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1. Safe Work Practices f o r
House Construction
This content is from Work Safe BC. The purpose of this lecture is to help Work Safe BC
to promote the sense of safety in construction.

2. Introduction
This course was specially developed for
house builders, framers, scaffold users,
various trades, and home owners.

3. Introduction
It provides general information on the
safety requirements for the various
phases of house construction.

4. Introduction
This course does not replace the
Occupational Health and Safety
Regulation.

5. Introduction
The information in this course is organized
to loosely follow the steps in building a
house.

6. Introduction
Not all aspects of house building are
covered; rather, the manual focuses on key
areas where the risk of injury can be
reduced.

7. The first part
Pre-construction
Considerations

8. Planning and scheduling
It makes good business sense to
prevent losses (including financial, time,
equipment, materials, and human
suffering) caused by accidents.

9. Planning and scheduling
To accomplish this, carefully plan and
schedule all work activities before
construction begins.

10. Planning and scheduling
Accidents may have many causes,
including:

11. Planning and scheduling
• Lack of planning and scheduling

12. Planning and scheduling
• Poor communication

13. Planning and scheduling
• Lack of or ineffective supervision

14. Planning and scheduling
• Absence of safety rules and safe work
procedures

15. Planning and scheduling
• Lack of enforcement of safety rules
and safe work procedures

16. Planning and scheduling
• Inadequate or ineffective worker
training

17. Housekeeping and on-site safety
Good housekeeping is key in
maintaining a safe, productive building
project

18. It’s important to maintain good
housekeeping throughout all phases of
construction.
Housekeeping and on-site safety

19. Housekeeping and on-site safety
• Floors, platforms, stairs, and walkways
must be maintained in good repair
and kept free of slipping and tripping
hazards.

20. Housekeeping and on-site safety
Waste materials and spills must not be
allowed to accumulate in working areas.

21. Housekeeping and on-site safety
An ongoing program of waste disposal
must be maintained.

22. Housekeeping and on-site safety
• Work areas must be well lit.

23. Housekeeping and on-site safety
• Material or equipment must be placed,
stacked, or stored so it will not cause
injury to workers.

24. Housekeeping and on-site safety
The area within and surrounding the
construction site can be very hazardous
to workers if debris is allowed to
accumulate.

25. Housekeeping and on-site safety
Use a waste bin to prevent
accumulations of rubbish.

26. Housekeeping and on-site safety
• Ensure there are no protruding nails
on loose or fixed materials.

27. Housekeeping and on-site safety
• Use danger or caution tape where
open trenches or excavations could
present a hazard.

28. Housekeeping and on-site safety
• Ensure all ground areas are firm and
level where scaffolding or ladders are
to be placed.

29. Basic checklist
Most house construction comes need a
Construction Notice of Project (NOPC) to
be sent to WorkSafeBC.

30. Basic checklist
To order the appropriate forms call
WorkSafeBC at 604 276-3100 in the Lower
Mainland or 1 888 621-7233 toll free within
B.C.

31. Basic checklist
Has the required first aid been arranged?
❒Supplies
❒Equipment
❒Attendant

32. Basic checklist
Is the current regulation on site or
available to all workers?
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

33. Basic checklist
• Have the following underground services
been located and identified?
❒Water
❒Gas
❒Power lines
❒Telephone lines
❒Other

34. Basic checklist
• If demolition or land clearing is needed:
Have the following services been
disconnected at the property line?
– Electrical, Water, Gas

35. Basic checklist
Has it been determined if hazardous
materials (such as those containing
asbestos) are present at the demolition
site?
– If so, have steps and precautions for safe
removal been arranged?

36. Basic checklist
Are qualified people overseeing the
removal of trees?
-Are non-essential workers clear of the area?

37. Basic checklist
Have the sub-trades been informed of the
location and dangers of underground
services?

38. Basic checklist:
For overhead high-voltage power lines:
Have they been identified?

39. Basic checklist
Has the voltage been determined?

40. Basic checklist
❒Is guarding of lines required?

41. Basic checklist
Is a form 30M33 required?

42. Basic checklist
Can deliveries with cranes and concrete
pumper trucks be made safely outside the
limits of approach to any high-voltage
lines or transformers?

