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Non-binding guide to goodpractice or understanding and

implementing Directive 92/57/EEC‘Construction Sites’



This publication is commissioned under the European Union Programme or Employment and Social Solidarity(2007-2013). This programme is managed by the Directorate-General or Employment, Social Aairs and EqualOpportunities o the European Commission. It was established to inancially support the implementation o the objectives o the European Union in the employment and social aairs area, as set out in the Social Agenda,

and thereby contribute to the achievement o the EUROPE 2020 goals in these ields.

The seven-year programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development o appropriateand eective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-27, EFTA-EEA and EU candidateand pre-candidate countries.

PROGRESS’ mission is to strengthen the EU contribution in support o Member States’ commitments andeorts to create more and better jobs and to build a more cohesive society. To that eect, PROGRESS isinstrumental in:

— providing analysis and policy advice on PROGRESS policy areas,— monitoring and reporting on the implementation o EU legislation and policies in PROGRESS policy areas,— promoting policy transer, learning and support among Member States on EU objectives and priorities, and— relaying the views o the stakeholders and society at large.

For more inormation see:http://ec.europa.eu/progress



Non-binding guide to goodpractice or understanding andimplementing Directive 92/57/EEC

on the implementationo minimum saety and health requirements

at temporary or mobile construction sites

European Commission

Directorate-General or Employment, Social Aairs and Equal Opportunities

Unit F4

Manuscript completed in December 2010



Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behal o the Commission may be held responsible orthe use that may be made o the inormation contained in this publication.

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by requiring the preparation o a limited number•

o documents that assist in ensuring good workingconditions; and

by extending to all o the players involved in con-•

struction projects the principles that are ound inthe Framework Directive or undertakings sharing aworkplace to cooperate and coordinate in preventingoccupational risks.

However, a 2008 Communication rom theCommission (7) identied that some aspects o theDirective are not well understood or applied. Thiscommunication is based mainly on the national reportssupplied by the Member States and an independentexpert’s report analysing implementation o theConstruction Site Directive in all the private and/orpublic economic sectors concerned. It also draws

on the results o European inspection campaigns onsaety in the construction sector carried out in the 15Member States in 2003 and 2004, on recent Europeanstatistics on accidents at work, and on the lessons thatthe Commission has learned rom monitoring thetransposition and application o the Directive.

Member States have to transpose Communitydirectives into their national legislation. It is thenational legislation that is applicable to constructionprojects and the relevant legislation should always beconsulted.

The new Community StrategyThe prime objective o the new Community Strategy2007–2012 is the continuous improvement o saetyand health conditions or workers, notably through asustainable reduction in accidents and occupationalillnesses. The Commission has identied that, inorder to achieve this goal, the correct and eectiveimplementation o Community legislation must bereinorced and that support should be given to SMEs,particularly in high-risk sectors, such as construction,agriculture, shing and transport.

The Community Strategy includes the drawing upo practical guides on the correct application o theDirectives, particularly or Directive 92/57/EEC. Thisguide meets that objective.

7

( ) Communication rom the Commission to the European Parlia-ment, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committeeand the Committee o the Regions on the practical implementa-tion o Health and Saety at Work Directives 92/57/EEC (tempor-ary and mobile construction sites) and 92/58/EEC (saety signs atwork), COM(2008) 698, see Annex 7 — European Union legisla-tion, p. 132.

This non-binding goodpractice guide

Directive 92/57/EEC o the European Parliament ando the Council on the implementation o minimumsaety and health requirements at temporary or mobileconstruction sites (the Construction Sites Directive)lays down minimum saety and health requirementsor all temporary or mobile construction sites. Thisnon-binding guide aims to assist all parties involvedin construction (including clients, project supervisors,designers, coordinators, contractors and otheremployers, workers, suppliers, etc.) to understandand implement the provisions o the Directive. Theguide includes the text o the Directive setting outits minimum requirements and provides explanatorytext. It also includes some good practice suggestions

and examples. Readers should take national legislationinto account as this may introduce more stringentobligations than the Directive.

