General
Risks on a construction site which may be minimised by the use of PPE include:
- injuries to the head from falling objects.
- damage to the hearing caused by excessive noise.
- injuries to the eyes from foreign bodies, e.g. sparks, dirt, dust, chippings and splinters.
- damage to the lungs caused by the inhalation of dust and fumes.
- adverse health effects caused by cold and wet.
- injuries to the hands caused by dirt, chemicals and sharp objects.
- injuries to the feet from falling objects and from nails and sharp objects piercing the sole of the foot.
- It is your responsibility to wear, maintain and store equipment correctly.
Safety Helmets
In order to ensure that it will do its job effectively, you must:
- make sure the harness is adjusted correctly.
- Do not use a hard hat with a hoodie. In cold conditions a proprietary hard-hat liner can be used.
- not paint it or use solvent-based inks to mark it, or make holes in the shell.
- Inspect it often, keep it clean, inside and out.
- ask your supervisor for a replacement if it is damaged.
Hearing Protection
Employees must:
- wear the hearing protection provided.
- maintain it and store it when not in use as instructed.
- not misuse any noise reduction equipment.
- not modify hearing protection.
- not remove it, even for short periods, in hearing protection zones.
- not wear personal stereos inside ear defenders.
- Ear plugs are effective when properly fitted in the outer ear canal. Most are self-fitting. Ensure they are fully compressed before inserting into the ear canal. Ear plugs must be kept clean.
Eye and Face Protection
Employees must:
- Make sure you have eye protection appropriate to the risk - if in doubt ask your supervisor.
- Make sure it fits properly.
- Do not drill, cut or in any way modify a safety helmet to allow eye or face protection to be fitted.
- Keep eye protection clean at all times.
- Do not use eye or face protection which has become scratched. It is important that you can clearly see what you are doing.
Protection of the Lungs
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is used to protect the lungs against harmful dust, fumes and mist.
Employees must:
- maintain and store RPE when not in use.
- It must not be modified in any way.
- Ensure you are clean shaven when wearing a dust mask.
- Face fit testing needs to be completed to ensure the mask is working with your face shape.
- Report defective RPE at once.
Protection of the Hands
Employees must:
Wherever such hazards occur, appropriate gloves will be provided.
Always ensure that the gloves you are provided with are appropriate for the hazard - if in doubt consult your supervisor.
Do not wear badly fitting, damaged or unsuitable gloves.
General purpose gloves are provided to give general protection to the skin on the hands.
Do not take-home gloves which may be contaminated.
Foot Protection
- The safety boot with a steel toe cap and a steel mid-sole is for general use.
- The Wellington boot with steel toe cap and a steel mid-sole is worn to protect against wet conditions, including wet cement.
- Ensure that the safety footwear provided to you is the right size and suitable for the job.
- Keep them clean and free from contaminants.
- Keep the laces in good order – do not replace with wire or string.
- Report defective safety footwear at once.
- Never wear trainers or sandals on site.
Protection of the Skin
- Dermatitis is the result of an irritant (the most common type) which is caused by skin coming into contact with an irritant substance
- Some common causes of dermatitis are: cement, petrol, diesel, solvents, certain wood dusts
- Do not handle substances if other means are available.
- Always use the gloves and other protective equipment provided.
- Use barrier creams - but remember barrier creams afford only limited protection - gloves are far better.
- Solvents such as paraffin, turps, thinners, petrol, etc., remove the natural oil from the skin and must not be used for skin cleaning.
- Skin cleansers should be used only where soap and water is not adequate. They should be used sparingly and washed off thoroughly with soap and hot water.
- First-aid treatment for cuts and abrasions must be obtained at once to avoid infection.
- If you should contract dermatitis you should consult your doctor at once.
- Remember - the right protection coupled with personal cleanliness are the important factors in preventing skin disease.
Personnel hygiene
- From time to time, you may come into contact with substances which could be harmful to your health should you not take appropriate precautions.
- You will be advised specifically about hazards such as these, and the precautions you must take to safeguard your health.
- Whatever substance you work with, whether provided for your use or perhaps in the ground, always avoid contact with your skin.
- Before starting work make use of any barrier cream provided and make sure you use gloves appropriate to the work to be done - and any other necessary PPE.
- Always wash your hands and forearms before eating, and before and after using the toilet.
- Do not smoke when using substances known to be hazardous - always wash first.
- Store your personal food in sealed containers and eat only in the accommodation provided - do not eat at the workplace.
- Get minor injuries treated at once.
- Keep cuts and sores covered at all times.
- Do not wear clothes that are contaminated with oil.
- Should you suffer diarrhoea or vomiting that you consider may be as a result of your work, report it at once, to your supervisor and your doctor.
- Play your part in helping to keep toilets and washing facilities in a clean and healthy condition.
- Report any defect in the system of work without delay.
Safe use of Harness
- A safety harness should only be used as a last resort when all other methods of fall prevention have been explored such as handrails, Combisafe etc.
- All persons required to use a harness must be trained in its correct use and have attended the appropriate training course.
- When worn at heights they must always be secured to a safe anchorage using our proprietary methods i.e. work restraint.
- Fall restraint is to be precedence over Fall arrest wherever possible.
- Inspect the harness before use including the weeping, buckles and connectors. Report any damage found to supervisor.
- The harness will only be effective if you wear it correctly. It should be a snug fit, but not too tight as to restrict movement.
- Anchorage points must all be capable of supporting the equipment and the user.
- When not being worn the harness must be stored in the accommodation provided and must be kept free from contact with sharp implements, corrosives, and other possible causes of damage.
- Harness must be thoroughly examined by a competent person once every three months and a record kept of the examination.