PESTECH SDN BHD

SAFE WORK PROCEDURE

BRICK LAYING WORKS

Legal obligations

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 contains general duties, which

describe the responsibilities of people who affect safety and health at work.
Employers, employees, self employed persons, persons who have control of
workplaces, designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant and
hazardous substances and designers and constructors of buildings or structures all
have duties of care they must fulfill to comply with the legal requirements of the Act.

Planning and coordination phase

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 sets out a duty of care for the pincipal
contractor. This Duty of Care requires safe systems of work to be established and
maintained and be supported by adequate information, instruction, training and
supervision. Correct planning can make sure safe systems of work are established
and adequate information, instruction, training and supervision is provided. Good
planning will avoid or reduce many of the manual handling hazards associated with
bricklaying and will benefit the productivity of the job as well as promote safety. The
following guidelines provide some practical ideas.

Access/egress

At the beginning of the job, it is essential to establish a clear access/egress way to

allow for the safe movement of brick packs and other materials and equipment
around the site, for example put limestone driveways in during the site preparation
stage. As a minimum adequate access/egress ways must be established by using
planks or other suitable alternatives.

Materials delivery/storage

Material delivery and storage areas should have enough space and lighting to allow
for the safe movement of the materials. The ground conditions of storage and lay
down areas should be even and compacted. The following should always be done:

 Ensure the bricks and other materials are delivered as close as possible to
the job, eg. the site supervisor can fax the site plans specifying delivery points
to the brick delivery company with the brick order; and

 Ensure the work area is flat level ground, i.e. make sure the slab area has a
flat, compacted graded area around it to accommodate materials such as
brick packs.
 Generally never move wheelbarrows or brick trolleys through sand or over
uneven terrain and always make sure that there is a clear access/egress. As
a minimum there must be planks or other suitable alternatives in place;
 Never hand ball bricks;
 Always use wheelbarrows and trolleys designed for moving heavy loads such
as bricks and mortar, for example a two-wheeled wheelbarrow. Consideration
should be given to a motorized barrow, which can be used as a wheelbarrow
and a brick trolley; and
 If the strapping on the packs of bricks is not holding the leaves of bricks
together when they are being moved report it to the site supervisor to
feedback to the manufacturers.
 Always use a trolley/wheelbarrow to move bags of cement rather than
carrying them;
 Never try to carry multiple bags of cement at one time;
 Use both long and short handled shovels that best suit the task/person, eg
use a long handled shovel if there is a large reach involved; and
 Take regular breaks from continuous shoveling. If possible intersperse
continuous digging with alternative tasks.
 Establishing a clear access/egress way to allow for the safe movement of
brick packs and other materials and equipment around the site.

 Delivering materials as close to the job as possible and placing them on flat
level ground.

 Selecting materials that are lighter and easier to handle (this will decrease the
overall work load of the bricklayer).Considering mechanical lifting and
handling equipment to move brick packs and other heavy materials.
Equipment includes specifically designed wheel barrows, brick trolleys, cranes
and lift trucks.

 Not relying on team lifting. Team lifting is neither time nor cost effective but if it
can’t be avoided all brick layers must be properly trained.

 Site induction (training etc.) and ongoing supervision from the principle
contractor including maintenance of clear walkways.

 Securing and maintaining working platform planks. They should be secured to

allow bricklayers to complete their work with a good posture.

 Good housekeeping to decrease the number of obstructions – and hopefully

accidents.
  Not lifting anything manually if there’s even just a slight hint of doubt it can’t
be done safely.

 Always using the lightest tools necessary.

 Seeking help if you need it!

Good housekeeping

 All workers involved in all trades on site have a responsibility for maintaining
site tidiness. Routine, regular cleanups should be scheduled as part of the
workday. Working on a tidy, well-maintained site makes the job easier and
safer.

PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (P.P.E) TO BE USED.

1. Safety Helmet

2. Safety shoe / safety rubber Boot.

3. Cotton gloves / rubber gloves.

4. Safety Vest.

05/11/2018
REV : 00

Prepared by : Mohd Haikal Ahmad (SSS ) : …………………………………………………

Review by ; Tan Lam Seng (P.M.) : …………………………………………………