Health Safety Environment HSE Construction Site Establishment Procedure

The purpose of this procedure is to identify the key elements which need to be considered when setting up a new construction site and implementing the administrative arrangements for the start up of any project. Prior to commencement on site due consideration needs to be given for proper planning for safety, health and environmental requirements. Clear procedures and standards should be laid down at the start and adequate resources in terms of time, materials and labor should be provided to ensure smooth and safe start up.

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Prior to any work or site set up consideration needs to be given to the necessary administrative arrangements and layout of the site. Contract documents, specifications, safety plans and drawings should be examined to establish any known and identified hazards and risk or constraints which might affect the site layout.

Items requiring checking include:

• Previous uses of land on which site is to be established – contamination etc;
• Offices, buildings, structures, etc. erected on top of underground services;
• Site operations having an effect on local community e.g. in relation to schools, hospitals and fire stations etc;
• Effect on adjacent buildings and local residents;
• Effect on  local  road  conditions  such  as  safe  access  and  egress  fro  the  number, frequency, time of the day and size of equipment needing to access the site;
• Safe and efficient access and egress of a large workforce going to be engaged on the project;
• Adequacy of sufficient and safe storage space;
• Environmental effect such as noise, dust, fumes, water courses.

HSE Control Measures

The presence of any contamination of land on which the site is to be established should be identified prior to works commencing.  Offices and compounds should not be set up under overhead cables without the written consent of the local Electricity Board. Access under overhead services should be kept to a minimum, check to establish height and voltage. Identify if there are any underground services, what they are, what are they encased in and will they need further protection.

If avoidable, access into a site should not be adjacent to a school, hospital etc. Site access should not be directed onto a high speed or busy road if it can be avoided. The junction for a site road to the public highway should be selected so that visibility is not impaired by road contours, sharp bends or other obstructions. Access between site buildings onto a site should be even and unobstructed and should be well lit if used in darkness.

If generators are used, the noise and fume emissions should be considered in respect of buildings and persons on and off site.  Acoustic screens may be necessary if adequate distance is not achieved.

Stacking and storage areas should be clearly defined and maintained with clear vehicle and pedestrian access. On enclosed sites, gates should be of sufficient size to permit, where appropriate, access for emergency services. Prior to  commencement  of  the  project  a  program  of  safety,  and  environmental inspections should be developed between site management and the Safety Advisor. A program of electrical inspection should also be developed.

The site entrance should be signed with information for general public and for visitors to site. First Aid facilities specific to the risk and numbers on site should be provided.

Establishment of Offices

A fire certificate should be obtained, for all offices having more than a staff of 20, or more than 10 on any floor other than ground floor. All offices should have a means of raising alarm.

An adequate number of suitable fire extinguishers should be provided. A notice displaying last date of inspection should be displayed on every fire extinguisher. (This will be carried out annually by the company undertaking the maintenance of extinguishers and facility should be provided to enable them to carry out their work). All fire extinguishers should be secured to the wall at locations as agreed by the safety department and specified in the project fire safety plan.

Special precautions will have to be taken when employing disabled persons to ensure that all access/egress to parking/sanitary facilities are both practical and reasonable.

Suitable and adequate lighting should be provided for all work, use of facilities and to allow persons to move about safely. Offices should be kept clean and tidy at all times. Adequate ventilation should be provided. Trailing telephone cables should be kept to  a minimum and positioned to  avoid tripping hazards.

Mess Rooms / Rest Area

These should be large enough and contain sufficient tables and chairs (benches should not be used unless system built and securely anchored) to accommodate, at any one time, all persons likely to use these facilities. All tables, serving hatches, etc., should be covered with a smooth impervious material.

Where 10 or more persons are employed a suitable means of heating food should be provided (electric or gas ovens with hot plates or microwaves). This is not applicable where hot meals are provided by site canteen facilities. Tools and materials should not be stored in any canteen or mess rooms. Suitable receptacles with lids should be provided for the disposal of waste material and should be emptied regularly and demarcated accordingly.

Heat resistant material should be placed underneath all gas rings, boilers and ovens, and where any of these are situated near to a wall the heat resistant material should be placed between the appliance and the wall. An adequate number of the suitable fire extinguishers should be provided and these should be secured to the wall near the doors, and kept in an efficient working

Mess rooms should be suitably lit. Mess rooms, including all walls, , should be kept clean, tidy and in good condition at all times.

Canteens

Where separate kitchens are provided which offer full canteen facilities, that is the sale of food, the following requirements should be observed:

The premises should be registered with the Local Authority. Passageways and offices should be clear of all extraneous materials, and flooring should be kept in a safe condition. worn linoleum with holes, loose carpeting etc., should not be permitted. Where photocopying processes are carried out electrical supply points should be adjacent to the machines to avoid trailing cables.

Where toxic, corrosive, flammable materials are used; information on hazards and precautions are to be provided along with suitable storage facilities CO2  extinguishers  should  be  supplied  and  kept  in  an  efficient  order where all electrical equipment is in use.They should be of adequate size to allow free passage of persons carrying food and drink.

Non-slip flooring which is free of tripping hazards should be provided. Suitable arrangements should be made for the extraction of steam and fumes from the kitchen. If cookers or deep fat fryers are used, fire blankets should be provided and secured near to the fryer. All shelves and work surfaces should be covered with a smooth impervious material. Washing facilities should be provided for the canteen staff, plus soap and nail brush.

All articles and equipment likely to come into contact with food should be non-absorbent, completely cleanable and in good condition. All persons preparing and serving food should have high standards of personal hygiene. Cuts and abrasions should be covered with waterproof dressing. Hairnets should be worn.

