BUSINESS SUPPORT HEALTH & SAFETY
The latest news and updates on health and safety in construction to help you and your workforce stay safe on site HEALTH SAFETY &
Concerns over PPE product quality A staggering 85% of personal protective equipment (PPE) products sold in the UK fail to meet safety standards, according to the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF). BSIF testing of 127 PPE products between December 2021 and December 2022 revealed the majority failed to deliver adequate levels of protection or to perform as advertised. Examples include ineffective cut- resistant gloves and safety harnesses supplied without user instructions or documentation. Positively, 86% of the 387 PPE products from BSIF-registered suppliers assessed during the same period passed testing immediately, and the remaining 14% of non-compliant products were brought into line after being identified. Be safe and find verified BSIF- registered PPE product suppliers at www.bsif.co.uk/find-a-member
Falls from height are the biggest cause of fatal injuries in construction. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stats reveal: 29 workers died from accidents when working at height during 2021/22; More than 60% of deaths attributed to working at height involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, working platforms, roof edges and through fragile roofs; and 35,280 non-fatal accidents involve falls from height across all industry sectors – that’s 97 accidents a day. Avoid common H&S pitfalls October deadline to register high-rise residential buildings Under the Building Safety Act 2022, all high-rise residential buildings in England at least 18m tall (or with at least seven storeys and two or more residential units) must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator by 1 October 2023. The registration process is now open for any such buildings in England and is to be completed by a Principal Accountable Person (PAP). The PAP is anyone who owns a building or is accountable for its safety. When applicable to multiple people, the PAP is the person accountable for the building’s external walls and structure. Find more information on PAPs and how to register your high-rise building at tinyurl.com/MB-high-rise-reg
In a recent FMB webinar, Andy Harper of the Building Safety Group explored common health and safety hazards from 15,000 site inspections and offered advice to help you remain compliant. Catch up on the webinar content and download associated resources at www.fmb.org.uk/H&S
HSE guidance for workplace violence and aggression Employers have a responsibility to protect
Stay sun-safe this summer Catching summer sun on site feels good, but you’re risking skin cancer. The British Skin
workers from physical and verbal aggression on and off site, regardless of workers’ employment status, by: Taking steps to prevent violent incidents; Providing training on violence in the workplace; and Reporting incidents to the HSE. Employees can work to reduce incidents of violence at work by: Cooperating with employers and fellow team members to meet responsibilities; Being mindful of how your actions could harm those around you; and Reporting incidents to a manager or HR representative.
Foundation’s advice is to: Cover up with clothing; Wear hardhats or a sun hat if not on site to protect your head; Wear wraparound sunglasses with the UKCA marking; Use SPF factor 30 sunscreen 20- 30 minutes before sun exposure and at regular intervals; and Seek regular breaks in the shade. Protect your skin with a free Sun Awareness booklet from tinyurl.com/MB-BSF-sun
Read the guidance in full at tinyurl.com/MB-HSE-guide
22
Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting