Every day we are potentially exposed to contaminants and conditions that can be harmful to your skin (both inside and outside of the work environment). Many in the construction industry will spend most of their working day outside in all types of weather. The A465 Head of the Valleys Section 2 Project recently ran an informative and engaging Skin Care…

In March 2019, the British Safety Council launched their Time to Breathe campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of ambient air pollution to outdoor workers. As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) currently does not provide guidance on the risk of ambient air pollution, Time to Breathe is calling for HSE to recognise expose to ambient air…

Dr David Hazafy, from the school of chemistry and chemical engineering at Queens University visited Farrans Construction site to test a newly devised wristband indicating overexposure to ultraviolet light. Outdoor workers are at an increased risk of skin cancer caused by exposure to the sun. With 100,000 cases of skin cancer resulting from overexposure to ultraviolet light in the UK…

Several drill manufacturers including Dewalt, Hilti and Milwaukee now provide hollow drill bits which allow the dust created when drilling holes to be extracted via the bit when drilling. The drill bits have an on-board dust extractor port that can be connected to a vacuum hose. Since dust is extracted as the hole is drilled, there is less risk if…

Spotlight on… posters have been designed for general display in and around site welfare facilities. The Scheme has developed a collection of A3 posters from the series of ‘Spotlight on…’ awareness campaigns. This resource has proven valuable for display on site and raising awareness amongst the workforce and visitors. To download a free electronic version, please click the links below.

Ultra violet radiation can cause skin cancer as well as short term pain and irritation. Within the construction industry, operatives are regularly exposed through their daily activity, working outdoors in direct sunlight. The board provides a link to the MET office website whereby the daily UV index can be checked. The board is then updated on site to record the…

An air monitoring survey was undertaken in June 2016 to assess personal exposures to Diesel Engine Exhaust Emission (DEEE) for operatives carrying out work on the M60. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans if exposed to high fume levels. The data has shown that the overall exposure to the…

HSS Hire is raising attention and encouraging construction workers to protect themselves against the harmful effects of long term sun exposure with a new poster campaign. Supported by Cancer Research UK and in conjunction with Sir Robert McAlpine, a site in London is displaying UV ray reactive posters that change appearance after exposure to the sun. The poster which initially…

Morganstone recognises that those working in the construction industry are at a high risk of developing occupational cancers such as skin and lung cancer and as such takes a proactive approach to support the health and wellbeing of its employee’s and sub-contractors. Whilst it has been Morganstone’s long-standing policy to include sun cream dispensers in their WC’s as standard, Morganstone…

The ‘Spotlight on…’ flyers have been designed for general display in and around site welfare facilities. The Scheme provides a collection of A5 flyers from both past and current ‘Spotlight on…’ awareness campaigns. Each unique flyer contains information on the industry issue and advice on how to tackle it. This resource has proven valuable for display on site and raising awareness amongst…

On site, different clients have slightly different procedures (albeit all based around the HSE EM1 guidance leaflet). We find that this can lead to confusion when operatives migrate to sites with different requirements. Though inductions are site specific and include this information – it wasn’t always easy to remember who to call or how to react in an emergency situation….

IOSH’s No Time To Lose campaign launched in November 2014, bringing together industry leaders, cancer charities, MP’s and professional bodies to raise awareness and share experiences of preventing occupational cancer. They have created a Mythbusters Quiz detailing the facts on the dangers of exposure to silica dust. The quiz includes the answers to: Where silica dust can be found and the…

World Cancer Day is coordinated annually by the Union for International Cancer Control. The week promotes the research for curing as well as preventing the disease, upgrading the provided services to the patients, the sensitisation of the common opinion and the mobilisation of the global community against cancer. To support Cancer Talk Week on your site, you could do the following: Hold a…

In September 2015, the Scheme’s campaign focused on the increasingly important issue of occupational cancers and examined what the industry was doing to safeguard employees within the industry. It was found that between 220 and 250 workers die each year as a result of an immediate injury, compared to the 15,000 – 18,000 who die from cancer. Despite this, the…

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) results from its annual refurbishment initiative have revealed that poor standards or dangerous practices were found on 46% of construction sites visited. In light of the results, HSE have issued new specialist guidance, ‘Occupational Health Risk Management in Construction’ to ensure basic health and safety measures are in place on all sites. To view…

An appointed doctor is a registered medical practitioner appointed by HSE to undertake statutory medical surveillance. Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees are under medical surveillance by an appointed doctor, if they work with specific hazards and undertake certain work activities covered by the following relevant regulations: Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 Control…

It is important to identify hazards posed to operatives on site and implement measures to offset the risks. The construction industry poses a number of hazards to operatives, most notably of which being silica and silican dusts. It is important to appropriately inform and protect your workforce to minimise exposure to harmful substances. Below is an example of how a site…

IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign aims to get carcinogenic exposure issues more widely understood and help businesses to take action. They have provided a number of resources which may help businesses better understand the risks posed by solar radiation: Research on solar radiation exposure at work (documents can be found below); Free events are held to learn more about occupational…

Our aim was to reduce the volume of harmful wood dust polluting the atmosphere in the area where our carpenters are working to a level as low as ‘reasonably practical’. Wood dust has a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) of 5mg/m3 and can cause asthma, nasal cancer, emphysema, etc., when inhaled in large quantities for prolonged periods. To reduce the risk,…

Rates of Skin Cancer are higher than any other cancer in the UK and it is estimated that 37 people a day in the UK are diagnosed with Skin Cancer. At Knightbuild Ltd, a Skin Cancer Awareness campaign has been implemented and introduced across all our projects to educate our workforce about the associated dangers and also to introduce control…

