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Every year many thousands of construction workers are exposed to hazardous products and activities that affect their health. Many of the causes of occupational ill health have been identified, understood and recognised by the construction industry. However, managing these risks is often more difficult to quantify because there is often a long latency period before disease develops and because individual susceptibility varies.
Cement is the most common cause of dermatitis caused particularly by allergy to chromate present in cement;
Silica, present in many building materials and released during many construction activities can give rise to cases of the deadly disease silicosis;
Solvents are widely used in construction, in paints, varnishes, adhesives and pesticides.
Biggest health problem facing construction is asbestos particularly through incidental exposures of trades such as electricians, plumbers, etc;
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a disease that affects many workers in construction. Its most well-known form is Vibration White Finger (VWF);
Many construction processes are very noisy and can result in permanent deafness if individuals are not adequately protected. Noise induced hearing loss is one of the most common causes of ill health in the construction industry;
Construction is labour intensive, with much heavy work, demanding physical labour liable to cause musculoskeletal problems;
The most senior Manager or Foreman is responsible for implementation of this procedure. The Contracts Manager is responsible for monitoring compliance with this procedure. All Managers should be aware that compliance with legislation involves the following responsibilities:
Identification of health hazards in the workplace;
Assessment of health risks created by work involving substances hazardous to health;
Prevention or control of exposure to health hazards;
Control of health hazards;
Selection of alternatives arrangements where possible;
Monitoring exposure at the workplace where applicable;
Health surveillance where applicable;
Provision of information, instruction and training for persons who may be exposed to health hazards to health.
During every Site induction of a new site operative, existing site operative moving site or agency supplied labour, a new site induction form must be completed. CCL HSF 101 Site induction form includes a page to record existing health conditions and the operatives must report any existing medical conditions they have to allow Coinford to manage their health condition moving forward. Failure to disclose any existing medical condition will prevent Coinford from managing their condition and could cause their condition to worsen, this would be a failure on the operative’s behalf and could result in disciplinary action.
Hazards substances come in many physical states, which can be classified as follows:
Dusts - these are solid airborne particles, often created by operations such as grinding, crushing, milling, sanding and demolition;
Fumes - fumes are solid particles that usually form an oxide in contact with air and are created by industrial processes that involve the heating and melting of metals, such as welding;
Smoke - smoke is a product of incomplete combustion, mainly of organic materials, and may include fine particles of carbon in the form of ash, soot and grit that are visibly suspended in air;
Mists - mists are finely dispersed liquids suspended in air, which are mainly created by spraying, foaming. Dangers arise most frequently from acid mists or fungicidal, insecticide mists;
Gases - these are formless fluids, usually produced by chemical processes involving combustion or by the interaction of chemical substances, and they will normally seek to fill the space completely into which they are liberated;
Vapours - a vapour is the gaseous form of a material normally encountered in a solid or liquid state at normal room temperature and pressure and typical examples are solvents, such as trichlorethylene, which release vapours when the container is opened, while other liquids produce a vapour on heating;
Liquids - numerous dangerous substances are in liquid form, including acids, alkalis, caustic and acid based detergents solvents and fuels;
Fibres - such as asbestos, or man-made mineral fibres (MMMF).
Every form of hazardous substance, chemical or biological, will affect the body in a different way, based upon its route of entry. The main routes of entry are:
Inhalation - of dust, fume, gas, vapour, or mist accounts for the majority of deaths and illnesses associated with toxic substances and biological agents. The results may be acute (immediate) e.g. gassing incidents (chlorine, carbon monoxide) or chronic (prolonged and cumulative) as with exposure to certain solvents, lead compounds, dusts or fibres;
Direct Contact - the skin, can be affected by hazardous substances through direct contact, an allergic reaction to a product will normally appear as rash (e.g. dermatitis);
Absorption - if intact, the skin acts as a barrier against most but not all hazardous substances. There are certain substances and micro-organisms which are capable of passing straight through the intact skin into underlying tissue or even into the blood stream, without causing any change to the skin itself, for example some solvents will pass through the skin into the blood stream. The resistance of the skin to external irritants varies with age, sex, race, colour and, to an extent, diet. Cuts and abrasions to the skin should be protected as they can increase the likelihood hazardous substances will enter the body either directly or by absorption;
Ingestion - substances once swallowed will enter the stomach and intestinal system; some may pass into the blood stream. Like the lung, the intestine behaves as a selective filter which keeps out many, but not all, harmful agents presented to it. Ingestion is most likely to occur through eating and drinking with contaminated hands or putting hazardous liquids into inappropriate bottles or containers where they may be mistaken for a drink;
Injection, inoculation and implantation – a forceful breach of the skin, perhaps as a result of an injury, can carry harmful substances through the skin barrier.
