01 Welcome to the September issue of BSG Online This month s issue includes: Safety News The use of Fire Extinguishers Frequently Asked Questions - Roof Work Court cases Crane hire firm fined for safety failings House builder and site manager prosecuted after bricklayers fatal fall Company and Training News Meet the team Courses starting in September RIDDOR stats New reports for BSG members New reports for BSG members are always thinking about ways in which to improve our services to our members. So we are please to inform you that we have added 3 new reports to our members portal service. Contact made Enables members to view any comments written by the safety advisers as to why they have been unable to carry out a scheduled site inspection. These comments can also be viewed in the Sites icon and then by clicking on the green cross in the site history screen. Current Sites enables Members to view a list of sites they have registered with BSG for visits, with additional information which includes, start and completion dates, and date the site was last visited. Site Visits enables Members to view the frequency of site visits to their sites, with additional information which includes the site rating given by the visiting Safety Adviser. All the above reports can be exported into Excel. For further advice or information on these reports please call the head office on 01454 414877
02 The use of fire extinguishers Over the last few years much has been done to minimise the risk of fire on construction sites for instance; the amount of hot works carried out on site has been greatly reduced by modern pipe fitting techniques, but despite our best effort fires still do happen and we must have effective ways of fighting fires and managing an emergency evacuation. This article aims to clarify what is legally required and what is best practice when dealing with a fire on site. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) sets out the law on general fire safety and article 13 deals specifically with fire fighting and detection and states Where necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried on there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that (a)the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms; and. (b)any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs. The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) sets out the law on fire safety particularly for construction sites and regulation 41 deals specifically with fire detection and fire-fighting and states Where necessary in the interests of the health and safety of any person at work on a construction site there shall be provided suitable and sufficient (a)firefighting equipment; and (b)fire detection and alarm systems, which shall be suitably located. (2) In making provision under paragraph (1), account shall be taken of the matters in regulation 39(2). (3) Any fire-fighting equipment and any fire detection and alarm system provided under paragraph (1) shall be examined and tested at suitable intervals and properly maintained. (4) Any fire-fighting equipment which is not designed to come into use automatically shall be easily accessible. (5) Every person at work on a construction site shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be instructed in the correct use of any fire-fighting equipment which it may be necessary for him to use. (6) Where a work activity may give rise to a particular risk of fire, a person shall not carry out such work unless he is suitably instructed. (7) Fire-fighting equipment shall be indicated by suitable signs. So how do we to decide what is required? Identify hazards: consider how a fire could start and what could burn Means of escape - Key aspects to providing safe means of escape on construction sites include: Routes: your risk assessment should determine the escape routes required, which must be kept available and unobstructed; Alternatives: well-separated alternative ways to ground level should be provided where possible; Protection: routes can be protected by installing permanent fire separation and fire doors as soon as possible; Assembly: make sure escape routes give access to a safe place where people can assemble and be accounted for. On a small site the pavement outside may be adequate; and Signs: will be needed if people are not familiar with the escape routes. Lighting should be provided for enclosed escape routes and emergency lighting may be required. Means of giving warning Set up a system to alert people on site. This may be temporary or permanent mains operated fire alarm (tested regularly), a klaxon, an air horn or a whistle, depending on the size and complexity of the site. The warning needs to be distinctive, audible above other noise and recognisable by everyone
03 The use of fire extinguishers cont... Means of fighting fire Fire extinguishers should be located at identified fire points around the site. The extinguishers should be appropriate to the nature of the potential fire: wood, paper and cloth water extinguisher; flammable liquids dry powder or foam extinguisher; electrical carbon dioxide (C02) extinguisher. Nominated people should be trained in how to use extinguishers. The number of fire extinguishers required will be dependent upon the size and nature of the building project. Where the fire extinguishers will be open to the elements we should consider dry powder fire extinguishers as they will not freeze and specific trolley units which include a double fire extinguisher protection box are available. Generally water, foam or dry powder fire extinguishers are suitable for use on building sites. Do not forget to include a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher if you have an electrical fire risk. As a general guide, no person should ever be more than 30 metres away from a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers should always be placed where they are easily accessible. Fire extinguishers should be located in locations where they can easily be viewed and they are quickly and easily accessible in case of an emergency. Fire extinguishers should be located on wall brackets or fire extinguisher stands, they should not be placed directly on the floor and should be located on emergency escape routes. If wall mounted the carrying handle of larger, heavier extinguishers should be 1 metre from the floor but smaller extinguishers should be mounted so the carrying handle is 1.5 metres from the floor. Maintenance Extinguishers should be routinely inspected by the user at not less than quarterly and preferably at least monthly intervals to make sure that appliances are in their proper position and have not been discharged or lost pressure. Annual inspection, service and test discharging should be carried out by a competent person. The UK servicing standard BS 5306 Part 3 puts the onus on the user (i.e. the Company) to use a competent person and that extinguishers should be serviced to that standard and the manufacturers recommended procedure. Extinguisher types can be identified by the special colour banding that is shown on each extinguisher canister.
