Construction Site Safety
Construction sites can be a minefield when it comes to health and safety. There are numerous hazards and safety risks to be aware of from electricity to plant and vehicles to working at height and many more.
The most common causes of accidents and ill health caused by working on construction sites are:
- Falls
- Mobile plant
- Falling material and collapses
- Electrical accidents
- Trips
- Asbestos
- Manual handling/lifting
- Noise and vibration
- Chemicals
UK law states that health and safety issues should be managed and controlled and whether you’re a small building company or a much larger organisation the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 aims to improve health and safety in the industry by helping you to:
- sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish
- have the right people for the right job at the right time
- cooperate and coordinate your work with others
- have the right information about the risks and how they are being managed
- communicate this information effectively to those who need to know
- consult and engage with workers about the risks and how they are being managed
Every worker on site should be given an induction specific to the site, highlighting particular risks that they should be aware of. Inductions should consider:
- Senior management commitment to health and safety
- Outline of the project
- Management of the project
- First-aid arrangements
- Acccident and incident reporting arrangements
- Arrangements for briefing workers on an ongoing basis, e.g. toolbox talks
- Arrangements for consulting the workforce on health and safety matters
- Individual worker’s responsibility for health and safety
If you would like further information or advice on health and safety on your construction site, please contact us.