43. Basic checklist
For excavations greater than 1.2 m (4 ft.)
deep:

44. Basic checklist
Are the sides sloped to a safe angle? (3
horizontal to 4 vertical) or

45. Basic checklist
Is the excavation shored according to
WCB requirements? or

46. Basic checklist
Is there documentation available on site
from a registered professional engineer
stating it is safe for workers to enter the
excavation?

47. Basic checklist
If there are suspended slabs and stairs, or
foundation walls higher than 3.6 m (12 ft.):

48. Basic checklist
Are there formwork drawings available?

49. Basic checklist
Fall protection requirements:

50. Basic checklist
Are there areas that will require
guardrails? If so, where?

51. Basic checklist
Are there areas greater than 3 m (10 ft.)
above grade where workers will require
fall restraint? If so, where?

52. Basic checklist
Are there areas greater than 3 m (10 ft.)
above grade where workers will require
fall arrest? If so, where?

53. Basic checklist
Is a fall protection plan required? If so,
what equipment is required?

54. Basic checklist
Have workers been trained in all aspects
of the fall protection plan?

55. Basic checklist
Are there stairs requiring handrails?

56. Basic checklist
Are there roof or floor openings that need
to be covered or guarded?

57. Basic checklist
Are written safe work procedures in place
for:

58. Basic checklist
Emergency phone numbers: gas, hydro,
telephone, fire, ambulance, etc.

59. Basic checklist
Emergency evacuation

60. Basic checklist
Fall protection

61. Basic checklist
Lockout (if required)

62. Basic checklist
Other

63. Basic checklist
Orientation of all sub-contractors and their
workers:

64. Basic checklist
Is there an orientation plan developed for
this site?

65. Asbestos removal
Most workers who have died from over-
exposure to asbestos fibres have been in the
construction trades.

66. Asbestos removal
Until 1978, there were over 3000 products
containing asbestos used in house
construction.

67. Asbestos removal
When renovating or demolishing older
homes, there is a high probability of
encountering asbestos-containing materials.

68. Asbestos removal
Asbestos- containing materials that were
once commonly used in residential
construction are shown in the following
illustration.

69. Asbestos removal
Exposure to asbestos fibres may result in
asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma
(cancer affecting the lining of the chest or
abdominal cavity).

70. Asbestos removal
Employers and owner/builders are
responsible for determining if materials
containing asbestos are present at the job
site before work begins.

71. Asbestos removal
If these materials are found, they must be
removed and disposed of by trained and
qualified workers before renovation or
demolition work begins.

72. Asbestos removal
If, during work activities, materials are
found to contain asbestos —stop work
immediately!

73. Asbestos removal
Have trained, qualified workers remove this
material before resuming work.

74. Asbestos removal
(Refer to WorkSafeBC guideline: G68
Procedures for abatement of asbestos-
containing material during house and
building demolition/renovation.)

75. Possible sources of asbestos
Please read all details in the below picture carefully
These products maycontain asbestos, depending onthe age of the building
and the materials used to manufacture the product.

76. Electrical power lines
Every year in B.C., some 100 injuries from
electrical contacts result in wage-loss claims
(including deaths) to the workers’
compensation system.

77. Electrical power lines
Overhead high-voltage electricity

78. Electrical power lines
Builders must identify the location and
voltage of all overhead electrical conductors
at a worksite.

79. Electrical power lines
Remember to count transformers as
conductors.

80. Electrical power lines
• During land clearing there may be a
danger of trees being felled or pushed
into overhead power lines.

81. Electrical power lines
• When any work activity takes place near
energized overhead high-voltage lines, the
following procedures must be followed:

82. Electrical power lines
• Determine what activities may take place
in proximity to overhead high-voltage
lines.

83. Electrical power lines
• Determine the voltage of the overhead
lines through the authority controlling the
system, for example, B.C. Hydro.

84. Electrical power lines
• Ensure that the subsequent minimum
clearance is maintained the least
bit times:

85. Electrical power lines
• Minimum Distance

86. Electrical power lines
Do not use a tape measure or stick to
physically measure the distance from an
energized power line.

87. Electrical power lines
• Estimate the distance from the ground
and, if in doubt, provide for more
clearance.

88. Electrical power lines
If the minimum distance from the electrical
conductor cannot be maintained, and
movement by a worker or equipment may
result in entering these minimum distances:

89. Electrical power lines
Stop work immediately.

90. Electrical power lines
Call the power authority controlling the
electrical system and arrange for a worksite
meeting to decide whether the energized
electrical conductors can be:

91. Electrical power lines
–De-energized
–Effectively guarded
–Displaced or rerouted

92. Electrical power lines
• Get assurance in writing (form 30M33)
from the power authority indicating
which of the three actions they will take
and when it will be done.

