Risk assessment plan for construction

Company
This assessment cannot address every hazard, but it does focus on those matters that
are the common causes of death, injury and ill health. It provides guidance on how
to eliminate the hazards, or where this cannot be done, reduce the risk. Advice
is given on protecting those who are directly employed to do the work, others
working on the site, visitors to the site and members of the public who could be
affected.
LO4

Health and Safety legislation can be defined as, organized efforts and procedures for
identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and
substances. It also includes training of personnel in accident prevention, accident response,
emergency preparedness and use of Protective clothing and equipment. Business
dicitionary.com (2006) definition of health and safety management [online] (updated on
5 th June 2010)

1 Aim of Risk Assessment
plan, organize, control, monitor and review health and safety
throughout the life of a project.
Improve the planning and management of projects from the very start;
identify risks early on;
Target effort where it can do the most good in terms of health and safety;
Discourage unnecessary bureaucracy

2 Areas of Assessment
1. Preparing for work
This section covers planning and organizing the job to ensure health and safety is taken into
account from the very beginning. Everyone controlling the site has the responsibility for health
and safety (ensuring others are not put at risk).
2.1.1 Planning the work
Gathering as much health and safety information about the project and the proposed site before
work begins is important. Information available at tendering should be used .Sources of
information include:

the client;
the design team;
contract documents;
specialist contractors and consultants;
trade and contractor organizations;
equipment and material suppliers; and
guidelines and standards of company itself

Find out about the history of the site and its surroundings. See if there are any unusual features
which might affect the work, or how the work will affect others.
Pay particular attention to:

asbestos or other contaminants;
overhead power lines and underground services;
unusual ground conditions;
public rights of way across the site;
nearby schools, footpaths, roads or railways; and
other activities going on at the site




When estimating costs and preparing the programme, consider any particular health and safety
hazards associated with the work. Make sure suitable allowances have been made in the price.
The job will run more smoothly, efficiently and profitably if hazards have been predicted,
planned for and controlled from the outset. Having to stop or reschedule work to deal with
emergencies wastes time and money. When materials are bought, or equipment is hired, the
supplier has a duty to provide certain health and safety information. Make sure this is obtained
and read. It may be necessary to:

Consider using a specialist who is familiar with the necessary precautions;
Carry out an assessment of the health risks arising from substances or
Equipment; and act on your findings, eg by eliminating harmful substances where
possible, or
By using a less hazardous method of work or providing training on the safe use
of the material or equipment




When programmes are prepared, consider whether there are any operations that will affect the
health or safety of others working at the site. For example: think about access to the workplace
which trades will need to go where and when? .Arrange the programme to make sure everyone
who needs to use a scaffold or other means of access has time to do so. Plan to make sure the
access will be safe and suitable for their use. Timber treatment or site radiography usually has to
be done when no one else is on site. The site may have to be left vacant for a few days. Where a
specialist contractor is used, check the requirements with them and programme the work well in
advance.

Discuss proposed working methods with subcontractors before letting contracts. Find out how
they are going to work, what equipment and facilities they are expecting to be provided and the
equipment they will bring to the site. Identify any health or safety risks that their operations may
create for others working at the site and agree control measures. Obtaining health and safety risk
assessments and method statements will help . Important key areas that can be arranged is
planning material deliveries and consider storage needs. Decide what equipment will be
Required and who is trained to operate it. Also planning emergency and rescue procedures.
2.1.2 Decide the work

Organizing work is important and some aspects that can be considered are

Supervision by appropriate supervisors trained and experienced
Checking if workers have sufficient experience, trainings and certificates
Checking if workers are able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of work and
safety
Subcontractors and their workers are similarly checked for training and experience.
Get permissions

It is important to assess and get all the government and local permissions before the start.
Setting up the site
This section deals with setting up the site before work starts to ensure the fundamental health and
safety issues have been addressed.
Site access and Site boundaries

There should be safe access onto and around the site for people and vehicles. Plan how vehicles
will be kept clear of pedestrians, especially at site entrances where it may be necessary to
provide doors or gates to achieve this segregation. Doors that open onto traffic routes may need
viewing panels or windows. Plan in place should include how vehicles can be kept clear of
pedestrians at vehicle loading/unloading areas, parking and manoeuvring places and areas where
drivers vision may be obstructed.