Sources of information about the hazardous properties of substances include:
Information on labels and safety data sheets (from suppliers) complying with the CLP regulations, or from classifying the substances by applying the criteria in COSHH;
Information provided on the tin or packaging;
Guidance material published by HSE or other authoritative bodies;
Experience obtained and information gathered as a result of previous use of the substance or similar substances;
Technical reference sources;
Professional institutions, trade associations and specialist consultancy services.
The main duties imposed on employers by COSHH are:
Conduct an assessment of their operations to determine any risk of injury from exposure to hazardous substances, which shall be repeated as often as necessary;
Prevent or minimise the likelihood of such exposure, so far as is reasonably practicable, by means other than the provision of personal protective equipment;
Ensure the proper use, maintenance and repair of all control measures and systems, so far as is reasonably practicable;
Provide adequate 'monitoring of exposure to substances and health surveillance of all employees who may be exposed to hazardous substances, so far as is reasonably practicable; and
Provide information, instruction and training to any person who may be exposed to hazardous substances.
To carry out an effective assessment you will need information in the following areas:
What is the substance;
What form does the hazardous substance take;
What are the harmful components;
How does the substance enter the body;
What are the health effects of the substance;
What process causes exposure to the substance;
What is the level of exposure in your process;
Who is exposed and when;
What control measures (except Personal Protective Equipment) do you have in place;
What maintenance do you carry out on your equipment, ventilation PPE etc;
Do you carry out health surveillance? If so what type;
How is exposure of employees monitored;
Who is responsible for monitoring substances;
What training is provided to employees regarding their exposure to substances?
Before work commences on any site the Site Management Team must produce a COSHH Assessment. No hazardous substance presenting significant risk can be used on any Company project unless an adequate COSHH assessment has been produced and accepted in support of the Method Statement.
Information can be provided to persons on site in a number of ways:
COSHH Information Posters - These posters should be displayed on all sites, and covers general hazards and controls associated with routine substances used on Company sites;
Project Specific COSHH Assessments – Should be provided by all Contractors who expect their operatives to work with Hazardous Substances, in support of the project specific Method Statement.
The Company’s generic COSHH file contains assessments for the majority of products used on our projects.
COSHH requires you to reduce the exposure of a worker and not just by the use of PPE. PPE is a last resort and must only be used if exposure to a substance cannot be reduced by other control measures. If PPE is used it must protect the operative from the substance to which they are exposed.
The hierarchy of control measures is listed below and you can use a combination of controls to reduce exposure:
Prevention – Can you avoid the task?
Elimination - Is the substance or the process that creates the hazard really necessary?
Substitution - Can an alternative substance or process be used that is a safer option (Remember to ensure that the alternative substance does not create a different hazard that still needs to be controlled)?
Control – Ensure a safe system of work is established, communicated, supervised, monitored and reviewed.
Examples of how to exercise control are as follows:
Enclose the process;
Local exhaust ventilation;
General ventilation;
Reduce time exposure;
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The use of PPE and RPE will only protect the individual, and then only if it is worn correctly for all of the time. The regulations require you to use other methods to control exposure to a substance before resorting to the use of PPE. Selection of PPE must take into account the protection afforded to the specific substance in use;
Information and training;
Housekeeping. Maintaining high levels of housekeeping can be an important control measure in the prevention of exposure to hazardous substances. You should place emphasis on keeping the workplace and working area clear, and provide appropriate welfare facilities. Prohibition of smoking, eating and drinking under certain conditions.
Coinford are not licensed to complete any removal of Asbestos works. If Asbestos is discovered on a project then works are to stop and the client informed of the discovery. The following is for information purposes only.
Of the five or so variants which occur, the three main types of asbestos used by industry include:
Crocidolite (commonly known as blue asbestos);
Amosite (commonly known as brown asbestos);
Chrysotile (commonly known as white asbestos).
The different types of asbestos cannot usually be identified by their colour alone. All are dangerous, but crocidolite and amosite asbestos are known to be more hazardous than chrysotile.
What types of buildings are likely to contain asbestos? Asbestos is likely to be in a building if:
it was built or refurbished prior to 1985; and particularly
if it also has a steel frame; and/or
it has boilers or pipe work with thermal insulation.
