NEBOSH International General Certificate in

Occupational Safety and Health

Unit IGC2

Element 1: Workplace
Hazards and Risk Control

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 Learning Outcomes
On completion of this element, you should be able to demonstrate
understanding of the content through the application
of knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar situations. In particular you
should be able to:

• Outline common health, welfare and work environment

requirements in the workplace
• Explain the risk factors and appropriate controls for violence at
work
• Explain the effects of substance misuse on health and safety at
work and control measures to control such risks
• Explain the hazards and control measures for the safe movement
of people in the workplace
• Explain the hazards and control measures for safe construction and
demolition work
• Explain the hazards and control measures for safe work at height
• Explain the hazards and control measures for excavations

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 Unit IGC 2
Element 1.1

Health, Welfare and Work

Environment Requirements

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 Welfare Requirements

• Drinking water
• Sanitary conveniences
• Washing facilities
• Changing rooms
• Accommodation for clothing
• Rest and eating facilities
− (First aid covered in IGC1 not here)

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 Welfare and Work
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007
• Drinking water
• Sanitary conveniences
• Washing facilities
• Changing rooms
• Accommodation for clothing
• Rest facilities and eating facilities

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 Group Syndicate Activity
What welfare facilities would you expect
an employer to provide for the following
groups of people?
• Accident and emergency nurse
• Construction worker
• Accountant (office based)

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 Welfare- Minimum Standards

Drinking water • Wholesome, labelled if not

Sanitary conveniences • Sufficient numbers

• Separate for men and women
• Protected from weather
• Clean, lit & ventilated
• Provision for the disabled

Washing facilities • Close to toilets and changing rooms

• Showers if required
• Hot and cold water, soap, towels
• Means of drying

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 Welfare- Minimum Standards
Changing rooms • For special work wear
• Lit, cleaned and ventilated
• Separate facilities for men and women

Accommodation for • Lockers, etc.

clothing • Personal clothing clean and secure
• Separate storage for dirty work wear

Resting and eating • Sufficient seats and tables

facilities • Away from work location
• Hygienic environment
• Means of preparing hot food and drink
• Separate facilities for new and expectant
mothers

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 Work Environment
- Minimum Standards
Seating • Appropriate seating
• Stable, backrest and footrest where
appropriate

Ventilation • Sufficient supply of fresh or purified air

Heating • Reasonable temperature indoors

• Sedentary work - 16oC
• Manual work - 13oC

Lighting • Adequate lighting

Space • Adequate to perform task safely

Noise • Controls to reduce noise may be needed

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 Lighting – More Detail

• Minimum levels achieved (Lux)

• Natural light is best
• Lighting adjusted to the level of detail required
• Local lighting may be necessary
• No reflections or glare
• No creation of shadows
• No flickering
• Suitable for the environment, e.g. flame proof
• Emergency lighting should be provided

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 Extremes of Temperature
Group Syndicate Exercise
What are the health issues associated with
working in:
• Hot, and
• Cold environments?

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 Effects of Exposure
Hot environments: Cold environments:
• Dehydration • Hypothermia
• Muscle cramps • Lethargy
• Heat stress • Frostbite
• Lethargy
• Headaches • Slip hazards
• Fainting • Freeze burns injuries
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat stroke
• Burns, cancer,
etc.

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 Control Measures
Hot environments: Cold environments:
• Ventilation • Prevent or protect from
• Insulate/shield heat draughts
sources • Shield/lag cold surfaces
• Provide cool refuges • PPE - insulating
• Drinking water • Provide warm refuges
• Frequent breaks • Frequent breaks
• Job rotation • Job rotation
• Appropriate clothing • Access to warm food
and drinks
• Treat icy floors

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 End of Section Quiz

1. What are the basic welfare

requirements for workers?
2. What are the effects of working in a
cold environment?
3. What controls should be in place to
reduce the risk in a cold workplace?

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 Unit IGC 2
Element 1.2

Violence at Work

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 Violence
Work-related Violence:
Any incident in which a person is abused,
threatened or assaulted in circumstances
relating to their work

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 Group Syndicate Exercise
What is the difference between violence
and aggression?
What occupations are most at risk of
violence and why?

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 Risk Factors for Violence

• Cash handling
• Lone working
• Representing authority
• Wearing a uniform
• Dealing with people under stress
• Dealing with people under the
influence of alcohol or drugs
• Censuring or saying "no"

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 Occupations at Risk

Not an exhaustive list!!