The objectives o this guide are to assist the variousstakeholders:

in understanding and implementing the general•

principles o prevention (Chapter 1);in understanding the saety and health requirements•

o the Directive including when and to what it ap-plies, the duties and roles o stakeholders and thedocumentation that is required (Chapter 2);by identiying some typical hazards and risks during•

construction work (Chapter 3);in managing risks throughout the duration o con-•

struction projects, rom project preparation, duringconstruction, and into the post-construction stage(Chapter 4); andby summarising the duties o stakeholders by stages•

(Chapter 5).

The next section, How to read this guide, p. 5, will ➜

help you get the best rom this publication.



I n t r o d u c t i o n

There are several ways to read this guide and to ndthe inormation o interest to you:

1. Contents

This guide is divided into ve chapters which you canconsult separately, according to your topic o interest.Every chapter has been printed with dierent colourbands on the sides o the pages.

Each chapter is divided into numbered paragraphscovering a single item so you can access each item o inormation.

See Contents, p. 7 ➜

2. Key questions onimportant topics

A list o key questions covers essential issues or eachstakeholder. You may nd it helpul in accessing thetext that you require.

See Key questions on important topics, p. 8➜

3. Index by topicA list o topics or keywords allows you to go directlyto the chapters o this guide where reerences to thetopic can be ound.

See Index by topic, p. 12➜

4. Table o examples

You can also nd inormation on specic topics usinga reerence list or the practical examples contained in

the guide. The list identies the size o the project andthe type o risks addressed.

See Annex 2 — Table o examples, p. 121➜

5. GlossaryThe Construction Sites Directive contains a number o denitions (e.g. client) used in the text o the Directive.These denitions are listed in Annex 1 together withsome others rom the Framework Directive.

See Annex 1 — Glossary, p. 120➜

6. General table o duties

The duties o stakeholders named in the Directive aresummarised in a table.

See 5, General table o duties o each stakeholder ➜

during the construction project, p. 115

7. Explanationo text marking

Extracts o the European Directives 89/391/EECand 92/57/EEC are in blue boxes andaccompanied by this logo.

Non-binding good practices can be ound where

this logo is displayed.Explanatory examples can be ound where thislogo is displayed.

How to read this guide



C o n t e n t s

ContentsIntroduction .....................................................................................................................................................................3

How to read this guide ...................................................................................................................................................5Key questions on important topics .............................................................................................................................8

Index by topic ................................................................................................................................................................12

Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................15

1 General principles o prevention (GPP) on saety and health at work .......................................................17

1.1 What is a hazard? What is a risk?...................................................................................................................................................181.2 General principles o prevention ............................................. ..................................................... ............................................... 181.3 Risk assessment .................................................... .................................................... ...................................................... .................... 221.4 Further examples o applying the general principles o prevention ................................................ .............................. 26

2 Saety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites ...........................................31

2.1 What is a ‘construction site’? ............................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ... 322.2 What is ‘construction work’? ............................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ... 322.3 The stakeholders in a construction project ............................................ ..................................................... ............................. 352.4 Documents required or prevention ................................................ ..................................................... ...................................... 572.5 Works involving particular/special risks .................................................. ..................................................... ............................. 63

3 Hazards and risks during all stages o a construction project — some examples ...................................69

3.1 Falls ................................................. .................................................... ...................................................... .............................................. 703.2 Risks related to electricity .................................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ... 703.3 Risks related to gas .............................................. .................................................... ...................................................... .................... 713.4 Risks related to tra c ................................................. .................................................... ...................................................... ............ 71

3.5 Risks related to construction machinery ................................................. ..................................................... ............................. 713.6 Risks related to manual handling operations ................................................. ..................................................... .................... 723.7 Risks related to gestures and postures .................................................... ..................................................... ............................. 723.8 Risks related to the use o explosives .............................................. ..................................................... ...................................... 723.9 Risks related to instability .................................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ... 723.10 Risks related to health ................................................. .................................................... ..................................................... ............ 723.11 Transport ............................................... ..................................................... ..................................................... ...................................... 763.12 Hygiene ................................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ...................................... 763.13 Other risks.............................................................................................................................................................................................76

4 Managing risks during construction projects .................................................................................................79

4.1 The project preparation stage.......................................................................................................................................................80

4.2 Execution stage o the project .................................................. ..................................................... .............................................103