The use of blue and brown asbestos has been banned since 1985, but many thousands of tonnes were used in buildings in the past. Much of this asbestos is still there and cannot easily be identified. Its most common uses were:
Sprayed asbestos and asbestos lagging: generally used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers;
Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, wall partitions and ducts;
Asbestos cement products: largely used for roofing and wall cladding;
Some reinforced plastics, mastics and sealants;
Millboard, paper and paper products: used as a fireproof facing on wood fibreboard;
Certain texture coatings, decorative plasters and paints: 'Artex';
Asbestos ropes and cloth: used in jointing and packing materials, gaskets and caulking for brickwork;
Bitumen felts and coated materials: some roofing felts, flashing tapes, damp-proof courses may contain asbestos fibre;
Flooring materials: asbestos has been added to the mix of certain PVC and thermoplastic floor tiles and sheet materials;
Reinforced plastics: asbestos reinforced PVC containing chrysotile has been used to make cladding panels.
Asbestos is a fibrous material that collects in the nasal passages and lungs. Although the body will get rid of most of the larger asbestos fibres that enter the nose and mouth, tiny fibres can pass into the lower parts of the lung and can stay there for years and in some cases work their way through the lung lining. The body naturally gets rid of any asbestos fibres taken in with food and water and fibres cannot be absorbed through the skin.
There is no cure for asbestos related diseases. There is usually a long delay between first exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of disease.
This can vary between 15 and 60 years. Breathing in asbestos fibres can eventually lead to a number of diseases:
Asbestosis or fibrosis: fibrosis or scarring of the lung where tissue becomes less elastic making breathing progressively more difficult and painful. The lung tissue becomes progressively harder reducing the amount of oxygen absorbed. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, tiredness and 'clubbing' of the fingers and toes. Strain on the heart can lead to death from heart failure.
Lung cancer: lung cancer is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibre and most commonly occurs in the bronchi, i.e. the tubes passing from the windpipe towards the roots of the lungs. All three types or commonly used asbestos fibre can cause lung cancer, but crocidolite and amosite are considerably more dangerous than chrysotile.
Mesothelioma: a cancer of the inner lining of the chest or of the abdominal wall. The incidence in the general population is very low; the overwhelming majority of cases are attributable to occupational or para occupational (those living in the same house as an asbestos worker) exposure to asbestos.
Laryngeal cancer: cancer of the larynx is another risk associated with exposure to asbestos, although there is a greater chance that it may be cured and deaths are rare.
Where The Company own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for premises which may contain asbestos, we will either have:
A legal duty to manage the risk from this material; or
A duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk. As an employer, The Company already has legal duties to prevent exposure of its employees to asbestos, or if this is not possible to reduce it to the lowest possible level. The new duty to manage asbestos added to Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations will require the risk from asbestos to be managed by:
Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, its amount and what condition it is in;
Presuming materials contain asbestos, unless there is strong evidence that they do not;
Making and keeping up to date records of the location and condition or asbestos or presumed asbestos in the premises;
Assessing the risk from the material;
Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed;
Taking the steps needed to put the plan into action;
Reviewing and monitoring the plan and the arrangements made to put it in place; and
Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb it.
Extensive use has been made of building materials containing asbestos and it will be necessary to do all that can be reasonably done to find them. However, unless material is readily identifiable, for example, by the use of an asbestos label, or there is access to the original building plans it may be difficult to determine the presence of asbestos. Therefore it will be necessary to carry out a thorough inspection of the premises both inside and out to identify materials that are or may be asbestos. It should always be presumed that any material contains asbestos unless there is strong evidence to suggest it does not.
Note: If the age of the building or the information available provides strong evidence that asbestos is not present, there is no need to do anything else.
It is important to determine the type and amount of asbestos present in the building, the type of material in which it is contained, its use and its location. Some general points are given below:
Finding asbestos material may require a diligent and determined survey, however, in some cases, where there is no maintenance work planned and / or the premises are small, it may be appropriate not to carry out an inspection;
Those carrying out surveying/sampling must be suitably trained and experienced. A person or organisation should provide;
For evidence of their training and experience in such work;
Whether they are going to carry out the work in accordance with HSE guidance MDHS100 ' Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials’;
For evidence that they have suitable insurance liability;
There may be a requirement that samples of materials are analysed, for those suspected of containing asbestos. This is often the only way of identifying if material does contain asbestos, other things to consider;
Samples should only be taken by suitably trained people;
Taking samples from asbestos materials will involve damaging the materials so fibres will be released into the air. Appropriate precautions must therefore be taken to avoid endangering the health of staff or contaminating buildings;
Do not sample unnecessarily;
Arrangements should be made to repair damage such as exposed edges, after sampling and to clean-up when sampling is completed;
Waste materials, cloths etc - should be disposed of correctly.
It will not usually be necessary to carry out an accurate quantitative analysis, an indication of the presence of asbestos and its type will be sufficient in most cases.
Once the presence of asbestos materials within a building has been established, the potential for fibre release must be assessed so that the appropriate control measures may be taken.
