Health & Safety In Construction Frances Eatough Health & Safety Manager Alumet Systems (UK) Ltd.

Health & Safety In Health & Safety In ConstructionConstruction

Frances EatoughFrances EatoughHealth & Safety ManagerHealth & Safety ManagerAlumet Systems (UK) LtdAlumet Systems (UK) Ltd

Introduction Introduction

The CompanyThe Company The Construction IndustryThe Construction Industry Site Safety IssuesSite Safety Issues

Alumet Systems UK LtdAlumet Systems UK Ltd Medium sized company based in Southam, Medium sized company based in Southam,

WarwickshireWarwickshire Design, Manufacture and Install external façade Design, Manufacture and Install external façade

systemssystems Employ 74 employees Employ 74 employees 2 factories, 2 design offices, head office2 factories, 2 design offices, head office Undertake Sub-Contract work for Taylor Woodrow, Undertake Sub-Contract work for Taylor Woodrow,

Moss Construction, Miller Construction and HBG Moss Construction, Miller Construction and HBG (members of Major Contractors Group)(members of Major Contractors Group)

Aim to eliminate risk during construction, Aim to eliminate risk during construction, maintenance and demolition through maintenance and demolition through careful planning and design.careful planning and design.

Key role under CDM RegulationsKey role under CDM Regulations Design risk assessment Design risk assessment Work with architect and main contractorWork with architect and main contractor

Does CDM Work??Does CDM Work??

Alumet Systems - CDMAlumet Systems - CDM

The Construction The Construction IndustryIndustry

2.2 million people work in Construction 2.2 million people work in Construction in the UKin the UK

Largest but most dangerous industryLargest but most dangerous industry In the last 25 years 2,800 people have In the last 25 years 2,800 people have

died through work related injuriesdied through work related injuries Between April 2004 and March 2005 71 Between April 2004 and March 2005 71

people died and thousands were people died and thousands were injured.injured.

Cause of Deaths:Cause of Deaths: falling through fragile roofs and falling through fragile roofs and

rooflights rooflights falling from ladders, scaffolds and falling from ladders, scaffolds and

other work places other work places being struck by excavators, lift trucks being struck by excavators, lift trucks

or dumpers or dumpers being struck by falling loads and being struck by falling loads and

equipment equipment being crushed by collapsing structures being crushed by collapsing structures

The Construction The Construction IndustryIndustry

Health & Safety In Health & Safety In ConstructionConstruction

Potential CausesPotential Causes Lack of planning / Poor managementLack of planning / Poor management Tight deadlinesTight deadlines

Overlapping tradesOverlapping trades Sub-contract labourSub-contract labour Foreign workersForeign workers

Understand site rules?Understand site rules? Young operativesYoung operatives

Risk takersRisk takers HorseplayHorseplay

Health & Safety In Health & Safety In ConstructionConstruction

HSE very active on large construction HSE very active on large construction sitessites Run special campaigns:Run special campaigns:

Fit out – October 2005Fit out – October 2005 Working at heightWorking at height

Watch your step – Feb 2006 Watch your step – Feb 2006 Slip tripsSlip trips HousekeepingHousekeeping AccessAccess

Main Contractors very proactiveMain Contractors very proactive Strict proceduresStrict procedures Health and Safety meetingsHealth and Safety meetings

Site Specific Issues:Site Specific Issues:Working at HeightWorking at HeightManual HandlingManual HandlingPPEPPETrainingTraining

Working at HeightWorking at Height

Major RiskMajor Risk Predomantly use:Predomantly use:

Scaffolding Scaffolding Correctly set out Correctly set out

MEWP’sMEWP’s Need good accessNeed good access

Mobile scaffold towersMobile scaffold towers Harness and Man-Safe Harness and Man-Safe

SystemsSystems Ladders / podium stepsLadders / podium steps

Safe Use of HarnessesSafe Use of Harnesses Fit – Harnesses have Fit – Harnesses have

maximum weight maximum weight allowanceallowance

Are operatives wearing Are operatives wearing them correctlythem correctly

What can they anchor too?What can they anchor too? Need secure anchor Need secure anchor

pointpoint Choking – bad practiceChoking – bad practice

Lanyard Type – Traditionally Lanyard Type – Traditionally sold with fall arrest lanyard sold with fall arrest lanyard

Have operatives Have operatives enough room to fall?enough room to fall?

Can they be rescued?Can they be rescued?

LaddersLadders Not illegal to use!Not illegal to use! Many Construction Many Construction

companies have companies have banned their use banned their use (well kind of)(well kind of)

Last resort Last resort Short durationShort duration

Manual HandlingManual Handling Major changes in the Major changes in the

glazing industryglazing industry Eliminate the Eliminate the

requirement for requirement for manual handling manual handling where ever possiblewhere ever possible CranesCranes Electric chain hoistsElectric chain hoists Power suckersPower suckers ForkliftsForklifts TrolleysTrolleys

PPEPPE On a construction site you must On a construction site you must

wear Helmet, Hi Vis Vest and safety wear Helmet, Hi Vis Vest and safety bootsboots

Many Main Contractors have made Many Main Contractors have made the wearing of gloves mandatorythe wearing of gloves mandatory Laing O’Rourke – Mandatory eye Laing O’Rourke – Mandatory eye

protection and glovesprotection and gloves ?? Are protective glasses designed ?? Are protective glasses designed

to be worn all day ??to be worn all day ??

TrainingTraining Construction Skills Certification Construction Skills Certification

Scheme (CSCS)Scheme (CSCS) Aim:Aim:

Rid the construction industry of Rid the construction industry of cowboyscowboys

All workers obtain CSCS card All workers obtain CSCS card which demonstrates basic health which demonstrates basic health and safety training and and safety training and experience in their tradeexperience in their trade

Cards obtained by completion of Cards obtained by completion of health and safety touch screen health and safety touch screen test and industry accreditation or test and industry accreditation or NVQNVQ

Safety in Construction has improved Safety in Construction has improved however we still have our bad however we still have our bad

days!!..........................days!!..........................

Thank youThank you