04 Court cases Crane hire firm fined for safety failings A Bridgend crane hire firm has been fined for failing to make adequate provisions for safe work at height. Pyle-based RW Christopher Crane Hire Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation identified issues with risk assessments and systems of work; and the availability of suitable fall arrest or restraint equipment. Inspectors also found there was no training or instruction given to workers required to operate at height, and the company was lacking basic procedures and policies covering such work. The failings came to light after HSE attended an incident in Cardiff on 1 October 2012. During stowing of a mobile crane jib by RW Christopher Crane Hire Ltd employees, it fell and hit a colleague who was working close to the crane, causing injuries to his back and ribs. RIDDOR Statistics Sept 2013 There has been 1 reportable accident in the last month. An employee sustained a fracture to their left wrist when they fell from a step ladder. House builder & site manager prosecuted after bricklayers fatal fall A Lincolnshire house building company has been fined and a site manager sentenced to community service after a selfemployed bricklayer fell to his death from dangerous scaffolding. The Bricklayer died when he fell backwards almost two metres while working on a residential building site in Skegness. Chestnut Homes Ltd and their site manager, were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after an investigation by the Health and Safety executive (HSE) identified serious safety failings. They included allowing untrained people to build scaffolding, failing to check it was safe for use and for failing to ensure the safety of workers once it was in use. The court was told that the bricklayer and a colleague were told to extend some scaffolding around the walls of a block of three terraced houses being built. Neither were qualified or had any experience of erecting scaffolding, as the site manager should not have entrusted them with the task. He should have brought back a scaffold contractor to do the work. HSE inspectors established that he did not provide the bricklayer or his colleague with any instruction in how to build the scaffolding. They built a scaffolding platform that had no guard and the structure was a different height to existing scaffolding on the rest of the plots. However, according to the Scaffold Inspection Record for the site, the whole scaffold was inspected on the day the bricklayer died and was adjudged as being safe by the site manager. On the day of the fatal fall, having loaded out two sides of the scaffolding the bricklayer loaded a further band of 80 bricks on a trolley and pulled it backwards, past some guard rails that were raised out of the way, and up a makeshift ramp onto the scaffolding. He fell backwards from the end of the unsafe scaffold where there was no guard rail to prevent him falling. The band of bricks he was pulling landed on him, and he died at the scene of his injuries. Chestnut Homes was fined 40,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3 (10 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
05 Meet the team Name: Paul Robbins Job title: Health & Safety Adviser for the Bristol area. How long have you been at BSG? I have worked for The Building Safety Group since the beginning of July 2013. Describe your role in one sentence: Undertaking site inspections to identify problems and offering front line safety advice. What would you say is BSG s main aim: In my opinion, to provide a professional and competent service to all member companies, which will help them meet current legislation and safety requirements. What do you enjoy most about your role? I enjoy visiting sites, advising and making a difference to a company s health and safety Tell us a random fact about yourself? I lived and worked in Japan for 2 months Describe yourself in 3 words: Reliable, trustworthy and cheerful Download our 2014 training schedule Visit www.bsgltd.co.uk/ trainingcourses.html FAQS Roof work Follow us for all the latest news Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Now and next Upcoming topics for our thematic inspections September: Fire October: Welfare receive many questions from members asking advice on particular health and safety issues. This months frequent questions were - Can I use a roof ladder for roof repair work Yes, providing more suitable equipment cannot be used because ladders are a last resort and should only be used for low risk, short duration work. Where ladders are used, they need to be of an industrial grade, in good condition and secured to prevent movement. The anchorage at the top of the roof ladder should be by some method which does not depend on the ridge capping, as this is liable to break away from the ridge. The anchorage should bear on the opposite slope by a properly designed and manufactured ridge hook or be secured by other means Can I work on a fragile roof? Where possible you should avoid working on a fragile roof by doing the following: Work from underneath the roof using a suitable work platform or Where this is not possible, use a mobile elevating work platform that allows people to work from within the basket without having to stand on the roof. Perimeter edge protection needs to be installed if this cant be avoided. Is there a wind speed above which roof work should stop? Do not consider going on any roof in poor weather conditions such as rain, ice, frost or strong winds. Winds in excess of 23 mph (force 5) will affect a persons balance.
06 at IOSH event This year The Building Safety Group will be present at the IOSH Bristol and West Branch Conference. The conference will focus on health, safety and wellbeing in the current economic climate. The event theme looks at what can be done to improve the assets of all organisations by ensuring that all their staff are healthy and present rather than sick and absent. Sessions will provide a broad insight into current issues including cultural, academic, health, legal and governmental perspectives. The conference is being held on 29th November at The Winter Gardens, Royal Parade, Weston- Super-Mare. We would love to see you at the event, our safety advisers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Hope to see you there! Training News Training courses starting soon Site Managers Safety Training Scheme 23rd September Scaffold Inspection and Appreciation 26th September Site Managers Site Training Scheme Refresher 1st October BSG Training News Keep up to date with our training news and special offers. Subscribe to our BSG Training News e-newsletter on the newsletter pages of our website www.bsgltd.co.uk/ newsletters.html Emergency First Aid at Work 1st October Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme 3rd October First Aid at Work Requalification 4th October Site Managers Safety Training Scheme 7th October CDM Awareness 7th October First Aid at Work 15th October Site Managers Site Training Scheme 16th October Call 01454 414877 or email training@bsgltd.co.uk to book your place. Need a course at your site? If you have a group of 6 or more employees requiring training, we can run our courses on a private basis, at a venue of your choice on a date that suits you.