Saturday 17 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - Work Engagement

Worker engagement

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

How do the CDM Regulations encourage better worker engagement?

Regulation 24 places a duty on principal contractors to make and maintain arrangements to enable effective cooperation between all parties on site, and to consult with all workers on site. Consultation means not only giving information to workers, but also listening and taking account of what workers say, before making health and safety decisions. Part of the purpose of consultation is to make sure the measures taken on site to protect workers’ health and safety are effective.

Principal contractors are encouraged to develop a variety of methods of communication and consultation with the workforce to develop collaboration and trust. When matters of concern are raised by workers these should be actioned and feedback given. Evidence that this is happening provides assurance that effective worker engagement is in place.

Involving the workforce in identifying and controlling risks is crucial in preventing accidents. Whether projects are notifiable or not, contractors have a duty in regulation 13 to inform workers of their procedures for stopping work in the event of serious and imminent danger, and to provide training where necessary. This should make sure

workers are willing and able to intervene to prevent an accident sequence developing.

Source HSE

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Thursday 15 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - The plan and the file

The plan and the file

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

What is the difference between a construction phase plan and a health and safety file?

The construction phase plan is prepared by the principal contractor, for notifiable projects, to outline the arrangements for managing health and safety on site during construction work.

The health and safety file is prepared or revised by the CDM co-ordinator, for notifiable projects. It will require the CDM co-ordinator to liaise with the client, designers, principal contractor and contractors. The file will contain information necessary for future construction, maintenance, refurbishment or demolition to be carried out safely, and is retained by the client or any future owner of the property. (Where a client gets non-notifiable work done, and a health and safety file already exists for the premises, it should be updated if necessary.) The file should be a useful and valuable document for the client.

Source HSE

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CDM Regs FAQ - Duties of the Principal Contractor

What are the main duties of the principal contractor?

The main duties of the principal contractor are to:

  • plan, manage and monitor the construction phase to make sure, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health or safety
  • ensure adequate welfare facilities for those working on the site
  • draw up and implement the site rules as necessary
  • draw up and implement the construction phase health and safety plan
  • provide a suitable site induction and make sure those working on site have received the training they need to carry out the work safely and without risks to health
  • make sure the site is suitably fenced and prevent unauthorised people from entering the site
  • ensure co-operation between those working on the site, and that work is co-ordinated in such a way as to prevent danger
  • ensure suitable arrangements for effective consultation with the workforce
  • ensure the right health and safety information is provided to the right people at the right time

Source HSE

For more information on the Principal contractor click here

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Wednesday 14 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - information on HSE Notification / F10

FAQs relevant to both the electronic and manual F10 forms

When must I complete an F10 form?

You should complete an F10 form when you think you are undertaking a project that will last more than 30 days or involve more than 500 person days. This is a legal requirement under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. An F10 does not need to be filled in for domestic projects.

What information must I provide to HSE?

The exact information that you must provide to HSE is outlined in Schedule I of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2007. On both the E-Form and the manual F10 forms, the information you must provide is marked with an asterisk (*).

Source HSE

To read more information on Notification/F10 click here

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Tuesday 13 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - What are the CDM Regulations about?

What are the CDM Regulations about?

The CDM 2007 Regulations are about focusing attention on effective planning and management of construction projects, from design concept onwards. The aim is for health and safety considerations to be treated as a normal part of a project’s development, not an afterthought or bolt-on extra. The object of the CDM 2007 Regulations is to reduce the risk of harm to those that have to build, use, maintain and demolish structures.

Source HSE

To read more on this subject click here

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Monday 12 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - Who are Domestic Clients

Domestic clients

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

What is the definition of a domestic client?

The CDM Regulations 2007 define ‘client’ as a person who in the course or furtherance of a business seeks or accepts the services of someone to help carry out a project, or carries out a project themselves. Domestic clients are people who have work done to their own home or the home of a family member (which they live in or will live in), that does not relate to a trade or business, whether for profit or not. Local authorities, housing associations, charities, landlords and other businesses may own domestic property but they are not domestic clients.

Note: See separate questions for property developers and management companies.

