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NEBOSH International
Certificate
Day 8
Programme for Today
Contractors (Revision).
Frameworks of Enforcement in
Construction.
Construction Hazards:
Work at height.
Excavations.
Demolition.
Psychosocial Hazards.
Revision the Client and Contractor
The management of contractors is now relevant
to construction healt h and safety.
Does the contractor definition still apply here?
Any person who carries on a trade or business or other
undertaking, whether for profit or not, in connection with
which they undertake to do or does manage construction
work, or arranges for any person at work under their
control (including any employee, where they are an
employer) to carry out or manage construction work. This
definition can therefore be applied to the self-employed.
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Revision the Client and Contractor
The contr actor worker engaged by a client to perform a
task, including a large responsibility to directing and
supervising the work. Work done under their own direction
or arrange for other people under their control to do it.
Historically, a common arrangement in construction, but
now often found in other areas of special expertise.
The duties of a contractor are similar to those of an employer.
Revision the Client and Contractor
Select types of contract:
Labour only, e.g. agency staff
- treat as employees.
Fixed price, e.g. cleaning,
repair and maintenance.
Separate sites - usually
construction (puts greater
onus on the contractor) .
The client - responsible for workplace and environment,
and as an employer to his own workers.
The contr actor - responsible for the job, and as an
employer to his own workers.
Revision the Client and Contractor
Planning and Co-ordination of Contracted Work
Client specifies details of the task and addresses
H&S issues hazards identified, risk assessment
and controls required.
Shoul d identify who is responsible.
Client lays down general H&S standards and
conditions.
Contractor provi des risk assessment and method
statement (may be written into contract).

Revision the Client and Contractor

Exchange Information
Information must be exchanged
on the risks arising from the
clients undertakings and arising
from the contractors activities.
Risk assessments and planning
(method statements) must be
carried out befor e the contract is
finalised.
Revision - the Client and Contractor
The client must monitor the work
to ensure safety.
He must avoid training or
instructing.
Auditing agai nst agreed method
statements is a good technique.
The client can stop the work if it
uses unsafe practices.
Monitor and control of contractors:
Revision the Client and Contractor
During the Work Itself
The client has general responsibility for the workplace where
contract work is being done. Arrangements for contractor
compliance by means of:
Signing in and out procedure.
Contractor provides a named person as site contact.
Site induction for all contractor workers.
Use of permit-to-work system.
Additional points:
Monitoring contractor performance.
Review of procedures.
Check changes of personnel on-site.
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Shared Responsibilities - Joint Occupation
There should be:
Co-operation and co- ordination
to enabl e legal duties to be
fulfilled, especially fire
precautions.
Take reasonable steps to keep
other businesses informed of
risks to their workers health
and safety.
In shared premises, the activities of one company
may have a direct effect on another .
NEBOSH International
Certificate
Principles of
Construction
What ILO Standar ds Are Ther e?
The Safety and Healt h in Construction Convention
1988 (C167).
This is supported by the Safety and Health in
Construction Recommendation 1988 (R175) and
code of practice.
Principles of Construction
What is Construction?
Construction is all work on a structure
from the beginning to the end of its life
and includes building, maintenance and
demolition.
It is consistently high-risk work.
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Specific Construction Risks
What are the specific risk areas?
Stacking and storage.
General storage.
Storage of flammables and combustibles.
Machinery and vehicles.
Site security.
Electricity.
Slips, trips and falls.
We will then cover working at height and excavations.
Stacking and Storage
General Stacking:
Stacks kept as small as practical -
adequate space - vertical, not
leaning.
Keep away from walls.
Keep off floors with pallets.
Stacks must not block light or fire-
fighting equipment.
Different types of containers -
separately stacked.
Stacking and Storage
For General St orage:
Storage areas - not shared with other activities.
Design - allow adequate space for movement of
vehicles and people, and removal of materials.
Areas kept clean, tidy and no obstruction of access.
Mixed materials should be segregated. Hazardous
substances dont store incompatible substances
together.
Warning signs for special dangers, access
restrictions, wearing of PPE and restrictions on
smoking.
Adequate fire provisions and safe electrical systems.
No public access, secure and vandal resistant.

