Building health and safety regulations for contractors
Statistics from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the construction industry is responsible for a third of fatal injuries that occur in the workplace, as well as 10% of other major work-related injuries. Injuries and fatalities typically occur as a result of workers falling from a height, being struck by moving objects, crushed by vehicles or machinery, or during an excavation.
There are a number of important regulations that thos operating on sites should be aware of including some recent changes in the law with regards to casual workers on site.
Legislation 2022 Changes
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 came into force on 6 April 2022, updating the 1992 Regulations to extend employers’ and employees’ duties around PPE to a wider group of workers.
Under the new rules, employers must ensure workers who carry out casual work (known as limb workers) receive the same level of protection as employees.
From the 6 April 2022, businesses with only limb workers are required to provide PPE free of charge to these workers where it is needed. All PPE should be compatible, maintained and stored correctly with training and instruction provided for its correct use. Additionally, workers have an obligation to report lost or defective PPE to employers.
It is also important to be aware of the Building Safety Act 2022. A Bill enacted to make provision for the safety of people in or about buildings and the standard of buildings. It amends the Architects Act 1997 and provision for complaints made to a housing ombudsman.
Important Legislation To Consider
There are many health and safety regulations across the construction industry in the UK that are in place to maximise the safety of a construction site and workplace. Some of the most important health and safety regulations within construction include the following:
1. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
This legislation applies to all industries and all professionals across the UK, including construction. This health and safety regulation is a general regulation designed to outline professional responsibilities towards maintaining and upholding health and safety requirements. This regulation details the requirement for employers to always factor in the health and safety of their employees before beginning a project or making a decision. This regulation also requires employees to acknowledge their duties to others, not only their employees but to all who can be affected by their professional activity.
This legislation goes into further detail to explain the duties of landlords, building owners, suppliers and manufacturers. When it comes to construction, this regulation requires all employers and employees to ensure that on-site, during projects, the health and safety of employees are prioritised.
2. Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM)
These regulations are in place across the UK and apply to every construction project that takes place. This regulation details the responsibilities and duties that every member involved in a construction project has regarding health and safety. For example, clients have duties, contractors have duties, as do designers and other professionals are involved. These duties involve prioritising and working towards ensuring the health and safety of all employees involved in the construction project.
3. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
According to HSE, all flooring in a workplace must be suitable for the type of work activity that is going to take place on it. This means, that in terms of ensuring the health and safety of both workers and surrounding individuals, the security and the material of the flooring must be thoroughly checked out.