• Hospital A&E staff
• Police
• Social workers
• Bus and taxi drivers
• Firefighters and paramedics
• Traffic wardens
• Railway staff
• Estate agents
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 Control Measures

Discover the extent of the problem

• Collect and analyse incident reports
• Talk to staff (formally? informally?)
• Employee surveys

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 Control Measures - Central Office

• Zero tolerance and prosecution

• Security staff
• CCTV
• Security doors
• Minimise queues
and waiting times
• Training
• Screens
• Panic alarms
• Pleasant environment

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 Control Measures – Home Visits
Conducting home visits:
• No work in high risk areas
• Incident records
• Vetting customers
• Visit-logging
• Pre- and post-visit communications
• Training
• Communication
• No visits after dark
• Not carrying cash or valuables
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 End of Section Quiz
1. What is “work-related violence”?
2. What factors increase the risk of
violence?
3. What features are there in a high
street bank to reduce the risk from
violent encounters?

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 Unit IGC 2
Element 1.3

Substance Misuse at Work

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 Group Syndicate Exercise
• What are the main effects of alcohol
and drug abuse?
• How would these affect the workplace?

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 Risks to Health and Safety
General symptoms:
• Late attendance
• Increased absenteeism
• Poor work quality
• Reduced output
• Dishonesty
• Theft
• Mood swings
• Poor relationships
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 Risks to Health and Safety

Effects on safety performance:

• Sensory impairment
• Skewed perception
• Impaired motor control
• Fatigue and drowsiness
Increased risk for:
• Driving
• Operating machinery
• Making decisions

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 Risk Control Measures

Drugs and alcohol policy:

• No alcohol at work or during working hours
• Statutory legal requirements
• Non-statutory requirements set by the
employer
• Random drugs and alcohol testing
• Access for workers to rehabilitation and
treatment
• Disciplinary procedures
• Information, instruction and training of
managers, supervisors and workers

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 End of Section Quiz

1. Why is the misuse of drugs and

alcohol in the workplace of such
concern?

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 Unit IGC 2
Element 1.4

Movement of People

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 Hazards to Pedestrians

• Slips, trips and falls on the same level

• Falls from height
• Collision with moving vehicles
• Striking by moving, flying or falling
objects
• Striking against fixed or stationary
objects

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 Group Syndicate Exercise

What is the difference

between a:
• Slip hazard, and a
• Trip hazard?

Give examples of each

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 Slips, Trips and Falls

Slip Hazards:
• Smooth floor surfaces:
– Inherently slippery
– wet
• Contamination
• Frost and ice

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 Slips, Trips and Falls

Trip Hazards:
• Uneven or loose floor surfaces
• Trailing cables
• Objects on the floor

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 Falls from Height

Fall Hazards:
• Working next to an unprotected edge
• Working on fragile material above a
drop
• Using access equipment
• Using ladders
• Standing on objects to reach
high levels
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 Collisions with Moving Vehicles
Vehicle Hazards
• Pedestrian walkways that require
pedestrians to walk in vehicle
traffic routes
• Pedestrian crossing points
• Exits that open onto vehicle traffic
routes
• Areas where people have to work
adjacent to moving vehicles
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 Moving, Flying or Falling Objects
Flying objects
• Ejected parts or materials
• Thrown objects

Falling objects
• Loads falling from height
• Objects dislodged from height
• Effect of weather conditions
• Unstable objects
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 Fixed or Stationary Objects
• Objects projecting into a pedestrian
area, e.g. pallets into a walkway
• Narrow doorways
• Low overhead services, etc.

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 Control Measures
Management principles:
• Eliminate the hazard
• Create a safe place
• Create a safe person

Risk assessment, considering:

• Normal patterns of movement
• Predictable/abnormal movements
• Accident history
• Adverse weather conditions
• Maintenance requirements

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 Control Measures
Slip-resistant surfaces will depend
upon the:
• Number of people
• Footwear
• Wear and tear
• Spills and contamination
• Environmental conditions

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 Control Measures
Spillage and Drainage Control:
• Maintenance and inspection
• Behavioural controls, e.g. banning drinks
• Drainage for:
– outdoor walkways
– wet floors, e.g. showers

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 Control Measures
Designated Walkways
• Essential in many workplaces
• Ensures that:
− Pedestrians stay within designated
areas
− Pedestrian areas are free of hazards
• Designated by:
− Guardrails, kerbs, pavements,
markings

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 Control Measures
Fencing and Guarding:
• Guard rails:
– pedestrian walkways
– edge protection
• Perimeter fencing, e.g. construction sites
• Temporary fencing around hazards

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 Group Discussion Point
• Give examples of signs that could be
used to reduce the risk of injury to
people when vehicles are present.

