be at a horizontal distance of at least 6m plus jib length from the power lines. Mark the danger area with permanent stakes or flags and high visibility tape

• When the safe working distance cannot be maintained, contact the electricity company to investigate rerouting or disconnecting the electricity supply – this may not be simple and must be planned well in advance

• When there are several cranes on site they must be sited clear of each other to prevent possible fouling of the jibs and loads



Crane siting: • The working area must be kept free of unnecessary obstructions and adequate lighting provided

• The crane must be a safe distance away from excavations, slopes, underground services, soft ground, etc with outriggers

fully extended. Use grillages to distribute the load




Good Hoist Practice

Good Hoist Practice

3 main hazards associated with goods hoists: • Falling down the hoist-way • Being struck by the moving platform • Being hit by material falling from the platform.

Follow these rules for carrying materials on hoists: • Place loose materials (eg bricks) in a container or use a hoist with a cage; tall

materials must be kept within the cage

• Chock wheelbarrows or other mobile plant on the platform

• Ensure that the safe working load is displayed on the platform and that it is not exceeded

Good Hoist Practice

• Must use planned site entry and exit points only and obey appropriate

traffic control procedures

• Should use separate routes from pedestrians where practicable

• Should be operated only by trained, authorised and licensed drivers aged

18 years or older

• Must comply fully with the Road Traffic Act when it travels on public roads

(tax, number plates, lights, brakes etc)

• Should have an instruction book which details the driver's daily checks

and routine maintenance

• Should have amber rotating lights and reversing siren

• Reversing areas should be controlled by a banksman and non-

essential personnel excluded

Good Large Mobile Plant Practice

• When tipping into or running alongside excavations must be provided with stop blocks

• Must not be overloaded

• Carry only well secured loads

• Must observe site speed limits – these must be clearly signed

• Has limitations on the gradients and cross-slopes on which it can safely operate. These must be observed

• Must be immobilised when not in use - Should be parked on level ground, in neutral with the parking brake applied

• May deposit mud and debris on public roads. Appropriate road cleaning arrangements must be provided

Good Large Mobile Plant Practice

Planning stage: • Local authorities and police must be consulted – and their requirements

regarding the timing of the works implemented • Consult "Traffic Signs Manual" for details of signing requirements and size of

safety zones • Decide how many of the following will be required:

traffic signs - road lamps cones - information boards barriers - site lighting

• Consider traffic management and control systems • Access must be planned to eliminate dangerous movements of site traffic (eg

reversing of vehicles) and personnel (eg crossing dual carriageways) • Will the work be completed in good visibility? If not, adequate lighting must

be provided • All workers must wear high-visibility clothing • Vehicles should be equipped with amber flashing beacons • Minimum lane sizes and provision of adequate safety zones • May result in the need for road closures

Good Traffic Practice Working on live roads

On site:

• Define the working area in the live road/footway

• Define the working space – this includes the areas for

storage of tools and equipment and space to move around

• Provide a safety zone – an area to separate the work from

the traffic – keep it clear of all work, materials storage and

people and clear of the working radius of all plant

• Work must be undertaken by certificated supervisors and

certificated operatives (from July 1997) in accordance with

The New Roads & Street Works Act.

Good Traffic Practice Working on live roads

Sources of Contamination include

• Chemicals

• Petrochemicals

• Metals

• Energy

• Transport

• Mineral extraction

• Water supply and sewage treatment

• Docklands

Contaminated Site - Good Practice

SPECIFIC CONTAMINANTS • Asbestos • Buried explosives • Lead • Chemicals


a) ASBESTOS

• Found on many sites former waste disposal sites, derelict land where it is likely to be buried on some sites found above ground, where used for insulation on pipes, roofs,

fire control

• Disturbance causes fibres to be released into atmosphere • Increased problem with dry or friable asbestos products • The main considerations are to:

prevent spread - dust suppression, vacuuming, etc protect operative – proper clothing, ventilators etc good site practice – wheel and vehicle wash, personal washing facilities, secure

fencing controlled disposal


ASBESTOS The Duty to Manage

• The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012 (CAWR)

introduce an explicit duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic

premises. This important legislation tackles the biggest

occupational health killer in the UK – asbestos-related disease.

