HSE is undertaking its annual refurbishment initiative between 14 September and 9 October 2015.
During this period, inspectors will be targeting visits to sites where refurbishment work is being carried out, focussing on the main causes of accidents and ill-health in this high risk sector. These include
- work at height
- site good order
- welfare
- exposure to carcinogens such as silica and asbestos
- manual handling
- noise
- vibration
- exposure to other hazardous substances
During last year’s campaign, 35% of all enforcement notices served were for health issues, and inspectors will again be prioritising the management and control of health risks.
Where serious breaches of legislation are found then immediate enforcement action will be taken, but inspectors will also be taking steps to secure a positive change in behaviour to ensure on going compliance. They will also follow up health and safety breaches with clients and designers to reinforce their duties under CDM 2015 and to ensure that all dutyholders with on site health and safety responsibilities understand and fulfil these.
A national interiors fit-out company, previously prosecuted by HSE, is backing the refurbishment initiative and calling on their construction colleagues to act now to improve standards and reduce the number of deaths, injuries and cases of ill-health in their industry.
Follow the SaferSites Facebook page to access photographs and updates during the initiative.
2. CDM 2015
CDM 2015 – Transitional arrangements coming to an end on 5 October 2015
As the end of the transitional arrangements period under CDM 2015 (6 April 2015 – 5 Oct 2015) draws nearer, we have been asked the following question by some involved with projects that spanned 6 April where a CDM co-ordinator was appointed before that date and has continued to have effect through the transitional arrangements period:
Q. If our project runs beyond 5 Oct 2015, must a principal designer be appointed, or can we continue with the services of the CDM co-ordinator until the end of the project?
A. The law requires that CDM co-ordinator appointments must come to an end by 6 Oct and a principal designer must be appointed in writing by that date, even if the project only has a matter of weeks to run before it reaches completion after that date. The law also states that if a client fails to appoint a principal designer, then the client automatically assumes the principal designer role. If a project runs beyond 5 Oct but is near to completion and the client believes that all design work has ended, then they may decide not to appoint a third party as principal designer and assume the role themselves, in the knowledge that they would have very little, if anything at all, to do. This is a pragmatic solution to what is likely to be a common occurrence.
However, if there is still ongoing design work, then a principal designer must be appointed, whether that be a third party or a role assumed by the client. As at any other time, the principal designer must have the required skills, knowledge and experience to take on and fulfil the role.
It should be noted that it is not a requirement for CDM co-ordinators who were in post on 6 April to continue right up to 5 Oct (a principal designer could of course have been appointed any time during the transitional period) and the Regulations and HSE’s legal series guidance (L153) have been available since January 2015, to allow industry to plan for the changes, including the transitional arrangements.
Guidance on CDM 2015 is available as follows
L153 – Managing health and safety in construction – CDM 2015: Guidance on Regulations
INDG411 – Need building work done? A short guide for clients on CDM 2015 (rev)
Construction Phase Plan for small projects (CDM 2015) – CIS80
Industry guidance for dutyholders
CITB CDM wizard app for a construction phase plan
Please note that HSC are starting to remove the current CDM 2007 webpages and plan to remove them all by October 2015.
3. RECENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
A round up of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and links to relevant advice.
Fragile roofs/surfaces
05/08/15: Roofing contractor fined after employee fell through fragile roof
31/08/15: Solar panel installation company fined after worker falls through roof-light
14/09/15: Freight trailer firm fined for dangerous work at height
Further information
Free leaflet – Fragile roofs
Busy Builder leaflet –Fragile roofs: What you need to know as a busy builder, contractor or maintenance worker
Busy Builder leaflet – Fragile roofs: What you need to know as a building owner, user or managing agent
Solar panel installation – What you need to know to work safely
Working at height
28/08/15: Brothers sentenced over unsafe work at height
Further information
Construction Safety Topic – Assessing all work at height
Free leaflet – Roofwork – what you need to know as a busy builder
Protecting the public
28/08/15: Council fined for safety failings after child was injured
Further information
Construction Safety Topic – Protecting the public
Asbestos
19/08/15: Two companies fined for serious breaches in the removal of asbestos
26/08/15: Company fined for sale of boilers containing asbestos
Further information
4. HEALTH AND SAFETY EVENTS
Improve the health and safety of your business by attending a health and safety event near you. Most of the Working Well Together (WWT) events we list are FREE and all provide an opportunity to meet like-minded people, see interesting new equipment and get confidential advice.
Find your nearest WWT Group and get involved.
Bookings are now being taken for the following FREE WWT events
23 September 2015 – Construction Safety Awareness event, Chorley
24 September 2015 – Temporary Works, Aberdeen
9 October 2015 – Working at height, Newark
13 October 2015 – Construction Safety Awareness event, Ipswich
14 October 2015 – Challenges for Construction seminar, Bangor
Other events
2 March 2016 – Listen Up conference, Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport
To coincide with World Hearing Day 2016, the Inaugural European Hearing Conservation Conference is the first of its kind in the UK and across Europe in bringing together a variety of disciplines and interested parties involved in hearing conservation in order to share ideas and drive change for the better in our workplaces.
5. NEWS & PUBLICATIONS.
HSE
Domestic loft conversions – What you need to know as a busy builder – essential top tips for running a safe loft conversion project
New case studies – Leadership and Worker Involvement Toolkit – Five smaller construction businesses spent more than a year working with HSE to apply some of the key principles which are outlined in the toolkit. These 5 case studies tell the story, what the problems were, what the businesses did, and what outcomes they achieved. Five very positive stories of business improvement through better leadership and worker involvement, in health and safety.
INDUSTRY
2015 Ladder Exchange – 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2015
The Ladder Exchange allows users to exchange old and/or defective ladders for safe new ones – at a discount – at any of the scheme’s participating partners located throughout the UK.