The potential for fibre release from asbestos material is determined by 3 main factors:
a)The type of material, its properties, and the type of asbestos used in its manufacture:
For the purposes of assessment, the types of asbestos material are listed in approximate order of fibre release:
Sprayed coatings and laggings;
Insulating boards, insulating blocks and composite products, ropes, yarns and cloth;
Millboard, paper and paper products;
Asbestos-cement products;
Bitumen roofing felts, damp-proof courses, semi-rigid asbestos-bitumen products and asbestos coated metals;
Asbestos paper-backed vinyl flooring, unpacked (homogenous) vinyl flooring and floor tiles;
Textured coatings and paints containing asbestos, mastics, sealants, putties and adhesives, asbestos reinforced PVC and plastics.
The hazard presented by these materials is related to their hardness or toughness and the ease with which fibres may be released. The ranking can only be approximate.
For a material to be classified as being in good condition it must be intact, not cracked or fractured and not bearing evidence of abrasion or fraying. In the area surrounding or beneath the asbestos material there should be no debris, or other evidence of dust release.
Taking into account its accessibility and vulnerability to damage, and the use of the area or building where the material is installed. Readily accessible material is likely to be vulnerable to damage arising from vandalism, impact by vehicles, people, or objects and in certain circumstances, to damage arising from maintenance and repair work. Other sources of damage are vermin (rats, mice and birds) and water. If an anticipated future use of a building would make previously undisturbed asbestos installations accessible and therefore vulnerable to damage, the material concerned should be reassessed.
Once identification of asbestos installations and assessment of potential risks have been completed, you will need to prepare and implement a plan to manage these risks.
If the asbestos is:
in good condition; and
is not likely to be damaged; and
is not likely to be worked on or disturbed; it is usually safer to leave it in place and manage it.
If the asbestos is in poor condition or is likely to be damaged or disturbed it will need to be decided whether it should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed. If unsure of the condition of the asbestos and it cannot be decided what action to take, seek specialist advice from an asbestos surveyor, a laboratory or a licensed contractor.
Before starting any work where asbestos is present, CAR requires that an assessment of the likely exposure of employees and others to asbestos is carried out. Alongside this, there is a further requirement to prepare a plan of work. All assessments and plans of work should be in writing, except for very small jobs such as may be encountered in building maintenance.
Where the decision is made to remove asbestos containing materials the licensed contractor needs to assess the work to determine the stripping technique(s) to be used, and identify all associated control measures. The types of issues to be considered under assessment include:
The type of work and its duration;
The type of asbestos-containing material;
The quantity of asbestos material;
The surface onto which the asbestos has been applied, For example, a sprayed coating may have been applied onto a bituminous layer on structural steel work. This will make the removal of residual asbestos difficult;
The location of the asbestos containing material and the nature of the work area;
Selection of work methods and justification where, in exceptional circumstances, controlled stripping techniques cannot be used;
The need to reduce exposure to the lowest level reasonably practicable thus minimising the amount of fibres generated at the point where asbestos is being stripped;
Anticipated expected exposures and the number of people affected;
Selection, provision, use and decontamination of personal protective equipment, including RPE;
Removal of asbestos waste and debris;
Emergency procedures
Hygiene facilities are provided to enable people removing asbestos:
To change from normal outdoor clothing into protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) before entering the asbestos contaminated area; and
To effectively decontaminate themselves when leaving the work area.
The facilities should be purpose built and should be provided exclusively for the use of people who have been working in asbestos contaminated areas and not for other site operatives. The hygiene facility should comprise three separate compartments;
A clean area,
A shower area and
A so called 'dirty area'.
Contractors who engage asbestos removal specialists have some responsibility to ensure that other people who use the site are not put at risk. To enable this duty to be effectively discharged, those letting the contract should take the necessary steps to ensure:
That only asbestos removal contractors and laboratories with the necessary licence, experience and capabilities will be engaged;
That a suitable plan / method statement has been supplied, outlining the method of work and any health and safety issues raised by the initial assessment;
That facilities provided by the asbestos removal contractor are suitable and do not obstruct any access, etc. This applies particularly to the enclosure, the hygiene facility and air ducting, etc.;
Before work commences, that the enclosure within which the asbestos removal contractor is to work, will not permit any escape of asbestos fibre into the atmosphere. This will normally be achieved by witnessing the smoke test being carried out. You should insist that the enclosure includes a viewing panel;
That a maintenance / inspection schedule is in place for the enclosure and any air extraction equipment;
That asbestos does not escape into the atmosphere during the asbestos stripping operation;
The adequacy of the personnel decontamination procedure, so that asbestos is not released from persons moving through the site;
That the area being stripped is clean, both visually and with the supporting air sampling results;
That the removal of the enclosure does not give rise to the release of asbestos fibre; (Air monitoring carried out around the enclosure once work starts will provide useful information on the efficiency of the enclosure and will highlight any release of asbestos fibre);
That the storage of the asbestos on site does not give rise to asbestos fibre release and that all asbestos is effectively removed from site double bagged and in suitable skips;
That the works are overseen by a person with sufficient training and experience to ensure that the above requirements are complied with, and to ensure that any other matters of good practice are implemented.
