Health, Safety and Welfare for CBE

HND in Construction & Built Environment (Civil Engineering) BCAS DOHA QATAR
Unit 6: Health, Safety and Welfare for Construction and the Built Environment Page 1
Task 1.1
As you have to work with the health and safety department of your company, you
should know the basic terminology of the Health and Safety and reasons for working
safe at your work area. The terminology that can be used for your working area and to
provide the relevant information about how these will be used.
 The basic terminology of the Health and Safety.
 Outline the reasons for a safe and healthy workplace.
You must fully reference at least five basics terminology and define how they will help
for the organization (P1.1)
For M1.3, you must fully reference at least three codes of practice and define how they
will ensure compliance for the organization.
Answer
 The basic terminology of the Health and Safety.
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
2. Personal Monitoring
3. Occupational health
4. Occupational Safety
5. Occupational Disease
6. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
7. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
8. Heat Exhaustion
9. Illness
10. Danger Zone
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Unlike Personal Monitoring, PPE is a device that provides protection to a worker. It is
personal safety equipment that includes ear plugs, hard hats, safety goggles,
respirators, gloves, and safety shoes.
 The purpose of personal protective equipment is to reduce employee exposure to
hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective to
reduce these risks to acceptable levels. PPE is needed when there are hazards present.
PPE has the serious limitation that it does not eliminate the hazard at source and may
result in employees being exposed to the hazard if the equipment fails.

Personal Monitoring
 From the term itself, this technique is used to monitor one’s exposure to hazardous
agents and chemicals by wearing a sampling device. Hazardous chemicals are
monitored at the breathing zone while noise is examined at the ears.
Occupational health
 As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) "occupational health deals with all
aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus on primary
prevention of hazards." Health has been defined as "a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Occupational
health is a multidisciplinary field of healthcare concerned with enabling an individual to
undertake their occupation, in the way that causes least harm to their health. Health has
been defined as it contrasts, for example, with the promotion of health and safety at
work, which is concerned with preventing harm from any incidental hazards, arising in
the workplace.
Occupational Safety
 The health of workers is as important as their safety. Your work environment should
prevent accidents and lessen the risk of injuries to workers.
Occupational Disease
 An occupational disease is any chronic ailment that occurs as a result of work or
occupational activity. It is an aspect of occupational safety and health. An occupational
disease is typically identified when it is shown that it is more prevalent in a given body of
workers than in the general population, or in other worker populations. The first such
disease to be recognized, squamous-cell carcinoma of the scrotum, was identified in
chimney sweep boys by Sir Percival Pott in 1775. Occupational hazards that are of a
traumatic nature (such as falls by roofers) are not considered to be occupational
diseases.
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
 WHMIS is system that ensures that information on hazardous materials is disseminated.
This is done by requiring labels, MSDSs, and training programs for workers.

 Now that you know that elimination of the risk is an effective occupational safety
measure and that wearing PPE will minimize risk and prevent occupational disease, it is
time you assess the occupational safety and health program of your workplace.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
 The MSDS is a form that summarizes the properties of a hazardous chemical product
and its possible health and safety hazards. It includes information on how to handle, use,
and store the product properly. It also details physical data of the products such as the
melting and boiling points, reactivity, health effects, and first aid. In general, suppliers of
such products are required to provide MSDS for all hazardous materials. This is
important so that workers will be aware of the proper and safe use of the product.
Heat Exhaustion
 This can literally mean the overheating of the body. Heat exhaustion can happen when
the body loses too much fluid (because of excessive sweating) or when conditions, such
as physical activity in a hot environment, prevent sweat from evaporating into the air.
Here is one sub classification of heat exhaustion:
 Heat Stroke – a potentially deadly condition in which over-exposure to a very hot
environment breaks down the body’s ability to control its temperature and cool itself
sufficiently. The body temperature rises to a very high (deadly) level.
Illness
 Now here’s a more common word – illness. We all use it when we catch something and
the body’s normal functions are altered or hindered. But what does this mean in the
workplace? Here are two classifications:
 Heat illness – a serious medical condition resulting from the body’s inability to cope with
a particular heat load and including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and
heat stroke.
 Occupational Illness – An ill health condition caused by exposure to a health hazard in
the workplace. This may also be called industrial disease. It also pertains to all other

occupational illnesses such as: Heatstroke, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, heat stress and
other effects of environmental heat; freezing, frostbite, and other effects of exposure to
low temperatures; decompression sickness; effects of ionizing radiation (isotopes, x-
rays, radium); effects of non-ionizing radiation (welding flash, ultra-violet rays, lasers);
anthrax; blood borne pathogenic diseases such as AIDS, HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C;
brucellosis; malignant or benign tumors
Danger Zone
 It is an area or location where the probability of injury is high (for example, in the vicinity
of saw blades) and can also refer to any place in or about a machine or piece of
equipment where an employee may be struck by or caught between moving parts,
caught between moving and stationary objects or parts of the machine, caught between
the material and a moving part of the machine, burned by hot surfaces or exposed to
electric shock. Some examples of danger zones are nip and shear points, shear lines,
drive mechanisms, and areas underneath counterweights.
 Outline the reasons for a safe and healthy workplace
1. Reducing injuries reduces costs to your business
2. Safe workers are loyal workers
3. Safety improves quality
4. Good staff Morales
5. Less lost production
Reducing injuries reduces costs to your business
 If a worker is injured on the job, it costs the company in lost work hours, increased
insurance rates, workers’ compensation premiums and possible litigation. Productivity is
lost when other workers have to stop work to deal with the injury. Even after the injured
employee has been sent home or taken to the hospital, other employees may be
distracted or need to take time off from work in the aftermath of the incident. Even a
single injury can have far-reaching and debilitating effects on your business.
Safe workers are loyal workers

 Any business knows that employee attrition and absenteeism can be major obstacles.
When you create a healthy and safe workplace, you reduce those issues in several
ways. By budgeting for safety improvements and making safety part of your operational
plan, you engender trust. By involving employees in safety decisions through reporting,
committees, walk-throughs and meetings you show that their opinion matters to you. By
following through on their input and improving safety, you prove quite tangibly that you
care about their well-being. Workers typically respond by working harder, showing more
pride in their jobs and remaining loyal.
Safety improves quality
 Time and again, companies that put safety first turn out higher quality products. In some
cases, that’s because a safe workplace tends to be a more efficient one, free of debris
and tangles of cords. In other cases, it’s a matter of focus. By working in a clean,
efficient environment, workers are able to reduce distractions and truly focus on the
quality of what they do. The results? Better products that create customer loyalty, bigger
margins and increased sales.
#Reasons for a safe and healthy workplace
There are sound economic reasons for reducing work-related accidents and ill-health, as well as
ethical and regulatory reasons.
 Economic Reasons
Besides reducing costs, effective safety and health management promotes business efficiency.
Thousands of work-related accidents, resulting in more than three days off work are reported to
the Health and Safety Authority each year. Work-related diseases and ill-health are more
difficult to measure due to their long latency period but result in excess of one million days lost
at work each year. These accident and ill-health cases are due to failures and deficiencies in the
occupational safety and health management in organisations.
 Legal Reasons
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) requires all duty holders to
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of workers and
members of the public and to manage and conduct all work activities in such a way as to ensure
their safety, health and welfare. This requires all who have this legal responsibility to be
proactive in managing their safety, health and welfare responsibilities and deal with them in a
systematic way. This section should help organisations to improve their safety and health
performance by providing advice on how safety and health should be managed, and in the
process help them to comply with their legal requirements.

