It falls under the person responsible for managing construction sites to adhere to the appropriate noise legislation. Section 60 and 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 pertain to noise surrounding construction sites, specifically concerning the works regarding the assembly, construction, alteration, repair of maintenance of buildings, structures and roads, in addition to demolition, dredging and engineering. 

 

In the event of construction works, the local authority must be informed of them prior to commencing and will enforce notices of requirements for how these works must be carried out. These will include the specification of plant or machinery to be used, the hours of works taking place and the level of noise allowed to be emitted in the area. 

This also extends to work pertaining to public roads, as road works require particular safety standards in order to secure the health and safety of all involved. 

 

A risk assessment must be conducted on the public road work to ensure that any and all hazards associated with it are identified and control measures are put into place to reduce the likelihood and risk of these hazards as far as reasonably possible. Any pre-existing services must be looked into via survey drawings of the area and appropriately located with CAT scanners, marked and sectioned off to avoid the risk of contact with services. 

Health and safety requirements for work sites ensure the limitations of noise exposure, from the lowest levels to the excessive which would result in permanent damage over time. Noise is measured in decibels (dB(A)), with the lower exposure action value (accepted lower noise limit) is 80dB(A), while the upper exposure action value is 85dB(A). 87dB(A) is the exposure limit value; it must not be exceeded as repeated exposure will surely affect hearing. 

 

Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 state that it is the employer’s responsibility to assess the risk of noise while employees are a work, reduce exposure to these risks, provide hearing protection, maintain the protection and noise limit, provide training to employees and finally to carry out health surveillance on employees. 

 

Loud noises that can affect workers while being used can include power tools, machinery and plant. Hearing loss can occur gradually over time from exposure to noise at work over long a period of time, or from extremely loud sudden noises. This can split into temporary and permanent hearing loss, with temporary loss being a sign that if continued noise exposure occurs, it will result in permanent loss. A side effect of hearing loss can be tinnitus, characterised as a ringing or buzzing noise. If workers have trouble hearing others from at close proximity, it is a sign that ear damage has been sustained. 

While electrical equipment can be useful in site activities, it presents just as much risk of harm and even death if it is not assessed before use. 

 

It is important when working with electrical equipment that the system is isolated and turned off when not in use, as doing so reduces the risk of accidents involving electricity. An electric shock can vary from a minor injury to fatal, especially depending on whether low or high voltage is used. A risk assessment and a safe isolation procedure must be put in place before any work with electrical systems are conducted. 

 

Fuel on site can be flammable liquids, which can spill or leak out and could result in fires and Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosions, and flammable gases that can result in a confined or unconfined explosion. 

 

All fuel must be kept away from all hot works or other activities that could introduce heat to the canisters and thus help to create a fire or explosion. This would include screens for hot works and keeping fuel away from cables which could result in electrical arcs in equipment. Bowsers and tanks are to be typically used for storage of plant fuel, with bowser to be sufficiently grounded so that there is no risk of an imbalance and toppling over, thus reducing the potential hazard of damage to the environment. 

The release of asbestos fibres can cause a great deal of damage to those exposed to it. Emergency procedures must be put in place to limit the potential damage caused. 

 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 is specifically designed to handle the management and working with asbestos in the workplace in order to reduce its severity to all workers in the area. Regulation 15 outlines the arrangements to deal with any accidents, incidents and emergencies pertaining to the accidental release of asbestos fibres. 

 

Should an accidental release occur, the employer must make sure that procedures have been put in place for such an emergency, such as the use of safety drills. Information pertaining to the emergency must always be made available for everyone on site and put into effect in an emergency. 

There are species of plant and animal life in England including their habitats which are protected by law. What can or cannot be done in relation to this can vary. 

 

Protected species are provided with the highest level of protection. This includes: all species of bats; beavers; great crested newts; hazel or common dormice; otters; natterjack toads; some species of reptiles; some species of protected plants; large blue butterflies and sturgeons. 

 

Doing any of the following towards protected species would be considered breaking the law: 

 

This is outlined in the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 which places it as the employer’s duty to provide the relevant, adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel for which to treat injured employees in the event of an incident. 

 

A first aid assessment must be carried out in order to ensure that the necessary equipment and responsibilities are provided in the worksite. 

A first aid box must be provided onsite at all times with the necessary tools and contents needed in accordance with the first aid assessment. The number of first aid boxes will vary on the size of the site. Their contents must be sufficient and appropriate to the work performed. 

Contents may include: 

• A leaflet providing guidance to general first aid 

• Sterile plasters 

• Sterile eye pads 

• Safety pins 

• Triangular bandages, preferably sterile 

• Disposable gloves 

• Medium and large sterile unmedicated wound dressings 

There are laws enforced by the Environment Agency and Local Authorities regarding the proper disposal of waste, including the categories that they fall under. In general, “all waste produced can also present a real safety hazard to workers on site if it is not properly managed throughout the project”. 

 

Before work starts, the management of waste disposal must be decided “in a timely and effective manner”, as well as who will be responsible regarding the collection and disposal of the specific types of waste, providing that the company and individuals are fully aware of these duties. All workers must be made aware of the types of waste, the hazards from mixing them and the proper means of segregation. 

It is therefore important to implement necessary safety precautions as identified on risk assessments, even when working near power lines for a short period of time. 

 

Where it has been identified that power lines are within or immediately next to a site or across any access routes, contact is made with owners of the lines to discuss safety precautions. It may be necessary that power lines need to be diverted or made dead. 

 

Risks from power lines can be eliminated by: 

 Avoidance – can work be undertaken away from power lines? The HSE provides the following advise 

“Make sure materials (such as bales or spoil) are not placed near overhead lines, and 

temporary structures (such as polytunnels) are erected outside safe clearance distances”. 

 Diversion – make arrangements for overhead lines to be diverted away, made dead or isolated before 

work begins. Ensure that work is planned and time is given to arrange diversion of power 

lines.