Construction work should be fenced off and suitably signed. This will protect people (especially
children) from site dangers and the site from vandalism and theft. For some jobs the workplace
will have to be shared. Perhaps the work will be done in an operating factory or office. Agree
who has to control each area. Agree what fences, barriers, means of separation or permits to
work are required to keep both construction workers away from hazards created by others and
other people away from hazards created by the construction work; site rules might be needed.
Making sure there is a system to ensure necessary precautions are kept in place during working
hours and that night-time and weekend protection is put in place as required before the site closes
2.1.3 Site facilities

Everyone who works on any site must have access to adequate toilet

easily accessible and suitably checked maintained, kept clean, warm and properly
ventilated
drainage ,flushing system
Men and women may use the same toilet, provided it is in a separate room with a door
that can be locked from the inside.
A washbasin with water, soap and towels or dryers should be located close to the toilets.
Where the work is particularly dirty or workers are exposed to toxic or corrosive
substances (eg during demolition or work in contaminated ground), showers should be
provided.






Everyone who works on any site must have access to adequate washing facilities
Washing facilities also need to be close to canteens and rest rooms so that people can
wash before eating.) , a place for preparing and consuming refreshments
somewhere for storing and drying clothing and personal protective equipment
Soap and towels

Resting facilities for taking rest and breaks
tables and chairs;
a kettle or urn for boiling water;
A means of heating food (eg a gas or electrical heating ring, or microwave or oven).
Providing separate facilities for smokers and non-smokers, or by prohibiting smoking
in the rest facilities.
Cloth washing facilities
Availability of drinking water and cups
2.1.4 Good order, storage areas and waste materials

Plan how the site will be kept tidy and how housekeeping will be actively managed:
Walkways
Stairways
Trailing cables
Building materials
Waste (flammable and non-flammable waste)
Emergency routes

Designate storage areas
Gases
Hazardous materials
Chemicals
Storage height
Stacking of materials
Try keeping materials of the site minimum
Collecting waste and arrangement of removal of waste without storing

2.1.5 Lighting

Lighting in should be available to work with safety.
Day light may be possible during the day in some areas of work
artificial lighting does not change the apparent colour or visibility of any safety signs or
other safety-related items such as fire extinguishers.
Where it is not possible to have lighting that comes on automatically when the primary
lighting fails, torches or other similar lights may provide suitable lighting or Provide
emergency light
Where emergency routes need artificial light, provide emergency lighting that comes on
if the primary lighting fails .Emergency lighting does not have to provide the same level
of lighting as under normal circumstances; merely enough to enable escape.

2.1.6 Emergency procedures, Fire and First aid

In many sites the obvious emergency is related to fire. Some other general emergencies may include such as
flooding work near sea, waterworks etc., or a risk from asphyxiation or toxic gases. Plan must be made on
Emergency procedures before work begins and put general precautions in place from the start of work. Some
emergencies may require evacuation of the site or part of the site, while others might involve the rescue of an injured
person.

Planning for emergency

When planning emergency procedures, routes and exits, take into account:
characteristics and size of the site and the number and location of
o Workplaces on the site
o working on suspended access equipment or where the exit may be obstructed by equipment);
o sites where many people work, escape routes need to be wide enough to allow everyone to get
through doorways or down stairs easily without them becoming overcrowded; and
o the physical and chemical properties of substances or materials on or likely
to be on the site (eg work at petrochemical installations or at sites where flammable paints or glues
are in use may require an increased standard of ventilation).

Take precautions to ensure:

o Plan and drills for preparation of emergencies
o Ensuring likelihood of emergencies arising is as low as possible
o Alerting everyone on the site on emergencies.
o Assigned emergency coordinators and wardens.
o emergency routes are available, kept clear, signed and adequately lit
o there is adequate access to the site for the emergency services

Fire
Many fires can be avoided by careful planning and control of work activities. Good
housekeeping and site tidiness are important not only to prevent fire, but also to ensure that
emergency routes do not become obstructed. Making site rules can help.

2.1.7 First aid
2.1.8 Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
2.1.9 Site rules










2.2 Constructing phase
This section summarizes the main requirements for controlling and supervising site activities
to ensure safe systems of work are followed. It helps the reader to identify health and safety
hazards found on many sites and advises on how to control the risks that can arise. It then
outlines the requirements for monitoring and reviewing to ensure site health and safety is
maintained through to completion of the job.

Frequent cause of deaths and injuries related to accidents in a construction sites are
1. Falls
2. Trips
3. Mobile plants (moving vehicles etc)
4. Electrical
5. Falling material and collapse

Common cause illness related or due to working in a construction sites are
1. Asbestos
2. Manual handling
3. Noise and vibration
4. Chemical spills or exposure



Areas of Assessment Met
requirement
If No
Reason
Preparing for work
Planning the work
Decide the work
Get permissions
Setting up the site
Site access and Site boundaries
Site facilities
Good order, storage areas and waste materials
Lighting
Emergency procedures, Fire and First aid
First aid
Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous
occurrences

Site rules
Constructing phase