Health and safety is important to a number of jobs. The UK sets a legal standard for most industries, and builders are no exception to this. Failure to comply with health and safety standards in the workplace can result in prosecution. We’ve put together a short guide to inform you of which measures your building contractors should be taking when working on site. You can be reassured that the team at LS Building Services always follow these procedures. This minimises risk and ensures that we meet our legal obligations.
What Risks Are There To Builders?
There are many potential risks on a building site. Some are going to be a result of a hazardous working environment, and others will be personal risks. Slips, trips and falls can occur as a result of either. For example, there could be a slippery material on the floor which causes a fall. It could also be that the individual hasn’t worn appropriate footwear for the site, therefore resulting in slips.
Injuries can occur when working at height or with heavy machinery. Even handheld tools can pose a risk when in untrained hands. Injuries also happen when individuals practice poor manual handling techniques or lift things that are too heavy for them.
What Health & Safety Procedures Should Happen On Site?
A risk assessment must be carried out before any work is done. This is intended to spot any potential hazards early, ensuring that appropriate measures can be taken to minimise the risk of injury. All employees need to be trained to do their jobs, and should be given additional training if their responsibilities change.
All employees working on site must wear PPE. For employed builders, this must be given to them by their employer. The equipment must be appropriate for the job they’re doing. Some builders only need a hard hat and protective clothing, whereas others may need respiratory protection or hi-vis clothing as well.
The site must have appropriate signage to ensure that everyone knows how to navigate the workplace properly. There should be barriers and signs to make hazardous areas clear.
There should also be a fire safety procedure. This is a short list of just a few things that builders need to be mindful of when working on site. Consult the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 if you’d like to know more.
If You Need Builders, Choose LS Building Services
We follow all of the health and safety procedures prescribed by UK law. If you’re looking for builders who operate safely and efficiently, get in touch with our team today.