Flammable and Combustible Materials

Additional Requirements:
Flammables and oxygen cylinders - store separately.
External open-air stores at least 3 metres away from
buildings. Use security fence.
Internal stores - made of fire-resistant materials and wel l
ventilated.
Separate buil dings for volat ile, flammable mater ials.
Stores should be marked with hazard information.
Sources of ignition should be excluded.
Electrical equipment be of standard related to risk.
Fire-fight ing and detection systems in good condition.
Inspect regularly, planned maintenance and housekeeping.
Machinery and Vehicles
Specific risks include:
Contact with moving parts.
Overturning of vehic les.
Dust, noise and vibration.
Broadly, hazards can be mechanical or non-mechanical
in nature.
Fixed plant is heavy and dangerous.
Preventative measures:
Warning signs and fixed guards.
Marked traffic routes and separate
pedestrian access.
Physical controls and PPE.
Site Security
Unfenced sites offer no security against the public,
children, vandals and thieves, who may gain entry.
Direct risk to person gaining entry and to site personnel
due to tampering with site equipment.
Preventative Meas ures
Provide barriers and perimeter fencing.
Keep entrances locked/guarded. Use
CCTV, alarms and lighting.
Keep site clear of dangerous equipment
and substances.
Cover or section off excavations.
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Electricity
Common Hazards:
Trailing cables from
portable tools or generator
supply. Can be cut or
damaged by vehicles
passing.
Unsafe electrical equipment
can injure operators or
others.
Contact with overhead
power lines.
Preventative Meas ures:
Good management of
project and site to locate
buried cables and controls
where and when other
cables are laid.
Use of circuit beakers, low
voltage circuits or non-
electrical equipment.
Use of goalposts and good
mobile cranes management.
Slips, Trips and Falls
Ground level working - surface may be
uneven or slippery (mud) or there may
be trailing cables.
Also, risks from falling into holes and
excavations or being hit by falling items.
Head protection should be worn.
(We will deal with this again later.)
N.B. We dealt with Management of Contractors in week 1.
Working Above Ground Level
Accidents involving falls can be prevented
with proper job planning, SSWs and correct
equipment.
Work at Height
Roofwork - almost 20% of all construction deaths
arise from falls from/through roofs.
Falls through fragile materials, e.g. roof lights and
asbestos-cement sheets, bring about the greatest
number of deaths.
Much construction work is done at heights.
Falls are the largest cause of accidental death and major
injury. Falling objects can kill and injure those below.
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Working at Height
Imposes a hierarchy of control for
all work at height:
Avoid work at height.
Prevent falls if cant avoid work at
height.
Minimise distance and consequence of
possible fall if cant prevent work at
height.
Also requires risk assessment,
planning and provision of training
and informati on.
Working at Height
Principal hazar ds:
Roofwork - fall of a person.
Deterioration of materials.
Unprotected edges.
Unstable access equipment.
Weather.
Falls of objects or materials
onto people below.
Working at Height
Roofwork
Work includes construction and maintenance.
The most frequent accidents are during small routine jobs with
inadequate equipment, and done in a hurry.
Types of Roof
Fragile roofs made of cement, asbestos,
glass, reinforced plastics and T/G wood with
felting over. Use ladder and crawling board.
Sloping roofs pitch greater than 10 degrees.
Injuries because of acceleration down roof
surface, and projection over side.
Principal Hazards

Roofwork
Principal Hazards
Falling from unprotected
edge.
Falling through fragile
roof or through skylight .
Falling objects.
Roofwork - continued
Roofwork - continued
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Roofwork - continued
Roofwork - continued
Roofwork - continued
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Working at Height
Deteriorati on of Materials
Structure should be sound.
Environment may cause deterioration, e.g.
weather, cold, heat and attack by insects.
Hazards
Fall through surface of roof.
Broken materials falling and hitting people.
Unprot ected Edges
When edges are open, the risk of falls is increased.
Working at Height
What do You Mean Guardrail?
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Working at Height
Unstable Access Equipment
Examples are scaffolding, towers, platforms and ladders.
Inherent risks may be compounded if not stable or secured.
Scaffolding: incorrect erection.
Ladders and step ladders:
Not tied.
Warping of wooden ladders.
Weather
Slippery surfaces due to rain, dew,
frost, snow and ice.
Wind may also affect unstable
materials in sheet form.
Falling Materials
Brickguard They may cause damage to
people and other materials.
Materials falling may be loose
structural objects:
Tiles.
Bricks.
Timbers.
Waste materials (stone
chippings, wood offcuts
and tools).
Falling Materials
Contribut ory circumstances:
Structural deterioration.
Negligent storage.
Accumulation of waste.
Gaps in platforms.
Unprotected open edges.
Incorrect method of obtaini ng
materials from ground level.
Incorrect method of returni ng
materials to ground level. (See
illustration).
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Working at Height
A hierarchy is recommended:
Adoption of physical safeguards to
prevent falls.
Personnel equipment, such as rope
access and boatswains chairs.
Fall-arrest equipment in the event of
a fall, e.g. safety harnesses, nets or
associated equipment.
Precautions to Prevent Falls and Falli ng Materials
Applications include: guardrails, fencing and toeboards;
working platforms; ladder hoops; fall-arrest and suspended
access equipment; protection from falling materials.
Working at Height
Toeboards and brickguar ds
both stop materials from falling.
What are toeboards made of?
They prevent small objects from
being kicked off.
Brickguards prevent larger
material from falling they also
help to prevent people falling.