Operatives whose hands are regularly exposed to high vibration can suffer from several kinds of injury to the hands and arms, including impaired blood circulation and damage to the nerves and muscles. This type of injury is known as “hand-arm vibration syndrome”. This is a painful injury and is wide spread in those industries where vibrating tools and machines are used.
Generally hand-arm vibration syndrome embraces various kinds of damage including:
Vascular disorders, generally known as vibration white finger, caused by impaired blood circulation and blanching of affected fingers and parts of the hand.
Neurological and muscular damage leading to numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers which lead to reduced grip strength and dexterity, and reduced sensitivity to touch and temperature.
Other kinds of damage leading to pain and stiffness in the hands and to the joints in the wrists, elbows and shoulders.
The first stages of vibration injury are a tingling sensation or pins and needles in the fingers accompanied by numbness. With continued exposure the sufferer may sustain periodic attacks in which the fingers change colour when exposed to the cold. In mild cases, the whiteness and numbness only affects the tips of the fingers. As the condition becomes more severe, the whole finger down to the knuckles becomes white.
At first a typical attack might occur when the sufferer leaves for work on a cold morning and notices the fingers rapidly going pale and loss of feeling in them. This is followed by an intense red flush, signalling the return of blood circulation to the fingers together with an uncomfortable throbbing.
In more severe forms the attacks are more frequent in cold weather and may last up to an hour, causing considerable pain and loss of manual dexterity. As the condition becomes worse the attacks occur even in warm surroundings. In very severe cases, blood circulation can be permanently impaired and the fingers look black and blue.
The first noticeable symptoms may occur sometime after regular exposure to vibration has begun. In the early stages improvement may occur if activities associated with vibration cease. Later, however the condition is likely to become permanent.
The primary cause of hand-arm vibration is work which involves holding vibrating tools or work pieces i.e.
Percussive metal working tools
Grinders and other rotary tools
Percussive tools used in stonework/construction
Timber and wood machining tools.
Several other factors also affect the severity of the risk i.e.
The grip, push and forces used to guide and applying vibrating tools or work pieces. A tight grip increases vibration energy to the hand.
The exposure pattern – length and frequency of work and rest periods.
How much of the hand is exposed to vibration.
Factors affecting blood circulation, such as temperature and smoking.
Individual susceptibility
The exposure to Hand Arm Vibration should be avoided where reasonably practicable. A practicable example of this is the use of mechanical means of removing pile caps in place of persons using pneumatic breakers. Where there is a significant risk of injury from vibration exposure due to the regular and prolonged use of work equipment, a preventative programme for operatives and supervisors should be implemented.
Train and provide information for workers and supervisors on:
The nature of the risk and the signs of injury.
How any/why any injury should be reported.
Action workers should take to minimise the risk including:
Working practices designed to minimise vibration being directed into the hands.
Maintaining good blood circulation.
Making sure tools are properly maintained.
Reporting defects and problems with equipment and obtaining replacements where necessary.
Vibration energy directed into the worker’s hands should be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable. Measure to achieve this should include:
Substituting a process involving less vibration i.e. using nibbling equipment to reduce the use of hand held breakers.
Minimise the time working with vibrating tools by job rotation.
Using tools designed for low vibration i.e. chain saws with anti-vibration mountings and tools with vibration-isolating handles.
Maintain equipment as manufactures instructions.
Make arrangements to reduce the grip, push and other forces which the worker may apply i.e. supports for tools and work piece and good ergonomic design of processes and equipment.
Using tools designed to avoid the need for workers to grip high vibration parts such as chisels fitted into a chipping hammer.
Training workers in operating techniques which minimise the need to grip tools and work pieces tightly.
Select proper tools for the task.
Various sorts of gloves with special soft linings intended to provide vibration-isolation are available on the market. However, in practice these general offer no vibration reduction benefits other than to keep hands warm and provide physical protection. Latest theories suggest that keeping the hand warm are one of the best methods to protect against VWF.
Keeping the hands and body warm helps to maintain good blood flow to the fingers and reduce the risk of injury. Where people have to work in cold areas, measures to improve the situation can include:
Wearing gloves
Using proprietary heating pads to keep hands warm.
Using tools with heated handles.