5 General table o duties o each stakeholder during the construction project ...................................... 115

ANNEXES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 119

Annex 1 — Glossary .......................................................................................................................................................................................120Annex 2 — Table o examples ....................................................................................................................................................................121Annex 3 — Risk assessment record sheet ..............................................................................................................................................124Annex 4 — Design record sheet ................................................................................................................................................................125Annex 5 — Saety and health plan: suggested contents .................................................................................................................126Annex 6 — Saety and health le: suggested contents ....................................................................................................................130Annex 7 — European Union legislation..................................................................................................................................................132

Annex 8 — More inormation .....................................................................................................................................................................177



Key questions on important topicsThis section has a list o key questions arranged under the ollowing headings.The questions cover essential issues

or each stakeholder. You may nd it helpul in accessing the text that you require.Clients See questions 30 to 51➜

Coordinators See questions 52 to 66➜

Coordinators or saety and health matters at the project preparation stage See questions 52 to 59➜

Coordinators or saety and health matters at the project execution stage See questions 60 to 66➜

Designers See questions 67 to 73➜

Employers See questions 74 to 85➜

Employers who themselves carry out construction work See question 86➜

General questions See questions 1 to 14➜

Large sites See questions 25 to 29➜

Medium sites See questions 20 to 24➜

Prior notice See questions 91 to 93➜

Project supervisors See questions 88 to 89➜

Saety and health plan See questions 94 to 96➜

Saety and health le See questions 97 to 99➜

Small sites See questions 15 to 19➜

Sel-employed persons See questions 87 ➜

Workers and workers’ representatives See questions 90➜

General questions1 Advice: Where can I get more advice and assistance? See Annex 8 — More inormation➜ p. 177

2 Annex IV to the Construction Directive: What is it? See 4.2.1(b), Article 8 and Annex IV to➜

Directive 92/57/EEC and Article 6 o

Framework Directive 89/391/EEC

p. 106

3 Construction project: What is it? See 2.1, What is a ‘construction site’? ➜ p. 32

4 Construction site: What is it? See 2.1, What is a ‘construction site’? ➜ p. 32

5 Construction work: What is it? See 2.2, What is ‘construction work’? ➜ p. 32

6 Competence: What is it and how can I assess it orthose I employ or appoint?

See 2.3.5, Coordinators or saety and health matters➜ p. 41

7 Directive: What is it about, why is it needed, howdoes it aect me?

See Introduction➜ p. 3

8 Directive: Will it apply to my construction project orconstruction work?

See 2.2, What is ‘construction work’? ➜ p. 32

9 General principles o prevention: What are they? See 1.2, General principles o prevention➜ p. 18

10 Legislation: What are the other occupational saetyand health directives?

See Annex 7 — European Union legislation➜ p. 132

11 Particular risks: What work is deemed to involveparticular risks?

See 2.5.1, Work involving particular risks➜

to the saety and health o workersp. 63

12 Project team and working together See 2.3.1, Preliminary remarks➜ p. 35

13 Risk assessment: What is it? See 1.3, Risk assessment ➜ p. 22

14 Summary o what everyone should do See 5, General table o duties o each stakeholder ➜

during the construction project

p. 115

Small site questions15 Does the Directive apply to small projects? See Introduction➜ p. 3

16 Where can I nd examples applicable to small sites? See Annex 2 — Table o examples➜ p. 121

17 Do I need a prior notice or a small project? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜ p. 58

18 Do I need a saety and health plan or a small project? See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan➜

p. 5919 Do I need a saety and health le or a small project? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61




Medium site questions20 Does the Directive apply to medium projects? See Introduction➜ p. 3

21 Where can I nd examples applicable to medium sites? See Annex 2 — Table o examples➜ p. 121

22 Do I need a prior notice or a medium project? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜

p. 5823 Do I need a saety and health plan or a medium project? See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan➜ p. 59

24 Do I need a saety and health le or a medium project? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61

Large site questions25 Does the Directive apply to large projects? See Introduction➜ p. 3

26 Where can I nd examples applicable to large sites? See Annex 2 — Table o examples➜ p. 121

27 Do I need a prior notice or a large project? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜ p. 58

28 Do I need a saety and health plan or a large project? See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan➜ p. 59