93. Electrical power lines
A form 30M33 is available from the local
electrical utility, or any WorkSafeBC office
(see the end of this book for a listing of
WorkSafeBC offices).

94. Electrical power lines
• Keep written assurances on the worksite
and inform all workers who will be
directly affected by the power authority
actions.

95. Electrical power lines
• Designate a qualified safety-watcher who
can monitor equipment and material
movement and give an instant Stop signal
to the equipment operator when the
equipment or load is too close to the
electrical conductor.

96. Electrical power lines
• Make sure equipment, work tools, or loads
do NOT contact the electrical guarding.

97. Electrical power lines
• In the event of contact, equipment
operators and workers on the site must be
aware of the possible energized ground
around the machine and use extreme
caution.

98. Electrical power lines
Once part of a machine makes contact with
a live power line, anything in contact with
the machine will be energized for some
distance around the machine, especially the
ground around it.

99. Electrical power lines
The point or points where the electrical
flow reaches the ground will have the
highest voltage, which drops off gradually
as you move further away.

100. Electrical power lines
This entire area of energized ground is the
danger zone.

101. Electrical power lines
Caution: wet ground will make the danger
zone much larger and safe escape may be
more difficult.

102. Electrical power lines
If you are on the machine when it makes
contact and you are not in danger, stay on
the machine.

103. Electrical power lines
If you are in danger, then leave by keeping
your feet together and making a short jump
from the machine.

104. Electrical power lines
The goal is to ensure that your entire body
clears the machine and that you land on
your feet without stumbling.

105. Electrical power lines
If possible, stand still without touching the
machine and keep your feet together until
someone turns off the power.

106. Electrical power lines
If you are near the machine and possibly
within the danger zone, do not move. Stay
where you are until someone turns off the
power.

107. Electrical power lines
If you must move away from the area,
hop or shuffle away without moving your
feet more than a couple of inches at a
time.

108. Electrical power lines
Keep your feet together to ensure that you
do not straddle two zones with different
voltages that would allow the electrical
flow to take a new path (your body).

109. Electrical power lines
Once you are well out of the danger zone,
warn others to stay out of the danger zone
or leave someone to guard the area, and
then contact the power authority to shut off
the power.

110. Electrical power lines
Overhead low-voltage electricity

111. Electrical power lines
Many workers are injured from contacting
energized low-voltage wires (750 volts or
less).

112. Electrical power lines
Generally, workers suffer burns and
physical injuries from shock.

113. Electrical power lines
Employers must develop safe work
procedures for working near low-voltage
wires.

114. Electrical power lines
There is no established minimum distance
for working around low-voltage electricity.

115. Electrical power lines
Underground electrical hazards

116. Electrical power lines
Driving ground rods or any other long metal
objects into the ground can be especially
dangerous around buried lines.

117. Electrical power lines
Always check the cable location with your
local power authority before starting.

118. Electrical power lines
Fence post holes may be deep enough to
reach underground power lines.

119. Electrical power lines
Make sure you know the location of any
underground cables before digging your
holes.

120. Electrical power lines
Pay attention to “Danger – High Voltage”
signs.

121. Electrical power lines
They mean that high-voltage equipment is
enclosed inside and that everyone must
keep clear.

122. Electrical power lines
Before trenching, find out if there are any
buried cables in the area and precisely
where they are located.

123. Electrical power lines
the temporary supply box used during
construction can be an electrical hazard.

124. Electrical power lines
It consists of several outlets used by several
sub-contractors.

125. Electrical power lines
It is important that the temporary supply
box is under strict control and has a lock-up
cover to prevent tampering by others.

126. Electrical power lines
Temporary lighting needs special attention
to ensure that wires are not trapped in
doorways, where the wire could be pinched
and the protective shield damaged.

127. Electrical power lines
Replace any missing or burned-out bulbs to
ensure there are no exposed connections
and that the level of lighting is adequate for
safe working conditions.

128. Electrical power lines
Do not hold on to metal water pipes or other
grounded conductors when using electric
power tools.

129. Electrical power lines
A damaged cord or defective tool could
make you part of the circuit, causing a
shock or electrocution.