Innovative solutions to safety and heath risks in the construction, health care and HORECA sectors

4.3.

Checklist Construction Sector

Name of solution Questions Yes/no

Solutions physical load 1. Ergonomic interventions and mechanisation aides for bricklayers Is the manual transport of bricks and mortar (lifting and carrying bricks and pushing and pulling wheelbarrows) reduced? Are cranes or crane-trucks in combination with crane clamps used which load or unload large stacks of bricks? Is the repetitive lifting and laying of bricks on walls less than 50 cm in height reduced by split floor in scaffolding platforms made of wood or aluminium height adjustable scaffolding floors?

yes no yes no

Is an automatic version of the crane clamp used to enable bricks to be placed in the scaffolding? Are electrical carts used for the transport of small stacks of bricks? 2. Implementation strategy and training on new working methods for floor layers Floor and carpet layers: Are telescopic sticks, intercostal and specific fittings for various tasks used for gluing and is welding carried out from a standing position? Are the workers informed about physical work demands and health risks associated with not using working methods from a standing position? 3. Is a hydraulic drop-down ladder rack installed to lift ladders on and off vans? Are the users of the ladders trained on the proper use of the rack?

yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no

yes no

Use of a hydraulic ladder rack for all maintenance workers

yes no yes no yes no

4.

Mechanical aids for plasterers

Are pneumatic drywall finishing systems used?

EU-OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

202

Innovative solutions to safety and heath risks in the construction, health care and HORECA sectors

Name of solution

Questions

Yes/no

5.

Use of prefabricated steel and self compacting concrete (SCC)

Are prefabricated components (e.g. prefabricated steel) used instead of placing steel reinforcements piece by piece? Is self compacting concrete (SCC) used whenever possible in order to avoid the use of vibration tools? Are risks such as working at height or in confined spaces reduced by prefabrication and assembly of steel reinforcement cages in a factory using automated machinery?

yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no

6.

Mechanisation aids for road workers and floor layers

Are mechanisation aids used to reduce manual handling of materials and awkward back postures for road workers? Is a hydraulic clamp used for road making instead of manually laying down the bricks one by one? Is a mixing machine with remote control pump system used instead of the hodman shoveling sand into the mixer manually for the installation of sand-cement floors?

7.

Use of alternative methods for pile cropping

Are mechanical pile-cropping methods used in order to reduce the incidence of hand-arm vibration syndromes (HAVS)?

Solutions slips, trips and falls 8. Information for training/toolbox talks on the use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) Are the users of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) properly informed and trained to avoid the risk of being trapped or crushed while working at height with a MEWP? Is the MEWP selected suitable for the specific manoeuvre and work to be carried out?

yes no

yes no

EU-OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

203

Innovative solutions to safety and heath risks in the construction, health care and HORECA sectors

Name of solution Solutions psychosocial load 9. Risk Management Framework for the assessment of Workrelated Stress

Questions

Yes/no

Is a framework implemented for the risk management process, especially when assessing and reducing risk factors that have the potential to cause stress? Are noise control schemes implemented by the health and safety co-ordinator on construction sites with more than one company? Are safety behaviours promoted within the company, more specifically, the use of hearing protection devices or other PPE? Have workers learned how to use their hearing protection devices effectively?

yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no
204

10.

Increasing Construction Workers Use of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs)

11.

A Job Safety Programme Using Tool Box Training Sessions and ComputerAssisted Biofeedback Stress Management Techniques

Are training sessions organised for all workers? Are the most relevant risks assessed and will the workers be trained? Is the information presented by experts in their fields? Are individual differences and work related behaviour that contribute to job stress reviewed? Is the success of safety and health interventions evaluated against tangible outputs such as performance and productivity?

12.

Improving lifestyle among male construction workers at risk for cardiovascular disease

Are counselling sessions offered to make construction workers aware of health problems and to change their behaviour? Does the company support smoking cessation intervention or is diet and physical activity addressed on the construction site? Are brochures on smoking, diet and nutrition available for the workers? Is it a topic in the company that the workers are healthier and less sick?

