Health & Safety in Construction 4A7 Design & the Built Environment John O’Connor

2 Legislation/Regulations  Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005  Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007  Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006  EC Council Directive 92/57/EEC  HSA Guidelines

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4 Main Causes of Fatalities in Construction  Falling from a height; (approx. 50%)  Being struck by moving, often reversing, vehicles  Being struck by falling objects or collapsing structures  Burial in a trench  Contact with overhead electric lines

5 Common Types of Non Fatal Injuries In descending order:  Physical stress or strain due to lifting, pushing, pulling of loads  Slips, trips and falls on the level  Struck by fall or collapse of material or structure  Falling from a height

6 Those responsible for Health and Safety 6 Client Designers The PSDP Contractors The PSCS Site Operatives

7  Appoint Project Supervisor for Design Process (PSDP)  Appoint Project Supervisor for Construction Stage (PSCS)  Must ascertain suitability of PSDP, PSCS, and designers  Keep Safety File and make Available  Notify the Health & Safety Authority of appointments of PSDP and PSCD 1. DUTIES OF CLIENT 77

8 Notification to Health & Safety Authority Notifiable Works are as follows: More than 30 Days or More than 500 Person Days Rule - 30 Day/500 Person Notice Also Required on Site

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10 Identify Hazards Arising from the Design, Technical, Organisational, Planning or Time- Related Aspects Eliminate Hazards, or Reduce the Risk Communicate Necessary Control Measures to the PSCS Liaise with and Co-Ordinate Designers vis-à- vis Safety and Health Estimate Programme for Construction 2a. DUTIES OF PROJECT SUPERVISOR DESIGN PROCESS (PSDP) 10

11 Take Account of General Principles of Prevention Produce Preliminary Safety & Health Plan Prepare Safety File Notify Authority and Client of Non- Compliance with Written Directions Duties of Project Supervisor Design Process (Contd.) 11

12 Preliminary Safety & Health Plan General Description  Name of Client  Name of PSDP  Description of Construction Work  Location  Estimated Time Scale of Project Names & Responsibilities of Project Team

13 Preliminary Safety & Health Plan (Cont.d) Information on Particular Risks Possible Recommendations  Specific, Existing Drawings, Phasing of Works  Existing Environment, Liaison Arrangements Any Other Work Taking Place on Site

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15 2b. DUTIES OF DESIGNERS Take account of General Principles of Prevention Identify hazards that design may present during construction or maintenance Where possible, eliminate hazards or reduce the risk Communicate controls, assumptions or remaining risks to PSDP for inclusion in Safety and Health Plan Co-operate with other designers and the PSDP or PSCS Take Account of Any Relevant Safety and Health Plan or Safety File Comply with directions issued by PSDP or PSCS Inform client that PSDP must be appointed where one has not been appointed

16 General Principles of Prevention (Listed in Schedule 3 of the Safety, Health & Welfare of Work Act 2005) The Principles of Prevention are a hierarchy of risk elimination and reduction. Eliminating hazards and reducing risk, if feasible, at design stage is the first step in managing safety and health on construction projects. All designers must take into account the risks on the project relevant to areas of concern and consider these with respect to the potential hazards generated by the design process for construction workers, end users, and members of the public.

17 Edge Protection

18  Avoidance of Risks  Evaluation of Unavoidable Risks  Combating Risks at Source  Adaptation of Work to the Individual  Adaptation of Place of Work to Technical Progress  Replacement of Dangerous Articles, Substances or Systems of Work  Develop Prevention Policy  Prioritize Collective Protection Measures over Individual  Training and Instructing of Employees General Principles of Prevention

19 Avoidance of Risks e.g. use piled foundations instead of deep trench or pad, selecting non- fragile roofing materials if appropriate. Evaluation of Unavoidable Risks i.e. evaluating the likely consequences of such risks Combating Risks at Source e.g. by specifying brush application of treatment rather than spraying to reduce solvent exposure Adaptation of Work to the Individual e.g. the choice of work equipment and the choice of systems of work with a view to alleviating monotonous work General Principles of Prevention

20 General Principles of Prevention (Cont.d) Adaptation of Place of Work to Technical Progress - often offers opportunities for safe and more efficient working methods Replacement of Dangerous Articles, Substances or Systems of Work e.g. replacing solvent based paints with water based ones where practicable Develop Prevention Policy - the safety and health plan should act as the focus for the co- ordination of the various contractor prevention policies.

21 General Principles of Prevention (Cont.d) Prioritise Collective Protection Measures over Individual e.g. the provision of guard rails on walkways rather than relying on safety harnesses Training and Instructing of Employees

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23 3a. DUTIES OF PROJECT SUPERVISOR CONSTRUCTION STAGE Co-ordinate the Implementation of the Construction Regulations by Contractors Organise Co-operation between Contractors and the provision of Information Co-ordinate Reporting of Accidents to the Authority Notify Authority before Commencement if job is more than 500 person days or 30 working days

24 Duties of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (Contd.) Provide Information to Site Safety Representative Co-ordinate the Checking of Safe Working Procedures Co-ordinate Measures to Restrict Entry onto Site Co-ordinate the Provision and Maintenance of Welfare Facilities Co-ordinate Arrangements to ensure workers have appropriate Safety Awareness Cards

25 Duties of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (Contd.) Appoint Safety Adviser where site has more than 100 persons Provide all necessary safety file information to the PSDP Monitor the Compliance of Contractors and Others Notify Authority & Client of Non-Compliance PSCS may Issue Directions to Designers or Contractors

26 PLANT

27 3b. DUTIES OF CONTRACTORS Provide Promptly to PSCS Appropriate Information Provide PSCS with Copy of Safety Statement Co-Operate with PSCS Take Directives from PSCS Provide PSCS with Information on any Accident Requiring Notification to HSA

28 Safety Officer Appointment by Contractor when more than 20 persons under their control Safety – Advises Contractor of Health & Safety Supervise Safety on Site

29 Safe Pass

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31 Safety & Health Plan Construction Stage Names and Responsibilities of Project Team Overview of Project Other Work Activities Activities with Particular Risks General Arrangements Information for Contractors

32 Safety & Health Plan Construction Stage (Cont’d) On-Going Communications and Co-Operation Accident and Emergency Procedures Reporting on Accidents, etc Information and Training for People on Site Consultation with People on Site Arrangements for Monitoring Project Review

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34 Safety File Construction Drawing, Specification etc. General Design Criteria Details of Equipment of Maintenance Facilities

35 Safety File (Cont’d) Maintenance Procedures Manuals – Operating and Maintenance Procedures Details of Location and Nature of Utilities and Services, Incl. Emergency and Fire Fighting System

Thank You. Any Questions?