Clear safety policies and procedures are very important in construction. This is due to the industry that works with heavy tools, risky tasks, and constant movement. Because of this, accidents can happen if workers do not follow safety rules. Good safety documents help protect workers, prevent injuries, and follow the law. No matter the size of the project, having clear safety rules keeps everyone safe.
This article will explore how to make policies and procedures for the safety of construction workers. It will explain the types of rules and examples of safe construction practices. By learning these, you can learn how to build a secure and organised workplace. As a result, you can reduce accidents and injuries on-site by using safety rules. Let's start reading!
What are policies and procedures?
Policies and procedures are guides that help workers learn how to work on something. This measure is important in high-risk working areas like construction sites. A policy is a clear rule that tells workers the regulations, beliefs, and intentions of a company. It helps people make wise decisions and take appropriate actions. Policies also make sure that everyone works towards the same goals.
On the other hand, a procedure is a guide that shows how to follow a policy. It explains the exact actions, who is responsible, and when each step should be done. Procedures help teams stay consistent and work more smoothly. As a result, they make it easier for employees to know what to do and how to do it well.
Importance of safety in construction
Every day, workers in construction face a lot of dangers. For instance, dangerous materials or work-related accidents. With this in mind, safety policies and procedures are very important. These rules help lower risks, stop accidents, and make sure companies follow the law. When construction companies set clear safety steps, they protect their workers, reduce work delays, and keep a good reputation. This helps them finish projects successfully. Here are some more details:
- Keeping workers safe and healthy: Workers are often in danger of falling and working with dangerous materials. Therefore, following safety policies and procedures can prevent accidents and injuries.
- Following the law and avoiding fines: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is an example of safety law that must be followed. If companies don’t comply, they can face heavy fines and even jail time of up to two years.
- Protecting the company’s image and keeping clients’ trust: Strong policies and procedures record shows a clear commitment to safety. As a result, this can lead to more business opportunities and trust from stakeholders.
Example of safety policies in construction
In the UK construction industry, safety policies and procedures are very important. These rules help find risks early and give clear steps to stop accidents. When companies use strong safety rules, they create safer work sites. This also helps reduce delays and build trust with workers and clients.
The 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act states that businesses must protect workers’ health and safety. They must do this as much as they can. Good safety rules help companies follow the law. They also create a safe place to work. This lowers accidents and helps workers do their jobs better. In this section, we'll provide examples of safety policies for construction in the UK:
Health and Safety Policy Statement
A Health and Safety Policy Statement is a formal document that shows a company’s promise to keep the workplace safe. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 says companies with more than five workers must have written rules. The policy has three parts: Statement of Intent, Responsibilities, and Arrangements. The company must share those policies and procedures with all workers.
Risk Assessment and Management
The UK law requires risk assessment and management on-site. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 set these. The rules say the companies must find possible hazards. Then, they check the risks linked to these hazards and take steps to lower the risks. This process helps keep workers safe. It also makes sure the company follows the law and stops accidents and illnesses.
Training and Competency
In UK construction, training and skills keep workers safe. In this case, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) shows that workers have the right training and qualifications. The law does not require CSCS cards. However, many businesses and main contractors ask workers to show their cards. They check the cards to make sure workers are competent and to keep safety policies and procedures high on site.
Accident and Incident Reporting
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013 states that companies and site managers must report serious accidents. They must report deaths and major injuries right away. In this case, they have 10 days to report other incidents. If they don’t report, they must pay a fine of up to £20,000. Reporting helps find the cause of accidents and stop them from happening again. In addition to that, businesses must keep records of all incidents for at least three years.
Emergency Procedures
By law, UK construction sites must have clear emergency policies and procedures. Therefore, companies must train workers, maintain equipment, mark exits, and coordinate with emergency services. In addition to that, they should review plans regularly to keep them up to date. These steps reduce risks and ensure safe responses that protect workers. As a result, people can limit the damage during emergencies.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
In the UK, the construction industry must provide PPE when other safety measures are not enough. For instance, hard hats, safety boots, gloves, and eye or hearing protection. Aside from that, companies must check, maintain, and store PPE properly. They must also train workers to use it correctly. Otherwise, non-compliance with these policies and procedures can lead to penalties.
Example of safety procedures in construction
As shown above, safety policies and procedures keep workers safe and help them follow rules on construction sites. These steps reduce risks and protect workers. They include site inductions, wearing protective tools, making emergency plans, and doing safety checks regularly. Most importantly, each of these steps helps keep the worksite safe. Below are some common safety procedures in construction.
- Site Safety Training: All workers must complete site training to follow safety policies and procedures and stay aware of site hazards.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Usage: Work places must provide workers with PPE like hard hats, high-visibility clothing, boots, gloves, and eye protection based on risks.
- Permit-to-Work Systems: For high-risk tasks, a permit-to-work system ensures safety policies and procedures are in place and all workers understand hazards.
- Traffic Management and Pedestrian Safety: Clear signs, barriers, and marked pedestrian paths separate workers from vehicles and machinery. This reduces accidents and keeps the site safe.
- Emergency Response and First Aid: Sites have first aid kits, and staff are trained in basic first aid. Emergency policies and procedures are shown clearly, and drills happen regularly to stay prepared.
- Regular Safety Inspections and Audits: Regular inspections and audits find hazards, check safety rules, and fix problems quickly. This helps keep the workplace safe and prevents accidents.
- Clear Signage and Safety Notices: Safety signs and notices around the site show hazards, needed PPE, and emergency steps. This helps workers stay aware of risks and follow safety rules.
Monitoring policies and procedures in construction
Managers must check safety policies and procedures often. This way, they make sure workers follow the rules and spot risks early. In addition, it helps create a strong safety culture on construction sites. In the UK, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 guide this work. Therefore, these laws require managers to review safety practices regularly.
To monitor safety policies and procedures, workers can use two methods: active and reactive. First, active monitoring means taking steps before accidents happen. This includes daily safety checks, skill tests, and equipment inspections. These actions help stop accidents early. Meanwhile, reactive monitoring happens after an accident or near miss. It includes looking into what went wrong and reporting close calls. As a result, this helps fix problems and keep workers safe.
To work well, safety monitoring must be done by skilled people. They need the right tools and must act quickly. Also, how often monitoring happens should depend on safety risks. Finally, the results should be reported to management and checked to make sure serious problems get fixed.
Conclusion
In summary, policies set the rules and goals, while procedures explain how to follow them. Together, they reduce risks and protect workers in construction. Besides, they also help companies meet legal rules for safety. To improve the workplace, companies must regularly update their rules. Overall, good policies and procedures benefit all parties by making work safer.
If you want to deepen your understanding of construction safety, the College of Contract Management offers such courses. Their programmes cover essential topics in construction, such as risk assessment and site management. Aside from construction, the college covers other areas like engineering and health care. Invest in your career and contribute to improved safety standards in the construction industry.
