Safe Start Up-Building Trades

7/24/2019 Safe Start Up-Building Trades

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Building tradesStraightforward information and practical

tips to help you sort health and safety


2/1502 www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup

Who are we?The Institution of OccupationalSafety and Health is the Charteredbody for health and safetyprofessionals. We were founded in1945 and are a registered charity.Find out more at www.iosh.co.uk.

Here to helpIf you have a question, or want

information on an issue yourefacing, get in touch with IOSH on+44 (0)116 257 3199 [email protected]. Our helplineis completely free.

Building trades

Youll find this guide helpful if you:- own or manage a small construction company or site- work as a bricklayer, builder, plasterer, plumber or roofer.

This guide will help you with health and safety. It gives you

straightforward information and practical tips. It tells you

what you need to do to make sure you dont break the law,

and how to protect yourself, anyone who works for you, your

clients or customers and your reputation. It also shows you

where to go to get more information if you need it.

Did you know...Only five per cent of Britainsworkforce is in construction but itaccounts for 27 per cent of deathsand 9 per cent of serious injuries

The building sector is one of the

highest risk industries so you reallyneed to get to grips with all the issuesrelevant to the trades you work in ordeal with. Remember that at the endof the day, if things go wrong its yourlivelihood or business that will suffer.

Youll find that you already do or

plan to do a lot of whats covered,and much of it is common sense.Looking after health and safety is justpart of managing a business well.Done properly, you could see it savemoney too.

Did you know...In a single year, more than 50 self-employed people died from

workplace injuries


3/15www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup 03

By law you must...

- Find out more at www.hse.gov.uk/business/competent-advice.htm

-

Download the HSE leaflet Getting specialist help with health and safety atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg420.pdf

- Get guidance on getting professional advice atwww.iosh.co.uk/information_and_resources/need_professional_advice.aspx

- Find out about our free enquiry service atwww.iosh.co.uk/information_and_resources/information_help_line.aspx

- Download our free guide on getting help with health and safety atwww.iosh.co.uk/techguide

In the UK, the law applies to all businesses, large or small. If youre

self-employed or an employer then you are responsible for the

health and safety of your business. The law is there to make sure

you have a safe working environment and cut down the risk of

you, your staff (if you have any), contractors, customers, clients or

members of the public getting ill or injured. So, by law you must...

As an employer you have to appointsomeone who knows about health andsafety. This could be:- yourself, if you have a health and

safety qualification, knowledge andexperience

- one or more of your staff, if they arequalified or you get them trained

- someone from outside the business.

If youre not confident aboutmanaging health and safety in-housethen you may need to call in someexternal help or advice.

Even if you dont employ any staff,dont forget that legally you havewhats called a duty of care to anyonewho is affected by what you do for aliving from a contractor to a memberof the public.

get some help with your health and safety duties

Find out more

Did you know...Good health and safety saves cash: youcan save 12 for every 1 you spend

Did you know...79,000 people whose current ormost recent job was in constructionsuffer from an illness caused or

made worse by their work


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Find out more

By law you must...

If you employ five or more people, partor full time, you have to have a writtenpolicy.

The policy should describe how youllmanage health and safety. It lets yourstaff and others know that you have aserious commitment to keeping on topof risks as part of your business. It

should clearly state who does what,when and how.

Your policy doesnt have to take you longto write, or be lengthy or complicated.Download the template listed in Find outmore and complete it, or use it as aguide to write your own.

Your policy shouldnt just be a piece oflifeless paperwork its designed tohelp you manage health and safetyproperly. It will only be effective if youand your staff are aware of it andfollow what it says. Youll need toreview it every now and then to reflectany changes just make a note in yourcalendar, say once a year. Youll also

need to see if it needs updating iftheres been a major change, forexample, to the way you work, orwhere you work.

You must consider and manage anyrisks where you work or connectedwith what you do.