13.

Reducing the level of sickness absence by organising healthier work

Is a programme implemented to encourage change for healthier work?

EU-OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Innovative solutions to safety and heath risks in the construction, health care and HORECA sectors

Name of solution

Questions Are work consultation-training schemes for building site staff established? Are courses on ergonomic lifting conducted for building site staff? Is the managerial staff aware of the need for good working conditions? Do they know the ways they could support this?

Yes/no

yes no yes no

14.

Working Well Together Campaign (WWT) to improve health and safety

Is the company engaged in a network where members support and advise each other and share good practice throughout the construction industry? Are demonstrations and exhibitions visited where the latest equipment and services to help the construction business can be seen? Is practical and hands-on experience presented by expert speakers from the industry for the development of the owners business?

yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no

15.

Worker engagement decision tool: a pilot phase

Is it clear whether the arrangements at present on the construction site meet the minimum legal requirements? Is there a scheme detailing improvements and how they can be made? Are methods of site-based consultation put in place to effectively engage with the workforce? Are all staff , including the workers, fully engaged in risk assessment? Do the workers understand how they are to control the risks themselves?

16.

Achieving behavioural change by the TASK card and other means

Are systems like the TASK-card supported and implemented in the company to achieve behavioural change and prevent the chances of accidents occurring? Is the achieving behavioural change (ABC) course carried out in the company? Are the documents freely available on the internet used for training sessions? Is improving health and safety on construction sites through effective worker involvement a topic for the company?

EU-OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

205

Innovative solutions to safety and heath risks in the construction, health care and HORECA sectors

Name of solution 17. Better Health Under Construction through a supportive national framework

Questions Does the company record how many working days a year are lost due to work-related ill health or to workplace injuries? Is illness caused or made worse by work in construction a topic for the company?

Yes/no

yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no

Is health and wellbeing of employees in the construction company a goal? Should the employer check workers on whether they are fit for safetycritical work? 18. Organisational Health Management Interventions to improve work-life balance Does the working scheme of projectbased construction workers (length of the working week, working hours per day) fit in with their personal needs? Is work-life balance a topic for the company to reduce problems of job dissatisfaction, lack of general wellbeing or substance abuse and to increase turnover intention,? Are managers and site supervisors encouraged to do regular exercise or to eat healthy? Are managers or supervisors encouraged to set priorities in both their work and outside-work lives? Is training provided on communication and teamwork?

Solutions dangerous substances 19. Dibasic esters can replace dichloromethane in paint strippers OSH preventing solutions for fire accidents OSH preventing solutions during the painting processes OSH preventing solutions during the welding processes Are alternatives to dichloromethane (DCM) for paint strippers being used?

20.

Are the potential dangers and risks within the workplace in construction premises assessed regarding fire? Are the general occupational safety and hygiene requirements taken into account during the painting process? Are the general occupational safety and hygiene requirements taken into account during the welding process?

21.

22.

EU-OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

206

Innovative solutions to safety and heath risks in the construction, health care and HORECA sectors

Name of solution 23. OSH preventing solutions during work with spray polyurethane systems Dust-free construction materials reduce inhalable dust concentrations Dust-free sanding of wood Innovative application solution to prevent skin contact with epoxy resin Use of warm-mix asphalt to reduce exposure to fumes and aerosols

Questions Are the general occupational safety and hygiene requirements taken into account during the application of polyurethane? Are measures in place to reduce or prevent the generation of dust from construction materials?

Yes/no

yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no

24.

25.

Are measures in place to reduce dust concentration when sanding wood?

26.

Are measures in place to prevent skin contact when applying epoxy resin?

27.

Is it possible to use warm-mix asphalt instead of hot-mix asphalt to reduce the emission of fumes and aerosols?

EU-OSHA European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

207