Toeboard
I ntermediate
Guardrail
Main
Guardrail
Guardr ails, Fenci ng and Toeboards
Guardr ails - designed to stop people from falling.
Guardrails on a Scaffol d Pl atform
Guardrails
At least 950 mm
Toeboard at least
150mm
Gap not more than
470 mm
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Working at Height
Basic requirements:
Wide enough for free passage.
Capable to bear required loads.
Supporting framework to be strong
enough for purpose and be stable.
(Decide at design stage and
monitor/inspect).
Surface to be made of boards placed
close together, preventing gaps, trip
hazards and materials falling through.
Working Platforms on Scaffold Tower
Boards rest on scaffold framework. End and toeboards help secure them.
Working at Height
Fall-Arrest and Suspended Access Equipment
Second choice in hi erarchy of measures.
Ladder Hoops
Used on vertical or near-vertical ladders. Made of metal
hoops attached to styles. Prevents falling away from ladder.
Boatswains Chair
Safety Harness
Safe Working Practices for
Access Equipment
Two main types of scaffold:
Independent tied scaffold.
Mobile towers.
We will also consider mobile
elevating work platforms
(MEWPs), ladders and cradles.
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Independent Tied Scaffold
Putlog Scaffold
(No longer i n general use )
Basic Components of Scaffolding

St an dards
Base plates
Int ermediat e
tr ansom
Main
Sole boar ds
Ledger s
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Scaffold Bracing
FAADE BRACING
LEDGER BRACING
Scaffold Through Tie

Ti mbe r p ac kin g
Timb er p acki n g
Tie
Rig ht-a ng le c oup l ers
o nl y to b e use d
Scaffold Reveal Tie