 Moral and Ethical Reasons
The proactive management of safety and health in the workplace helps organisations prevent
injuries and ill-health at work. This guidance should help organisations reduce the personal loss
caused as a result of accidents and ill-health at work.
Act 1974
Health and Safety is everyone‟s responsibility. Employers have a duty of care to workers and
others. Before the 1974 Act, there were many different pieces of legislation relating to specific
industries, such as Mining. The Act was different, it set out to cover all industries and all people.
The 1974 Act was a major step forward because:
1)It protected everyone.
2) It gave inspectors powers of investigation into accidents.
3) It gave employers and workers duties at work.
4) It included welfare at work e.g. toilets, washrooms etc.
5) It included imprisonment and fines as penalties.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007
Whatever your role in construction, CDM aims to improve health and safety in the industry by
helping you to:
 sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish
 have the right people for the right job at the right time
 cooperate and coordinate your work with others
 have the right information about the risks and how they are being managed
 communicate this information effectively to those who need to know
 consult and engage with workers about the risks and how they are being managed
HSE has published Legal Series guidance that supports CDM 2007 and explains it in more
detail. HSE will seek views later in 2007 on whether to replace this guidance with an Approved
Code of Practice, which many in the industry indicated they would prefer in the 2007 public
consultation.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
The Regulations were introduced to reinforce the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The
MHSWR places duties on employers and employees including those who are clients, designers,
principal contractors or other contractors.
Many of the duties overlap with those of CDM but where they go beyond CDM (for example
concerning young people and expectant mothers) additional measures will be needed to comply
fully with MHSWR.

They require the employer to:
1. Undertake an assessment of the risks to health and safety of their employees and others
who may be affected by their work activity. Employers with 5 or more employees should
record the significant findings of this risk assessment.
The following General Principles of Prevention should be applied. Many people refer to this
listing and derivations from it as a hierarchy of risk control.
o avoiding risks;
o evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided;
o combating the risks at source;
o adapting the work to the individual, especially as regards the design of workplaces,
the choice of work equipment and the choice of working and production methods,
with a view, in particular, to alleviating monotonous work and work at a
predetermined work-rate and to reducing their effect on health;
o adapting to technical progress;
o replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the less dangerous;
o developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology,
organization of work, working conditions, social relationships and the influence of
factors relating to the working environment;
o giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures;
and
o giving appropriate instructions to employees.
2. To make appropriate arrangements for managing health & safety. Employers of 5 or more
should record these arrangements
3. Undertake any health surveillance as is necessary regarding the employees when it has
been determined by the risk assessment
4. To appoint competent people, preferably their own employees, to assist in the above
measures. Where there is more than one competent person appointed there must be
adequate co-operation between them
5. Establish procedures to be followed by any employee should situations arise which could
present serious or imminent danger i.e. an evacuation procedure
6. Provide relevant information on health & safety in an understandable form
7. Ensure co-operation and co-ordination between employers and the self employed sharing a
workplace
8. Ensure employees are given adequate health and safety training and are not given tasks
beyond their competence or physical capabilities
9. Provide temporary workers with the appropriate health & safety information to enable them
to carry out the work safely

Task 1.2
Explain the responsibilities and roles of all the team members in your construction
company.
Ensure there is an effective company policy for health & safety that all employees,
contractors and temporary workers are made aware of their individual responsibility.
You must provide roles based on gathering of information and justification through
reference. (P1.2)
To obtain D1.1, you must provide conclusions at the end of Task 1.2, based on
gathering of information and justification through reference.
Answers
The Managing Director
The Managing Director is responsible for the overall arrangements and for ensuring that the
company’s operations are executed at all times in such a manner as to ensure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees and others who may be
affected by its operations.
In particular the Managing Director will:
1. Ensure there is an effective company policy for health and safety and that all employees,
contractors and temporary workers are made aware of their individual responsibility.
2. To understand and ensure, through the appointment of competent persons, that the
company’s responsibilities as employers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
1974and any relevant Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments are met.
3. To appoint a Director responsible for safety.
4. To ensure that all Directors and Managers understand and fulfill their responsibilities with
regard to health and safety.
5. Arrange for funds and facilities to meet the requirements of company policy and legislation.
Director Responsible for Health and Safety
The Director Responsible for Health and Safety is accountable to the Managing Director for all
matters relating to health, safety and welfare of employees and those affected by the companies
operations.
In particular the Director Responsible for Health and Safety will:
1. Understand and ensure that the implications and duties imposed by new Acts of
Parliament, Statutory Instruments, H.S.E. Guidance Notes and Codes of Practice are
brought to the attention of the Board of Directors.

2. To bring company related health and safety matters to the attention of the Board of
Directors at regular intervals.
3. To ensure that good communications exist between employer and employees and are
maintained.
4. Liaise with the person appointed in the role of Safety Manager over the full range of their
duties and responsibilities, with respect to inspections, audits, report recommendations,
changes in legislation and advice obtained from other sources.
5. Ensure adequate means of distributing and communicating health, safety and welfare
information obtained for the H.S.E., Safety organisations and Trade associations
regarding new techniques of accident prevention, new legislation requirements and
codes of practice etc.
Safety Manager
The primary role of the Safety Manager is to advise the Directors and Managers on all safety,
health and welfare matters to ensure the Company complies with its statutory obligations.
The Safety Manager is designated responsibility by the Director responsible for health and
safety to control and update this Safety Manual and to ensure that all Departments operate to
the procedures and instructions contained there:-
In particular the Safety Manager will:
1. Understand the application of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and other
legislation relevant to the Companies business.
2. Keep up to date with changes in current legislation and to bring to the attention of the
Director responsible for Health and Safety any relevant new legislation.
3. Attend such courses/seminars run by external sources to enable accurate interpretation
of legislation to enable implementation within the organisation.
4. Ensure that all “assessments” as required by legislation are conducted and reviewed at
relevant intervals and to maintain records of the same.
5. To recommend control measures and advise on the standard of P.P.E. issued to
employees.
Managers/Heads of Department
Each Manager/Department Head is responsible for his personal safety and that of all personnel
under his or her authority, including others who may be affected by the company’s activities.
In particular they will:
1. Understand and implement the company safety policy.

2. Appreciate the responsibilities of personnel under their authority and ensure that each
employee knows his/her responsibility and are equipped to play their part.
3. Conduct Risk Assessments on activities within their department ensuring that the
methods and systems of work are safe. Also that the necessary procedures, rules and
regulations designed to achieve this are formulated, published and applied.
4. Provide written instructions of work methods outlining potential hazards and precautions,
and ensure they are complied with.
5. Ensure accident and near-miss reporting procedures are understood and complied with,
and assist with accident investigations where appropriate.
Sub-Contractors
1. All Sub-Contractors must comply with the aims of this policy as a condition of their sub
contract and will be required to forward a copy of their Safety Policy and Safety plan for
the work to E & J.W. Glendinning Ltd. for scrutiny.
2. Sub-Contractors will at pre-contract meetings or other time as may be stipulated, submit
Assessments, Test Certificates and Method Statements to comply with Statutory
requirements.
3. All Sub-Contractors and their employees must respond to, and promptly comply with,
any instruction issued by the Glendinning Group employees where it effects health and
safety.
4. Operators certificates of competence and test certificates for the various types of plant
and equipment to be used will be presented to site management before the operation
commences.
5. Every Sub-Contractor will be responsible for providing his employees with all necessary
personal protective clothing and equipment.
6. All portable tooling and other plant and equipment will be maintained and in good
working order and in the case of lighting appliances and electrical equipment evidence
must be produced as to the correct testing and certification.
All Employees
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (M.H.S.W.R.) re-enacts the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which places responsibilities on the employer and
employees alike. In this connection, the Company reminds employees of their duties under
Section 7 of the act: to take care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be
affected by their acts or omissions. Additionally, employees must also co-operate with the
company to enable it to discharge its own responsibilities successfully.
Furthermore, all employees are expected to:-
1. Carry out assigned tasks and duties in a safe manner, in accordance with instructions,
and to comply with safety rules/procedures, regulations and codes of practice.