Avoiding pneumatic exhausts which discharge towards the operator’s hand i.e. fit a flexible hose to lead the exhaust away.
Allow the worker to warm up before starting work and providing good warm welfare facilities for use at break time.
Wearing warm, waterproof clothing for work in cold or wet areas.
Construction is an inherently noisy business, and many processes can result in permanent hearing loss e.g. blasting, breaking, piling, tunnelling, scabbling/chasing and concrete pouring. Remember the effects of noise on hearing are irreversible. More than one million workers in Britain are exposed to noise levels which could damage their hearing. It is estimated that 1.3 million workers are exposed to noise levels over 80 decibels. This is the lower exposure action level under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations. Around 170,000 people are thought to be suffering from deafness, tinnitus and other conditions, which are caused by or worsened by work.
Noise is usually defined as unwanted sound. But strictly noise and sound are the same. Noise can:
Be a nuisance, resulting in disturbance and loss of enjoyment of life, loss of sleep and fatigue it can distract attention and concentration, mask audible warning signals or interfere with work, thereby being a factor in workplace accidents; and
Result in hearing impairment.
The lower exposure action values are,
A daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80 dB and
A peak sound pressure of 135 dB
The upper exposure action values are;
A daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85 dB and
A peak sound pressure of 137 dB.
The exposure limit values are;
A daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB and
A peak sound pressure of 140 dB.
One of the major problems associated with hearing loss is that it occurs over time and the sufferer may not be fully aware that it is taking place. There are two types of hearing loss associated with damage to the receptive hairs, temporary and permanent threshold shift:
Temporary threshold shift - is a temporary dullness in hearing after exposure to loud noises. Hearing will subsequently recover; the time taken depends on factors such as loudness and duration of the noise. If hearing does not fully recover after 48 hours, the level of hearing loss that remains can be considered permanent.
Permanent threshold shift – there are two categories:
Noise induced or occupational deafness, which results when the sufferer has been regularly exposed to noise over a long period of time. Normally, hearing loss will be similar in both ears and increase with continued exposure to the noise;
Acoustic trauma, occurring with exposure to a very high sound level over a short period of time, in some cases resulting in perforation of the eardrum. Hearing losses can be frequently more severe in the ear closest to the sound. Once permanent damage has occurred to the inner ear it is irreversible.
The relevant regulations impose requirements on employers with respects to:
Making and review of noise assessments;
Keeping of records of noise assessments and reviews thereof;
Reduction of risk of damage to the hearing of employees from exposure to noise;
Reduction of exposure to noise of their employees;
Provision to employees of personal ear protectors;
Marking of, and entry of employees into, ear protection zones;
The use and maintenance of equipment provided by employers.
Every employer shall, when any of his employees is likely to be exposed to the first action level, or to the peak action level, ensure that a competent person makes a noise assessment which is adequate for the purposes of:
Identifying which of his employees are exposed; and
Providing such information with regard to the noise to which those employees may be exposed
The noise assessment must be recorded on HSF 307 and reviewed when there:
Is reason to suspect that the assessment is no longer valid; or
Has been a significant change in the works to which the assessment relates.
Where, as a result of the review, changes in the assessment is required, those changes must be made. Employers must ensure that assessments, and any reviews, are kept until a further noise assessment is made.
The principal legislation relating to environmental or nuisance noise includes the Environmental Protection Act and the Control of Pollution Act.
A competent person needs to be capable of bringing together and presenting enough information about noise exposures to enable employers to make correct decisions on what they need to do to reduce the effect of noise on their employees. Help and advice should be sought from the Health and Safety Department.
The main management tool for ensuring the effective control of noise is the assessment process. Noise assessments should be completed along the following lines:
Step 1: Identify & List All Your Work Activities/ Tasks Where There Is Likely To Be A Noise Hazard
As a rough guide, noise is likely to be at hazardous levels wherever people have to shout or have difficulty being heard clearly by someone about 2m away. Where there is any doubt you should arrange for some measurements of the noise to be taken in a few representative places. If this suggests that any workers might be exposed to the first action level or above you will need to carry out a full noise assessment.
Step 2: Determine the Hazards
Listed below are a number of examples, which are regular causes of excessive noise exposure:
Cartridge tools;
Pneumatic breakers;
High performance drills;
Compactors;
Compressed air tools, compressors and generators;
Air Hammers;
Bench brick cutting saws
Step 3: Identify All Workers Likely To Be Exposed To the Hazard
All employees, directly involved in the work activity e.g. operatives, supervisors, managers etc and those who provide ancillary services or may come into contact with excessive noise levels. For other employers' personnel (e.g. other employers sharing premises, contractors' operatives and staff) consideration should be given as to cooperation between Contractors. Identify problems excessive noise may cause for others at the site and agree the necessary precautions with them. Then ensure that all affected parties are made fully aware of the results of the assessment and what they need to do to comply.