This is a straightforward process.Known as risk assessment, it involvesthinking about what you do in yourbusiness that could harm people you,your staff (if you have them),contractors or your clients or membersof the public and what youre going

to do to try to stop it happening.

In your line of work, you will probablylook at things like:

- working at height and protectionfrom falling

- lifting and carrying- using tools and specialist kit- working on your own- exposure to materials like dust or

fumes that can cause serious harm.

There may be more, but these are themain areas youre most likely to needto focus on we look at these five in a

bit more detail on page 09.

Risk assessments arent about piles ofpaperwork, just sensible actions tocontrol the risks. The law doesntexpect you to remove all risks, but itdoes expect you to control them.Youre probably doing most of thisalready as part of day-to-daymanagement but your riskassessment will help you see if whatyoure doing is enough or if you needto do more.

write a health and safety policy for your business

manage the risk in your business

- Download a policy template atwww.hse.gov.uk/risk/risk-assessment-and-policy-template.doc

- Look at an example of a policy at

www.hse.gov.uk/risk/health-and-safety-policy-example.doc

- Look at templates and examples atwww.hse.gov.uk/risk/risk-assessment-and-policy-template.doc

- Look at risk assessment case studies at www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies

- Use our free risk assessment tool at www.ioshroutefinder.co.uk

Find out more

04 www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup

Did you know...One person is seriously injured atwork every 17 minutes
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By law you must...

talk to your employees

give training and information

If you employ anyone, you need toconsult them on health and safety.Again, its not complicated you cando this by listening and talking to themabout:- health and safety and the work

they do- how risks are controlled- the best ways of giving information

and training.

This is a two-way thing. Let your staffraise concerns and give their opinionson decisions. Afterall, theyre often thebest people to understand the risksinvolved in their work and talking tothem about it lets them know that youtake their health and safety seriously.

- Find out more atwww.hse.gov.uk/involvement/doyourbit

Find out more

needs to be formal or expensive forexample, you could give some basictraining in informal sessions yourself,based on your knowledge and

experience. Remember that health andsafety training must be in workinghours and you cant chargeemployees for it. Keeping trainingrecords will help remind you whenrefreshers are due.

If you have staff, they need to know howto work safely and without risking theirhealth. You must give clear instructions,information and training. Dont forget to

include temporary workers.

Training could include, for example,working at height, lifting and carrying,handling and storing chemicals, firstaid and using and maintaining toolsand equipment safely. Not all training

- Download a guide on health and safety training atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg345.pdf

Find out more

www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup

Make sure that everyone hasinformation on:- hazards and risks they may face for

your business, using powered tools is

a typical risk, for example have alook at page 11 for more details- whats in place to deal with hazards

and risks- what to do in an emergency.

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In your line, youre likely to be movingfrom site to site, but you still need tomake sure that where you work ishealthy, and that you:- have good ventilation with fresh,

clean air- maintain a comfortable working

temperature- have lighting suitable for the work

being carried out- create enough space to work in

where its possible- keep the site clear, and remove

rubbish and debris regularly.

If you employ people, you need tothink about facilities. Some of theselegal requirements will sound obvious,but its a good idea to check to makesure that youve covered the welfarebasics.

You need to provide:- toilet and washing facilities

- drinking water- somewhere to store clothing and to

change if your staff need to wearprotective clothing for the job theydo remember you need to supplythe protective clothing

- somewhere to rest and eat meals.

By law you must...

have the right facilities

And you need to keep where you workon site safe by:- maintaining and servicing the

equipment- keeping floors, corridors and

gangways clear of rubbish orblockages

- being aware of other trades thatcould be working alongside you or

your team, for example checkingwhen electrics are live.

Did you know...One small company was fined3,500 in court because it didnthave adequate washing facilities for

employees who were at risk ofgetting dermatitis

- Download a guide on workplace health, safety and welfare atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg244.pdf

- Find out more about the risks of poor facilities at www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/facilities.htm

Find out more

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You have to organise first aidarrangements where you work. If youemploy people, youre responsible formaking sure they get attentionstraightaway if they get ill or injured.

