DEFINITIONOF

CONSTRUCTIONWORK
Definitionsofconstructionandhoweachdefinitioncanapplytoyouractivities

Introduction

Eachofuswillhaveourownviewastowhatconstructionworklookslike.Clearlythebuildingofanewofficeblockorhousingestateisconstruction.Ho
wevertherearemanyothertasksthatmaycomeunderthedefinitionofconstructionwork.Forexample:
·Carryingoutmaintenanceorupkeeponabuildingisconstructionwork.
·Repairingafarmbuildingisconstructionwork.
·Fittingmobiletelecommunicationsequipmenttothesideofastructureisconstructionwork.

Constructionisahigh-
riskactivity,whichmustbemanagedfromprocurement,throughthedesignprocessandtotheendoftheconstructionstage.Everyoneinvolvedinabuildingpro
jectmustappreciatetheirrole,fromclient,projectsupervisordesignprocess(PSDP),designer,projectsupervisorconstructionstage(PSCS),contractorand
employees.

Thisdocumentsetsoutthedefinitionofconstructionwork.Therearetwothingsyouneedtoconsider:
·Whattypeoftaskoractivitiesyouareundertaking;and
·Whatyouareworkingon.

Spendingfiveminutestolookatthesedefinitionswillhelpyoutogetabetterunderstandingofwhatworkactivitiesareconsideredtobeconstructionwork.T
hereisaflowchartwhichoutlinesthefourdifferentcategoriesofconstructionwork,frommaintenanceuptolargeconstructionprojects.Ifyouareinvolvedi
nconstructionthenyouwillhavespecificdutiestodischarge.Onpage4wehaveincludedlinkstosomeofourguidelines,whichyoucanviewonlinefreeofc
harge.

Definitionsthatcombinetodefineconstructionwork

1
Definitionofconstructionwork

Needtoknow

Therearealotofeverydayactivitiesthatactuallycomeunderthedefinitionofconstructionwork.Thedefinitionisverybroad,manyworkactivitiesortas
ksonabuildingorstructureareconstruction.Herearesomeactivitiesthatareconstruction:

Construction~Alterations~Converting~Fitting-
out~Commissioning~Renovating~Repairing~Upkeep~Decorating~Maintaining~De-
commissioning~Demolishing~Dismantling~Assembling

Youcanseethatthereisawiderangeofmaintenanceactivitiesthatareclearlyclassifiedasconstruction.Thiscouldaffectyou,e.g.mostworkplaceswillc
arryoutmaintenanceatsomestage.

Examples

Letstakeanexamplewhereyouareatenantinaretailunitandyouarecarryingoutrepairs.Inthiscaseyouareactuallyundertakingconstructionwor
k,eveniftherepairsareinthestoreroomandnotintheactualretailarea.

Astraightforwardtaskofpaintingpartofyourworkplaceisconstruction.Howevertheregulationsarenottheretomakelifedifficultforyou.Theregulationsprov
ideastructuredapproachtomanaginghazardsthataretypicaltoconstruction.Forexample,youwouldneedtobehappythatthepainteriscompetentandthat
he/shewillcompletethejobinasafemanner.Checkingthisoutbeforethepainterstartswillhelpprotectyou,youremployees,yourcustomersandthepainter.

Whattodonext

Thedefinitionofconstructionworkclearlyrelatestothetasksthatyouareintendingtocarryingout.Thenextstepistolookatwhereyouareundertakingthes
etasks.

Togetafullerpictureofthedefinitionofconstructionwork,youneedtolookatthedefinitionof'structure'.Seepage3tolookattherangeofstructuresconside
redinthe2006ConstructionRegulations.
2
Definitionofstructure

Needtoknow

ThereisawiderangeoffeaturesthataredeemedtobeastructureundertheRegulations.Youwillprobablyacceptthatbuildingsandbridgesarestructures.H
oweverthedefinitionalsoincludesfeaturessuchascables,lagoonsandembankments.Forexamplethefollowingareallstructures.

Building~Railwaylineorsiding~Tramwayline~Dock~Harbour~Inlandnavigationsystems
~Tunnel~Bridge~Viaduct~Waterworks~Reservoir~Pipe-
line,whateveritcontainsorisintendedtocontain~Undergroundorovergroundcables~Aqueduct~Sewer
~Sewageworks
~Gasholder~Road~Airfield~Seadefenceworks~Riverworks~Drainageworks~Earthworks~Lagoon~D
am~Wall~Caisson~Mast~Tower~Pylon~Undergroundtank
~Earthretainingelementorassemblyofelements~Elementorassemblyofelementsdesignedtopreserveo
ralteranynaturalfeature~Anyotherstructuresimilartotheforegoing

Examples

Forexample,ifyouworkinawatertreatmentworksandyouarecarryingoutelectricalmaintenance,undertheRegulations,youareundertakingconstructionw
orkonastructure.

Whileanembankmentisastructure,cuttingthegrassontheembankmentisnotconstructionwork.Howeverifyouwereexcavatingtheembankmentt
oformanewprofile,thenyouwouldbeengagedinconstructionwork.

