Health & Safety in Health & Safety in Construction Construction Key Issues for Designers, Key Issues for Designers, Managers & Contractors. Managers & Contractors.
Health & Safety in Health & Safety in ConstructionConstruction
Key Issues for Designers, Key Issues for Designers, Managers & Contractors.Managers & Contractors.
Where does the root cause of all Where does the root cause of all construction accidents lie?construction accidents lie?
site management failures 37%
poor planning 28%
unsafe design35%
Over 60% accidents due to decisions Over 60% accidents due to decisions before work began!before work began!
NOT MY FAULT !
IT WAS HIM !
SHE LET IT HAPPEN !
What Sort of What Sort of Accidents Occur on Accidents Occur on Construction & Construction & Civil Engineering Civil Engineering Sites?Sites?
Which sectors of industry are Which sectors of industry are affected the most?affected the most?
13%
10%
13%4%
3%
3%10%
6%
3%
8%3%
9%
7% 7% 8%
28% 29%22%
21% 19%29%
16%9%20%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%Other/demolition
Civil Engineering
Roadworks
New build-industrial
New build-commercial
New build-housing
Refurb/Rep/Maint-domestic
Refurb/Rep/Maint-nondomestic
2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
Reasons ?Reasons ?
During construction the ‘work place’ and During construction the ‘work place’ and
activities are constantly changing.activities are constantly changing.
Designers are looking ahead to work Designers are looking ahead to work
which will be undertaken by others which will be undertaken by others
(employees/ sub-contractors) in a manner (employees/ sub-contractors) in a manner
managed by others (main contractor).managed by others (main contractor).
Constant Change?Constant Change?
Prototype nature of workPrototype nature of work
Lack of standardisation of componentsLack of standardisation of components
Diverse sites and locations.Diverse sites and locations.
Constantly changing workforce.Constantly changing workforce.
Loss of traditional apprentice trainingLoss of traditional apprentice training
Influx of foreign workers with poor command of EnglishInflux of foreign workers with poor command of English
Pressures to meet deadlines.Pressures to meet deadlines.
Habit of sub-contractingHabit of sub-contracting
Low returns on capital outlayLow returns on capital outlay
Founding LegislationFounding Legislation1974 Health & Safety at Work Act1974 Health & Safety at Work Act
Enables a framework of supporting Enables a framework of supporting ‘Regulations’ with ‘Approved Codes of ‘Regulations’ with ‘Approved Codes of Practice’ for guidance.Practice’ for guidance.
Goal settingGoal setting
European Union Directive ‘Temporary & European Union Directive ‘Temporary & Mobile Construction Sites’Mobile Construction Sites’Takes precedence over UK law Takes precedence over UK law But enacted through UK legislationBut enacted through UK legislation
Main Enabled H & S ‘Regulations’ for Main Enabled H & S ‘Regulations’ for Designers & Managers on Construction Designers & Managers on Construction
Projects. Projects.
Construction (Design & Management) Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2009 “CDM”Regulations 2009 “CDM”
Management of Health and Safety at Work Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 “MHSW”Regulations 1999 “MHSW”
Construction Design & Construction Design & Management RegulationsManagement Regulations
Places a duty on Clients, Designers & Places a duty on Clients, Designers & Contractors to place H&S first, to co-Contractors to place H&S first, to co-ordinate and mange throughout all stages ordinate and mange throughout all stages from inception to completion.from inception to completion.
This includes:This includes:Conception, design & planning, execution of Conception, design & planning, execution of
site works, following maintenance & repair, site works, following maintenance & repair, even to final demolition & removal.even to final demolition & removal.
Duty Holders under CDMDuty Holders under CDM
ClientClient
Planning CoordinatorPlanning Coordinator
DesignersDesigners
Principal ContractorPrincipal Contractor
Other ContractorsOther Contractors
Main Features of CDMMain Features of CDM
Competence & Adequate Resources Competence & Adequate Resources
Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment
Co-operation & Co-ordinationCo-operation & Co-ordination
Production of InformationProduction of Information
H&S Plan - in advance of work happeningH&S Plan - in advance of work happening
H&S File - as an ‘owners’ handbookH&S File - as an ‘owners’ handbook
Management of Health and Safety Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999at Work Regulations 1999
required to undertake Risk Assessments;appoint competent people;set up emergency procedures;provide clear information and training to
employees;work together with other employers
sharing the same workplace.
Risk Assessment Considerations:Risk Assessment Considerations:
What are the hazards? What are the hazards?
Who could be harmed & Who could be harmed & how?how?
What is the risk?What is the risk?
What are you already What are you already doing?doing?
What further action is What further action is necessary?necessary?
By who and when?By who and when?
Hazard is something Hazard is something that can cause HARM!that can cause HARM!
Operatives, Other Operatives, Other workers & the public!workers & the public!
Chance vs. Severity ?Chance vs. Severity ?High / Medium / LowHigh / Medium / Low
Examine your control Examine your control measuresmeasures
Key Issues: Health & Safety in ConstructionKey Issues: Health & Safety in Construction
The Construction Industry is a hazardous The Construction Industry is a hazardous environment;environment;
H&S is everyone’s responsible whether a H&S is everyone’s responsible whether a designer, planner or contractor;designer, planner or contractor;
Every aspect of a project needs to be Every aspect of a project needs to be assessed for risk;assessed for risk;
Control measures need to be in place and Control measures need to be in place and need to be checked & audited.need to be checked & audited.