If youre self-employed, with no staff,you need to have a first aid kit.

If you have staff, you must have:- a stocked first aid box- an appointed person to take

charge someone who co-ordinates first aid where you work,restocks the box when necessaryand calls an ambulance if needed.This person doesnt have to be atrained first aider

By law you must...

- You can get copies of the poster and pocket cards fromwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/lawposter.htm

Find out more

plan for first aid, accidents and ill health

If you employ anyone, you must eitherdisplay this poster, or give each memberof staff the pocket card version. Theposter outlines UK health and safety law

and includes a simple list that tellsemployers what they and their

employees need to do. There is alsospace on it for you to name your healthand safety representatives, if you haveany, and health and safety contacts, for

example, your local environmentalhealth officer or HSE office.

display the health and safety law poster

- information for employees givingdetails of what youve organised forfirst aid.

You may decide that you need someonetrained in first aid. Your first aidassessment will highlight this you justneed to consider your situation and writedown anything significant, along with

what you plan to do to deal with it. Forexample, think about how far away fromyour nearest surgery or hospital youcould be, and whether any of your staffhave complex medical conditions.

By law, you must report and keep arecord of certain accidents, incidentsand illness.

- Get information on first aid atwww.hse.gov.uk/firstaid and aleaflet on first aid fromwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg214.pdf

- Find out what needs reportingand how atwww.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm

- Buy an accident book from theHSE atbooks.hse.gov.uk orrecord the details in your ownsystem

Find out more

www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup 07

Did you know...Four people are killed every week

at work
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By law you must...

Find out more

- Download information on employers liability insurance atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf

- Find out more on insurance atwww.abi.org.uk/Information/Business/15310.pdf andwww.abi.org.uk/Information/Business/40507.pdf

get insurance for your business

If you have employees youll probablyneed employers liability insurance. Itprotects you against any costs ofcompensation in claims made againstyou by an employee if they get injured

or ill and its caused by your business.There may be other types of cover youneed, such as public liability, propertyor driving for business insurance.

keep your business up to date

Keeping up with news anddevelopments in your sector will helpyou keep your health and safety policyand risk assessments up to date. Youllfind help through trade unions,employers organisations, Business Linkand trade associations.

- Read IOSH news and sign up to RSS news feeds at www.iosh.co.uk/news

- Subscribe to free ebulletins at www.hse.gov.uk/news/subscribe

- Get podcasts from www.hse.gov.uk/podcasts

- Get SMS text alerts to your mobile from www.hse.gov.uk/sms

Find out more



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Issues to think about

Weve covered some of the

basic things you need to do

to comply with the law. Here,

we look at some specific

issues and legal duties

relevant to your work in the

building trade.

Falls from heightWorking at height is dangerous. Ifsomeone falls when working high up,they can suffer from broken bones orend up with a serious injury that resultsin a lifelong disability or even death. Inconstruction, people can be working atheight in a range of ways, fromroofwork to scaffolding. Accidents aremainly caused by a lack of planning.Think about the most likely reasons

you or someone you employ could fall.

To help you cut the risks down, makesure that:- any work at height is planned and

organised have you developed asafe system of work in otherwords, a plan of what youre goingto do and how youre going to doit? An example of this could beusing a secure scaffolding platformto work on high structures, andhow its going to be set up and

dismantled- you or your workers are trained for

the task youre about to do- youre taking steps to avoid,

prevent or reduce the risksrelated to the task forexample, if youre workingon a fragile surface, eitherfind another way to do thejob more safely, board itover or use fall arrest gear

Did you know...

