[ Focus: Health and safety ]
Risky business W
The phrase ‘health and safety gone mad’ has long been part of common parlance – but not everything we hear or read about these important regulations is necessarily correct. Here, we examine seven safety myths that can impact on the everyday work of building services contractors
hen it comes to health and safety it is vitally important to separate the myths from the reality. In this article we take a look at some of the common myths that the
ECA has encountered, and attempt to put the record straight.
Myth 1: Every task that is carried out needs to be preceded by a risk assessment Employers need to focus on real risks and control them accordingly; the law does not require them to perform a formal risk assessment for every single task. Any significant risks that are identified for a particular job can usually be addressed in a single risk assessment covering all of the tasks. In parallel, it is important to equip operatives with
the skills to recognise and evaluate risk as they are working, enabling them to behave appropriately when faced with unforeseen developments.
Myth 2: Non-licensed contractors working with asbestos need annual refresher courses Anyone who might be exposed to asbestos needs to be armed with the right information and training, supported by instructions relating to the specific task in hand. This information and training does need to be refreshed each year, but this does not have to mean a course – and there is no legal requirement to re-issue refresher certificates annually. The key here is that the refresher training should build on the state of the operative’s knowledge and experiences, making it appropriate to his or her role and needs. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is
currently reviewing its Asbestos Approved Code of Practice to clarify the position on training and annual certificates. This is due for publication later in the year. The ECA was a prime mover behind this revision.
Myth 3: Managers who aren’t involved in construction work must wear safety glasses at all times Health and safety law does not dictate when safety glasses should be worn. However, it does expect appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used in areas where it is needed to protect against a foreseeable risk of harm, and each site should have a policy and practical measures for this. Some sites ‘play safe’ by having a blanket
requirement for PPE, while others specify the PPE 58 ECA Today September 2013
SHUTTERSTOCK/AUREMAR
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