29 Do I need a saety and health le or a large project? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61

Clients’ questionsDenition

30 Am I a client? See 2.3.2, Client ➜ p. 36

Documents

31 Prior notice: what is it and what do I have to do? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜ p. 58

32 What is a saety and health plan? See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan➜ p. 59

33 How do I contribute to the saety and health plan? See 2.3.2(c) Functions o the client ➜ p. 36

34 What is a saety and health le or? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61

35 What do I do with the completed saety and health le? See 4.2.3, Post- construction stage➜ p. 111

Duties

36 What does a client have to do? See 2.3.2(c) Functions o the client ➜ p. 36

37 What do I have to do during design o the project? See 4.1.2, Design stage➜

p. 8238 What do I have to do during preparation o the project? See 4.1.3, Concluding preparations beore➜

starting construction work

p. 92

39 What do I have to consider when deciding how muchtime to allow or the project?

See 2.3.5(h), Coordinating the implementation➜

o the general principles o prevention

p. 46

40 What do I have to do during the execution stage o theproject?

See 4.2, Execution stage o the project ➜ p. 103

Relations with other stakeholders

41 What inormation should I give to those I appoint? See 2.4, Documents required or prevention➜ p. 57

42 How can a client cooperate with other stakeholders? See 2.3.1, Preliminary remarks➜ p. 35

Contractors

43 Do I have to appoint them and, i so, how do I do it? See 4.3.1(a), Establishing project teams that ➜

have the necessary competences

p. 92

Coordinators

44 Who is a coordinator? See 2.3.5, Coordinators or saety and health➜

matters

p. 41

45 Do I have to appoint coordinators and, i so, how do I do it? See Appointment o coordinators or saety ➜

and health matters

p. 37

46 When I have appointed coordinators, does that relieveme o my responsibilities?

See Responsibilities o clients➜ p. 39

47 How many coordinators do I have to appoint? See Number o coordinators➜ p. 38

48 What can I do i the Directive does not require me toappoint coordinators?

See 2.3.5(a), When is it necessary to appoint ➜

coordinators or saety and health matters?

p. 41

Designers

49 Do I have to appoint them and, i so, how do I do it? See 4.1.2, Design stage➜ p. 82

Project supervisor50 Who is a project supervisor? See 2.3.3, Project supervisor ➜ p. 39

51 Project supervisor: Should I appoint one and, i so, howdo I do it?

See Appointing a project supervisor ➜ p. 39




77 How can an employer cooperate with other projectstakeholders?

See Organising cooperation between➜

employers including the sel-employed

p. 48

78 What i I am an employer and I subcontract work to

other employers?

See 2.3.7, Contractors and subcontractors➜ p. 54

79 What do I have to do as an employer who is asubcontractor?

See 2.3.7, Contractors and subcontractors➜ p. 54

80 What can I do i the Directive does not require theappointment o coordinators?

See 4.2.1, Construction stage➜ p. 103

81 What is Annex IV to Directive 92/57/EEC? See 4.2.1(b), Article 8 and Annex IV to Directive➜

92/57/EEC and Article 6 o the Framework

Directive, 89/391/EEC

p. 106

82 What is a saety and health plan or? See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan➜ p. 59

83 What is a saety and health le or? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61

84 How do my obligations under the Framework Directiverelate to this Directive?

See Implement Article 6 o Directive 89/391/EEC ➜ p. 51

85 What are my responsibilities under the Framework

Directive?

See 2.3.6(d), Employers’ Responsibilities under ➜

the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC

p. 54

Employers who themselves carry out construction work questions86 What do employers who themselves carry out

construction work have to do?See 2.3.6(c), Employer personally engaged in➜

work activity

p. 53

Sel-employed person questions87 What do sel-employed workers working on construction

sites have to do?See 2.3.8, Sel-employed persons➜ p. 54

Project supervisor questions88 Who are project supervisors? See 2.3.3, Project supervisor ➜ p. 3989 What does a project supervisor have to do? See 2.3.3(b), Functions o the project supervisor ➜ p. 40