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 Control Measures
Use of Signs and PPE:
• Prohibit access

• Warn of hazards

• Make PPE mandatory

• Indicate safe conditions

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 Control Measures

Information, instruction and training on:

• Hazards
• What is required of them
• How they can apply it.

• Supervision is essential
• Ensures correct behaviour

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 Control Measures

Maintenance of pedestrian routes:

• Floors and walkways cleaned
• Spill procedure
• Housekeeping
• Repairs carried out
• Emergency exits kept clear
• Lighting
• Noise levels minimised
− Why??

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 End of Section Quiz
1. What types of accident are
pedestrians at risk from in the
workplace?
2. What are the typical causes of slips,
trips and falls on the same level in the
workplace?

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 Unit IGC 2
Element 1.5

General Construction Hazards and

Controls

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 Scope of Construction
• Construction includes:
− Building works
− Renovations
− Maintenance activities
− Demolition work
• Covered by ILO standards:
− Safety and Health in Construction
Convention 1988 (C167)
− Safety and Health in Construction
Recommendation 1988 (R175)
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 Main Construction Hazards

• Stacking of materials and flammable substances

• Storage of materials
• Storage of flammable substances
• Machinery and vehicles
• Site security
• Electricity

• Work at height /excavations are separate topics

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 Storage of Materials
• Storage areas should be clearly
identified
• Separate areas should be used for
separate items
• Segregation of certain materials and
substances
• Areas should be kept clean and tidy and
routinely inspected
• Appropriate warning signs should be
displayed
• Storage areas not used for other work

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 Stacking
• Each stack should be of one material
only
• A maximum stack height must be set
• Stacks should be vertical
• Pallets should be used to keep
material off the ground
• Sufficient space must be allowed
around stacks for safe movement
• Stacks must be protected from being
struck by plant

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 Storage of Flammable Substances

• Liquids, solids and gases in separate stores

• Oxygen stored separately
• External stores away from buildings, drains or
excavations
• Internal stores constructed of fire-resistant
materials and ventilated
• Large stores should have 2 means of escape
• Stores suitably signed
• Hot works prohibited near storage area
• Correctly rated electrical equipment
• Fire-fighting equipment
• Stores regularly inspected

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 Machinery
Hazards: Controls:
• Contact with moving parts • Guarding
• Ejection of materials • Maintenance
• Noise and vibration • Proper use
• Competent users
• PPE
• Supervision

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 Vehicles
Hazards:
• Overturning of vehicles
• Collision with pedestrians
• Collision with structures
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Controls:
• Site layout
• Routes for
pedestrians/vehicles
• Warning signs
• Maintenance, proper use
• Competent drivers
• Movements supervised e.g.
banksman for reversing
 Forklift Trucks

• Collision with structures and

pedestrians
• Obscured visibility especially when
reversing
• Noise and vibration
• Overturning

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 Dumper Trucks

• Collision with structures and

pedestrians
• Overturning on slopes and edge
of excavations
• Poorly maintained braking
systems
• Unauthorised use

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 Cement Mixers

• Entanglement with rotating drum,

internal blades
• Entrapment by belt drives
• Dry cement dust and wet cement burns
• Exposure to fuel vapours
• Noise and vibration
• Overturning

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 Site Security
• Public taking short • CCTV cameras and/or site
cuts alarm
• Public right of way • Secure all portable
• Thieves equipment
• Children • Remove ladders from
• Perimeter fence scaffolds
and signs • Secure all chemicals
• Secure gates • Secure all mobile plant
• Security staff • Cover or barrier off
• Good lighting excavations
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 What Control Measures Can You
See?

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 Electricity

Hazards specific to
construction:
• Contact with overhead
power lines
• Contact with buried
services
Don't forget, direct contact isn't
necessary: electricity can arc

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 Overhead Power Line – Precautions

• Isolating the power supply

• Using SSW and permit systems
• Sleeve low voltage power lines
• Using barriers, signage and
goal-posts
• Using banksmen
• Using non-conducting
equipment

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 Demolition
Includes: Hazards:
• Total destruction • Premature collapse
• Dismantling of • Work at height
structures • Plant, vehicles, machinery
• Live overheads
• Buried services
• Asbestos
• Dust
• Explosives
• Biological hazards
• Sharps
• Manual handling
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 Demolition Controls
• Choice of method to exclude people
• Structural surveys
• Disconnection of services
• Removal and disposal of hazardous
materials
• Security for the site
• Camping down to minimise dust
− NB controls for heights and excavations
considered separately later
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 Management of Construction Projects
Principal dutyholders:
• Client
• Designer/architect
• Main contractor
• Sub-contractor
• Co-ordinator (health and safety aspects)

What are the main duties of each?