Careful choice of containers and wrapping should be done so as to minimize risk of contaminating food. Adequate hot and cold water. Separate sinks for food preparation and washing up. The minimum allowed is a double sink and double drainer. If vegetables are to be prepared another sink should be provided.

Walls, floors, doors, windows, ceiling and woodwork to be kept clean and in good repair. Use melamine faced chipboard with stainless steel sheeting behind the cookers. Adequate waste receptacles with lids, disinfected daily.   No waste to be allowed to accumulate. Nothing in kitchen overnight.

Provide lockers for kitchen staff clothes and personal belongings. Open food to be covered. Movement of boiling water to be kept to a minimum. Different colored polypropylene cutting boards and the same colored knives should be used, i.e. red for raw meat. Electric fly catches should be fitted in all kitchens.

“Wash Your Hands” signs should be displayed in all cloakrooms/toilets where catering staff are on site.  Plastic gloves should be used when handling or serving food.

Use of Microwave Ovens

Ovens should only be installed and used as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Installation should be checked by an Electrical Engineer. Ovens should be checked for leakage annually. Leakage should not exceed 5 milliwatts per sq cm. Ovens door seals should be kept clean at all times. Inspections should only be undertaken on clean ovens. Repair should only be undertaken by an approved repairer or the manufacturer.

Drinking Water Facilities

An adequate supply of clearly identified fresh drinking water should be provided and if kept in a suitable container, that container should be clearly marked “drinking water” and the contents changed at least once a day.  Where drinking water is supplied by tanker, laboratory test certificates are to be issued and filed. Summertime work – Iso Tonic drinks must be considered.

Washing Facilities

Suitable and adequate washing facilities should be provided and should include the following:

Adequate troughs, basins or buckets (with a smooth impervious surface). Soap and towels (or driers). Hot and cold (or warm) water. When more than 100 persons, or when the contract is of more than 12 months duration, washing facilities should include in addition to the above, 4 wash basins for every 35 additional persons thereafter one wash basin should be provide Shower facilities should also be provided if the nature of the work or health reasons require them.

Toilet / Sanitary Conveniences

WC’s should be provided to the following scale:

1 per 25, or part of 25 for the first 100 employees. 1 per 35 or part of 35 after the first 100 employees. Flush or re-cycling toilets should be provided and all doors should be fitted with fastenings. Facilities should be conveniently accessible and kept clean at all times. Sanitary conveniences should not open directly into a canteen. All sanitary conveniences should be suitably ventilated. Sanitary conveniences should be adequately lit to a level of at least 100 lux. Urinals should be adequately screened from the outside when the door is open.

Where female staff are employed, separate sanitary conveniences should be provided and clearly marked to indicate female, and on the same scale as for male employees.

Site Stores

Suitable and safe access should be provided to all stores, paying particular attention to any step up into the stores. All stores should be kept in a clean and tidy state and gangways kept clean. All racks should be of adequate strength and positioned correctly to avoid any risk of collapse.

All material should be stored in a secure manner and if necessary restrained to prevent accidental displacement. Combustible materials should be isolated to prevent fire ignition and spread. Special requirements apply to the storage of the following:

• Highly flammable liquids and petroleum gases.
• Petroleum.
• Abrasive wheels.
• Cartridges for cartridge tools.
• Chemicals used in construction, i., adhesives, sealants, solvents, etc.

Where bulk storage of fuels or other liquids is provided then clear identification and quantity of contents stored should be displayed on the storage container. All stores should be adequately lit. Adequate number of fire extinguishers should be provided and these should be secured to the wall near the doors – (CO2 or dry powder if electricity is used) and kept in efficient working condition.

Chemicals which may be hazardous to health should not be issued from any store until a specific assessment has been carried out.

Site Workshops and Site Fabrication Workshops

Suitable safe access and egress should be provided and maintained. Passageways should be established, marked and maintained in a safe condition. Adequate number of dry powder or foam fire extinguishers should be provided, secured to the wall and kept in efficient working condition. Care should be taken against the spillage of any fuels, oils,  Any spillage should be cleaned up immediately.

A separate room, with fan extraction, is required when any battery charging is being carried out. Signs denoting “NO NAKED LIGHTS”, “NO SMOKING” should be displayed and demarcated as such.

All bench mounted tools should be securely fastened to a bench of adequate strength. Power hand drills converted to bench mounted machines should be provided with a chuck guard and have a lock out procedure.

All machines should be adequately guarded and guards should be kept in position. All fixed grinders should be fitted with permanently fixed eye shields. Effective extraction should be provided and maintained to keep fabrication units clear of all fumes, exhaust gases, etc. All inspection lamps should be provided with protection cages.

Suitable welding screens should be provided and used to ensure that the welding flash is only visible to the person carrying out the welding. This person should use suitable eye protection. Suitable eye protection should be  provided where  necessary, in  addition any other PPE identified necessary by a risk assessment should be provided and used and mandatory sign displayed.

When working near or under any piece of plant or machinery, adequate support (aide stands to be 3rd party certificate) should be provided to ensure that the plant or machinery will not fall. Under no circumstances may persons be allowed to work under such plant/machinery which is supported solely by jacks. Safe weight loads to be displayed by a 3rd party. Hand tools should be maintained in a safe and good condition, paying particular attention to handles on files and shafts on hammers and the avoidance of “mushroom heads” and tape up handles. Persons should not be exposed to excessive noise.

Site Safety Records

Site safety  records  should  be  filed  on  site,  be  readily  retrievable  and  protected  from deterioration. On completion of the contract the contents of the record folder should be archived. However, copies of Acts, Regulation, Codes of Practice and the like are to be returned to the respective HSE Manager. The most senior person on site has the responsibility of ensuring that all appropriate records are kept, and maintained.