The potential, and in turn potential exposure to countless hazards within the construction sectors is why ensuring good health and safety within these environments is vital to keeping workers safe. Businesses and companies should take a serious approach to reduce risk, encourage training and provide regular assessments on site.
Exposure to noise, vibration, asbestos, manual handling, and working at heights, all increase the chances of injury for workers and work-related health issues.
Important Health & Safety Regulations for the sector include, but aren’t exclusive to those below:
Working at Height Regulations 2005
Prevention of injury and even death from falling from height is the aim of the Working at Height Regulation 2005. It states that work carried out at heights must be properly planned, and supervised, workers have the correct equipment, and that work is carried out by those who are trained to do so. With employers and those in control carefully assessing the potential risks.
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
The regulations that came into force in July 2005 aimed to protect workers from hand-arm and whole-body vibration, and the potential health risks this exposure can cause. The regulations introduced action values (where something should be done about the levels of vibration), and limit values (where vibration levels should not exceed).
- Exposure action value of 2.5 m/s2 A(8), at this level employers, should introduce technical and organisational measures to reduce the exposure of workers
- Exposure limit value of 5.0 m/s2 A(8) which should not be exceeded
The Health and Safety Executive Guidance (HSG 88) recommends a preventative approach to control the risk of injury. Our HAVS screening service aims to identify exposure, risk, linked diseases, and control measures in place.
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
This regulation recognises that there is irreversible hearing damage when exposed to loud workplace noises. The aim is to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected and to mitigate the chances of hearing loss and/ or suffering from tinnitus. The regulation came into force for all industry sectors in the UK in 2006, apart from the music and entertainment sectors where it came into force in 2008.
Our audiometry health surveillance service aims to assess workers’ hearing over various frequencies to identify issues, or potential issues with their hearing.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
These regulations explain how to avoid, and reduce the risk of injury from lifting and moving objects within the workplace for both employers and employees. For employers, it’s about assessing the risk of injury from manual handling and carrying out the relevant assessments. For employees it’s about taking care of their health and safety, and being sure they follow required rules and training. But also being aware of how their actions may affect the health and safety of others.
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Safety Critical Medicals
Acorn can provide safety-critical medicals for construction, for more advice or information, explore our Safety Critical Medicals service page. For more information on the relevant risk assessments and health surveillance services that can work with your health and safety policies, get in touch. Call us on 01260 277797 or email us at website@acornoh.co.uk