Step 4: Measuring the Risk
The only way to discover whether or not employees are being exposed to excessive noise is by measuring the noise they are working in and around. There are a number of instruments that can be adopted for use on a construction site, namely:
The sound level meter;
Dosemeters (personal sound exposure meter) worn by employees;
Dual purpose instruments which can operate as both sound level meters & dosemeters.
Whichever instrument is used it will need to be accurately calibrated and a windshield provide to protect the microphone against air movement and dirt. Other more sophisticated equipment such as data recorders, frequency analysers and sound intensity analysers can be used for more detailed assessment. It is also possible to establish probable noise levels emitted from plant by the manufacturers rating. This does not however take account of the environment being worked in; age or condition of the equipment so should only be used as a guide.
Step 5: Control Measures
Controls should be considered in the form of a hierarchy as follows:
Elimination - involves removing the hazard completely. This is the most effective method of dealing with a noise hazard;
Reduce the Risk at Source - it is often possible to reduce the risk at source through a change of work method, alternative equipment, etc;
Control of exposure - provides you with alternative options for reducing the exposure from a noisy machine or activity. Protective devices can often be provided to minimise the amount of noise produced by the equipment. e g. Damping, Isolation Silencers etc;
Supervision and Training - training should inform employees of all excessive noise to which they may be exposed, provide instruction so they know what they are doing, and how they should be doing it and should be linked with effective supervision to ensure that the agreed methodology is followed;
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - the provision and use of personal ear protection equipment, such as ear muffs and ear plugs, should be seen as the last resort. A sole reliance on PPE as a means of protecting your employees from excessive noise is a highly dangerous strategy. It relies heavily on your employees who are exposed using or wearing the PPE all of the time they are at risk.
Step 6: Record the findings in a Noise Assessment
Any record should include:
The equipment used to measure the noise and its calibration;
The date, time and place of the assessment;
A record of the noise exposures recorded, identified by person, work area or operation;
The person carrying out the monitoring;
The workplace, areas, jobs or people assessed;
Any noise control measures being used at the time;
Recommended actions for reducing noise exposure;
The work patterns and calculations of daily exposures;
Daily personal noise exposures where they are above the first action level;
Peak noise exposure levels where they are above the peak action level;
The sources of noise;
Any further information necessary to help compliance with the reductions of noise exposure.
The record should be kept at least until a new assessment is carried out, superseding the last.
Step 7: Review & Revise
Changes that might create the need for a review include:
Installation or removal of machinery;
Substantial changes in workload, work pattern and exposure time, processed materials, processes or machine speeds;
Changes in building structure or machine layout;
Machine wear or general deterioration;
Modifications to machinery and introduction of automation;
The introduction of a noise control or hearing preservation programme.
More than a quarter of the accidents reported each year to enforcing authorities are associated with manual handling. While fatal manual handling accidents are rare, accidents resulting in a major injury, such as a fractured arm are more common. The vast majority of reported manual handling accidents result in over-three-day injury, most commonly a sprain or strain, often of the back.
Sprains and strains are caused by incorrect application and/or prolongation of bodily force. Poor posture and excessive repetition of movement can be important factors in their onset. Many manual handling injuries are cumulative rather than being truly attributable to any single handling incident. The injured do not always make a full recovery; the result can be physical impairment or even permanent disability.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations apply to all employers, employees and the self-employed.
The regulations require employers and the self-employed to:
Avoid hazardous manual handling operations, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Assess any hazardous manual handling operations which cannot be avoided.
Reduce the risk of injury, so far as is reasonably practical.
Provide information on the load to be handled.
In addition the regulations require employees to follow the systems devised by their employer to promote safety in the manual handling of loads.
Where the general risk assessment carried out in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations indicates the possibility of injury from manual handling operations and they cannot be avoided, a more detailed and “suitable and sufficient” assessment must be carried out.
The assessment needs to be carried out by a competent person and opportunities should be given for employees and their safety representatives, where applicable, to contribute. For assessment to be “suitable and sufficient” it must identify the problems likely to arise during the handling which can be foreseen and the measures which will be necessary to deal with them. A review of accident records/ill health will be useful in that they will identify previous accidents associated with manual handling operations.
Assessments except for very simple operations need to be recorded. Typically manual handling assessments will be undertaken by our personnel, carrying out specific activities. Assessments will need to be reviewed in the light of experience, or when there is a change in manual handling operations or if an accident occurs.
Risks identified in the assessments MUST be reduced as far as is reasonably practicable, i.e.
