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.
Construction sites in the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire will be put under the spotlight over the next three weeks as part of a safety drive by HSE to reduce the number of workplace deaths and injuries.
Between 2006 and 2011 there were three fatalities and 250 injuries involving fixed or mobile scaffolds in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands. HSE Inspectors will target poor performance on smaller construction and refurbishment sites where scaffolds are in place.
Public consultation to exempt some self-employed from health and safety legislation
HSE has opened a three-month consultation on proposals to exempt self-employed people, whose work activities pose no potential risk of harm to others, from health and safety law.
The changes will not apply for self-employed people in "high-risk work environments" such as construction and will not affect the duties that others have towards a self-employed person.
The consultation closes on 28 October 2012.
From 1st October 2012, contractors will no longer have the option of using a cut-off saw to dry cut valley tiles. In a bid to reduce the risks from silica dust, industry has supported changes to working methods which mean that, should a cut-off saw be used for cutting valley tiles, water suppression as well as the correct RPE will also be expected. This is in line with the controls currently in use for cutting tiles in other sections of the roof. Contractors do have the option of using other methods as long as they can demonstrate these are equally as effective at controlling the silica risk.
More information about this can be found on the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) website.
This safety notice draws attention to key aspects of the proper management of the risks from legionella. It is informed by a recently completed review of outbreaks in the UK over the past ten years that shows common failings in control. If not vigilantly controlled, the risks from legionella in cooling towers and evaporative condensers can become serious, and problems can build up rapidly.
Excavation and underground services – what you need to know and do
Overhead power lines – what you need to know and do
HSG33 - Health and safety in roof work (fourth edition) - identifies the main causes of accidents and ill health in roof work and ways to prevent or control risks
Improve the health and safety of your business by attending a health and safety event near you. Most of the Working Well Together (WWT) events we list are FREE and all provide an opportunity to meet like-minded people, see interesting new equipment and get confidential advice.
Find your nearest WWT Group and get involved.
Places are available at the following Working Well Together (WWT) events
THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER 2012 - Asbestos Awareness Training
at various locations in Cleveland, County Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland
20 September 2012 - FREE Construction Health & Safety Event in the North West WWT - Haydock Health and Safety Expo 2012
Plus many more WWT events over the forthcoming year.
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
3 August 2012 - Three companies were ordered to pay a total of £232,000 in fines and costsafter two workers on an Exeter building site suffered severe injuries when the platform they were working on collapsed and fell four storeys down a lift shaft.
7 August 2012 - A Hertfordshire property developer has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,741 in costs after the routine inspection of a construction site discovered contractors working three metres above ground without measures in place to prevent them from falling.
Washing facilities were found to be inadequate and workers were found not to be wearing protective glasses or gloves, which was of particular concern as lime mortar was being used. Use of lime mortar creates a serious risk to health and can lead to the loss of sight, skin burns or dermatitis.
In addition, there were two employees working at height without measures in place to prevent injury caused by a fall.
We issue e-Bulletins on a regular basis and would welcome your feedback and views as well as any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
Contact us - construction-manager@bulletins.hse.gov.uk
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