Workers and workers’ representatives questions90 I am a construction worker. How does the Directive

benet me and what do I have to do?See 2.3.9, Workers and their representatives➜ p. 55

Prior notice questions91 What is a prior notice? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜ p. 58

92 Who prepares it? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜ p. 58

93 When, how and to whom must it be sent? See 2.4.1, Prior notice➜ p. 58

Saety and health plan questions94 What is a saety and health plan? See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan➜ p. 59

95 Who prepares it? See Drawing up saety and health plans➜ p. 45

96 When and how is it updated? See 2.4.2(), Update➜ p. 61

Saety and health le questions97 What is a saety and health le? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61

98 Who prepares it? See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle➜ p. 61

99 What happens to it ater the project is complete? See 2.4.3(d), Updating fles➜ p. 63



Index by topicTopic

Where can I nd the main inormation

on this topicAdvance works p. 82, 94

Alteration p. 84

Asphyxia p. 75

Biological substances p. 63, 64

Burial under earth all p. 64, 108

Burns p. 70–74

Chemical substances p. 65

Client p. 36, 85, 93

Collective protective measures p. 18, 21, 28, 101, 103

Compressed air caissons p. 63, 66

Construction site p. 32

Construction stage p. 103Construction work p. 32

Contractor (including subcontractors) p. 54

Conversion p. 34

Coordinators or saety and health matters p. 41

Coordinator or saety and health matters at the project preparation stage p. 44

Coordinator or saety and health matters at the project execution stage p. 46

Demolition p. 35

Design stage p. 82

Designers p. 40

Directive 92/57/EEC p. 3, 18, 32, 70, 80, 132

Dismantling p. 35

Diving p. 66Drainage p. 33

Drowning p. 65

Dust p. 74, 107

Earthworks p. 33, 65

Electricity p. 70

Employer p. 4, 18, 50

End o construction stage p. 109

Engulment in swampland p. 64

Excavation p. 33

Explosives p. 66, 72

Falls p. 64, 70

Fire p. 75Fitting-out p. 34

Framework Directive 89/391/EEC p. 3, 18, 32, 70, 80, 132

Gas p. 71

General principles o prevention p. 17–29

Gestures p. 72

Hazard p. 18–26, 69, 86, 90




TopicWhere can I nd the main inormation

on this topicHealth p. 72

Hierarchy in prevention p. 85

High voltage installations p. 65, 70, 82

Hygiene p. 76

Instability p. 72

Ionizing radiations p. 65

Maintenance p. 35

Manual handling p. 72

Noise p. 72, 107

Personal protective equipment (PPE) p. 22, 98

Post-construction stage p. 111

Preabricated components p. 34, 66Preparation stage p. 80

Prior notice p. 58

Project execution stage p. 103

Project preparation stage p. 80

Project supervisor p. 39

Renovation p. 35

Repairs p. 35

Risk p. 18, 69

Risk assessment p. 22, 124

Saety and health le p. 61, 130

Saety and health plan p. 59, 126

Sel-employed person p. 54Start o a project p. 80

Subcontractors p. 54

Subsequent works p. 34, 88

Suppliers p. 56

Temperature p. 73

Trac p. 71, 96

Training o workers p. 24, 98, 101

Transport p. 76

Upkeep p. 35

Vibration p. 72, 73, 100, 107

Weather conditions p. 74, 74

Wells, underground works and tunnels p. 65Whole lie p. 84, 86

Workers p. 54, 55, 63, 115

Workers’ representative p. 55




Foreword

The most recent available data clearly illustrates that workers in the construction sector continueto be aected by worryingly high levels o work-related accidents and ill-health. Around1 500 workers are killed each year — more than twice the average in all sectors. Workers inthe construction sector are also twice as likely to be victims o non-atal injuries as the averageworker in other sectors. Every year, there are more than 700 000 serious accidents at work whichentail more than three days o absence in the construction sector in the EU-15 (1).

This not only impacts considerably on individual workers, their amilies and employers, but italso results in high nancial costs or the economy as a whole. Although signicant progresshas been made in improving working conditions in this sector, much remains to be done.

