The objective of this procedure is to identify the important aspects which need to be considered while setting up a new construction site and implementing the administrative arrangements for the start-up of any project.
Prior to commencement on site, appropriate care needs to be made for effective planning for safety, health, and environmental standards. Clear procedures and standards should be established at the start and adequate resources in terms of time, materials, and personnel should be provided to ensure a smooth and safe start-up.
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Prior to any work or site set up thought needs to be paid to the appropriate administrative arrangements and layout of the site. Contract documentation, specifications, safety plans, and drawings should be scrutinized to establish any known and identified dangers and risks or constraints which might affect the site layout.
Items requiring checking include:
- Previous usage of the land on which the new development will be built
- Offices, buildings, and structures built on top of subsurface services
- The impact of site operations on the local community
- The impact on neighboring structures and local residents
- Local road conditions are affected.
- Access and egress for a large workforce must be safe and efficient.
- A storage area that is adequate and secure
- Noise, dust, odors, and water courses are examples of environmental effects
HSE Control Measures
The presence of any contamination of land on which the site is to be established should be identified prior to operations commencing. Offices and compounds should not be set up under overhead cables without the prior authorization of the local Electricity Board.
Access under overhead services should be kept to a minimum, check to establish height and voltage. Identify whether there are any subsurface services, what they are, what are they encased in, and whether will they need further protection.
If avoidable, access to a site should not be adjacent to a school, hospital, etc. Site access should not be routed onto a high-speed or busy road if it can be prevented. The junction for a side road to the public highway should be selected such that visibility is not hampered by road contours, sharp bends, or other obstructions.
Access between site buildings into a site should be even and uninterrupted and should be brightly lit if utilized in darkness.
If generators are utilized, the noise and fume emissions should be considered in respect of structures and persons on and off-site.
Acoustic screens may be necessary if adequate distance is not achieved. – Stacking and storage spaces should be well marked and maintained with clear vehicle and pedestrian access. In enclosed locations, gates should be of adequate size to facilitate, where required, access to emergency services.
Prior to the commencement of the project a program of safety, and environmental inspections should be developed between site management and the Safety Advisor. A program of electrical inspection should also be developed.
The site entrance should be signposted with information for the general public and for guests to the site. First Aid facilities suited to the risk and people on site should be provided.
Establishment of Offices
A fire certificate should be obtained, for all offices with more than a staff of 20, or more than 10 on any floor other than the ground floor. All offices should have a mechanism for raising alerts.
An adequate quantity of suitable fire extinguishers should be provided. A note stating the last date of inspection should be displayed on every fire extinguisher. (This will be carried out annually by the company undertaking the maintenance of extinguishers and a facility should be provided to enable them to carry out their work).
All fire extinguishers shall be secured to the wall at positions as agreed by the safety department and indicated in the project fire safety plan.
Special precautions will have to be taken when employing disabled persons to ensure that all access/egress to parking/sanitary facilities is both feasible and reasonable.
Suitable and adequate illumination should be provided for all work, and usage of facilities to allow persons to move about safely. Offices should be kept clean and tidy at all times. Adequate ventilation should be provided. Trailing telephone cables should be kept to a minimum and positioned to avoid tripping hazards.
Mess Rooms / Rest Area Paragraphs
These should be large enough and contain sufficient tables and chairs (benches should not be utilized until the system is designed and securely anchored) to accommodate, at any one time, all persons likely to use these facilities. All tables, serving hatches, etc., should be covered with a smooth impermeable material.
Where 10 or more persons have employed a suitable means of heating food should be provided (electric or gas ovens with hot plates or microwaves). This is not relevant where hot meals are provided via site canteen facilities.
Tools and materials should not be stored in any canteen or mess rooms. Suitable receptacles with lids should be provided for the disposal of waste items and should be emptied periodically and demarcated correctly.
Heat-resistant material should be placed underneath any gas rings, boilers, and ovens, and where any of these are situated adjacent to a wall the heat-resistant material should be placed between the appliance and the wall.
An adequate number of suitable fire extinguishers should be provided and they should be secured to the wall near the doors and kept in an efficient working
Mess rooms should be appropriately illuminated. Mess rooms, including all walls, should be kept clean, tidy, and in good shape at all times.
Canteens
Where separate kitchens are provided which offer full canteen facilities, that is the sale of food, the following rules should be observed:
The premises should be registered with the Local Authority.
Passageways and offices should be clear of all unnecessary materials, and flooring should be kept in a safe condition. worn linoleum with holes, loose carpets, etc., should not be tolerated. Where photocopying activities are carried out electrical supply points should be adjacent to the machines to eliminate trailing cables.
Where poisonous, corrosive, flammable materials are used; information on hazards and precautions have to be provided together with suitable storage facilities CO2 extinguishers should be supplied and kept in an efficient order when all electrical equipment is in use. They should be of adequate size to allow unfettered passage of persons carrying food and drink.
Non-slip flooring which is free of tripping risks should be provided. Suitable preparations should be made for the extraction of steam and fumes from the kitchen. If cookers or deep-fat fryers are used, fire blankets should be provided and secured next to the fryer. All shelves and work surfaces should be covered with a smooth impermeable substance. Washing facilities should be provided for the canteen personnel, plus soap and nail brush.
All objects and equipment that are likely to come into touch with food should be non-absorbent, entirely cleanable, and in good shape. All persons making and serving food should have high standards of personal hygiene. Cuts and abrasions should be covered with a waterproof dressing. Hairnets should be worn.
Careful choosing of containers and wrapping should be done so as to limit the risk of contaminating food. Adequate hot and cold water. Separate sinks for food preparation and washing up. The minimum allowed is a double sink and double drainer. If veggies are to be prepared another sink should be provided.
