Health and safety are especially important within the construction industry. There is a high risk of injury and illness when operating with construction equipment and materials. Due to this especially high risk, the UK put in place legislation to ensure that if individuals do not follow the law, they will be prosecuted. This article will discuss how the construction industry has maintained its health and safety.
Legislation
Firstly, it is most useful to begin discussing the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. This legislation outlines the health and safety duties and roles of everyone on a construction site and those who are behind the designing process. This includes duties of designers, contractors and more. This also includes the general requirements for all construction sites to ensure that they meet all of the health and safety requirements such as the stability of structures, demolition, emergency procedures etc.
There are also some other relevant regulations such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. You can take some courses on understanding these pieces of legislation online. One way to study these regulations is to take reed courses. These can be short or long courses and are easily accessible and flexible to allow you to learn around working.
Required Education and Training
Another way that the construction industry ensures that health and safety is maintained is by requiring all workers to have education and training. This training will differ depending on the individual’s role, but all are required to have at least basic health and safety knowledge. Those that are in roles such as supervisory or managerial roles should have a higher standard of health and safety training as they will have to make risk assessments and ensure that all members of staff abide by the regulations. Many companies will require workers to hold a valid CSCS card. This indicates that they have passed their relevant Health, Safety and Environment test run by the CITB.
Protective Gear
There are many different types of protective gear that are designed to protect you from illnesses and injuries. These include reflective clothing if working in dim lighting or purely to be more visible to others on site. Moreover, hard hats and steel toe boots are essential when heavy lifting and working with construction above head height. In terms of protecting eyes and lungs, it Is required that workers use goggles and ventilation masks. This can stop dust and other harmful chemicals from entering the body. Masks are especially important due to the higher risk of breathing in cancerous dust. Furthermore, dust can cause dermatitis and therefore gloves, and full-body protective clothing is ideal.
Final Thoughts
This article has outlined how the construction industry ensures that it maintains health and safety. It discussed the legal regulations that workers must follow, the need for training and a CSCS card and the protective gear that limits the chance of injury and illness significantly. If you want to join the construction industry but not sure what training you need to take in terms of health and safety, this CSCS card checker can help you navigate this process.