It is the status of the person procuring the work that will determine if the Regulations apply, not the nature of the premises. For example, where alterations are carried out on a domestic house to improve disabled access, and that work is procured by a local authority, then the client will be the local authority and CDM client duties will apply, even though the work is being done in domestic premises for the benefit of the householder.

Source HSE

To read more about domestic clients click here

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Sunday 11 March 2012

CDM Regs FAQ - Designer

Designers

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

Am I a designer?

To be a designer you have to be in a trade, business, or undertaking that involves you in preparing designs. In the Regulations the term ’designer’ relates to the function performed, rather than the profession or job title. So, for a construction project there could be ’traditional’ designers, such as architects, structural engineers and civil engineers, a design and build contractor etc. Building services engineers/consultants and quantity surveyors etc are also designers. You will also be a designer if you prepare drawings, specifications and bills of quantities.

Source HSE For information on CDM Regs and who is a designer click here

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CDM Regs FAQ - Main duties of contractors

Contractors

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

What are the main duties of contractors under the CDM Regulations?

Contractors must co-operate with each other and with the principal contractor to co-ordinate their work activities. (This applies to adjoining sites as well as the project they are directly involved in.) Contractors should be competent for the work they are doing; plan, manage and monitor their own work to ensure health and safety; and provide suitable information and training for their workers to ensure their health and safety.

As a contractor, what should I do if the job is not notifiable and there is no principal contractor?

The contractor will be required to:

* inform the client of the their CDM 2007 duties if this has not already been done
* plan, manage and monitor the construction work to make sure it is carried out without risks to health and safety
* provide information, training and a suitable site induction for their workforce
* make sure the site is suitably fenced and prevent access by unauthorised persons
* ensure adequate welfare facilities for those working on the site

Source HSE

To read more on contractors duties under CDM Regs click here

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CDM Regs FAQ - Is Competence is a key issue in the CDM

Competence

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

I have heard that competence is a key issue in the CDM Regulations. Why is this?

CDM 2007 competence is about being able to do your work safely, not endanger others and meet the legal health and safety requirements. There is justifiable emphasis on competence, because competent people are generally recognised as safer.

The duties in the Regulations work both ways. People making appointments have to take reasonable steps to make sure those appointed are competent for what they are expected to do. Likewise, those accepting such appointments should only do so if they are competent to undertake the activity.

What is the definition of competence?

To be competent an organisation or individual must have:

* sufficient knowledge of the tasks to be undertaken and the risks involved
* the experience and ability to carry out their duties in relation to the project, to recognise their limitations and take appropriate action to prevent harm to those carrying out construction work, or those affected by the work

Sourse HSE To read more on competence and the CDM Regs click here

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CDM Regs FAQ - Clients

As a client, what do I have to do to comply with regulation 9 of CDM 2007?

You need to make sure that:

 designers, contractors and other team members that you engage are competent, adequately resourced and appointed early enough for the work they have to do
 you allow sufficient time for each stage of the project, from concept onwards
 you co-operate with others involved with the project to allow other dutyholders to comply with their duties under the Regulations
 you co-ordinate your own work with others involved with the project to ensure the safety of those carrying out the construction work, and others who may be affected by it
 there are suitable management arrangements in place throughout the project to make sure the construction work can be carried out safely and without risk to health – this does not mean managing the work yourself, as it is unlikely that clients have the expertise and resources needed, and it can cause confusion
 your contractors have made arrangements for suitable welfare facilities to be provided from the start and throughout the construction phase
 any fixed workplaces (eg offices, shops, factories, schools) which are to be constructed will comply, in respect of their design and the materials used, with any requirements of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
 relevant information likely to be needed by designers, contractors or others to plan and manage their work is passed to them

Source HSE To read more about CDM Clients click here

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CDM Regs FAQ - CDM co-ordinators