In just one year, 35 workers diedand over 4,600 suffered majorinjuries because of falling from a

height

- Download a guide on working at height law for moreinformation at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

- Find out more about using ladders and stepladderssafely at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdf andwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg405.pdf

- Find out more about the risks of working at height atwww.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/ladders.htm andwww.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/height.htm

Find out more


- youre using the right workequipment to prevent falls forexample do you or your team need towear a harness for what youre doing?

- you do regular inspections of allyour access equipment, andmaintain your kit properly

- youre using the right personalprotective equipment (PPE) for thejob.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdfhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg405.pdfhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/ladders.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/ladders.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/height.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/height.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdfhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg405.pdfhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/ladders.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/ladders.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/height.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/height.htm


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If you move heavy and bulky itemswrongly you can end up with a seriousinjury, mainly to your back. Youremost likely to injure yourself if you usetoo much force to lift, lower, push, pullor carry an object, and if the item isheavier than you can manage. Workingin an awkward position when trying tolift or carry things can also cause

problems. And if you or your teamhave an existing or earlier injury, thatcan lead to more painful healthconditions, including lower back pain,joint injuries and repetitive straininjuries such as bursitis or tendinitis. Toreduce the risks:- work out the tasks that could lead

to an injury- try to avoid manual tasks that pose

a major risk for example, can youuse a lifting aid like a roller track or

a trolley instead?

- assess the task you need to do andthink about the type of load (eg is itdifficult to grip?), the environment(eg is it in a tight space, or outsidein wet or muddy conditions?) andthe workers capabilities (eg do theyhave a back problem already?)

- make sure that you cut down therisk of someone injuring themselves

as much as possible, for example bysplitting the load or wearing glovesfor protection

- if youre the boss, make sure yourstaff have the right training.


Lifting and carrying

Did you know...Youre unlikely to be working in theconstruction trade after the age of50 because of the physical effects ofyears of heavy lifting and carrying


- Use a guide to help you cut the risks involved withmoving heavy or bulky objects by hand download itat www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg398.pdf

Find out more

Did you know...The rate of musculoskeletal injuriesis 75 per cent higher in constructionthan other industries

Did you know...Musculoskeletal disorders fromback pain to sore wrists affect onemillion people every year


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Using tools can cause injury. Forexample, if you use a tool incorrectly ormaintain it poorly, you could end upwith cuts, grazes or even damagedlimbs. Because youre likely to handle alot of tools in your job, make sure thatyou and your workers, if you havethem, use them with care. Make surethat you:

- use the right tool for the job- keep tools secure, particularly when

working high up- only use tools in good condition- wear personal protective equipment

whenever there is a likely risk ofinjury

- use kit only if you or your team aretrained.


Tools and kit

Working alone can be dangerous.Think about if you suddenly get injuredor become ill. Consider being thevictim of a crime, or dealing with a fire.Things can be worse if youre not intouch with anyone who can raise thealarm or provide support. If you can,avoid lone working, but if you or a

team member have to work alone:- prepare a daily work plan and let

someone know where youll be forvarious parts of the day

- keep in regular touch with yourworkmates or family perhaps bygetting a contact to call regularly tomake sure youre okay

- assess the task being done andwhere its being done to pinpointrisks as early as possible

- plan to do more risky tasks when

theres someone available to help iftheres an emergency

- have a mobile phone to contactothers

Working on your own

Did you know...A worker suffered a 240V electric

shock when using a faulty pressurewater machine

- Download a guide to find out more about reducing the risks associatedwith work equipment and tools at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg229.pdf

- For more information on testing portable electrical equipment look at aguide at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf

Find out more

- Find out more about the risks of working on your own atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf

-

Download our Going it alone guide for a quick overview of things to thinkabout when working on your own at www.iosh.co.uk/safestartup

Find out more


- make sure you have fast access tofirst aid and have some way ofcalling for help

- stop working and leave the area ifyou think youre in danger.

Remember that electric hand toolsneed specific checking and testingregularly to make sure theyre workingproperly the process is known asportable appliance testing or PAT.


