BSEE A CUT ABOVE
Michael Brown from safety, security and manual handling equipment specialist, Metal and Modular, discusses the risk reducon benefits of the company’s innovave Cung Staon
Using a cutting station supports health and safety best practice and enables tools to be locked away securely when not in use. However, there are some health and safety considerations that have been overlooked in the standard cutting station design, which is why the design and fabrication team at Metal and Modular have looked at how additional safety measures can be incorporated into the patented Metal and Modular Cutting Station unit.
C Health and Safety Risks
Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) (also known as white finger), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), and respiratory problems are all potential health and safety issues associated with cutting materials on site. Some of, these issues are not limited to those using the equipment buy could also have an impact on the health and wellbeing of those working in close proximity.
The latest HSE statistics indicate that 21,000 people were affected by NIHL in the UK in the period between 2016/17 and 2018/19, but the gradual deterioration of hearing makes it a workplace health risk that is difficult to quantify. Meanwhile, there are around 12,000 occupational lung disease deaths every year in the UK and 18,000 new cases, indicating the scale of the problem of dust and contaminants on building sites. HAVS is also a serious problem; almost all claims recorded by HSE over the past 10 years are for men, highlighting the prevalence of vibration-related conditions in traditionally male- dominated use of workplace tools.
Thinking Beyond the Guidelines
A standard cutting station is designed to hold materials securely to allow accurate measurement and cutting without the risk of slipping. Ear defenders are usually worn as part of PPE requirements for this task.
The problem with some cutting stations, however, is that their design does not take into account the noise for operatives working in the vicinity, or the potential for dust, shavings or filings around the area where the cutting station is in use. The HSE has clear, non-mandatory, safety guidelines for the use of noisy equipment on site, which stipulate safe working limits of up to 8 hours for site workers using equipment involving noise of up to 100 decibels. This safe working time figure dramatically decreases as the decibel level increases, with workers only expected to work for a maximum of two hours at 120 decibels.
Significantly, it also provides a noise profile of 73 decibels for anyone situated to the side of the unit and 70 decibels to the rear at a distance of just one metre from the unit. This means that the noise levels in close proximity to the Cutting Station are well within safe working limits for up to eight hours of continuous exposure.
The Metal and Modular Cutting Station achieves this impressive noise attenuation thanks to its innovative design and use of materials. The units are available in two sizes; a 1200mm unit, in line with the industry norm, and a compact 900mm unit which can be manoeuvred easily through doorways and has been designed with an optimised layout to maximise the usable space and provide comfort and practicality for the user. Both sizes can be supplied with curtains in a heavy-duty, fire retardant material which gives the unit additional acoustic shielding. Non- combustible acoustic foam built into the unit also helps to absorb noise from the cutting process and equipment, aiding decibel reduction in the area immediately surrounding the Cutting Station.
SafetyFirst Thinking
These advisory guidelines are widely adhered to on site, but there are no guidelines in place to protect workers in the vicinity and no British Standard for cutting stations to protect operatives using the equipment or those located nearby. Against this backdrop, construction remains second only to the manufacturing sector for the number of workers affected by NIHL. Noise from proximity to site activities is a concerning factor because it’s one that’s challenging to address. Not only is noise protection not required for those close to (but not engaged in) high decibel activities; it’s actually inadvisable because site workers who are busy with other tasks need to be able to hear instructions, warnings and site vehicles without impediment. Consequently, building noise protection into a cutting station to protect all workers in the vicinity from NIHL, along with the operator, is the ideal solution.
Innovation in Design
These were the factors that the design and fabrication team considered when developing the Metal and Modular Cutting Station. Independently tested to verify its performance, the Cutting Station reduces the noise of using cutting equipment from 100 decibels to just 78 decibels for the operator, ensuring that it is suitable for up to eight hours of continuous use within the HSE’s safe working limits.
34 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2020
Noise is not the only health and safety hazard associated with conventional cutting stations; dust and vibration can also affect workers using the equipment and within the vicinity. At Metal and Modular we have first-hand site experience which helps us identify the areas where current standard equipment could be improved to reduce health and safety risk and enhance functionality and operational efficiency. This often means re-thinking the design and combining a number of improvements in a single unit.
For the Metal and Modular Cutting Station, this approach has also led to the use of anti-vibration matting in the fabrication of the unit to reduce vibration, a key cause of HAVS and CTS. The units can also include a dust extraction mechanism to limit dust for both the operator and those working close by, protecting them from a potential cause of site-related respiratory problems.
Raising Standards
Site equipment design should always focus on achieving the highest standards of safety along with practicality and ease of use. For cutting stations, this means providing robust and compact units that control noise, vibration and dust hazards. Ideally, these should now be formalised in a British Standard to help drive mandatory compliance with an improved industry norm.
www.metalandmodular.co.uk Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
utting stations are an essential piece of equipment for many building sites, enabling mechanical and electrical installers to cut components to size as and when required.
SECURITY & SAFETY
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