Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Construction
Welcome to the latest edition of Construction Infonet.
Construction Infonet is a free e-Bulletin from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to provide a regular update on health and safety issues for all in the construction industry.
HSE has published a new Construction Information Sheet (CIS).
HSE has recently updated a checklist to explain when scaffold design is required and what level of training and competence is expected if you are erecting or inspecting and supervising the erection, alteration and dismantling of scaffolding.
HSE is trialling a free SMS text message service. This service will allow you to receive links to the latest important updates on HSE's construction web pages as soon as possible on your mobile phone.
Sign up and be the first to get HSE construction health and safety updates.
Constructing Better Health (CBH), the independent organisation delivering the UK’s first national scheme of occupational health standards for the construction industry, is now online.
The new CBH website provides access for employers, contractors, occupational health services providers and individuals to a wealth of important information to help promote good occupational health.
CDM Coordinators hold a key position in respect of project health and safety risk management matters.
Find out what CDM Coordinators can do to reduce the health risks in construction work.
HSE has recently written to all GB crane hire and supply companies asking them to take forward certain actions which have arisen from the HSE investigation into the collapse of a luffing jib crane in Liverpool.
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
This warning follows the prosecution of a Burton-on-Trent company after an incident in Uttoxeter when two employees were working on the roof of a large industrial unit when one of them, working in the valley gutter, fell onto the neighbouring roof pitch which gave way, causing the man to fall more than 4.5 metres (15ft) onto a concrete floor below.
HSE is urging construction companies to ensure their procedures for working at height are properly planned and carried out. This followed an HSE investigation into the death of an employee who was altering work platforms to allow a roof structure to be lifted into place by four cranes. The employee was standing on a platform on the outside of the tank close to the top, ready to rebuild an internal scaffold platform. As he climbed onto the incomplete platform on the inside of the tank, one of the three platform boards snapped and he fell 17 metres to the floor below. He died as a result of his injuries.
The warning follows the prosecution of the manager of a construction company after an incident where an employee suffered major injuries when he fell two metres from an unprotected wall while doing bricklaying work on a construction site in Mansfield. At a second construction site in Wollaton, Nottingham, HSE found two employees were at risk of falling from the front edge of a loading bay as there was insufficient protection in place. There was also a risk to members of the public from falling tiles due to the lack of edge protection.
This follows an incident at a Northampton warehouse when a refurbishment worker died after falling seven metres from a tower scaffold.
Crane companies must ensure they properly plan their work to help prevent crane overturns. The warning comes following an HSE investigation and prosecution after a 60 tonne mobile crane, which was both overloaded and sited on soft ground, overturned.
HSE has issued a warning to construction companies about the importance of maintaining plant and equipment effectively, and training employees in its use. This warning comes after the partial collapse of an access cradle suspended from the exterior of a Sheffield office building in July 2003 which resulted in the death of one man, and injured three others.
HSE has issued a stark warning about managing the risks from asbestos, following its prosecution of a two companies in Essex, after workers in their employment were exposed to asbestos containing materials (ACM’s). HSE inspectors visited the site to inspect asbestos removal work taking place. They became very concerned over the state of the building and work was then stopped in the building.
The HSE investigation found the building to be contaminated with ACM’s and evidence was found that asbestos insulation board had not been removed following adequate safety procedures.
HSE has announced that it has selected Capita as its preferred bidder to run the new registration scheme for gas installers from 1 April 2009. This will replace the scheme currently operated by CORGI.
The European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work for 2008-09 will focus on risk assessment. European Week of Health and Safety will run from 20 – 24 October 2008. There are a number of activities planned based on the campaign theme and you can also organise your own activities to raise awareness of the issues.
Find out why HSE exists through real life stories of people who suffered from lack of health and safety.
The Lighthouse Club is a charity with local branches, helping workers in the building and civil engineering industry. It aims to provide support to construction workers and their families by providing financial aid to victims of accidents and illness.
Infoline - Health and safety information and advice: Call 0845 345 0055 or visit the contact page.
Report an accident: Call 0845 300 9923 or visit the RIDDOR web site.
We issue e-Bulletins on a regular basis and would welcome your feedback and views as well as any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
Thank you to those who provided feedback on the previous editions - we have tried to incorporate as many of the suggestions as possible.
You can contact us at: construction-manager@bulletins.hse.gov.uk