• Of the 3,000 people currently dying each year from such diseases

25% have once worked in the building and maintenance trades and

often would have worked unknowingly on or near to Asbestos

Containing Materials (ACMs).

• Whilst virtually all other activities involving potential exposure to

asbestos have now ceased, our evidence suggests that this

vulnerable group is still at considerable risk from accidental

exposure to asbestos.


ASBESTOS The Duty to Manage

The duty to manage requires those in control of premises to:

• Take reasonable steps to determine the location and condition of

materials likely to contain asbestos;

• Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong

evidence that they do not;

• Make and keep an up to date record of the location and condition

of the ACMs or presumed ACMs in the premises;

• Assess the risk (likelihood) of anyone being exposed to fibres from

these materials;

• Prepare a plan setting out how the risks from the materials are to

be managed;

• Take the necessary steps to put the plan into action;

• Review and monitor the plan periodically; and

• Provide information on the location and condition of the materials

to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them.


b) BURIED EXPLOSIVES

Although sounds like an unlikely contaminate, there continue to be problems in this area. Two sources of this contaminant. • former explosives of factories and magazines • ill defined areas associated with wartime activities – can vary from arms dumps to unexploded enemy bombs Police should be informed, normally army ordinance disposal unit is involved


c) LEAD • Often overlooked aspect of contamination

• Particular care required with removal of old piping, lead roofing, welding/cutting

on lead painted or lead containing material

• Less obvious dangers associated with removal of old paint, frequently lead based, where removal causes lead bearing fumes or dust to be emitted.

• Lead can be inhaled or absorbed through skin; work is carried out in the open air doesn’t mean that a low level exposure to lead

• Skin contamination followed by ingestion is also major route of entry • Control of Lead at Work Regulations and the Approved Code of Practice

• Good hygiene, training, proper disposal of contaminated protective clothing,

medical surveillance etc. are important


d) CHEMICALS

• Vast range of problems here

• Normally address through COSHH Regs


ASSOCIATED RISKS

• Skin penetration • Skin absorption • Ingestion • Inhalation • Asphyxiation/gassing • Fire/explosion


1. SKIN PENETRATION

• Materials may enter body as result of a puncture wound to the skin – may result in such illnesses as Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease) or Tetanus (Lock Jaw).

• Protect by using protective clothing and good site practice

2. INGESTION

• Contaminates entering the mouth frequently via fingers or smoking • Good site practice will ban smoking, drinking and eating on site • Care must be taken with clothing


3. INHALATION

• Hazardous materials can be breathed in – as dust, vapour, fumes, gas or mist

• Although generally an irritant can also be highly poisonous. 4. ASPHYXIATION/GASSING

• Particular care required when working in confined spaces such as excavations, manholes, basements, tanks.

• Wide range of gases in particular hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide


INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS (1)

• Before work begins developers should always consider the possibility of the ground and associated buildings being contaminated

• Assess the risks to health and precautions required

• All derelict land, whether or not previously used for the industrial processes already described, may be regarded as potentially suspect

• A full site investigation including analysis of soil and water samples and a geotechnical survey should be carried out. Initially the responsibility lies with the client for carrying out such work. However, the main contractors must ensure that this has been done

• The assessment of the level and nature of contamination indicated by the survey will determine the extent of the precautions required, but these need to be reviewed as unexpected problems arise during progress of the work


INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS (2) • Project design can greatly help to reduce the risk from the contaminated land

• For instance, the contaminated area of the site or that most heavily

contaminated can remain undisturbed by the appropriate siting of features such as car parks etc

• Similarly, structures can be designed so as to avoid trench excavations by means of raft construction or shallow ground beams bearing on piles etc.