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Did you know...People in your trade are the mostlikely to develop asbestosis andsilicosis both deadly conditions from the dust you inhale

Did you know...Recent research found that 56 percent of men with occupationalcancers worked in construction

In the building trade, there are a rangeof materials which you may work withor be exposed to that can cause harm,including adhesives, cements, fillersand dusts. Contact can be throughtouching (skin), breathing (lungs) or byeating or drinking (mouth). Cominginto contact with these substances mayresult in a short term problem, such as

dermatitis or skin burns. Or you couldbe looking at long term health issues from asthma to cancer often afterrepeated contact over days, weeks oryears. You need to assess and managethe risks of you or your workershandling and using differentmaterials this process is known as aCOSHH (control of substanceshazardous to health) assessment. Putsimply, youll need to follow an actionplan along these lines:

- assume that any new material isharmful unless theres strongevidence that it isnt

- check the material safety datasheets that come with thechemicals you use

- assess all harmful materials beforetheyre handled and used forexample, look at the hazard

symbols on packaging and read thematerial safety data sheets

- assess the risks from coming intocontact with the products you use,for example, look out for thewarnings or protective equipmentsuggestions that come with theinstructions, and add them to yourassessment

- try to avoid using harmful materialsif you can. And make sure youdont create a dangerous substance,

for example by mixing two non-harmful solvents together- swap the material with one that is

less harmful, if you can forexample, instead of lead, useacrylic-coated flashing, lead-freePVC or tin solder

Exposure to harmful materials

- set up engineering controls forexample, if its practical, put in alocal exhaust ventilation (LEV)system, if you cant replace thematerial with a less harmful one

- think about the jobs that createdust, for example drilling or block-cutting some dusts can causemajor health problems, and even

cancer- find out about the location and

condition of materials likely tocause harm for example, asbestosor lead

- give information on the locationand condition of the materials toeveryone who may work on ordisturb them

- plan how the risks from thematerial will be managed forexample, avoid coming into direct

contact with the materials and takeoff protective clothing as soon asthe task is complete

- make sure that youre trained oryour team is trained to handle oruse the harmful materials, forexample handling wet cement

- use suitable personal protectiveequipment (PPE) when handlingharmful materials.

- The guide atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/eh40.pdf givesworkplace exposure limits to harmful materials and will

help you manage your risks

- Have a look at a sample COSHH risk assessment atwww.hse.gov.uk/coshh/riskassess/paving.htm

- Find out more about the risks of asbestos atwww.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/asbestos.htm

- Find out more about the risks of toxic paint vapours atwww.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/vapours.htm

- Find out more about the risks of silica dust atwww.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/dust.htm

Find out more

http://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/asbestos.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/asbestos.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/vapours.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/vapours.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/dust.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/dust.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/asbestos.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/asbestos.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/vapours.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/vapours.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/dust.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/dust.htm


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You also need to consider...

- Download a guide on preventing slips and trips atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg225.pdf

- Look for more information on protecting your hearingat www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg363.pdf

- Find out more about the risks of vibrating power toolsat www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/tools.htm

- Get more on controlling risks from vibration atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.pdf

- Learn about managing waste at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/default.aspx

- Find out more on concealed services and overheadpower lines at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis65.pdf

- Get advice on working outside atwww.hse.gov.uk/temperature/outdoor.htm

Find out more

Did you know...Injuries caused by slips or trips costemployers more than 500 million ayear

Did you know...Around 5,000 occupational cancercases a year are as a result ofworking in construction


- Slips, trips and falls falls fromslipping or tripping are the mostcommon cause of injuries in everyworkplace. Make sure your workarea is tidy and well organised.

- Noise over one million workersare exposed to noise levels that puttheir hearing at risk. High noise

levels can cause deafness or hearingproblems such as tinnitus. You mayneed to replace equipment with kitthat generates less noise or usenoise absorbers.