2. If aware of any unsafe practice or condition, or if in any doubt about the safety of any
situation, consult their supervisor.
3. Obtain and use the correct tools/equipment for the work and not to use any that are
unsafe or damaged. All tools, equipment and personal protective equipment must be
stored in the approved place after use.
4. Ensure that all guards are securely fixed and that all safety equipment and personal
protective clothing/equipment provided are used.
5. Not to operate any plant or equipment unless authorized.

Task 1.3
The Managing Director is a member of the Association of Construction Contractors. At
the last meeting, it was noted that several of the member companies had been visited
by Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Hence, many member companies are highly
concerned at the meeting over the penalties that could be imposed as a result of breach
of any Health and Safety regulations.
Provide detailed evaluation of the relevant health and safety section related to building
construction activities. 
 The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
For D1.1, you must provide conclusions at the end of Task 1.3, based on gathering or
synthesis of information and justification through references.
Answer
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
Introduction
This is the single most important piece of legislation on health and safety. It applies to every
work situation and it is what is called an "Enabling Act", as it enables the Secretary of State to
make delegated legislation and therefore almost all other health and safety legislation is in the
form of regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act (HSAWA). This Act also
led to the formation of the Health and Safety Executive which enforces health and safety
legislation and the Health and Safety Commission which is the policy making body to which the
HSE reports.
The HSAWA defines general duties for the health and safety of those involved in work and this
includes employers, employees, the self employed, suppliers of work equipment and those who
control work premises. These general duties are explained below.
General Duties of Employers to Their Employees
It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the
health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
This is further defined as:
1. The provision and maintenance of safe plant and safe systems of work.
2. Arrangements for ensuring health and safety in connection with the use, storage,
handling and transport of articles and substances.
3. The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary.
4. The provision of a safe place of work and safe means of access to and egress from it.
5. The provision and maintenance of a safe and healthy working environment.

Policy Document
The Act further requires that employers of five or more people prepare and maintain a written
statement of their policy with respect to the health and safety of their employees. Further
information about the content of the policy document is contained in the Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations.
General Duties of Employers and the Self Employed to Persons Other than their Employees
This requires an employer or the self employed to carry out their work in such a way that it does
not affect the health and safety of others such as the employees of other employers or members
of the general public.
Duties of Persons Who Control Premises
Duties are placed upon such persons to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the
premises are safe and without risks to the health of:
1. People working on the premises who are not the employees of the person in control of
the premises.
2. Any persons who use plant and substances made available to them for their use on the
premises.
This is aimed at those such as landlords or site owners. It requires them to consider the health
and safety of anyone who comes on to the premises to use plant or equipment. Domestic
premises are not included.
Duties of Designers, Manufacturers and Suppliers of Articles and Substances for Use at Work
An article for use at work is defined as "any plant or component designed for use or operation
by persons at work". The duties referred to above are:
1. Ensure that articles are designed and constructed so as to be safe and without health
risks when being installed, used, cleaned or maintained.
2. Ensure that substances are safe and without health risks when being used, handled,
processed, stored or transported.
3. Carry out, or arrange for the carrying out , of testing, research and examination which
may be necessary to comply with a) and b) above.
4. Provide information about the use for which the product has been designed and tested,
and about any conditions necessary to ensure that, when put to use or being dismantled
or disposed of, the product will be safe and without health risks.
5. Take steps to inform those who have been supplied with an article or substance, of any
new information which may give rise to a serious risk to health and safety.
These duties also require installers and erectors of articles for use in connection with
construction work eg tower cranes and scaffolding, to ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that no health and safety hazards arise from the way in which they are installed or
erected.

These requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act have been reinforced by the more
specific requirements of other sets of regulations:
 The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 which set European product
standards for new or modified machinery. From 1st January 1955 most new machinery
supplied or imported into the UK must comply with these Regulations which require that
machinery meeting the specified safety standards carries a 'CE' mark.
 The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) which
place duties on employers to meet health and safety requirements for new and existing
equipment for use at work.
 The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations which
require dangerous substances and preparation to be adequately labelled and
information provided as to their hazards.
General Duties of Employees at Work
The duties are:
1. To take reasonable care of his own health and safety at work and that of other people
who may be affected by what he does, or does not do, whilst carrying out his duties
2. To co-operate with his employer or any other person so far as is necessary to enable his
employer or any other person to comply with any statutory duties imposed on him.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations have extended these duties. They
require that employees carry out any work in accordance with any training or instruction given
and to inform the employer of any health and safety problems.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Introduction
The Regulations were introduced to reinforce the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The
MHSWR places duties on employers and employees including those who are clients, designers,
principal contractors or other contractors.
Many of the duties overlap with those of CDM but where they go beyond CDM (for example
concerning young people and expectant mothers) additional measures will be needed to comply
fully with MHSWR.
They require the employer to:
Undertake an assessment of the risks to health and safety of their employees and others who
may be affected by their work activity. Employers with 5 or more employees should record the
significant findings of this risk assessment.
The following General Principles of Prevention should be applied. Many people refer to this
listing and derivations from it as a hierarchy of risk control.
o avoiding risks;
o evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided;

o combating the risks at source;
o adapting the work to the individual, especially as regards the design of
workplaces, the choice of work equipment and the choice of working and
production methods, with a view, in particular, to alleviating monotonous work
and work at a predetermined work-rate and to reducing their effect on health;
o adapting to technical progress;
o replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the less dangerous;
o developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology,
organisation of work, working conditions, social relationships and the influence of
factors relating to the working environment;
o giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures;
and
o giving appropriate instructions to employees.
Employees also have duties under MHSWR to:
 Report any shortcomings in health & safety arrangements
 Report dangerous situations
 Use equipment in accordance with training and instruction
 Take reasonable care of their own health & safety and those of others who may be
affected by their acts or omissions

Task 2
Task 2.1 (LO2:2.1)
As a part of on-going improvements in health and safety you have been requested to
review the current policy documents that your company has. Your company has a legal
obligation to publish and inform all employees about the content.
Either using your company’s health and safety policy or that of a competitor or another
similar construction company you have to undertake the following:
An analysis of the company’s organizational health and safety policies and procedural
documents to ensure that they comply with current health and safety legislation
requirements;
Your analysis should take the form of a formal report to the Managing Director (not
more than 2000 words). (P2.1)
(Hint: Students could identify a suitable health & safety policy of a reputed local or
international construction company and use it as a guideline to complete the task.)
Answer
What is a health and safety policy?
A policy is a written statement, usually comprises three elements:
 a statement section (often a single page) detailing how safety will be managed and that
demonstrates the organisation's commitment to health and safety
 an organisation section that details where responsibilities are allocated and how employees
fit into the overall safety management system
 an arrangements section that contains details of how specific activities and functions are
managed.
This arrangements section could include such matters as risk assessments, fire safety, first aid,
accident reporting, electrical safety, work equipment, hazardous substances, manual handling
and other workplace issues.
In larger organisations the arrangements section may refer to other documents, such as safety
manuals or safe systems of work.
Why have a health and safety policy?
All organisations employing five or more people must have a written Health and Safety Policy
statement. The policy should cover all aspects of the organisation and be relevant to all
employees.

