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News Release from: Health and Safety Executive
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 February 2005
HSE announces site blitz
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be carrying out a blitz of construction sites across Great Britain in March as part of a nationwide initiative to tackle serious work-related ill health.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be carrying out a blitz of construction sites across Great Britain in March as part of a nationwide initiative to tackle serious work-related ill health Healthy Handling 2005 is aimed at clients, designers, planning supervisors and contractors in the construction industry, and is targeting poor work practices that can cause long-term disability and could end careers
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 4 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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During the initiative HSE Inspectors will focus on handling and using tools, materials and substances which can result in fractures, strains, musculoskeletal disorders, dermatitis, cement burns, hearing loss, hand arm vibration syndrome and consequent long term disability.
Commenting on the initiative, Chief Inspector for Construction Kevin Myers said: "Work related ill health affects a significant number of construction workers and the sector has one of the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorder in industry.
Back problems, cement dermatitis, vibration white finger and deafness can ruin people's lives and force them out of their chosen profession.
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"We have produced guidance outlining simple and sensible precautions to help clients, designers, planning supervisors and contractors take account of these hazards well before work starts on site.
Experience shows that effective management of exposure to these risks can reduce or prevent injury and ill-health to workers." The four core issues Inspectors will be looking at during the blitz are site order and organisation, lifting and carrying, wet cement and hand held vibrating equipment and tools.
If not properly managed each of these topics has the potential to cause ill health and injury to construction workers.
For each of the four core issues inspectors will expect to find:.
Order and Organisation.
· clean, tidy and well organised sites that are kept in good order.
· pedestrian access routes and places of work kept free from obstacles.
· materials stored and left in a safe and accessible condition.
Lifting and Carrying.
· manual handling tasks eliminated by design or mechanisation where practicable.
· safe handling based on assessment of risk from manual handling operations.
· all workers trained in basic, safe, manual handling techniques.
Wet Cement.
· assessment of risks from cement and management arrangements to control exposure.
· hot and cold running water, adequate size basins, and means of washing and drying hands.
· regular skin inspection by trained competent person where residual risk exists.
Hand Held Vibrating Equipment and Tools.
· information on vibration/noise levels from manufacturers and hire companies.
· risk assessments carried out to determine safe periods of exposure.
· equipment and tools kept in good condition by effective maintenance systems.
Further detailed information on each of these topics is available in a 4-page free guidance sheet that can be obtained from the Healthy Handling Helpline on 01582 444248 or: infonet@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
This information is also available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/construction.
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