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A scaffolded roof covering which is movable on rolling wheels, covering 60 metres of roofing at a time was used on this project to allow roof removal and restoration. This was made up of a lightweight scaffolding system with a waterproof covering pulled over the top. This system minimised risk of delays which may have been caused due to changing…

This contractor has provided UV sun detection indicators which comprise of small patches that signal in real time when its time to reapply sun screen. The patches are really easy to apply and change colour when the sun screen fades and turn purple when its time to reapply. This is a simple visual aid taking out guess work to ensure…

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,…

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…

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…

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 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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

This contractor is using the Dust Canary which is a lightweight wearable device for industrial workers, protecting them from respirable dust. It provides real-time monitoring, alarms for high dust levels, and records exposure data. With Bluetooth connectivity and a mobile app, it offers easy data transfer, analysis, and reporting. Compact, convenient, and weighing under 150g, it ensures worker safety without…

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…