The main duties of CDM co-ordinators are to advise and assist the client in meeting their duties as a client under the Regulations, in particular the duty to:

 appoint competent designers and contractors
 make sure adequate arrangements are in place for managing the project
 notify HSE about the project
 co-ordinate design work, planning and other preparation for construction, where relevant to health and safety
 identify and collect the pre-construction information and advise the client if surveys need to be commissioned to fill significant gaps
 provide promptly – and in a convenient form – to those involved with the design of the structure, and to every contractor (including the principal contractor) who may be or has been appointed by the client, such parts of the pre-construction information as are relevant
 manage the flow of health and safety information between clients, designers and contractors
 advise the client on the suitability of the initial construction phase plan and the arrangements made to ensure welfare facilities are on site from the start
 produce or update a relevant user-friendly health and safety file suitable for use at the end of the construction phase

Source HSE

To read more about CDM co-ordinators click here

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Saturday 10 March 2012

COSHH frequently asked questions

COSHH frequently asked questions

Contents

 COSHH assessment
 Safety data sheets
 Keeping records
 Working with hazardous substances
 Training

COSHH assessment

I have just completed COSHH essentials, is this sufficient to use as my COSHH assessment?

COSHH essentials produces generic advice. The legal requirement is that the risk assessment must be suitable and sufficient, so check that the downloaded sheets fully describe the task you do. If so, follow the advice in the sheets. Otherwise, think about how else you could use the advice to avoid workers health being harmed. You should take into account any information you have on levels of exposure, such as the results of monitoring, or health checks.

Source HSE

For further information click here



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Complaints about workplace health and safety

Complaints about workplace health and safety

 Is HSE the correct enforcing authority for you?
 How can you resolve your concerns?
 Reporting your complaint about workplace health and safety to HSE
 What happens after a complaint is made to HSE?
 What we will do
 How will you know what has happened as a result of your complaint?

The law requires employers and the self-employed to conduct their business in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons affected are not exposed to risks to their health or safety. This includes providing essential welfare facilities for employees.

Sourse HSE

To read more on this subject click here



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Asbestos-related lung cancer

Asbestos-related lung cancer

Summary

Asbestos has been recognised as an important risk factor for lung cancer for many years. However, there are a number of other agents that can cause the disease - most importantly, tobacco smoke - and lung cancers resulting from asbestos exposure are clinically indistinguishable from those caused by these other agents. This means that the total number of asbestos related lung cancers has to be derived from statistical estimates based on evidence from epidemiological studies rather than direct counting of individual cases.

Source HSE

To read more on this subject click here



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ALARP "at a glance"

ALARP and SFAIRP

“ALARP” is short for “as low as reasonably practicable”. “SFAIRP” is short for “so far as is reasonably practicable”. The two terms mean essentially the same thing and at their core is the concept of “reasonably practicable”; this involves weighing a risk against the trouble, time and money needed to control it. Thus, ALARP describes the level to which we expect to see workplace risks controlled.

Source HSE

For a fuller discription of the ALARP principle please click here



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Health and Safety and Drug Misuse

Current legal base and any legal developments

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, section 2

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

It is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for any person knowingly to permit the production, supply or use of controlled substances on their premises except in specified circumstances (e.g. when they have been prescribed by a doctor).

Key messages

Drug and other substance (e.g. solvent) misuse is everyone's concern. In the context of work, not only does it damage the misuser's health, but it can cost employers through absenteeism and reduced productivity.


The HSE provide more information on this subject, click here



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Tuesday 24 January 2012

Lead and You - The Risks

This is a useful document (INDG 305) by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Working safely with lead

Working with lead can affect your health. This leaflet tells you about:

■ health problems that can occur if you absorb too much lead;
■ what your employer should do to protect your health;
■ precautions you should take.

Click Here to Read More > Lead and You


Source HSE

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Leptospirosis Are You at Risk?

This is a useful document (INDG 84) by the UK Health and Safety Executive.


What is leptospirosis?

Two types of leptospirosis infection can affect workers in the UK.

■■ Weil’s disease:
This is a serious and sometimes fatal infection that is transmitted to humans by contact with urine from infected rats.

■■ The Hardjo form of leptospirosis:
This is transmitted from cattle to humans.

Click Here to Read More > Leptospirosis


Source HSE

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Gas Safety - Engineers

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Gas safety - Engineers

Click here > Gas safety - Engineers



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Gas Safety - Landlord and Letting Agents

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Gas safety - landlords and letting agents

Who is a landlord?

Click here > Gas safety - Landlord


Source HSE

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