Construction employers and employees alike have specific responsibilities relating to the health and safety of everyone on the job site. Everyone is responsible for ensuring that the working environment is as safe as it can possibly be. It is no secret that the construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in the United Kingdom. These workers face numerous hazards and risks every day as they perform their job duties. Because of this, it is essential that each and every construction employee take part in different health and safety training so that everyone’s legal obligations is understood. No matter where an individual works in the construction industry, these risks and hazards can be found. However, the injuries associated with the potential risks and hazards of construction work are actually worse than what is found in most other industries. These injuries can be avoided and minimized when simple safety procedures are utilized in order to keep accidents from occurring on the job site.
Employers are required by law to provide employees with a workplace that is safe and healthy. Construction sites have the possibility of being high-risk workplaces, because of this the employees must also recognize that they have a personal responsibility to ensure that they are always carrying out their work safely and following the health and safety guidelines in place.
5 RIDDOR: What Should Be Reported?
7.2 How and to Whom Do You Report Accidents?
Employers are required to ensure potential risks to the health and safety of employees are kept at a minimum and effectively controlled. Risks and hazards related to construction are typically assessed, controlled and monitored using both method statements and risk assessments. These documents should be accessible at any time from the worksite. Employers must also provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment needed to safely carry out their job. This typically includes a hard hat, safety footwear, safety gloves, safety glasses, and a high visibility jacket or vest. Each site contains its own rules and safety procedure. Your employer is responsible for inducting you and providing you with this information before you can access the site. The employer must also engage in regular toolbox talks, or talks about a specific safety topic. You are responsible for attending these talks. The employer must check and ensure that you have completed the safety and health training or qualifications required in order for you to safely carry out your job. Sometimes, the employer pays for this training. Finally, the employer is responsible for providing breaks during the work day.
Employees are responsible for always wearing the personal protective equipment provided by their employer while they are at the worksite. They must co-operate with the employer and partake in any offered health and safety training. They must ensure that they fully understand the rules and procedures surrounding safety on their worksite. Employees must try to assess, eliminate, or reduce risks that they potentially cause to their fellow employees or other members of the public while carrying out their job. Employees must not misuse or alter any safety or health equipment given to them by their employer. Employees are responsible for immediately reporting any injury that they have suffered at work and correctly follow the accident reporting procedures put in place. Employees must inform the employer of any changes that has occurred to their overall health, or if the employee has any existing circumstances that could affect their work. Safety concerns about the individual, the environment, or other workers should be immediately reported to the line manager or the health and safety representative.
When someone is injured on the work site, it is legally required that it be reported. The Reporting of Injuries, Disease, and Dangerous Occurrences, or RIDDOR, became effective in 1995. Put in place by the Health and Safety Executive, or HSE, RIDDOR indicates that any employer, self-employer or person that is in control of any workplace is required to report any and all accidents that are work related. The HSE uses the information from these accident reports in order to figure out where and how risks happen in order to implement future procedures aimed at preventing the accident from reoccurring. The majority of accidents or near misses that happen on a construction site are required by the HSE to be reported so that they can be officially recorded and appropriate actions to prevent recurrence can take place.
RIDDOR is a legal requirement found in a 1995 Act containing the safe name. Employers, self-employed workers, and nominated a responsible person(s) are all legally required to report accidents, near misses, or occupational diseases to the HSE.
RIDDOR: What Should Be Reported?
A Injury that requires the individual to be taken from the worksite to the hospital in an ambulance.
The incident severity decides the level of urgency for the report. If it is a major injury or someone dies on site, the incident must be reported immediately. The HSE advises that RIDDOR reports be made on the HSE website using the internet when the incident is urgent. Less serious injuries allow up to ten days before reporting.
It is required that work-related diseases be reported to the HSE. A current list is kept by the HSE of defined work-related diseases. In order for you to be legally required to report to the HSE of a work-related disease, the following two things must occur. If the following things occur, notify the HSE immediately.
The doctor of the employee notifies the employer that the employee has a disease caused onsite and that is found on the current HSE work related diseases list.
The employee had to of bee working onsite in order to obtain this disease.
Over 3 Days injuries occur when an employee has suffered an injury on the job that keeps them from attending work or carrying out their regular job duties for a consecutive three or more days. This does not count the day that the accident took place. This type of accident must be reported within ten days of the date of occurrence.
Gas incidents occur when an individual suffers an injury or death due to an incident caused by gas. This must be reported immediately. You must also immediately report if you suspect unsafe or hazardous conditions in relations to a gas appliance or fitting.
Public injuries take place when a member of the public is hurt, put in the hospital, or dies on the construction site or due to tasks carried out on the construction site. The employer is responsible for immediately reporting this.
How and to Whom Do You Report Accidents?
Employees report accidents to either a site manager or a safety representative.
Accidents should be recorded in the accident book. You should include details about the accident and any treatment given to the victim.
Any injury, disease, or near miss must be documented. A copy of this report is required to be kept in a record.
United Kingdom’s construction industry utilizes numerous substances that are potentially hazardous to your health. All substances that fall under this category must be handled, controlled, and used in accordance with the guidelines set by COSHH. There are substances that COSHH does not control but have their own regulations. Lead, asbestos, and radioactive substances are examples.
This includes the solvents and chemicals that are most commonly found in paint or in certain metals.
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