A Health and Safety Policy demonstrates how seriously an organisation takes its health and
safety responsibilities. A good policy will show how the organisation protects those who could
be affected by its activities.
The policy should be of an appropriate length and relevance to the activities and size of the
organisation.
Legal duties and obligations around health and safety policies
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 The Act says that you must prepare your own
statement and bring it to the attention of all employees. The policy should be reviewed and
revised as often as necessary.
Legally, the policy only requires you to address the health and safety matters relating to
employees, but in many organisations, it is a good idea to have a policy that considers the
safety of others who might be affected by your activities, i.e. volunteers, contractors and the
general public.
With or without a written policy, all employers have a duty of care to protect their employees and
others from harm arising from work activities.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 These regulations place
duties on employers to assess and manage risks to their employees and others arising from
work activities. How this is carried out should be included in the policy.
Developing a health and safety policy
Ideally the statement should be written by people within your organisation – they know the
organisation best and how it operates. You can seek assistance and advice externally, but
essentially, it should be a policy that is appropriate to the needs of your business.
Involve your staff in putting the policy together. As well as benefiting from their day-to-day
experience of the job, doing so will give you a better chance of getting their commitment to carry
out the aims of the policy.
Setting out a policy
You can decide on how the policy should be set out. It should be set out in such a way that it
makes it clear to everyone what is expected of them to comply with the requirements of the
policy.
In a small organisation it’s likely that a simple statement will be suitable. It’s also likely that the
organisation section of the policy will contain only one or two names, as most of the
responsibilities will be allocated to those people.
Aims of a policy

There are no hard and fast rules about the length of the policy. The important thing to remember
is to link the aims of the policy to the level of risk. Risk Assessment will determine how explicit
you need to be in your arrangements section.
Reach of a policy
In a larger organisation with multiple sites or activities, it is often the case that there is an
overarching or corporate policy that covers the general issues and also more detailed policies
relating to the individual sites or activities.
This can be a useful approach particularly where an organisation has a number of sites where
different activities are carried out. It can allow you to tailor the organisation section of the policy
to the individual managers of each site.
Informing employees
There are various ways to bring the policy to the attention of employees. If it is short enough,
you may decide to give a copy to each employee.
If you are a larger organisation or your policy is fairly lengthy, you could post copies on notice
boards or in appropriate places. Whatever you choose to do, you must make sure that you bring
the policy to the attention of all employees.
Monitoring and review
Monitoring that the policy is still effective is vital. There are many ways that this can be done,
including carrying out spot checks or safety inspections using prepared checklists.
More formally, effective monitoring can be achieved through audits and by reviewing
management reports and accident investigations.
1. Policy and commitment
The workplace should prepare an occupational safety and health policy programme as part of
the preparation of the Safety Statement required by Section 20 of the Safety, Health and
Welfare at Work Act 2005. Effective safety and health policies should set a clear direction for
the organisation to follow. They will contribute to all aspects of business performance as part of
a demonstrable commitment to continuous improvement. Responsibilities to people and the
working environment will be met in a way that fulfils the spirit and letter of the law. Cost-effective
approaches to preserving and developing human and physical resources will reduce financial
losses and liabilities. In a wider context, stakeholders' expectations, whether they are
shareholders, employees or their representatives, customers or society at large, can be met.
2. Planning
The workplace should formulate a plan to fulfil its safety and health policy as set out in the
Safety Statement. An effective management structure and arrangements should be put in place

for delivering the policy. Safety and health objectives and targets should be set for all managers
and employees.
3. Implementation and operation
For effective implementation, organisations should develop the capabilities and support
mechanisms necessary to achieve the safety and health policy, objectives and targets. All staff
should be motivated and empowered to work safely and to protect their long-term health, not
simply to avoid accidents. These arrangements should be:
underpinned by effective staff involvement and participation through appropriate consultation,
the use of the safety committee where it exists and the safety representation system and,
sustained by effective communication and the promotion of competence, which allows all
employees and their representatives to make a responsible and informed contribution to the
safety and health effort.
There should be a planned and systematic approach to implementing the safety and health
policy through an effective safety and health management system. The aim is to minimise risks.
Risk Assessment methods should be used to determine priorities and set objectives for
eliminating hazards and reducing risks. Wherever possible, risks should be eliminated through
the selection and design of facilities, equipment and processes. If risks cannot be eliminated,
they should be minimised by the use of physical controls and safe systems of work or, as a last
resort, through the provision of PPE. Performance standards should be established and used
for measuring achievement. Specific actions to promote a positive safety and health culture
should be identified. There should be a shared common understanding of the organisation‘s
vision, values and beliefs on health and safety. The visible and active leadership of senior
managers fosters a positive safety and health culture.
4. Measuring performance
The organisation should measure, monitor and evaluate safety and health performance.
Performance can be measured against agreed standards to reveal when and where
improvement is needed. Active self-monitoring reveals how effectively the safety and health
management system is functioning. Self-monitoring looks at both hardware (premises, plant and
substances) and software (people, procedures and systems, including individual behaviour and
performance). If controls fail, reactive monitoring should find out why they failed, by investigating
the accidents, ill health or incidents, which could have caused harm or loss. The objectives of
active and reactive monitoring are:
to determine the immediate causes of substandard performance
to identify any underlying causes and implications for the design and operation of the safety and
health management system.
5. Auditing and reviewing performance

The organisation should review and improve its safety and health management system
continuously, so that its overall safety and health performance improves constantly. The
organisation can learn from relevant experience and apply the lessons. There should be a
systematic review of performance based on data from monitoring and from independent audits
of the whole safety and health management system. These form the basis of complying with the
organisation’s responsibilities under the 2005 Act and other statutory provisions. There should
be a strong commitment to continuous improvement involving the development of policies,
systems and techniques of risk control. Performance should be assessed by:
Internal reference to key performance indicators
External comparison with the performance of business competitors and best practice in the
organisation’s employment sector.
Many companies now report on how well they have performed on worker safety and health in
their annual reports and how they have fulfilled their responsibilities with regard to preparing and
implementing their Safety Statements. In addition, employers have greater responsibilities under
Section 80 of the 2005 Act on ‘Liability of Directors and Officers of Undertakings’ that requires
them to be in a position to prove they have pro-actively managed the safety and health of their
workers. Data from this ‘Auditing and reviewing performance’ process should be used for these
purposes.

Task 2.2 (LO2:2.2)
As a Health and Safety officer, you are often receive requests for guidance about how
to complete suitable and sufficient risk assessments, whilst simultaneously being
required to have a positive contribution to the company’s health and safety certification
and training. Consider that your company has embarked on a prestigious multi-storied
office building project in heart of Doha. This project involves:
1. Substructure: Deep Foundation work such as cast in situ piling and a deep basement
2. Superstructure: 14 storied reinforced concrete structure with complicated glazed
curtain walling around outer perimeter of the building
Using your knowledge or other suitable sources, undertake the following in order to
assist the project manager to:
Determine training needs based on risk assessments on the respective construction
project, including on-site induction training and relevant sector/industry certification
requirements. Produce this information in the form of recommendations to the
management of the company.
(P.2.2, D3.1)
Answer
Risk Assessment for maintenance of flats:
1. To identify the hazards
 Look at Health & Safety Guide, to identify and learn kind of hazards and where hazards can
occur.
 Make clear who was responsible for what under the terms of the lease or tenancy
agreement. This was especially important for issues such as asbestos management, gas
safety, pressurised equipment, replacement of carpets.
 Walk around the property, noting things that might be dangerous and taking Health & Safety
guidance into account talk to the caretaker and other staff (including the contractors) about
their work to learn from their knowledge and experience, and to listen to their opinions about
health and safety issues in the workplace.
 Talk to the preferred suppliers of maintenance work, to ensure that their activities didn’t
pose a risk to other site staff, contractors and residents.
 Look at the accident book, to gain an understanding of previous incidents.
2. Write down who could be harmed by the hazards and how. Also took the method statements
and risk assessments that contractors had issued for specific jobs and, if they were
acceptable, incorporated these into this assessment.