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 Selecting Contractors

Factors to check:
• Health and Safety Policy
• Risk assessment
• Qualifications of staff
• Membership of professional
associations
• Maintenance records
• Previous clients
• Accident history
• Enforcement actions
• Adequate resources

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 Control of Contractors

Main Contractor:
• Controls all activities
• Sets site rules
• Manages sub-contractors
• Approves method statements
• Agrees changes

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 End of Section Quiz

1. Give examples of some of the main

construction hazards
2. What are the main hazards associated
with the use of a cement mixer?

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 IGC 2
Element 1.6

Working at Height

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 Working at Height
Work at any height where there is a risk of a fall liable
to cause personal injury:
• Steel workers, scaffolders, roofers, engineers,
welders, maintenance staff, painters, window
cleaners
• Main risks:
– worker falling
– object falling
• Accidents:
– death
– neck or spinal injury
– broken bones

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 Risk Factors – Vertical Distance

• Falls from any height can cause injury

• Vertical distance is only one factor
• Falls less than 2 metres can cause
death or major injury!

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 Risk Factors – Roof Work
Fragile roofs:
• Roof structure not designed to carry loads
• Cement, asbestos, glass, reinforced plastics, etc.
• Signs
• Roof ladders and crawling boards

Sloping roofs:
• Pitch greater than 10
• Injury made worse by
acceleration down roof

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 Risk Factors

• Deterioration of materials
• Unprotected edges
• Unstable access equipment
• Weather
• Falling materials
– crumbling brickwork, loose tiles
– bad storage of materials on scaffolding
– gaps in platform surfaces
– open, unprotected edges
– incorrect methods of getting materials
to and from roof
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 Group Syndicate Exercise
• What are the hazards of
working at height for a
window cleaner?

• Discuss the most effective

way/s to reduce the risk

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 Control Measures
Control measures will depend upon:
• Nature and duration of task
• Competence
• Training
• Planning and supervision
• Suitability of equipment, maintenance
• Working platforms
• PPE, e.g. harnesses and helmets
• Fall arrest systems
• Weather
• Health of workers
• Compliance with regulations

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 Risk Prevention Hierarchy
Hierarchy:
• Avoid work at height
• Prevent falls
• Minimise the distance and
consequences

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 Avoidance of Work at Height
• Modify the work process
− E.g. work from ground level
• Modifying a design
− E.g. change design of structure so that
steel is erected at ground level and craned
into place
• May not be possible to achieve

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 Preventing Falls

• Providing a safe working platform

− e.g. scaffold with guardrails
• Properly installed personnel
equipment
− e.g. rope access equipment

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 Minimise Distance and
Consequences of a Fall
• Minimise distance of fall by:
• Providing fall arrest equipment
− E.g. harness and lanyard

• Minimise consequences of fall by:

• Providing a “soft landing”
− E.g. safety nets, air bags, etc.

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 Prevention of Falling Materials

Guardrails:
• Fully enclose the unprotected edge
• Robust
• Securely fixed
• High enough
• No large gaps
Toe-boards
• Toe-board fitted at edge
• Brick-guards

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 Emergency Rescue

• Reasonably foreseeable events

• Simple:
e.g. putting up a ladder
• Mechanical access:
e.g. mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)
• Trained operatives

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 Training

• Training depends upon nature of work

• To include:
− Awareness of hazards, e.g. fragile
materials
• Additional training for some equipment
− Erecting/modifying scaffold
− Driving MEWPS

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 Head Protection
Working at height:
• Mandatory wearing of hard hats
• Do not protect against all falling
objects
• Additional control measure

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 Ladders

Short duration work

Hazards:
• Falls from height:
– Falling off the ladder
– The ladder toppling sideways
– The ladder base slipping out from the wall
• Objects falling from height
• Contact with live overheads

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 Group Discussion Point
• Suggest the control measures for the
safe use of ladders

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 Ladder Controls
• Sited away from live overheads
• Solid, flat base
• Hands on stiles, never on rungs
• Correct angle (1:4 rule – 75o)
• Top of the ladder against solid support
• Ladder secured at the top, or:
– guy ropes attached or,
– ladder should be “footed”
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 Ladder Controls

• Top of the ladder should extend above

working platform
• Only one person on ladder at any one
time
• Nothing should be carried while
climbing
• Wooden ladders should not be painted

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 Stepladders

• Intended for short duration, light work

• Precautions:
− Daily inspections before use
− Fully open
− Locking devices in place
− Firm, level ground
− Don’t work off top 2 steps
− Avoid over reaching
− Avoid side-on working
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 Trestles and Staging Platforms
• Ensure trestles are:
− Large enough to allow passage of
equipment/materials
− Free from trip hazards and gaps
− Fitted with toeboards and handrails
− Kept clean and tidy
− Not overloaded
− Erected on firm, level ground

