OUR BLOG 

 
Below are a number of posts containing useful tips and insights from the Directors of Auxil Limited, acknowledged industry experts and trusted advisors in the fields of Health & Safety and Human Resources, which will hopefully trigger some thoughts or ideas. 
 
Why not join the conversation? We would love to hear your views… 

Posts tagged “Risk Assessment control measures”

Working with electricity on construction sites requires the correct precautions to be taken by both site manager and operatives in order to ensure a safe and sufficient system of work for all involved. 
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. 
The storage of fuel on construction sites must be secured at all times, as all fuel is flammable and even combustible depending on the particular fuel substances and requirements needed for such a reaction. 
 
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 HSE states that “Accidental contact with live overhead power lines kills people and causes many serious injuries every year. People are also harmed when a person or object gets too close to a line and a flashover occurs. Work involving high vehicles or long equipment is particularly high risk”. 
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. 
Most employers throughout the UK understand, more than ever, how important the Health and Safety of their workforce is, with this in mind our focus this month is on health and safety training and why it is important. 
In the first instance, it is a legal requirement that employees are competent to undertake required tasks in a safe way. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (HSWA) 1974 states that employers need to provide whatever information, instruction, training and supervision is necessary to ensure, "so far as is reasonably practicable", the safety of their employees and others affected by their activities. 
 
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999, outlines where safety training is most important, e.g. when people start work, on exposure to new or increased risks and update skills and knowledge where needed. The MHSWR require employees to consider the capabilities, training, knowledge and experience of workers and ensure that the demands of their work do not exceed their ability to carry out their role without risk to themselves and others. 

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