Whattodonext

Listouttheactivitiesthatyouundertakeinyourplaceofwork,includingbuildingmaintenanceandmaintenanceonmechanicalandelectricalsystems.The
nlookatwhereyouarecarryingoutthesetasks.Thiswillhelpyoudeterminewhenyouareundertakingconstructionwork.TheHealthandSafetyAuthority’s
GuideforClientsinConstructionincludesaflowchartthatwillhelpyoumaketherightappointments.Inadditionthereareseveralguidancedocumentsavail
abletoexplaintherolesandresponsibilities.
3
Definitionofproject

Needtoknow

Whenyouarethinkingaboutstartingconstructionworkoractuallyundertakingtheconstructionwork,youarebasicallyinvolvedinaproject.Thisbringsintoeffe
ctthedutiesunderSection17ofthe2005Actandtherelevantregulationsinthe2006ConstructionRegulations.

Itisnotcomplex,youjustneedtomakesurethatyouunderstandyourroleanddutiesaspartoftheconstructionproject.

Helpisavailable–
clickthethumbnailsbelowtogetimmediateaccesstoguidesandsupportingdocuments.YoucanalsoaccesstheAuthority'swebsitebyclickinghere.

Examples

Forexampleifyouareaclient,thenyouneedtoensurethatyouappointcompetentPSDP,Designers,PSCSandcontractors.Youalsoneedtomakeinformatio
navailabletothem.

Otherduty-holdersshouldadvisetheclientastothedefinitionofconstructionworkandtheirdutiesundertheRegulations.

Whattodonext

Onceyouhaveidentifiedthatyouareundertakingconstructionworkonastructure,youmustmakesurethatyouhavethepropercontrolsinplace.Ifyouareth
eclientthenwhererequiredbytheregulationsyoumustappointcompetentdesignersandPSDPbeforethedesignprocessstartsandappointcompetentco
ntractorsandPSCSbeforeconstructionworkstartsonsite.Allappointmentsmustmakeinwriting.

Itisabouttakingsensibleprecautionsingoodtimetoprotectpeopleandbeingproactiveinmakingtheworksafer.Herearesom

eofourguides,tohelpyou.

4
Legaldefinitionsofconstructionwork–Safety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct2005

Safety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct2005

Thereisadefinitionfor Section2:‘constructionwork’meansthecarryingoutofanybuilding,civilengine
1‘constructionwork’inthe2005
eringorengineeringconstructionwork,asmaybeprescribed.
Act.Itbasicallysetsoutthatconstruc
tionworkincludesbuildingwork,civil
engineeringorengineeringconstru
ctionwork.

Section17(4):Forthepurposesofthissection,‘project’meansanydevelopment
2 whichincludesorisintendedtoincludeconstructionwork.
Section17ofthe2005Actsetsoutdu
tiesrelatingtoconstruction
workandincludesadefinitionof
‘project’,asbeinganydevelopmen
twhichincludesorisintendedtoinclu
deconstructionwork.

TheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct
2005coversallplacesofwork.Italsosetsoutso
mekeydefinitionsforconstructionworkandpro
ject.Thesedefinitionssupportthoseinthecons
tructionregulations.

5
Legaldefinitionsofconstructionwork–Safety,HealthandWelfareatWork(Construction)Regulations2006

Safety,HealthandWelfareatWork
(Construction)Regulations2006

Thereisanumberofdefinitions Regulation2(1):‘constructionwork’meansthecarryingoutofanybuilding,civilenginee
3thatprovideacombineddefinition
ringorengineeringwork,otherthandrillingandextractionintheextractiveindustries,andi
ofconstructionwork. ncludesbutisnotlimitedtoeachofthefollowing

Thedoingofoneormoreofthefollowingwith Thepreparationforanintendedstructure,
Somekeywords: respecttoastructure: includingbutnotlimitedtositeclearance,
·construction; exploration,investigation(butnotsitesurvey)
·Construct ·Upkeep ·alteration; andexcavation,andthelayingorinstallingofth
·Alter ·Decorate ·conversion; foundationsofanintendedstructure.