3. Write down what controls, if any, were in place to manage each hazard and compared these
to the good practice guidance on the HSE. Where existing controls were not considered
good enough, write down what else needed to be done to control the risk.
4. Putting the risk assessment into practice, record who was responsible for implementing the
actions identified as necessary and when they should be done. When each action was
done, ticked it off and note the date. Made it part of the induction process for new staff and
new contractors.
5. Discuss the findings of the risk assessment with the caretaker, all contractors, and with the
residents. A copy was pinned-up in the building so everyone who lived and worked in the
property could see it. The assessment would be reviewed and updated every year, or
straightaway if there were any major changes to the property or contract arrangements.
6. Most of the actions fell to the managing agent, but where the landlord, caretaker and others
had responsibilities, he wrote to them so that everyone knew what they had to do.

Task 3
Task 3.1 (LO3:3.1)
Following the recent safety committee meeting, you have been asked as the health and
safety officer to provide the following in order to assist with the recent spate of near
misses that are occurring on site which involves construction of a deep basement (12m)
and 12 storied reinforced concrete superstructure. Building foot-print is around 3000
Square-meters: Select a suitable method of hazard identification that could be selected
to identify hazards on the above mentioned construction site (P3.1).
For M2.4, you must select at least three methods of hazards identification and fully
justify their effectiveness.
(Hint: Assume the construction of basement and part of the superstructure construction is in
progress)
Answer
Hazard:
‘A Hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons’.
A hazard is anything that can cause harm (e.g. work materials, equipment, work methods and
practices).
The word hazard which is common to both is a potential source of harm or an adverse health
effect on the person involved. To understand the difference between the two types of hazards,
first need to understand the difference between health and safety.
Health:
Health is described as the level of efficiency of the functioning of an individual’s body. A good
state of health implies lack of illness, pain or injury.
Safety:
Safety refers to a state of being safe, that is, a condition whereby one is protected against
physical, social, emotional etc. consequences of failure or any undesirable events.
Safety hazards:
These are the most common and will be present in most workplaces at one time or another.
They include unsafe conditions that can cause injury, illness and death. Safety hazards make
the surrounding conditions unsafe or risky. The risk level to which a person is exposed and can
bring about immediate affects if not dealt with properly. Safety hazard: causes external harm
(broken leg, sprained wrist) etc.

Easy to judge and deal with safety hazards, they are well understood. Safety hazards increase
the risk level to which a person is exposed and can bring about immediate affects if not dealt
with properly.
An example can be of a construction worker falling from the ladder and injuring his skull since
he did not use the advised safety helmet.
Safety hazard includes:
 Slipping/tripping hazards,
 Inappropriate machine guarding,
 Equipment malfunctions or breakdowns
 Exposure to dangerous substances (chemical and biological),
 Falls from working at height,
Typical health risk, hazard related to construction industry:
1. Airborne Fibres & Materials –Respiratory disease:
Construction sites are a throng of activity and kick up a lot of dust…an often invisible, fine, toxic
mixture of hazardous materials and fibres that can damage the lungs. Work-related respiratory
disease are caused or made worse by breathing in hazardous substances that damage the
lungs. In the construction industry the most common of these diseases are chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and silicosis
2. Noise
Regular, frequent exposure to loud noise can permanently damage a person's hearing. This is
most likely if high noise exposure is a regular part of the job. Occasional or low-level exposure is
unlikely to cause ill health. Noise can also create a safety risk if it makes it difficult for workers to
communicate effectively or stops them hearing warning signals.
Exposure to sudden, extremely loud noise can cause instant damage. Gradual hearing loss due
to repeated exposure to noise is more common and it can take years for a worker to realize just
how deaf they have become. Hearing loss can make it difficult to understand speech, but this is
not the only problem. Some people develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in
the ears) which is a distressing condition that can disturb sleep.
3. Hand-arm vibration:

Hand-arm vibration (HAV) is transmitted from a work activity into someone's hands and arms.
This occurs when: operating hand-held power tools, using hand-guided equipment, or holding
materials being processed by a machine. Regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration
can lead to permanent ill health. Occasional or low-level exposure is unlikely to cause ill health.
Hand arm vibration syndrome, or ‘blue finger’ as it is commonly referred to, is a painful and
debilitating industrial disease of the blood vessels, nerves and joints, triggered by prolonged use
of vibratory power tools and ground working equipment.
4. Dermatitis:
Contact dermatitis is inflammation of the skin that can arise from contact with a range of
materials. The main signs and symptoms are dryness, redness, itching, swelling, flaking,
cracking and blistering, and it can be very painful. Work-related dermatitis is caused or made
worse by work.
5. Working at Height:
The construction of buildings – or indeed, demolition works – frequently requires tradesmen to
work at height. Fatalities and injuries involving height relating factors account for many
accidents each year.
The risks associated with working at a height are often increased by added access and mobility
restrictions. Training, including safety awareness training is essential for employees required to
work at height.
6. Material & Manual Handling
Materials and equipment is being constantly lifted and moved around on a construction site,
whether manually or by the use of lifting equipment. Different trades will involve greater
demands, but all may involve some degree of risk.
Where employee’s duties involve manual handling, then adequate training must be carried out.
Where lifting equipment is used, then adequate training must also be carried out, but may
involve some form of test, to confirm competency. Records of training must be maintained for
verification
Musculoskeletal disorder - or MSD refers to an injury that affects the muscles, joints, tendons
or spinal discs. Such injuries are most likely to affect the back, shoulders and neck, and legs.
7. Slips, Trips, & Falls
When you consider the diverse range of activities going on at a construction site at any one time
it seems hardly surprising slips, trips, and falls happen on an almost daily basis.

Construction sites are a mish mash of holes in the ground, buildings at various stages of
completion, scaffolding, stored materials and equipment: you really do need eyes in the back of
your head at times.
8. Moving Objects
A construction site is an ever changing environment; hazards are inherent to this industry and
only increase as a construction project progress, as things rise and expand.
Construction sites can get quite hectic what with the shear volume of constantly moving vehicles
and trades people – overhead lifting equipment shifting heavy loads, supply vehicles, dumper
trucks everywhere, manoeuvring around a usually uneven terrain.
9. Stress:
HSE defines stress as ‘an adverse reaction to excessive pressure'. Pressure is often part and
parcel of work and helps to keep people motivated. Excess, badly-managed exposure to
pressure can lead to stress. Workers who experience stress, anxiety or depression are unlikely
to perform effectively. This can be costly to employers and in safety-critical industries such as
construction it can have serious consequences.
The HSE gives the top five most stressful aspects of work in construction as:
1. Having too much work to do in the time available.
2. Travelling or commuting.
3. being responsible for the safety of others at work.
4. Working long hours.
5. Having a dangerous job
10. Asbestos:
Before you commission or do any construction work that is likely to disturb asbestos, you will
need to find out if there are any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in the premises or
structure, and if so:
 The amount.
 Where it is and what condition it is in.
 Whether work is likely to disturb the material.
 Whether and how the material needs to be safely protected or removed.
For demolition and refurbishment work, it is necessary to find out if there are any ACMs by
either checking existing records or commissioning a suitable survey before any construction
work begins. It is good practice to include the need to survey asbestos and protect or remove it
in the initial project cost and programme.

