Staff Orientations – Construction Regulations 2015

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The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have published new regulations relating to the construction sector. The regulations, published in April to replace outdated 2007 regulations, applies to all aspects of construction, from concept to completion, and outlines what each duty holder must do to ensure they are in full compliance with the legislation.

According to the HSE, construction accidents for the 2013-2014 period stood at 133, and represents a fatality number of 0.44 deaths per 100,000 workers. The figure, according to the report, is 19% lower than 5 years ago when the figure stood at 164. The HSE are due to release new figures in July covering the 2015 period.

There are also new guidelines relating directly to orientations and the new rules governing them. Here we will take a look at the salient points, specifically relating to orientations.

Suitable Site Orientations

The legislation states that the “principal contractor” must ensure every site worker is given a site orientation. It also states that the orientation should be “site specific” and highlight the risks and control measures that an employee needs to know.

Visitor Orientations

According to the new legislation, site orientations should be carried out for those “who do not work regularly on the site.” This can include architects or students. The orientation should also be “proportionate” to the nature of the person’s visit. The level of orientation given to the escorted visitor should be, according to the legislation, more in depth, than that of a casual visitor. According to the legislation, short-term visitors only need to be taught the hazards of visiting a construction site.

High Risk Worker Orientations

The legislation states that it will be your responsibility to ensure that workers who are at a particularly high risk of injury are orientated appropriately. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Work which puts workers at risk of falling from heights or confined spaces
• Work which puts workers at risk from chemical or biological substances
• Work involving the use of explosives
• Work involving the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated components

Engage with Workers

According to the new legislation, it will be the responsibility of the principal contractor to “consult and engage” with workers. This will include informing them of different health and safety measures. This engagement could happen during the orientation process, but there is also the obligation to engage with workers on an ongoing basis. Finally, workers, or their representatives, must have easy access to relevant safety documentation for their worksite.

Additional Points

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The legislation also outlines a number of points which should be considered while working on a construction project such as:

• a stated commitment from senior management to health and safety
• an accurate outline of the project as a whole
• first-aid arrangements
• accident and incident reporting procedures
• arrangements to consult the workforce on health and safety matters
• and the individual worker’s responsibility for health and safety

The new safety legislation states that the inclusion of workers in “decisions about health and safety” is a “vital element to securing health and safety” within the construction industry. The legislation is clear that an open approach to communication, and the attainment of accurate information in regards to safety, can help reduce risks to workers while on site.

The new legislation emphasises the necessity for an accurate orientation process, whereby your workers will be able to function safely from day one. Here at Initiafy, we offer an online orientation process that can greatly reduce the pressure of face-to-face orientations and provide a timely and accurate information for all workers.

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