·Convert ·fittingout;
·Maintain
·commissioning;
·Fit-out ·De-commission Theremovalofastructureorpartofastructureorofan
·renovation;
·Commission ·Demolish ·repair; yproductorwasteresultingfromdemolitionordisma
·Renovate ntlingofastructureordisassemblyofprefabricatede
·Dismantle ·upkeep;
lementswhich,immediatelybeforesuchdisassem
·Repair ·Assemble ·redecorationorothermaintenance(includingclea
bly,formedastructure
ningwhichinvolvestheuseofwateroranabrasiv
eathighpressureortheuseofsubstancesorprep
arationsclassifiedas
Anyworksthatinvolvepreparationofan corrosiveortoxicforthepurposesofRegulation8 Theinstallation,commissioning,maintenance,repa
areaforabuildingorstructurewouldbecons oftheEuropeanCommunities(Classification,P irorremovalofmechanical,electrical,gas,compress
ideredasconstructionwork. ackaging,LabellingandNotificationofDangero edair,hydraulic,telecommunicationandcomputers
usSubstances)Regulations2003and2006(S.I. ystems,orsimilarserviceswhicharenormallyfixedw
116of2003andS.I.25of2006)andRegulation5o ithinortoastructure
Alsowhereworkiscarriedoutonanymechanica ftheEuropeanCommunities(Classification,Pac
l,electrical,gas,compressedair,hydraulic,tele kaging,LabellingandNotificationofDangerous
communication,computersystemorsimilarser Preparations)Regulations2004(S.I.No.62of20
vicethatisnormallyfixedwithinortoastructure. 04));
·de-
Forexampleworkonamobilephonemastfixedt
commissioning,demolitionordism
oabuilding,orworkonanautomatedsecurityga antling.
tewouldbeconsideredtobe
constructionwork.
Theassemblyofprefabricatedelementstoformastr
ucture,orthedisassemblyofprefabricatedelement
swhich,immediatelybeforesuchdisassembly,for 6
medastructure.
 Safety,HealthandWelfareatWork
(Construction)Regulations2006

Thepreviousdefinitionfor Regulation2(1):‘structure’means
4‘constructionwork’referredto
doingsomethingtoa‘structure’.

Somekeywords: ridge,viaduct,waterworks,reservoir,pipe-
anybuilding,railwayline line(whateveritcontainsorisintendedtocontain),undergroundorovergroundcables,aqued
orsiding,tramwayline,d
· Building · Road uct,sewer,sewageworks,gasholder,road,airfield,seadefenceworks,riverworks,drainage
ock,harbour,inlandnavi
· Railway Airfield works,earthworks,lagoon,dam,wall,caisson,mast,tower,pylon,undergroundtank,earthre
·
gationsystems,tunnel,b
· Dock River tainingelementorassemblyofelements,orelementorassemblyofelementsdesignedtopres
·
erveoralteranynaturalfeature,andanyotherstructuresimilartotheforegoing.
· Tunnel · Earthworks
· Bridge · Wall
· Waterworks · Mast anyformwork,falsework,scaffoldorotherelementorassemblyofelementsdesignedorused
· Pipeline · Pylon toprovidesupportormeansofaccessduringconstructionwork,or
· Cables · Underground
· Sewer tank anyfixedplantinrespectofworkwhichisinstallation,commissioning,de-
commissioningordismantling.
· Gasholder · Earthretaining
Thedefinitionalsoincludesanyelementtopres
erveoralteranynaturalfeature,whichisquitebr
oad.Inadditiontotheextensivelist,anyothersi
milarstructurewouldalsobeincluded.

Thelistofelementsthatareconsideredtobestr
ucturesisveryextensiveanditislikelythatanyc
onstructionworkyoudowillinvolveastructure.

7
 Safety,HealthandWelfareatWork
(Construction)Regulations2006

Onceyouhavedeterminedyou Regulation2(1):‘project’meansanactivitywhichincludesorisintendedtoinclude
5areundertaking‘construction
constructionwork.
work’itislinkedtoa‘project’.

Andallofthisisgoingtotake Regulation2(1):‘constructionsite’site”meansanysiteatwhichconstructionwork
6
placeona‘constructionsite’. inrelationtoaprojectiscarriedout.

Thedefinitionofconstructionisinterlinkedwit
hthefollowingdefinitions:
·Constructionwork
·Structure
·Project
·Constructionsite

Thedefinitionsinthe2005Actandthe
2006ConstructionRegulationsarecom
patibleandsupporteachotherinclearing
settingoutwhatactivitiesareconsidered
tobeconstructionwork.

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Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork

Tasksoractivitiesthatarenotconstructionwork

Themainintentofthisdocumentistoclearlysetoutthedefinitionofconstructionwork.

Tofinish,herearesomeexamplesoftasksoractivitiesthatwouldnotnormallybeconsideredtobeconstructionwork:
·Inspectionandtest;
·Meterreading;
·Faultfinding;
·Grasscutting;
·Hedgetrimming;
·Routinestreetcleaning;
·Litterpicking;
·Deliveringmaterialstositee.g.buildersproviders.

Inanycase,theseactivitieswouldfallundertherequirementsoftheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct2005.Forexample,thegeneraldutiesoftheemplo
yer,includingtheprovisionofasafeplaceofwork,safesystemsandsafeplantandequipment.Inadditionthedutiesoftheemployeetoworkinasafemanner.

Summary

Ifyouareundertakingconstructionwork,thentheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWork(Construction)Regulations2006apply,alongwithotherapplicableleg
islation.

Ifyouarenotundertakingconstructionwork,thenyouarestillrequiredtocomplywiththeSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct2005andotherapplicablelegisl
ation.

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Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork
Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork
Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork
Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork
Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork
Examplesofworkthatarenotconstructionwork