CONSTRUCTION INFONET - MAY 2008
Welcome to the latest edition of Construction Infonet.
Construction Infonet is a free e-Bulletin from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to provide a regular update on health and safety issues for all in the construction industry.
++ SED 2008 13 -15 May 2008 Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mitchell Road,
++ Corby++
Come and talk to HSE Construction staff at SED 2008 and find out about:
* Launch of CPA 'Best Practise Guide for Maintenance and Thorough Examination of Tower Cranes' - including a series of free seminars by industry and HSE.
http://www.cpa.uk.net/pages.php3?pageid=57
* Quick hitches
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/quickhitch.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=02
* Construction Occupational Health Management Essentials (COHME) http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/index.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=03
* CDM 2007
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=04
* Kerb cutting and kerb lifting
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/respiratory4.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=05
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc803.pdf?ebul=cons/may08&cr=06
++ F10 Notifications++
HSE is planning to introduce an interactive electronic F10 form (EForm) in June 2008. In the meantime, a new downloadable F10 form is available on the HSE website
https://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/notification/f10.pdf?ebul=cons/may08&cr=07
The new EForm system
* will increase your options for notifying construction projects to HSE
* will provide an online service for sending initial notifications to one single point in HSE
* will allow you to retrieve your notifications and make amendments to them
* will have easy to follow on-screen help
* can provide a print out of the form, for your own recording purposes and as a copy to display on site
The legal position regarding notification of a construction project has not changed.
More information about CDM 2007 - http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=04
++ NEW CONSTRUCTION CASE STUDIES AND GUIDANCE ++
The following new case studies and guidance have recently been added to the HSE website
Using plastic kerb for the A2/A282 Dartford Improvement Scheme http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/coh14.pdf?ebul=cons/may08&cr=08
Select improve access to flat-bed trailers and rigid vehicles http://www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles/casestudies.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=09
The Safe off-loading of Reinforcement Fabric (British Association of Reinforcement code of practice) [689KB]
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/reinforcementfabric.pdf?ebul=cons/may08&cr=10
Time to clear the air! Protect your lungs when using cut-off saws
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc803.pdf?ebul=cons/may08&cr=06
++RECENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY++
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
28 April 2008 - Following the recent HSE prosecution of builder and roofer David Johnson, formerly trading as Merlin Building and Roofing Contractors, HSE has issued a warning to anyone that has had work carried out by him. Mr Johnson was found to be guilty of Gross Negligence Manslaughter following the death of a resident after he had worked on a house chimney.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2008/hsee6908.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=11
Working at height
6 May 2008 - HSE warns on work at height after roofing company proprietor jailed .The warning comes after the proprietor of a South Wales roofing company was jailed for 10 months and was ordered to pay nearly £18k costs after admitting a manslaughter charge in relation to the death of one of his employees who fell through a skylight at a retail unit in Cwmbran. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=366654&NewsAreaID=262&NavigatedFromSearch=True
30 April 2008 - HSE has issued a stark warning that companies face robust enforcement action following its prosecution of Everest Ltd. The prosecution arose following spot inspections in 2006 when a passing HSE Inspector took immediate enforcement action and served a Prohibition Notice which stopped work on residential properties in Luton. The work involved domestic roofline refurbishment, working at height from mobile tower scaffolds and associated work platforms, but without suitable protection to prevent them from falling. http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2008/hsee7308.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=12
Further information
Working at height - http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=13
++ HSE Safety Alert - Risks from redundant solid fuel back boilers ++
HSE is issuing a safety alert for the attention of individual homeowners, tenants, landlords and the plumbing/heating industry. This is to raise awareness of the potential dangers of lighting a solid fuel fire when a redundant solid fuel back boiler has been left within the fireplace.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/localgovernment/boilers.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=14
++ VISIT HSE AT SAFETY & HEALTH EXPO 2008++
13 - 15 May, NEC, Birmingham Come and visit HSE's stand.
* Talk to HSE Inspectors
* Find out more about HSE's Shattered Lives campaign http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/index.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=16
*Latest HSE free leaflets and priced publications
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/index.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=17
++ HSE PODCASTS++
The HSE podcast is another way to find out more about current health and safety issues - free. You can download an individual podcast, listen online, or subscribe and get a new episode on a regular basis.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/podcasts/index.htm?ebul=cons/may08&cr=18
CONTACT HSE
Infoline - Health and safety information and advice: Call 0845 345 0055 or visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm
Report an accident: Call 0845 300 9923 or visit:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
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