Active measures should be taken to minimise dust and fumes on and around site. Dust can be a cause of complaint for the community and poses environmental and occupational health hazards for the workforce. When installing monitoring points on site, fixings had to be drilled into concrete, stone, masonry or similar substrates, which caused large amounts of dust. Some of this dust would be…

To ensure that the Asbestos removal contract could operate safely, ‘Breathe Easy’ kit training was organised on site, for all nine operatives. As asbestos removal is a high risk activity it was essential that all staff were fully up to speed with the risks and how to safely deal with asbestos related work, before going to work in the enclosures. This…

Construction workers have an increased risk of developing skin cancer due to their prolonged exposure to outdoor conditions. It is important to acknowledge these risks and take a proactive stance to prevent harmful exposures. The Australian construction industry have taken measures to safeguard their workforce, with the Cancer Council Australia recommending that workplaces should have a sun protection programme in place,…

Toolbox talks are a great way of engaging with the workforce and delivering talks on relevant health and safety topics. Havercroft Construction Limited are working alongside the Men’s Health Forum to create Toolbox Talks developed for the construction industry relating to various men’s health issues including: Stress related issues Alcohol consumption Skin safety To view the toolbox talks, click below.

Construction work can pose a number of health and safety risks. A significant proportion of construction work is performed outside, with operatives exposed to different types of weather conditions. During the summer months, the workforce needs to be aware of both heat and sun exposure, remain protected from direct sunlight and ensure they keep hydrated. Below is an example of how…

The workforce is often exposed to a number of occupational health risks. It is important to implement procedures and provide appropriate training to effectively safeguard your workforce. Asbestos awareness training is a legal requirement for most employees working in the construction industry, to minimise the risks associated with working with asbestos. There are many types of asbestos removal training courses available…

Construction workers have an increased risk of developing skin cancer due to their regular exposure to the sun. It is essential to assess the risks posed and implement appropriate control measures to minimise operatives’ exposure to the sun. Below is an example of how a site has offered sun protection to their workforce: A ventilated neck sun protector with sweat headband…

Securing the wellbeing of your workforce is essential. This is important when certain activities result in air contamination through dust or fumes. Measures to minimise the hazards to operatives should be actively sought and encouraged on site. Below is an example of how sites can protect their workers from breathing in harmful substances: All operatives were provided with free face fit mask…

Occupational health risks need to be addressed in order to care for the health and wellbeing of the workforce. It is no secret that construction workers are at a high risk of contracting lung disease from the work that they do. In 2015, approximately 3,500 will die from cancer caused by past exposures to asbestos, 500 more from silica dust,…

Network Rail and Cancer Research UK have come together to raise awareness of the risks associated with skin cancer. Network rail have identified the risk posed to their employees with many working outdoors for several hours at a time. The importance of sun protection has been made clear, with sites encouraging the use of an SPF spray or cream, lightweight…

IOSH launched their campaign in November 2014, bringing together industry leaders, cancer charities, MP’s and professional bodies to raise awareness and share experiences of preventing occupational cancer. IOSH wants to raise awareness of five of the top causes of occupational cancer registrations and deaths: Diesel Engine Exhaust emissions – is linked to 650 UK deaths a year; Solar radiation –…

The presence of asbestos in the workplace presents a significant risk to employees health. Exposure to asbestos can cause serious and fatal diseases with around 20 tradespeople suffering asbestos related deaths every week. HSE have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with asbestos, where it can be found as well as identifying ways to manage and…

Construction work can pose a number of health and safety risks. It is the responsibility of not only management but also operatives  to take precautions to safeguard themselves from the hazards posed on site. A significant proportion of construction work is performed outside, with operatives exposed to different types of weather conditions. During the summer months, the workforce needs to be…

Workers often face difficult working environments due to the various weather conditions they have to work through. Consideration should be given to the conditions facing operatives and the measures that can be developed and implemented to counteract the impact of these environments. Sun protection and awareness of solar radiation risks are vital to ensure the wellbeing of your workforce, and to provide the best…

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan Cancer Support’s biggest charity fundraising event. This event focuses on getting together to have a chat and a cup of tea and inviting people to make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support. To support Macmillan Coffee Morning on your site, you could do the following: Arrange a Macmillan Coffee Morning and encourage all of your operatives…

The creation of dust is a very common cause of complaint for the construction industry. Dust not only poses a health hazard for those working on site, but is also the root cause of many complaints made by the public. It is therefore essential that appropriate methods are adopted to minimise the risk of dust on sites, to safeguard workers’ wellbeing, as…

Skcin are a skin cancer charity whose primary objectives are to raise awareness of skin cancer and promote the importance of sun safety and early detection through national educational initiatives and targeted campaigns. All of the funds they receive into the charity via corporate support and the generous donations made by fundraisers and members of the public, are ploughed back into…

Active measures should be taken to minimise dust and fumes. Dust created by construction sites is one of the major causes of complaints from the public and local residents. Dust is also an occupational health hazard for the workforce. HSE have created an information sheet about construction dust and the related health risks. This includes examples of how to stop…

Occupational health issues should be addressed by site management. Operatives should be made to feel supported and cared for in regard to their mental and physical health. Examples of training and updates provided for occupational health include: Many smaller sites have arranged for visits by a mobile unit, to carry out general and specific occupational health related screening; Occupational health facilities…

The circulation of dust and dirt from a construction site often causes frustration and upset amongst the local community. To help reduce this, some site managers have implemented the following: Designated operatives were given responsibility for keeping specific areas of the site clean, tidy and dust free; perimeter dust levels were checked using hand held meters; At the end of…