The multidimensional nature o this sector and the many dierent hazards and risks to whichworkers can be exposed (including working at height, physical agents such as vibrations andnoise, manual handling o loads, transport, dangerous chemicals and asbestos) require high

levels o planning and control to mitigate these risks and to prevent accidents and long-term health problems. In addition, there are a number o other actors, which can lead topsychological pressure with long-term consequences, including lone working, tight deadlinesand excessive working hours

The Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and saety at work (2) and the Commissioncommunication on the practical implementation o Health and Saety at Work Directives92/57/EEC and 92/58/EEC (3) recognise the need to reinorce the eective implementationo the Construction Sites Directive 92/57/EEC (4), i we are to improve the overall workingconditions in the sector. As part o this, support should be given to small and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) through the development o non-binding good practices instruments.

This guide provides inormation and examples o good practice in connection with the

implementation o Directive 92/57/EEC. It also outlines the necessary elements or ensuringgood management o health and saety risks during all stages o a construction project.Moreover, as part o the Better Regulation agenda, the guide presents generic examples o the documentation required or compliance whilst minimising administrative burdens.

The European Union and the Member States must rise to the challenge o improving thequality o employment. Reducing the number o accidents and the incidence o ill healthin the construction sector is an essential element in creating a sae, healthy and betterworking environment or all. To achieve this objective, it is essential to involve all the relevantstakeholders, including clients, designers, project supervisors, coordinators, contractors andother employers, workers, workers’ representatives, suppliers, insurance companies, publicauthorities and labour inspectorates.

I believe that this guide is a valuable contribution to promoting health and saety in the

construction sector; it is my hope that it will help all parties involved to implement theprovisions o the Directive more eectively and eciently.

1

( ) European Statistics on Accidents at Work — the most recent available data rom Eurostat (2007).2( ) COM(2007) 62 nal o 21 February 2007.

3( ) COM(2008) 698 nal o 6 November 2008.

4( ) Council Directive 92/57/EEC o 24 June 1992 on the implementation o minimum saety and health require-ments at temporary or mobile construction sites (eighth individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, pp. 6-22.

Robert VerrueDirector-General

Directorate-General or Employment,Social Aairs and Equal Opportunities



1.1 What is a hazard? What is a risk? .......................................................................................................................18

1.2 General principles o prevention .......................................................................................................................18

1.2.1 Avoiding risks ............................................... .................................................... ..................................................... .............................. 191.2.2 Evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided......................................................................... ............................................... 191.2.3 Combating the risks at source .................................................. ..................................................... ................................................ 20

1.2.4 Adapting the work to the individual...........................................................................................................................................201.2.5 Adapting to technical progress ............................................... ..................................................... ................................................ 201.2.6 Replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the less dangerous ................................................. ..................... 201.2.7 Developing a coherent overall prevention policy ................................................ ..................................................... ............ 211.2.8 Giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures .............................................. 211.2.9 Giving appropriate instructions to workers. .................................................. ..................................................... ..................... 22

1.3 Risk assessment ....................................................................................................................................................22

1.3.1 Step 1 — Identiying the hazards and those at risk............................................................... ................................................ 231.3.2 Step 2 — Evaluating and prioritising the risks .............................................. ..................................................... ..................... 231.3.3 Step 3 — Deciding on preventative action .................................................... ..................................................... ..................... 241.3.4 Step 4 — Taking action ............................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ............. 24

1.3.5 Step 5 — Monitoring and reviewing .............................................. ..................................................... ....................................... 241.3.6 Integrated risk registers ............................................ ..................................................... ..................................................... ............. 25

1.4 Further examples o applying the general principles o prevention .........................................................26

1 General principles

o prevention (GPP)on saety and health at work



The general principles o prevention (GPP) are at thecore o the European Union’s (EU’s) legislation approachto worker saety. Directive 89/391/EEC, oten called

the ‘Framework Directive’, introduces measures toencourage improvements in the saety and health o all workers and sets out a broad strategy or controllingrisks in all workplaces. It makes the general principles o prevention, risk assessment and risk management thecornerstone in securing occupational saety and health.

This same strategy is embedded in the ConstructionSites Directive (92/57/EEC) and the various stakeholdersnamed in the Directive need to take this into account.

So, what is a hazard, what is a risk, and what are thegeneral principles o prevention?