CONTACT WITH PUBLIC

• When contaminated land sites are adjacent to public premises there is often considerable public concern, particularly with material such as asbestos or radioactive materials

• Experience has shown that there are strong advantages in the contractor/developer keeping the local population informed, either directly or through the local authority so that the scale of the problem and any potential threat to the neighborhood can be kept in proportion

• Publicity directed at preventing children from entering sites is also useful


Pre-start surveys a) Historical data

• Historical data if available, can provide valuable information on past use of sites and any potential for contamination

• However, it is most important to go back far enough when looking at past use. For example, a warehouse of some long standing was found to have been built on an old gasworks site which had closed in the early 1900‘s

• Important sources when carrying out such historical surveys include: (a) Old maps and plans of the area (b) Local authorities' planning departments (c) Former employers and employees of companies who may have occupied the site; (d) Local residents who may have detailed knowledge of past usage of the site and the immediate

neighbouring sites; (e) Local industrial archaeological groups


Pre-start surveys b) Site visit Once historical information has been checked, the site should be inspected. The following are indications of possible contamination:

• the remaining structures, including tanks, pipes, culverts etc; obvious storage areas, pits etc;

• inconsistent growth of vegetation, particularly where it is poor or apparently deformed;

• surface materials, unusual colours or contours in the ground; distinctive odours; • drums, containers etc, which may still be on the surface; • signs of fly-tip materials which could contain contaminated materials; • discoloured and/or smelly water in streams or pools; • bubbling or frothing of standing water may indicate gas pockets beneath


Pre-start surveys c) Soil survey

• A specialist contractor will need to be employed if necessary to carry out this

type of work

• The sampling strategy needs to be designed to achieve the best chance of detection and localised 'hotspots' of contaminants may make this more difficult

• Again, using maps of the site can help.


Pre-start surveys d) Precautions to be taken by surveyors

• Those engaged in these initial site surveys may be placed at risk by the survey itself. Therefore a minimum standard of protection should include:

• Protective clothing; • Basic first aid box; • Washing and changing facilities (a portable decontamination type facility may need to be brought

to the site if a lengthy survey is to be carried out); • A flammable gas detector should be included if historical data suggest old mine workings or other

possible source of a sudden release of methane eg prior use of site for landfill operations; • Controlled entry into confined spaces where dangerous concentrations of vapours or oxygen

deficiency may build up • There should however be no need for entry into confined spaces as materials can usually be

obtained by mechanical means


Pre-start surveys e) Site organisation

• The main contractor may need to engage an occupational hygienist to advise on the risks for contaminants found and the systems of work to be used, assist in training, analyse the waste and carry out air monitoring where appropriate.

• This should back up the need for training of the contractor's safety adviser/managers in contaminated land problems.


PRECAUTIONS: CONTROL MEASURES

(a) Defining the contaminated area • A designated 'dirty area', as determined by the site survey, should be clearly

fenced off and suitable warning signs posted. The minimum standard of fencing acceptable for this area is cleft chestnut pale fencing. The only access to or from the dirty area should be via a hygiene facility for personnel and via a controlled gate with a wheel wash for vehicles required to enter and leave the dirty area. The main site office must be located in a clean area adjacent to the site.

• A fence should be erected to enclose the site to provide security for out of hours working and to prevent unauthorised access on to the site and tipping.

The fence and gate should be at least 2 m high and difficult to climb.



(b) Hygiene Achieving a good standard of hygiene is one of the most important aspects of the regime of protective measures to be taken. While the level of risk will determine whether the full range of measures outlined below need to be provided, the principles outlined should always be followed when working on a contaminated site.



(c) Installation of a hygiene facility

• The hygiene facility may need to be purpose built if large numbers of personnel are on site, although a standard unit may be sufficient on smaller jobs. Units should be situated at the most convenient access point to or from the dirty zone.

• The first stage of the unit should be for storage of ordinary clothing. The second should provide a high standard of washing facilities. The third stage should be used for the storage of contaminated overalls, footwear etc.

• Where gross whole body contamination can be anticipated eg when working in

contaminated trenches, showers will be necessary.



(c) Installation of a hygiene facility


PRECAUTIONS: CONTROL MEASURES (d) Eating and smoking

A canteen or messroom should be installed on the clean side of the site, which can only be entered by going through the hygiene unit. No eating or smoking should take place in the dirty area itself.

(e) Boot wash

A boot wash should be situated immediately outside the entrance to the hygiene unit, and this should include running water and either fixed or hand brushes to remove contaminated soils.

(f) Cleaning of cabs

The use of positive pressure cabs should be considered to prevent entry of contaminants, otherwise cabs of excavators etc, used on site, should be vacuumed out at the end of each day to avoid the build up of contaminants which could place the driver at considerable risk



(h) Protective clothing

- Overalls -disposable overalls are to be preferred to washable overalls to avoid laundering problems. In either case sufficient quantities should be provided. PVC overalls present problems due to excessive perspiration, but have been found necessary when wet weather working conditions occur. To prevent contaminants being retained in the overalls they should not have external pockets. To provide the maximum protection the overalls should be close fitting at the ankles and cuffs, preferably elasticated and should incorporate a hood

- Footwear -safety wellington boots should be worn and the overalls

pulled down on the outside of the footwear



(h) Protective clothing

- Hand protection - gauntlets should be worn to protect against abrasion and skin damage and to prevent contaminants being trapped under nails etc and ingested with food. With some contaminants impervious gloves will be required to prevent absorption through the skin;

(i) Respiratory protective equipment - where there is potential exposure through inhalation then respiratory protective equipment should be provided.


PRECAUTIONS: CONTROL MEASURES (j) Confined space working

Where possible, entry into confined spaces, trenches etc should be minimised. The standard pattern for entry into confined spaces should be followed:

• testing for oxygen deficiency and explosive gases;

• testing for the common toxic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, or other gases indicated by site contaminants;

• ventilating the area as necessary;

• entry into the area on harness and line with site supervision present; providing emergency rescue procedures should anybody be overcome

• It is therefore necessary that breathing apparatus be provided on site where confined space working will take place


PRECAUTIONS: CONTROL MEASURES (k) Control of dusts

Weather conditions such as hot dry days and operations such as those involving excavators etc. may produce considerable quantities of dust which can be blown off site thus producing a possible risk to members of the public as well as to those working on site. Precautions such as water sprays to dampen down dust should be taken where appropriate. If there is a risk of asbestos dust more stringent precautions will be needed


PRECAUTIONS: CONTROL MEASURES (l) Removal of waste from site Where contaminated materials are to be removed from site, it will be necessary to provide sheeting to open lorries or skips used for removal of contaminated soils. This should be carried out in a defined area on the dirty side of the site. Those carrying out sheeting should, wherever possible, avoid contact with contaminated soils. The provision of a gantry around the lorry to help sheeting makes the fitting of sheets easier. However, the construction of the gantry needs careful design. Vehicle drivers should be discouraged from sheeting their own vehicles, except for final tightening of the ropes. Such final tightening can take place in a defined area on the clean side of the site. Vehicles should be well maintained so there is no risk of materials trickling out during travel.



(l) Removal of waste from site



(m) Instructions to workers After working in contact with toxic soils or water contaminated by toxic soils, wash your hands and forearms thoroughly with soap and water and use the disinfectant provided. If your clothes or boots are contaminated wash thoroughly after handling them. This is particularly important before taking any food or drink, or before smoking. Protective clothing should be placed in the contaminated clothing container for disposal or laundering.



(m) Instructions to workers

• Make a special point of washing thoroughly for any cut, scratch, or abrasion of the skin as soon as possible whether the injury was caused at work or not. Then apply an antiseptic to the wound with a clean piece of cloth or cotton wool and protect it with a strip of gauze completely covered with adhesive plaster. Keep the wound covered until it is quite healed. Antiseptic gauze and impermeable plaster are available from your first aider.

• Further treatment is a matter for your doctor. Whether the injury

appears serious or not you should visit him, show him/her your card and tell him that the injury was sustained in the course of your work.

• Avoid rubbing your nose or mouth with your hands during work.



(m) Instructions to workers

• Keep this card in a safe place and whenever you go to a doctor or to a hospital on account of illness, show this card and make sure that those attending you know you have been working in contact with toxic soils.

• Every accident at work, no matter how trivial, must be reported to your site office at once.

• Should you lose or damage this card, ask your site office for a new one, without delay.


Date post:	10-Oct-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	1 times
Download:	0 times

Safety Management & Site Establishmentsafety zones •Decide how many of the following will be...

Documents