Common Hazards on Construction Projects and Mitigation Measures

Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees, employees of other companies on their premises and the general public.

Employees and the self-employed have a duty to protect themselves, all other employees, employees of other companies on the premises and the general public.

There are a number of hazards and risks on every construction site. The most common hazards and how they should be mitigated are summarized below:

Slip, Trip and Fall

• positioning equipment to avoid trailing cables or running cables at high level; using cordless tools
• providing designated means of access and walkways and ensuring by frequent inspection that they are kept clear
• ensuring that both inside and outside working areas are adequately lit
• providing adequate signage warning employees of hazards
• ensuring temporary floor covers do not present a risk of tripping for example where mats are used, making sure they are securely fixed
• ensuring a good level of housekeeping to prevent a build-up of rubbish
• clearing up liquid spills and ensuring the availability of spill kits
• planning deliveries to minimize the amount of material on site which should be kept in designated storage areas
• Maintaining areas at the foot of access ladders and stairs in a clean and level condition and ensuring that persons on site have footwear with a good grip.

Dust, Fumes and Vapors

• providing a total enclosure for the process where this is possible
• reducing the quantities of materials being used
• providing adequate dilution or local exhaust ventilation
• the use of damping and/or wet cutting
• minimizing the number of persons exposed and the length of their exposure by the use of job rotation and the provision of frequent breaks
• providing suitable respiratory protective equipment such as air fed or cartridge respirators and other personal protective equipment such as gloves, overalls and eye protection
• providing suitable containers for the storage of materials and waste
• ensuring a good standard of housekeeping including the use of vacuum cleaners
• encouraging employers to adopt a high standard of personal hygiene including hand washing before eating or drinking and showering at the end of the day
• Providing training, information and instruction to employees on the risks associated with the work they are carrying out and the precautions that they should take.

Noise

• completion of a risk assessment (required at or above the lower action level)
• elimination of noise at source or its reduction to as low a level as reasonably practicable
• control of exposure to noise by the implementation of organizational measures such as reducing the time of exposure, or technical measures such as the provision of engineering controls
• the designation and marking of hearing protection zones
• the provision and maintenance of hearing protection and ensuring that it was fully and properly used
• the provision to employees of information, instruction and training on the risks of exposure to noise and the controls that had been introduced
• Undertaking health surveillance where the assessment indicated that this was necessary.

Manual Handling

• Assess the weight
• Plan your lift
• Keep accesses clear
• Lift properly with straightened back and bent knees

Vehicles/Machinery

• All vehicles on site should have amber flashing light bar which are only required to be illuminated when entering, leaving or moving within a site or for TM vehicles conducting mobile lane closure activities
• A mandatory site speed limit of 15mph should be enforced on all sites.
• No delivery vehicles should be permitted to reverse on site or in the depot unless specifically instructed to do so by a trained banksman unless fitted with CCTV.
• Only trained, certified and competent personnel should be permitted to operate machinery.
• Each crane on site should be controlled by a trained banksman who has been nominated by the crane coordinator.
• All vehicles leaving the site from a location which is likely to leave mud on the road, are to be cleaned prior to departure.
• Dust nuisance should be kept to a minimum by the use of water sprays.
• Plant and equipment which incorporates noise suppression facilities should be used.

Scaffolding

• All scaffolding must be erected by a certified scaffolder.
• Don’t remove or alter any part of any scaffold.
• Don’t go on a scaffold showing a RED scaftag.
• Ladders must be tied, long enough and at the correct angle (4 in 1).
• Hoist and platforms must not be used unless operators are fully trained and competent to use this type of plant.

Working at Height

• planning and supervising the project in line with the Work at Height Regulations
• the use of guard rails, toe boards and netting
• the provision of safe means of access and egress by means of a ladder securely tied to prevent movement
• the wearing of harnesses and tool belts
• the use of a hoist to transfer materials and minimizing the amount kept on the working platform
• using employees trained and experienced in the work to be carried out
• ensuring work does not continue in adverse weather conditions.

Excavations

• No excavation should take place without a permit to dig, a trained CAT user and service drawings.
• All excavators must only be operated with an experienced Banksman.
• If the Banksman sees anything suspicious in the excavation, he must stop the excavator and proceed by hand excavation until the object is identified.
• If any suspected contaminated ground is encountered, the Banksman must stop the excavation and contact his supervisor immediately.
• Excavation shall be protected from above when 1.0m deep with a rigid guard rail.
• All excavations must be assessed by the nominated competent person and if required must be shored or battered back and have a rigid barrier to prevent falls into the excavation.
• There must be a safe access into the excavation via a fixed ladder.
• Where services are known or detected with Cable Avoidance Detectors, hand dig should be done to find and check their route.
• Excavations to be backfilled as soon as possible.
• If any sign of chemically contaminated ground is encountered cease work immediately and seek advice from the supervisor.

Overhead Cables

• Prior to any work in the vicinity of overhead cables, the requirements of HSE guidance note GS6 are to be implemented as appropriate.
• Height restriction signs will be erected, and no work will be carried out by plant which could encroach on this exclusion zone.
• Particular caution should be given to long conductive objectives such as pipes, scaffold poles, ladders, levelling staffs, mobile flood lights etc. These must be carried horizontally.

Confined Spaces

• Use of permit to work
• Medically fit, suitable and trained employees to work
• Isolation of incoming services
• Adequate ventilation
• Air tests – before and during work
• Appropriate tools/lighting
• PPE/Breathing apparatus
• Emergency/rescue arrangements
• Communication with the outside
• Means of access and egress
• Exposed services are supported
• Guard-rails to prevent falls
• Provision of toe boards as edge protection
• Side supports e.g., timbering and props

Electrics

• Don’t tamper with or remove covers etc. from electrical equipment
• Keep liquids away from electrical equipment
• Don’t clear blockages from photocopiers, unless competent to do so. If in doubt call of assistance.
• Report any loose connections or defective equipment.

Using Vibrating Tools

• elimination by mechanization or automation
• substituting the tools with lower vibration equipment
• reducing the time of exposure of the operatives by providing frequent breaks and/or job rotation
• modifying the equipment to improve the grip on the tools
• introducing a planned maintenance program for the tools
• providing appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves to keep the hands warm
• introducing a program of health surveillance and providing the employees with information, instruction and training on the hazards associated with the use of the tools and the control measures that should be taken

Storage of Highly Inflammable Liquid

• Ensure that the storage area was sited at a good distance from other buildings, was set on a concrete pad and was preferably bunded.
• The area should be enclosed by a secure fence and gate, protected from impact and clearly marked as to the flammable nature of its contents with a warning that the use of naked flames or combustible materials near to the area was prohibited.
• The storage should be in a well-ventilated area and protected from direct sunlight.
• Finally, firefighting equipment would have to be provided in the storage area together with a spill kit to deal with any spillages that might occur.

Fire

• Inspection and testing of electrical systems
• The use of permits to work for hot work
• Inspecting work areas after the completion of hot works
• Arranging for regular clearing away of accumulated rubbish
• Proper storage of flammable and combustible materials
• Prohibiting bonfires
• Control of smoking, particularly it is prohibited at a place of work
• Avoiding risk of fire by fabricating off site