Task 3.3 (LO3:3.3)
Explain the use of standard format or documentation (suitable for your construction
company) for identifying and recording hazards including accidents pertaining to deep
basement construction given in Task 3.1 (P3.3).
(Refer: HSE web site for information including other web resources)
For M 2.3, you must propose most appropriate documentation and formats needed
based on gathering or synthesis of information and justification through references from
a range of sources of information such as books, journals, interviews, electronic sources
etc.
Answer
Risk
Risk is the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a hazard.
Health risk in construction industry:
Occupational health risks have only recently started to be addressed. The main health risks in
construction are:
 Musculoskeletal disorders: back and other muscle and joint injuries.
 Hand-arm vibration syndrome: pain and numbness in the fingers and hands caused by the
use of vibrating tools.
 Dermatitis: redness and inflammation of the skin related to exposure to hazardous
substances such as cements and solvents.
 Loud noise-induced hearing loss: deafness or ringing in the ears caused by exposure to
high levels of noise.
 Asbestos-related diseases.
 Respiratory disease.
 Falls from working at height.
 Inhalation of dust.
 Handling of rough materials.
 Exposure to dangerous substances (chemical and biological).
 Working near, in, or over water.
 Exposure to radiation.
 Vibration from tools or vibrating machinery.
Identification of health risk related to construction industry
Hazard Identification:

Identifying hazards in the workplace involves finding things and situations that could potentially
cause harm to people. Hazards generally arise from the following aspects of work and their
interaction: „ physical work environment „ equipment, materials and substances used „ work
tasks and how they are performed „ work design and management
Some hazards are part of the work process, such as mechanical hazards, noise or toxic
properties of substances. Other hazards result from equipment or machine failures and misuse,
chemical spills and structural failures
Risk Assessment:
In order to be able to make an assessment of the risk of health hazards, the two major elements
that need to be considered are:
 The potential consequences of exposure to the hazard;
 The potential exposure to the hazard.
Potential
severity
Potential of
Exposure
 Hazardous
properties
 Physical
form;
 Quantity
 Activities
Risk of
Harm
Potential Severity
The potential severity of exposure to the hazard is related to the properties of the hazard. For
example:
 The toxicity of a chemical;
 The sound pressure level at the operators ear and the frequency of a noise source;
 The intensity and penetrability of ionising radiation;
Potential Exposure
Potential for exposure means the opportunity to do harm. In assessing the potential exposure to
the hazard, it is necessary to consider:

 The proportion of the work force who are or will be exposed to the hazard (in particular the
frequency of exposure and length of time of exposure).
 Any risk reducing control measures that are in place and their effectiveness in reducing the
risk.
Health risk management process
Managing risks to health and safety at the workplace
Risks must be managed to ensure the health and safety of workers and other people affected
by the conduct of the business or undertaking including visitors and customers at a workplace.
1. Identifying hazards.
2. Assessing risks. (If necessary)
3. Controlling risks.
4. Reviewing control measures.
1. Identifying hazards: (Finding hazards and potential hazards)
A hazard is anything that could be harmful to any person. Some hazards will be obvious
because they may be common to a particular industry, but others can by more difficult to
identify. Working closely with workers and looking at every task at the workplace will assist in
finding potential hazards. Information and advice about hazards and risks relevant to particular
industries and types of work is available from regulators, industry associations, unions, technical
specialists and safety consultants.
When identifying hazards, particular attention should be paid to hazards arising from:
 The construction workplace itself, including its location, layout, condition and accessibility.
 Any design relating to the construction work.
 The presence of asbestos.
 Systems of work.
 Plant, including the transport, installation, erection, commissioning, use, repair,
maintenance, dismantling, storage or disposal of plant.
 Working at heights.
 Hazardous substances, including the handling, use, storage, and workplace transport or
disposal of hazardous substances.
 Manual handling, including the potential for occupational overuse injuries, and

 the physical working environment, for example, the potential for electric shock, immersion or
engulfment, fire or explosion, slips, trips and falls, people being struck by moving plant,
objects or structures falling on people, exposure to noise, heat, cold, vibration, radiation,
static electricity or a contaminated atmosphere, and the presence of a confined space.
2. Assessing risks:
A risk assessment involves considering what could happen if someone is exposed to a hazard
and the likelihood of it happening.
Assessing the associated risks will assist in determining:
 what regulated duties apply
 how severe a risk is
 whether any existing control measures are effective
 what action should be taken to control the risk
 whether action or control measures are necessary, and
 How urgently the action needs to be taken.
Assessing the risk includes considering things like:
 The likelihood or chance that someone will suffer an illness or injury, for example, considers
the number of people exposed to the hazard.
 the severity of any injury or illness that could occur, for example is it a small isolated hazard
that could result in a very minor injury or is it a significant hazard that could have wide
ranging and severe affects, and
A risk assessment is not necessary if the risk and how to control it is already known.
3. Controlling risks:
The various ways of controlling risks can be ranked from the highest level of protection and
reliability to the lowest. This is referred to as the hierarchy of controls.
The most efficient way of controlling risks is to eliminate a hazard, so far as is reasonably
practicable. If not reasonably practicable the next step is to minimize the risks so far as is
reasonably practicable, by doing one or more of the following:
 Substituting.
 Isolation.
 Implement Engineering controls.

If risk remains, it must be minimised by implementing administrative controls, so far as is
reasonably practicable. Any remaining risk must be minimised with suitable personal protective
equipment.
Elimination of risk
This means removing the hazard or hazardous work practice from the workplace. This is the
most effective control measure and must always be considered before anything else. For
example, eliminate the risk of a fall from height by doing the work at ground level.
If elimination of the risk is not reasonably practicable, you must consider using substitution,
isolation or engineering risk controls, or a combination of these controls, to minimise the risk.
Substitution:
Minimise the risk by substituting or replacing a hazard or hazardous work practice with a less
hazardous one. For example:
 Substituting a manual task of carrying tools from one level to another with a material hoist or
craning material will minimise the risk of workers developing a musculoskeletal disorder.
 Substituting a two part epoxy substance with a water based acrylic water proofing system
will minimise exposure to a hazardous substance.
Isolation:
Minimise the risk by isolating or separating the hazard or hazardous work practice from people
involved in the work or other people at the workplace. For example, isolating a mobile plant
work zone from workers and/or the public with physical barriers will minimise the risk of contact
occurring between a person and the mobile plant.
Engineering controls:
Use an engineering control to minimise the risk if the physical characteristics of the plant,
structure or work area are hazardous. For example:
 By enclosing an open cab excavator, for example, using a falling objects protection structure
(FOPS) will minimise the risk of an operator being struck by a falling object or being crushed
if the excavator rolls over.
Administrative controls:
These are work practices that minimise the risk, such as ensuring there is no unauthorised entry
of a person to a work area thus preventing them from being exposed to a particular hazard. For
example:

 Using a tag and lockout procedure at the entry point of a confined space will minimise the
risk of a person entering the confined space and losing consciousness or suffering
asphyxiation, injury or death due to the immediate effects of airborne contaminants or
oxygen deficiency.
Personal protective equipment (PPE):
PPE is the lowest order control measure in the hierarchy of controls and should only be
considered when other control measures are not practicable, or to increase protection from the
hazard.
PPE relies on a person’s behaviour and the proper fit and use of the PPE and does nothing to
change the hazard itself. It therefore requires thorough training and effective supervision to
ensure compliance and effectiveness. For example:
 Provide workers with ear plugs, ear muffs or other PPE when they are near or operating
noisy machinery and powered tools to minimise the exposure to excessive noise.
The use of PPE is the last resort for the control of the exposure of employees to hazards. This is
because PPE only protects the wearer and then only if worn properly. Situations where the use
of PPE may be necessary are:
 As a ‘stop-gap; measure, where a risk assessment indicates that further control measures
are necessary and until those further measures have been introduced and are deemed
effective.
4. Reviewing control measures:
Risk control measures implemented to meet work health and safety requirements must be
reviewed and as necessary revised to maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a work
environment that is without risks to health or safety. This includes when:
 the control measure does not control the risk it was implemented to control, so far as is
reasonably practicable
 before a change at the workplace that is likely to give rise to a new or different risk to health
or safety that the measure may not effectively control
 a new relevant hazard or risk is identified
 the results of consultation required under the laws indicate that a review is necessary
Control measures must be reviewed regularly to make sure they remain effective. Controls can
be checked by using the same methods as the initial hazard identification process. Common
methods include workplace inspection, consultation, testing and analysing records and data.

