BUSINESS SUPPORT HEALTH & SAFETY
The latest news and updates on health and safety in construction to keep you and your workforce safe on site HEALTH SAFETY &
First aid on sites
HSE ups its Fee for Intervention rates The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can now charge construction companies more for investigating safety breaches. Recent Fee for Intervention (FFI) increases, which came into effect on 1 April this year, mean inspectors’ time now costs £174 per hour, up from £166. FFIs apply when HSE finds a serious safety issue, termed ‘material breach’. Avoiding FFIs is crucial to protecting your business’s bottom line, and the best way to do that is by prioritising site safety. You can protect your business by: ● implementing a strong safety culture with regular training and enforcing clear policies and procedures; ● having an incident response plan for emergencies, including how to investigate, communicate with employees and authorities, and manage media inquiries; and ● reviewing health and safety practices to minimise the risk of HSE inspectors finding problems. Challenging an FFI is a complex and costly process, and it may not be successful. Prevention is the best solution. For more information on FFIs, visit www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for- intervention/what-is-ffi.htm
A key element to providing effective first aid to your staff is ensuring a swift response to injuries. Here’s a reminder of first aid best practices on site: ● Be prepared – every site needs a first aid kit, with appropriate contents for specific hazards (for example, eye wash for dust exposure). Check expiry dates and replace used items. ● Appointed person – designate a responsible individual to oversee first aid arrangements. They should know the location of the kit and be aware of workers with allergies or medical conditions. ● Training – have at least one first-aider on site. Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or First Aid at Work (FAW) qualifications provide skills to manage minor injuries and emergencies. Hazardous substances Compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) is a legal requirement for carcinogens, mutagens and asthmagens, where exposure must be minimised as low as is reasonably practicable. Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) define the acceptable concentrations of hazardous substances in the air. Regular monitoring ensures workplace exposure remains below these limits, verifying effectiveness of control measures. Monitoring exposure levels involves measuring the airborne concentration
● Accessibility – the first aid kit and designated first aid room must be accessible and signposted. ● Incident response – ensure the accident scene is safe and call emergency services if necessary. The first aider can provide initial care until medical professionals arrive. For more H&S guidance, log into the Document Library in the MyFMB portal at www.fmb.org.uk/my-fmb.html
of substances workers inhale. Air sampling can provide accurate exposure
assessments, as outlined in the Health and Safety
Executive Exposure Measurement: Air Sampling G409 guidance . Effective monitoring confirms control measures are working, keeping exposures within safe limits. For more information, refer to the HSE’s G409 guidance at www.hse.gov. uk/pubns/guidance/g409.pdf
21
Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online