Walls, floors, doors, windows, ceiling, and woodwork are to be kept clean and in good shape. Use melamine-faced chipboard with stainless steel sheeting behind the cookers. Adequate garbage receptacles with lids disinfected daily. No garbage is to be allowed to collect. Nothing in the kitchen overnight.
Provide lockers for kitchen staff clothes and personal items. Open food to be covered. Movement of hot water is to be kept to a minimum. Different colored polypropylene cutting boards and the same colored blades should be used, i.e. red for raw meat. Electric flycatchers should be fitted in all kitchens.
“Wash Your Hands” signs should be displayed in all cloakrooms/toilets where catering staff are on site. Plastic gloves should be used when handling or serving food.
Use of Microwave Ovens
Ovens should only be installed and used as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Installation should be checked by an Electrical Engineer. Ovens should be checked for leaks annually. Leakage should not exceed 5 milliwatts per sq centimeter. Ovens door seals should be kept clean at all times. Inspections should only be undertaken on clean ovens. Repair should only be undertaken by a certified repairer or the manufacturer.
Drinking Water Facilities
An adequate quantity of clearly recognized fresh drinking water should be provided and if kept in a suitable container, that container shall be prominently marked “drinking water” and the contents changed at least once a day. Where drinking water is supplied by tanker, laboratory test certificates need to be issued and filed. Summertime work – Iso Tonic drinks must be considered.
Washing Facilities
Suitable and adequate washing facilities should be provided and should comprise the following:
Adequate troughs, basins, or buckets (with a smooth impervious surface). Soap and towels (or driers). Hot and cold (or warm) water. When more than 100 persons, or when the contract is of more than 12 months duration, washing facilities shall include in addition to the aforementioned, 4 wash basins for every 35 extra persons thereafter one wash basin should be provided Shower facilities should also be provided if the nature of the work or health considerations warrant them.
Toilet / Sanitary Conveniences
WCs should be provided to the following scale:
1 per 25, or part of 25 for the first 100 employees. 1 per 35 or part of 35 after the first 100 employees. Flush or re-cycling toilets should be provided and all doors should be fitted with fastenings. Facilities should be conveniently accessible and kept clean at all times. Sanitary conveniences should not open directly onto a canteen.
All sanitary conveniences should be appropriately ventilated. Sanitary conveniences should be well-lighted to a level of at least 100 lux. Urinals should be adequately shielded from the outside when the door is open.
Where female staff is employed, separate sanitary conveniences should be provided and clearly marked to denote female, and on the same scale as male employees.
Site Stores
Suitable and safe access should be provided to all stores, paying particular attention to any step up into the stores. All stores should be kept in a clean and tidy state and gangways kept clean. All racks should be of adequate strength and positioned correctly to eliminate any risk of collapse.
All material should be stored in a secure manner and if required restrained to prevent inadvertent displacement. Combustible materials should be segregated to prevent fire from starting and spreading. Special standards apply to the storage of the following:
- Highly flammable liquids and gases
- Petroleum
- Abrassive wheels
- Cartridges
- Chemicals used in construction activities
Where bulk storage of fuels or other liquids is provided then explicit identity and quantity of substances stored shall be displayed on the storage container.
All stores should be appropriately illuminated. An adequate quantity of fire extinguishers should be provided and these should be secured to the wall near the doors – (CO2 or dry powder if electricity is utilized) and kept in efficient operating condition.
Chemicals that may be detrimental to health should not be issued from any store unless a specific examination has been carried out.
Site Workshops and Site Fabrication Workshops
Suitable safe access and egress should be provided and maintained. Passageways should be established, marked, and maintained in a safe state. An adequate quantity of dry powder or foam fire extinguishers should be provided, secured to the wall, and kept in efficient working condition. Care should be taken against the spillage of any fuels, or oils, Any spillage should be cleaned up quickly.
A separate room, with fan extraction, is necessary when any battery charging is being carried out. Signs signifying “NO NAKED LIGHTS”, and “NO SMOKING” should be displayed and demarcated as such.
All bench-mounted instruments should be firmly connected to a bench of adequate strength. Power hand drills converted to bench-mounted machines should be provided with a chuck guard and have a lockout procedure.
All machines should be appropriately guarded and guards should be kept in position. All fixed grinders should be fitted with permanently installed eye shields. Effective extraction should be provided and maintained to keep fabrication units devoid of all fumes, exhaust gases, etc.
All inspection lamps should be provided with protection cages. – Suitable welding screens should be provided and utilized to ensure that the welding flash is only visible to the person carrying out the welding. This person should utilize suitable eye protection. Suitable eye protection should be provided where necessary, in addition, any additional PPE determined essentially by a risk assessment should be provided and utilized, and a mandated sign displayed.
When operating close to or beneath any piece of plant or machinery, adequate support (aide stands to be 3rd party certificate) should be provided to ensure that the plant or machinery will not fall. Under no circumstances may persons be allowed to work under such plant/machinery which is supported simply by jacks. Safe weight loads are to be displayed by a 3rd party.
Hand tools should be maintained in a safe and good condition, paying special attention to handles on files and shafts on hammers and the avoidance of “mushroom heads” and tape-up handles. Persons should not be subjected to excessive loudness.
Site Safety Records
Site safety records should be filed on-site, readily retrievable, and protected from deterioration. On completion of the contract, the contents of the record folder should be preserved. However, copies of Acts, Regulations, Codes of Practice, and the like are to be returned to the respective HSE Manager. The most senior person on site has the task of ensuring that all necessary records are kept, and maintained.