Control measures must be reviewed (and revised if necessary):
 before any change is made to the way the construction work is carried out
 before a new system of work is introduced
 before the place where the work is being carried is changed
 if a new hazard is identified or if new information about a hazard becomes available (for
example, an alert is published on a particular hazard)

Task 3.4 (LO3:3.4)
Explain how risk assessments are used to address significant hazards associated with
the deep basement construction mentioned in task 3.1(P3.4).
M2.2 A range of methods and techniques have been applied when addressing the
issue.
Answer
 The best way to prevent a fall from or through a roof is not to go on it in the first place. If the
work needs to be done, ask whether it be done without going on the roof or whether the
amount of time on the roof can be reduced? It may be possible to partially assemble roof
sections at ground level;
 protective measures may be required at the roof edge, openings, access points to the roof
and where there are fragile roof lights;
 weather conditions should be taken into account as icy, wet or windy conditions can
significantly increase the risk of people or material falling;
 falling material can kill — nothing should be thrown from a roof: use enclosed rubbish
chutes, or lower material to the ground; do not let material that could fall accumulate;
prevent access to danger areas underneath the roof; use debris netting, covered walkways
or similar safeguards to stop falling material causing injury; where possible, avoid carrying
large and heavy objects onto roofs;
 Work on old roofs needs careful planning. You should: identify fragile parts of the roof;
identify preventive measures; where necessary, liaise with the client; carry out a structural
survey in some cases; and in all cases carry out a risk assessment. With the help of this
hazard related to work at height can be identify.

Task 4
Task 4.1 (LO4:4.2 and 4.3)
As a Trainee Technical Officer (reporting to Project Manager and the Health & Safety
Manager), you have been requested to review the following changes that are proposed
to current procedures and policies related to health, safety & welfare. As such, select
three of the following and prepare a short report back to the Health and Safety
Manager/Project Manager.
Evaluate the following changes in procedure or policy (P4.2)
 A Personal Protective Equipment policy is to be mandatory where all operatives will
wear safety protection at all times when they work at their respective work areas
 A non-alcoholic policy is to be implemented on all construction sites
 All site safety inductions will only be valid for 6 months
 Non-smoking policy is to be implemented on all construction sites
When you have completed your review of initial changes, produce a justification about
the effectiveness of the implemented changes. (P4.3)
Answer
 A Personal Protective Equipment policy is to be mandatory where all
operatives will wear safety protection at all times when they work at their respective
work areas
The health and safety policy should be a straightforward statement of senior management's
commitment to workplace safety and health. It should be broad enough to cover all aspects of
the company's activities. Now a days every employers law expecting health and safe about the
employers specially in construction sector
Manager)
We have to provide and maintain as far as possible:
 a safe working environment
 safe systems of work
 plant and substances in safe condition
 facilities for the welfare of workers
 information, instruction, training and supervision that is reasonably necessary to
ensure that each worker is safe from injury and risks to health

Examples from the site
False work
If workers are engaged in false work operation,
We should:
 Check whether the false work is erected in accordance with the design.
 Make sure that the false work is securely erected.
 Check whether the struts of the false work are secure.
 Ensure that the props are erected vertically and arranged at a suitable distance in a
row.
 we have to advise Report to supervisor when any unsafe situation is found
Scaffold
If workers are engaged in Scaffold operation,
We have to advise that
 Not use scaffolds unless they have been erected by trained workmen and under the
supervision of a competent person.
 Not use a scaffold unless it has been inspected and certified safe by a competent
person before use.
 Strictly follow the instructions of a competent person. Do not alter the scaffold unless
authorized to do so. Do not work on an unfinished scaffold.
 When it is necessary to work on a mobile scaffold, lock the wheels of the scaffold before
you start working.
 Do not work on a scaffold unless it has been provided with a suitable working platform.
Cartridge-operated Fixing Tool
If workers are engaged Cartridge-operated Fixing Tool work operation,
We have to advise that
 Do not operate a cartridge operated fixing tool unless you have possessed a valid
certificate.
 Wear suitable eye and ear protectors while operating a cartridge-operated fixing tool.
 Use a cartridge-operated fixing tool with great car
So every types of works it has risk for workers if not a policy they will not use protective
equipment when policy comes as mandatory it will makes benefits for workers and the
organizations

 A non-alcoholic policy is to be implemented on all construction sites
Some peoples are using alcohol as a medicine, pain killer because of these things they were
addicted to alcohol
When a non- alcoholic policy is implemented suddenly they are not accepting that because of
this we have to implement a disciplinary policythis policy not so much to punish as to bring
unacceptable behavior to the employee’s attention in a way that the employee will be motivated
to make corrections.
We have to advise that when they are using alcohol, Drugs it will increase the heat stress
definitely it will affect their health
 All site safety inductions will only be valid for 6 months
Now a days every employers law expecting health and safe about the employers speciallyin
construction sector
Manager)
We have to provide and maintain as far as possible:
 a safe working environment
 safe systems of work
 plant and substances in safe condition
 facilities for the welfare of workers
We always advise to workers that they have to use personal protective equipment all the time
when they are working at the site
Examples
Eye Protection
 When there is a risk of eye injury, such as in concrete breaking or using abrasive
wheels, you should wear suitable eye protectors.
 Take proper care of the eye protectors provided to you.
 Replace damaged or defective eye protectors immediately.
 Ensure that eye protectors are comfortable to wear, and keep clean.
 Use eye protectors for eye protection ─ do not put it on your head or hang it on your
neck.
Noise
 Wear ear protectors in areas with high noise levels.
 Properly wear ear protectors according to the manufacturer's instructions.
 Do not reuse disposable ear plugs.

 Clean ear protectors regularly.
Wear safety shoes to prevent foot injury.
Safety Helmet
 Wear a safety helmet on a construction site.
 Keep the harness of the helmet clean and make sure that it fits well.
 Do not drill any holes on the helmet or use it for pounding.
Workers have many risks at the site while they are working.Personal Protective Equipment such
as
 Safety helmet
 Safety shoes
 Eye protectors
 Ear protectors
 Gloves
Are protect them from risks and injuries. Changing the safety inductions within 6 months it will
gives a good result for the workers but the organization site it will increase the cost for the safety
inductions

Task 4.2 (LO4 and LO5: 5.1 and 4.1)
Your construction company uses a set of generic risk assessments that are rarely
reviewed or updated. You have been asked to undertake the following to ensure that
some importance is maintained within the risk assessment file.
Produce risk assessment one of the workplaces that have different forms of work within
them (P5.1)
1. Construction of a high rise building in Doha
2. Construction of a Major Water Supply Project in Doha (Select a specific component in
the project, for example, laying of underground pipe or storage facility)
The following changes are proposed to your risk assessments- the review of the risk
assessment will now be undertaken at night from 10.00pm to 6.00 am and you are
required to report on the changes that will be needed. Monitor and review your risk
assessment in the light of these changes to circumstances and report (P4.1)
For D2.2, you must provide a detailed review about how the management and
organization of risk assessment are affected by sudden change of weather based on
investigation.
Answer
1. Construction of a high rise building in Doha
The most frequent problems/accidents related to safety in high-rise construction often include:
1. Ladders
2. Falling Debris
3. Falling From Heights
4. Electrical shock & Machinery
5. Trips and Slips
6. Crane and hoist operation
The causes of injuries in high-rise construction are plentiful. The largest single category for both
injuries and fatalities is individual falls. Handling of goods and transportation are also a major
cause of injuries. An individual fall may be caused by a series of coincidences: inattentive
worker or an insecure railing or slippery footing etc. Removing any one of these causes might
serve to stop any particular accident, but again each casualty may have multiple causes.
Many measures are available to improve jobsite safety in construction. These include design,
choice of safety equipment, education and vigilance. By altering facility designs, particular
structures can be safer or more hazardous to construct. Choice of different safety equipment
plays an important role in overall safety of project. Educating workers and managers in proper
procedures and hazards also has a direct impact on jobsite safety. During the construction
process itself, the most important safety related measures are to insure proper vigilance and
cooperation on the part of managers, inspectors and workers. Vigilance involves bearing in