Timber pac ki ng
Reveal sc rewpi n
Ri ght-angl ec oupl ers
onl y to beus ed
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Scaffold Ring Bolt Tie
Inspection of Scaffold
Must be inspected:
Before first use.
After any adverse
event or conditions:
Weather.
Struck by plant.
Typically, every
seven days.
Report of inspection kept by controller .
What would inspection look at?
Mobile Tower Scaffolds
Specific Hazards:
Collapse.
Overturning.
Fall of persons.
Fall of material.
Overhead services.
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Mobile Elevated Working
Platform (MEWPs)
Hazards:
Collapse.
Overturn.
Falling people.
Falling objects.
Overhead services.
Unauthorised use.
MEWPs
MEWPs
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Not banned by the Work at Hei ght
Regulati ons (UK).
Suitable for short-term work only.
Fixed or mobile towers erected by a
competent person are preferable to
ladders.
Independent scaffolds are an ideal
solution, but not always possible or
cost-effective.
Ladders
In good condition.
The ladder shoul d be
securely fixed.
The ladder must be set on a
firm, level footing.
Each stile must be properly
supported.
Safe Use of Ladders
The ladder must extend at least 1.05 metres
above the landing place.
Safe Use of Ladders
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The Practical Exam
Observ ations:
45 to 60 minutes .
Unai ded.
Observation sheets, a clipboar d and a pen.
Report to management:
1 hour.
Unai ded (exc ept for observation sheets).
Lined A4 paper and a pen.
The Practical Exam:
Syllabus Guide (p.46/49)
Observations Sheet
Range of issues identified
= 5%.
Number of hazards
identified = 20%.
Identification of
immediate, medium and
long-term actions = 10%.
Suitability of remedial
action/time scales = 20%.
Report to Management
Selection of topics for urgent
management action = 10%.
Consideration of cost
implications = 5%.
Identification of possible
breaches of international
standards and good practice
= 5%.
Presentation of information
= 10%.
Effectiveness in convincing
management to take action
= 15%.
A Typical Report Format
Introduction.
Executive summary:
Overview of main finding.
Main finding and recommendations:
Significant hazards (two to five examples).
Breaches of legislation.
Action required, both short and long term.
Cost implications.
Reasons why action must be taken legal,
economic and moral.
Concluding paragraph.
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Excavations
Hazards:
People falling in.
Materials falling in.
Collapse.
Buried services.
Flooding.
Undermining structures.
Asphyxiation.
Plant and vehicles.
Prevention of Collapse
Method depends on:
Substrate type.
Purpose of excavation (time it will be open).
Depth.
Water considerations.
Preventative measures to be installed as soon as
possible.
Inspect and record:
After any event likely to affect stability.
After any complete/partial collapse.
At the beginning of each shift (and formally
record every seven days).
Safe Slope Angles
A Battered Excavation
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Shoring
Verti cal pol ing boards
Trench
Struts bracedagai ns t fac ing
wal l
Horiz ontal wal i ngs
Close Sheeting
Drag Box
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Avoiding Underground Services
P Plan
L Locate
I Identify (by hand)
D Dig
Use of a
Cable
Locator
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Air Digging
Barriers and Edge Protection
Demolition Hazards and Precautions
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NEBOSH International
Certificate
Psychosocial Hazards:
Stress, Violence and
Lone Workers
What Is Stress?
A persons reaction to
excessiv e pressure or
demand placed upon
them.
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What Is Stress?
Psychological in origin, but
can produce both physical
and behavioural effects.
If intense and pr olonged
can lead to ill-health:
physical and psychological.
Work Related Stress
HSE Def inition of Stress:
The reaction that people have
to excessive pressure, or other
types of demands placed upon
them. It arises when they
worry that they cant cope.
When demands placed on the individual outstrip
personal resources, an imbalance is caused.
This causes psychological stress.
Effects of Stress
Behavioural:
Anxiety.
Irritability.
Alcohol.
Smoking.
Sleep disrupted.
Poor concentration.
Loss of calm.
Loss of libido.
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Effects of Stress
Physical:
Heart rate.
Sweating.
Headache.
Dizziness.
Blurred vision.
Aching neck.
Skin rashes.
Lowered immunity.
Ill-Health Effects
High blood pressure.
Heart disease.
Clinical depression.
Peptic ulcers.
Nervous breakdown:
Complete physical and psychological .
Personal Experiences
Most of us will suffer some of the phy sical
and behav ioural symptoms of stress at
some stage.
Some people go on to develop the more
serious ill -health effect s.
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What Causes Stress?
Unreasonable pace of work.
Lack of control over work.
Inadequate managerial support.
Demandi ng work schedules.
Feelings of isolation.
Bullying and harassment.
What Can Employers Do?
Management attitude:
Ensure the issue is recognised and
understood.
Dont ignore, belittle or penalise.
The job:
Do-able: realistic workload and
timescales.
Matched to the person.
Under the persons control, as far
as possible.
What Can Employers Do?
Management style:
Consistent.
Interested.
Free of bullying and
harassment.
Focus on change:
Communication.
Consultation.
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What Can Employers Do?
Training:
Stress awareness.
Stress management.
Interpersonal skills.
Prov ide help:
In-house counselling.
Confidential helpli nes.
Violence
What is Violence?
Any incident in which a person
is abused, threatened or
assaulted in circumstances
relating to their work.
Violence
Dealing with members of the public.
Care services.
Education.
Cash transactions.
Delivery/collecting.
Representing authority.
Occupations at Risk

Managing Violence
Stage 1 - Do you have a problem?
Staff surveys and incident reports.
Stage 2 - Decide what action to take.
Policy, procedures, traini ng and security.
Stage 3 - Implement your actions.
Stage 4 - Monitor and r eview.
Managing Violence
Influenc es on the
management of
violence from the
public:
Individual
protection
Job factors
The environment and
general security
Lone Workers
Who are lone workers?
They are those who work by
themselves without close or
direct supervision.
Lone worki ng is not specifically
disallowed by law.
It is carried out in both on-site
and off-site work.
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Lone Workers
Examples of Lone Wor kers
On-site:
One person on premises.
Working in separation.
Outside normal working hours.
Off-site:
Construction, installation, cleaning,
electrical, etc.
Agriculture and forestry.
Service workers professionals visiting
customers or clients premises.
Lone Workers
Assessment issues for lone workers:
Special risks of job.
Injury potential.
Access and egress.
Access equipment, plant, substances,
goods and loads manageable by one
person.
Violence.
Women or young people.
Risk assessment the 5-steps approach is appropriate.
Lone Workers
Some planni ng issues:
Underlying medical conditions.
Training required for:
Situations of uncertainty.
Panic in unusual situations.
Experienced workers.
Employer sets limits on range of tasks.
Competence to deal with the unusual.
Arrangements for Lone Workers
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Lone Workers
High-risk activities:
Confined spaces - rescue
role.
Live electrical work - two
people.
Supervision depends on the risk involved.
Level of supervision based on risk assessment.
Lone Workers
Periodic visiting.
Regul ar contact.
Warni ng devices.
Positive monitoring - raising
alarm.
Monitori ng retur n.
Emergency procedures.
First-aid issues.
Monitori ng of lone workers: