As the CDM co-ordinator you hold a key position in respect of project health and safety risk management matters.
Many health risks can be managed more effectively during the design phase rather than later on during the construction phase. Health risks can be managed with the same basic principles that are used to manage safety risks. Some people find that it helps them to deal with health risks by thinking of them as "slow acting accidents". It is however important to recognise that in some cases health issues are less clear-cut than safety issues.
The effects of being struck on the head by a falling block of concrete are immediate and visible. There is no doubt what caused them.
However if the same concrete block is cut up to produce clouds of dust containing respirable crystalline silica which is inhaled over a period of time, the possible resulting lung disorders (silicosis, emphysema or lung cancer) may not be seen for years. It may be difficult to tie the result back to the concrete block.
Check that for instance:
The CDM co-ordinator noted that a design required the heads of in situ cast pile caps to be broken down by hand, causing the team considerable exposure to noise and hand-arm vibration.
He suggested that by slightly redesigning the reinforcing steelwork and fitting it with protective sleeving before the pour, it would be possible to use either a machine-mounted concrete crusher or a hydraulic burster instead of hand-held breakers.
This suggestion was agreed with the designer and adopted, resulting in considerable time savings as well as reducing risk.