mind the risks of different working practices. In also involves maintaining temporary physical
safeguards.
Construction sites tend to have several employers working on them simultaneously, making
safety coordination in such a dynamic environment a very complex process. Temporary duration
of work, together with the rapidly changing character of the site are in complete contrast to
regular factory production and form a serious hazard to safety.
2. Construction of a Major Water Supply Project in Doha
(Select a specific component in the project, for example, laying of underground pipe or storage
facility)
 Laying of underground pipe –
For Laying of underground pipe excavation shall be done with proper care to the safety of
workers, avoiding disturbance to adjoining property and underground sewage pipes.
The excavated materials and other items should be removed from the work site as early as
possible so that it should not act as a hindrance to the ongoing work and workers can move
freely.
Proper signals and warning boards should be erected so that people will be aware of the
work and will take necessary precautions.
The review of the risk assessment will now be undertaken at night from 10.00pm to 6.00
am and you are required to report on the changes that will be needed.
When it’s come to night time both 1, 2 projects its need proper lighting facilities in the night time
there is cool wind so we have to advise the workers that how they want to protect from the cool
wind. However we can’t expect the productivity which can get from the day time
Risk Assessment in Construction of a high rise building in Qatar
Risk is inherent in every construction project, especially complex projects like high rise
buildings. It is helpful to understand the significant risks in order to anticipate their possible
negative effects on projects. This task identifies ranks and categorizes high potential risks in
high rise building projects in Qatar.
Risk assessment can begin, a defining the risk assessment
“A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm.
A risk is defined as “the likelihood of a particular hazard causing harm”.
Assessment is defined as “appraisal, opinion, and evaluation”.
Risk assessment is the process where you:
 Identify hazards.

 Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with that hazard.
 Determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazard.
A risk assessment is simply an examination of the work you are undertaking and the
environment in which this takes place. It does not have to be over complicated, but should be
appropriate to the size of your company and the risks involved in the work you undertake and
the environment in which this takes place.Risk assessment starts by dividing hazards into two
components exposures and effects. Exposures are all the hazards found in a community. Some
of the hazards are minor. Some of the hazards are fairly significant and are usually called target
hazards.
The purpose of a risk assessment is to identify anything with the potential to cause accidents
and ill health to you, your employees, members of the public, client’s staff or other contractors
on site. If this assessment identifies a significant a risk to health and safety, you as an employer
or self-employed person must implement measures to either eliminate or control the risk to a
reasonable level.
Steps to a Risk Assessment of high rise building:
Risk assessment is fundamental to good health and safety Management.
1. Identify hazards.
2. Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with that hazard.
3. Eliminate or minimize the risk by introducing control measures.
4. Review control measures.

Task 5.1 (D3.2)
Provide a self-evaluation of how you consider you preformed in the assessment and
what improvements you would make in the future (1500 words)
(Hint: Use information gathered from the recent visit to a construction site including the
knowledge gained in the course to demonstrate your overall knowledge health, safety &
welfare legislation and its application to civil engineering construction)
For D3.2 you must provide a detailed self-evaluation on your performance on this
assignment and how the knowledge acquired on this program will help you to apply in
health, safety & welfare in civil engineering construction in the future.
Answer
The health and safety policy should be a straightforward statement of senior management's
commitment to workplace safety and health. It should be broad enough to cover all aspects of
the company's activities.
The safety rules and procedures are developed to assist in achieving job safety by having no
employee accidents. Construction sites tend to have several employers working on them
simultaneously, making safety coordination in such a dynamic environment a very complex
process. Temporary duration of work, together with the rapidly changing character of the site
are in complete contrast to regular factory production and form a serious hazard to safety.
There have been big improvements over recent years in reducing the number and rate of
injuries to construction workers. However, a number of serious ill-health issues continue to
affect construction workers. These can be devastating for individuals and families.
Construction work can involve a number of hazardous substances. The sections below provide
more information about what you need to know and do.
 Key points – construction workers are exposed to a number of hazardous substances.
Be aware of the significance of the ill health effects these cause and the main risk
factors behind them.
 Construction dust - construction dust is not just a nuisance; it can be a real risk to your
lungs.
 Cement - cement based products, like concrete or mortar, can cause serious skin
problems such as dermatitis and burns.
 Lead - lead is still commonly used and found in older buildings. Breathing in lead dust
and fume inadvertently or swallowing it can cause serious health problems.
 Solvents - solvents are found in many products such as paints, thinners, resins and
glues. Poorly controlled work with solvents can create both short-term ill-health effects
and longer term disease.
 Isocyanates - products that contain isocyanates include paints, coatings, foams and
glues. Exposure to isocyanates can create a risk of asthma and dermatitis.
 Harmful micro-organisms - construction workers can be exposed to a variety of disease
causing micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. They can be transmitted

through the air, by hand to mouth contact or through the skin and lead to a range of
health problems.
 Carbon monoxide (CO) - this is a colorless and tasteless poisonous gas produced by
gas appliances and engines when there is not sufficient air for them to work
correctly. Carbon monoxide can kill.
A common aspiration for construction companies is to achieve Zero Harm, which can mean
different things for different organizations but largely translates to zero fatalities, zero
permanently disabling injuries and zero accidents and injuries. But we have to ask ourselves, is
this realistic in such a high risk industry? A company’s commitment to Zero Harm needs to be
more embedded into every aspect of an organization. The correct intention needs to be
translated to all tiers of the workforce and to become recognized as ‘the way we do things
around here’.
With 42 fatalities and an estimated 76,000 cases of work-related ill health incidents recorded for
the construction sector last year
In the construction industry when we considering safety we have to bear in mind that protectors
are replaceable, but not human lives or parts of human body. Now a days every employers law
expecting health and safe about the employers specially in construction sector, I can feel that in
practically at construction sites
At my site all the workers were advised by our safety engineer, safety officer that about using
personal protective equipment
 Hard Hats –All employees are required to wear a hard hat on every job site at all times.
 Eye Protection - All employees are required to wear safety glasses (with side-shields) on
the job site at all times.
 Fall Protection – All employees exposed to falls over 6ft are required to be trained on
and use proper fall protection. On scaffolds, the trigger height is 10ft. For steel erection
activities, the trigger height is 15 feet (see 1926.750 for details/exceptions).
 Hand Protection - All employees involved in operations exposing hands to cuts,
chemicals, burns, etc. are required to wear gloves.
 Rubber Boots - Employees involved in operations exposing the feet/legs to such hazards
as concrete burns during placing uncured concrete are required to wear rubber boots in
good condition.
At my site there will be safety meetings and training
The Job Superintendent is responsible for providing orientation and safety training for all new
employees. This training will include: company safety rules and procedures, required personal
protective equipment, emergency procedures and our Hazard Communication Program.
Employees will be provided with a copy of the Safety Rules and Procedures and the employee
handout on the Hazard Communication Program.

Job Site Safety Meetings - The Superintendent will conduct an on-the-job safety meeting each
Monday. The meeting should last no longer than fifteen minutes. Topics for the meetings should
be timely and may include: accidents/injuries/near misses and what needs to be done to prevent
accidents from reoccurring; review of safety rules not being followed; proper use and care of
personal protective equipment; input from employees on how job safety can be improved; new
products/methods being used; safer methods to utilize on the job; ladder use, fire extinguishers,
and other appropriate topics.
Before doing this assessment I have lack knowledge about health and safety but now I have get
a thorough knowledge about health and safety
We can ensure best safety for the workers from providing a well-planned safety system for this I
have got vast knowledge from doing this assessment.

Health, Safety and Welfare for CBE

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