- Vibration you or your team candevelop permanent disabling injuriesfrom using vibrating equipment suchas sanders or drills. Make sure thatyoure not exposed to dangerouslevels of vibration in your job, for

example, by vibrations caused by ajackhammer.

- Waste material a build-up ofwaste can lead to fires, slip and tripaccidents and injuries. Make surethat waste is stored and disposed ofregularly and responsibly.

- Underground services damageto underground services (pipes,cables and equipment relating to

the gas, electricity, water ortelecommunications industries) canresult in serious or even fatal injury,through burns, explosions, fire orflooding. Depending on what youdo, you may need to use specialistdetecting equipment by trained andcompetent operators to locatespecific underground services. Atthe very least, if youre going ontoan existing site to work, youll needto get this information beforehand.

- The weather weather conditionscan cause problems to many outsidetrades. If you or your team cant avoidworking in bad weather, try to cutdown the time spent in poorconditions, for example, workingunder shelter. You should also takeregular breaks, and wear suitableclothing. Remember that some

equipment will have limitations incertain weather conditions checkwhat the manufacturer says. Hotweather brings its problems too skincancer is a significant issue inconstruction. Wear sunscreen, coverup and stay cool, drinking plenty offluids. Wearing heavy duty sun blockis more and more common for peoplespending long periods outside thinkof top level sports like cricket.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/tools.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/tools.htmhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/default.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/default.aspxhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/tools.htmhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/fee-for-intervention/basic-safety-mistakes/tools.htmhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/default.aspxhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/default.aspx


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- Demolition work demolition is adangerous activity. Falls, structuressuddenly collapsing, coming intocontact with harmful materials orpeople straying into unauthorisedareas are just some of the problemslinked with demolition work. Seriousinjuries, and in the worst casesdeaths, can result if you dontmanage this sort of work properly.Think about issues like workers or

members of the public gettinginjured by a structure collapsingprematurely or in an uncontrolledway and consider using barriers andhoardings.

- Driving dont forget to thinkabout driving for work as part ofyour safety planning. The effect ofan accident on a small business orself-employed individual from acollision to materials falling off a

moving vehicle is likely to begreater than on a larger business

with better resources. Dont overloadyour vehicle, check that everythingis secure and check your tyre treadsregularly if youre transporting heavyloads the risks are obvious and thepolice are vigilant on these issues.Remember that if youretransporting any construction waste,youll need a licence from theEnvironment Agency.

- Contractors you may work withor take on contractors. Make surethey have the right skills andknowledge to do their job safely,and that they understand whatperformance you expect. Explainyour site health and safety rules tothem (for example, what to do in anemergency, looking after toolsproperly), and if you have a policy,make sure they understand andfollow it. Dont forget that you can

be held legally responsible for whatyour contractors do or dont do.

Did you know...An electrical contractor was badlyinjured when a forklift hit anddislodged the ladder he wasworking from. The client wasprosecuted and fined 9,000

Did you know...A demolition company was fined2,000 plus costs of 4,500 forfailing to provide edge protection toprevent falls while workers wereremoving tiles from the roof

- Find out more about demolition risks atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg150.pdf and atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg344.pdf

-

Find out more about safe driving at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf

- Get more information about working with contractors atwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg368.pdf

Find out more

This IOSH guide is designed as an introduction to health and safety basics and is not intended to give exhaustive coverage of the subject. Weencourage all employers and business owners to find out more about the detailed legal requirements affecting your business atwww.hse.gov.uk.

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IOSHThe GrangeHighfield DriveWigstonLeicestershireLE18 1NNUK

t +44 (0)116 257 3100f +44 (0)116 257 3101

www.iosh.co.uk

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safetyprofessionals. With more than 40,000 membersin 80 countries, were the worlds largestprofessional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop andconnect our members with resources, guidance,events and training. Were the voice of theprofession, and campaign on issues that affectmillions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registeredcharity with international NGO status.

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