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 &
Aged reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) continues to pose a safety risk in buildings across the UK, including schools and hospitals. The Department for Education dispatched surveyors to 600 UK schools and designated more than 100 as likely to require total reconstruction. The NHS has confirmed RAAC at 27 trusts’ estates, with 7 of the worst affected hospitals to be completely replaced by 2030. Widely used from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s, RAAC has a safe shelf-life of around 30 years, meaning the vast majority of it is now at risk of collapsing. Graham Watts, Coordinator for the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) dedicated RAAC panel, has noted a worrying trend of cowboy builders cold- RAAC is a risk in UK buildings Second staircase regs on hold The Housing Secretary has announced new fire safety regulations mandating inclusion of at least two staircases for new construction projects standing 18m tall or taller will not kick in until 2026. In October, Michael Gove announced a 30-month transition period wherein house builders can continue to submit building regulations applications under the existing fire safety rules, starting from when planned revisions to Approved Document B are published. Gove also restated his belief that current single-stairway buildings
Protect your workforce in cold weather The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling on employers to protect their workers as colder conditions take hold across the UK. John Rowe, HSE Head of Operational Strategy, has emphasised that a number of working tasks become more dangerous in colder conditions, not just because of the weather but also due to the fact that as temperatures fall, decision-making abilities deteriorate, leading to more risk-taking behaviour. The HSE suggests employers maintain indoor working temperatures of at least 16°C for their staff, or 13°C for those undertaking jobs that require ‘rigorous’ physical effort. For outdoor workers, they suggest providing personal protective equipment (PPE), spaces or facilities where workers can warm up, access to hot drinks or soups, and frequent rest breaks. It also advises that non-critical work be delayed until warmer conditions prevail. Employers are warned to look out for early signs of cold stress, which include coughing and/or body aches. The HSE recommends employers review the Approved Code of Practice and guidance in relation to workplace health, safety and welfare, which can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ l24.htm
calling building managers to offer RAAC assessments. Technical knowledge is required to conduct these assessments safely, as there is a risk of asbestos exposure and they require thorough inspection of both ends of RAAC planks. For the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) detailed guidance on managing risks
related to RAAC, visit www.hse.gov.uk/ education/raac.htm
currently under construction are safe and will not require remediation work after the transition period ends.
The new regulations are the result of a Government proposal in December 2022 that originally targeted buildings more than 30m tall before revising it to 18m in response to fire safety campaigns. The proposal suggested all new care homes add sprinkler systems. Read the full proposal at: www.gov.uk/government/news
19
Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online