The Load may be made smaller or lighter by specification charge.
Individual capability can be improved by information and training.
The Task may be made easier by the provision of mechanical assistance, such as a gin wheel or pallet mover.
The working Environment can be improved by ensuring adequate space for handling operations. Good housekeeping is essential with clear access routes and working platforms clear of ice and mud.
Remember: L. I. T. E.
Operatives need to be trained to recognised loads whose weight, in conjunction with their shape and other features, and the circumstances in which they are handled might cause injury.
The information and training given needs to ensure operatives have a clear understanding of:
How potentially hazardous handling operations may be recognised.
How to deal with unfamiliar handling operations.
The use of handling aids.
Features of the working environment which contributes to safety.
The importance of a good standard of housekeeping.
Good handling techniques.
The factors effecting individual capability.
Appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Where possible, precise information on the weight of each load and on the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity is not central, must also be given. Where items are likely to be manually handled, manufactures and suppliers should ensure that such information is clearly marked on the load.
Coinford is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all employees and self-employed workers in accordance with:
Coinford will implement proportionate and risk-based occupational health surveillance arrangements where required.
Health surveillance is a system of routine, proactive health checks designed to detect early signs of work-related illness in employees and self-employed (In collaboration with the HSE, Coinford have agreed to carry out health surveillance of all labour engaged on a CIS sub-contract basis following a continual 12 week engagement) exposed to specific hazards like noise, vibration, fumes, or chemicals. It protects workers by identifying potential issues before they become permanent, ensuring control measures are effective and operatives health remain unaffected.
Health surveillance is a statutory control measure implemented where exposure to specific hazards may give rise to identifiable occupational disease. Operatives who are exposed to the following risks will be eligible for the checks:
Roles which expose the operative to dust – Silica, wood dust etc
Roles which expose the operative to noise levels above 85 db
Roles which require the use of hand power tools which expose the user to vibration
All roles that expose the operative to the above risks will be eligible for the Health Surveillance checks. For self-employed operatives joining Coinford, there is a minimum 3-month engagement period with Coinford before they become eligible for the medicals. Once eligible, the checks will be completed between months 3 and 6.
The following roles will be assessed for eligibility:
Groundworkers
Labourers
Concrete labourers/finishers
Carpenters
Roles which do not expose the operative to the above risks do not need to attend Health Surveillance assessments. These roles could be Site Managers, Site Supervisors, Engineers, Document controllers, Excavator Operators, etc.
Where health surveillance is a statutory requirement:
The medicals can be completed in 2 different ways. This is dependent on company circumstances and is not a choice for the operative:
An Occupational Nurse attends the workplace to complete the health assessment.
or
The operative travels to a local facility to complete the assessment off-site.
Any time taken to attend an off-site assessment, along with any travel costs associated with the attendance, will not be recoverable.
The tests completed depend on the exposure identified within the operative’s role. The following tests could be completed during a health surveillance medical:
The time taken for the Medical varies, but can be completed in around 45 to 60 minutes. The medicals will be typically repeated annually (unless health concerns are identified, the frequency could be adjusted)
You will be required to show a form of ID (Driver’s Licence or Passport)
The routine Health checks bring a lot of benefits to the operative. Routine checks will help identify any potential underlying health condition which the operative may be completely unaware of. This could help treat a condition much earlier and prevent it from becoming a more serious health issue, which could lead to the operative being unable to work, or in the most serious cases, suffering a life-changing health issue. The benefits of routine testing include:
The assessment result will be issued by the occupational health provider completing the health assessment. The assessment can return 3 results:
Fit for Role
Fit for Role with restrictions
Unfit for Role
Fit for Role – These results are logged into TMS, and the certificate of fitness is saved in the operatives’ folder. The expiry date will be logged to remind of the next assessment.
Fit for Role with restrictions – The restrictions will be reviewed by the H&S department and the line manager to see if the restriction can be accommodated. Coinford will endeavour to work with the individual to ensure the restrictions do not prevent the operator’s engagement. Restrictions to be noted into TMS record. Referral to a GP may occur where further medical intervention is required.
Unfit for Role – In the rare circumstance an operative is deemed unfit for Role, Coinford will review the information to see if treatment or medication will help the operative medical condition to improve their health. In rare circumstances where this may not be possible, alternative roles will be considered.
The exact results of each test during health surveillance will not be released to Coinford. Health surveillance records will be retained for 40 years, where required under COSHH and asbestos regulations.
Wherever possible, Coinford will support operators whose medicals raise health concerns. This could be by ensuring the operative receives the correct treatment or medication, or by adjusting the operative’s role to work around a particular medical condition.
The Health and Safety department will analyse the Health surveillance data annually to identify emerging health risks.