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 Basic Components of
Independent Tied Scaffolds
Standards – Uprights or vertical tubes

Ledgers – Horizontal tubes

Transoms – Short horizontal tubes spanning
across ledgers
Bracing – Diagonal tubes
Base plates – Underneath the standards
Sole boards – Timber under base plates
Work platform – Fully boarded
Guardrails – Enclose work platform
Toe-boards – provide lip to platform

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 Independent Tied Scaffold

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 Individual Exercise
Draw and label an independent tied scaffold

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 Independent Tied Scaffold

Side view

Front view
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 Scaffold Ties
Through tie Scaffold tube
extends into
the building
through the
opening

Reveal tie Scaffold tube is

coupled to a
reveal pin
wedged tightly
across an
opening

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 Key Scaffold Hazards
• Falls from scaffold during erection
• Falls from work platform
• Falling objects
• Collapse

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 Group Discussion Point
Suggest reasons why a scaffold may collapse

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 Causes of Scaffold Collapse
• Overloaded work • High winds
platform • Incorrect couplers
• Soft ground • Scaffold struck by mobile
• Scaffold not tied in plant
• Insufficient bracing • Scaffold erected by
• Standards not upright incompetent workers
• Standards bent or • Scaffold not inspected
damaged prior to use

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 Mobile Tower Scaffolds

Hazards:
• Falls from the work platform
• Objects falling
• Collapse of the structure
• Overturn (toppling)
• Unintended movement of the wheels
• Contact with live overheads

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 Mobile Tower Scaffold
Precautions
• Guardrails
• Not overloaded
• Wheels locked
• Firm, level ground
• People, materials off mobile
tower when moved
• Avoid overheads
• Outriggers used
• No climbing outside of tower
• Training

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 Mobile Elevated Work Platforms
(MEWPS)
Hazards:
• Falls
• Objects falling
• Collapse
• Overturn (toppling)
• Contact with live overheads
• Unauthorised use

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 MEWPS - Precautions

• Firm, stable ground

• Clearance of obstructions and
overheads
• Barriers to exclude vehicles, etc.
• Guardrails
• Controls inside the cradle
• Not driven with the cradle raised
• Not be overloaded
• Inspected
• Trained, authorised staff

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 Edge Protection Systems
• Barrier fixed to existing structure
• Temporary often constructed of
scaffold

Licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0

(http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/).
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg284.pdf
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 Edge Protection Systems

• Can be a permanent solution

• Must be robust enough to withstand
person falling against it

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 Inspection Systems – Scaffolds

• Often a legal requirement to inspect

− When first erected
− After substantial alterations
− After incident affecting stability
Such as?
− Periodically

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 Inspection Systems - Scaffolds

• Points to consider:
− Condition of tubes (especially standards)
• Tying and bracing
• Condition of the work platform
• Edge protection
• Ground conditions
• Safe access
• Safe working load
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 End of Section Quiz

1. What are the main hazards when

carrying out roof work?
2. What are the steps in the hierarchy of
control when working at height?
3. What are the main safety precautions
when using ladders?
4. What factors might cause the collapse
of an independent tied scaffold?

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 Unit IGC 2
Element 1.7

Excavations

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 Hazards of Excavations

• Collapse
• Striking buried services
• People falling in
• Objects falling in:
– vehicles
– spoil
– adjacent structures
• Flooding
• Hazardous substances
– gases and vapours
© RRC Training – contaminated ground
 Precautions –
Prevention of Collapse

Battering

Shoring Trench box

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 Precautions – Prevention of Falls

Preventing people from falling:

• Barriers and toeboards
• Good lighting and signs
• Crossing points
• Access ladders
• Ladders to extend 5
rungs above edge of
excavation

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 Precautions – Prevention of Falls

Preventing material and vehicles

from falling in:
• Spoil heaps away from excavation
• Barriers and signs
• Stop-barriers (especially for
reversing vehicles)
• Minimise vehicles close to
unsupported excavations
• Hard hats, steel toe caps

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 Precautions – Prevention of Striking
Buried Services

• Plans of the area

• Detection equipment, e.g.
– metal detectors
– cable detectors
– ground radar
• Hand digging
• Identification, support
where necessary
• Mechanical digging
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 Inspection

Inspection by a competent person:

• Before every work shift
• After any accidental fall of
material
• After any event likely to affect
strength and stability

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 End of Section Quiz
What are the main hazards of excavation
work?

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