How do they relate to risk assessment and risk management? And what does the constructionindustry need to do?

1.1 What is a hazard?What is a risk?

What does hazard mean?

A hazard is anything that may cause harm, in thisinstance to the saety and health o people undertakingor aected by work activities.

Example 1:

Deective suraces on which people might slip or trip,unguarded edges rom which people might all, allingmaterials, or moving vehicles that might strike people,sharp edges, electricity, res, explosions, etc., are typicalexamples o hazards to people saety.

Example 2:

There are also work-related hazards that mayseriously aect people’s health such as carcinogenicagents, dusts (respiratory diseases might be causedrom exposure to them), other harmul substances

(diseases such as dermatitis might be caused romworking with them), noise (might cause work-related hearing loss), vibrations, exposure to extremetemperatures, and heavy objects (musculoskeletalproblems might be caused by moving them).

Risk is the likelihood that workers (or others) will beharmed by a given hazard together with a measure o the seriousness o the harm caused, whether as a resulto immediate injury or longer term ill health.

1.2 General principleso prevention

What does Directive 89/391/EEC say?

Article 6

[…]

2. The employer shall implement the measuresreerred to in the rst subparagraph o paragraph 1 on the basis o the ollowing generalprinciples o prevention:

(a) avoiding risks;

(b) evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided;

(c) combating the risks at source;

(d) adapting the work to the individual, especiallyas regards the design o work places, thechoice o work equipment and the choiceo working and production methods, with aview, in particular, to alleviating monotonouswork and work at a predetermined work rateand to reducing their eect on health;

(e) adapting to technical progress;

() replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerousor the less dangerous;

(g) developing a coherent overall prevention policywhich covers technology, organisation o work,working conditions, social relationships andthe infuence o actors related to the workingenvironment;

(h) giving collective protective measures priorityover individual protective measures;

(i) giving appropriate instructions to the workers.

The general principles o prevention are concernedwith the measures that should be taken to protectthe saety and health o workers. (They also providea ramework or considering the saety and healtho others who may be adversely aected by work activities.)



G e n e r a l P r i n c i p l e s o P r e v e n t i o n ( G P P ) o n S a e t y a n d h e a l t h a t w o r k

1.2.1 Avoiding risks

One way o avoiding risk is to eliminate entirely the

hazard that gives rise to the risk.

Example 3:

There are hazards rom entering conned spacesin sewage treatment plants such as undergroundchambers associated with surace and oul watersystems. However, i the design is changed so thatsuch places are open to the general atmosphere andwell ventilated, those hazards will not be present.

Example 4:

On a small domestic extension the architect specied

the use o dry lining, thus avoiding the need or cuttingand chasing masonry or the installation o electricaland other services. This avoided the risks to the healtho the workers rom dust, noise and vibrations.

I a hazard cannot be eliminated, it may still be possibleto avoid some o the risks. For instance, there arehazards associated with many work activities thatcannot be entirely eliminated; however, there areoten alternative ways o completing the work thatavoid some, i not all, o the risks. It is useul to think asbroadly as possible and not be constrained by customand practice.

Example 5:

Block-laying involvesrepetitive liting actions.Liting dense heavy blockscan cause musculoskeletalproblems. The risk o injury can be reduced byspeciying alternatives suchas smaller or lighter blocks.

Example 6:

There will always be hazards rom the movement o heavy materials but the risks rom manual handlingcan be reduced by careul consideration o the waymaterials are packaged, unloaded, stored and movedand by introducing mechanised handling methods,e.g. gantries, cranes, hoists, pallet trucks, etc.

1.2.2 Evaluating the risks which

cannot be avoided

A structured approach should be taken to evaluating risks.Risk assessment is a ve-step process:

Step 1 — Identiy the hazards and those at risk;Step 2 — Evaluate and prioritise the risks;

Step 3 — Decide on preventative action;Step 4 — Take action;Step 5 — Monitor and review.

Having a written record is required so that essentialinormation can be passed on to others, making it clearwhat needs to be done and providing an inormationbase rom which to carry out reviews.

See 1.3, Risk assessment, p. 22➜

Example 7:

A considerable amount o old lead painthas to be removed during restoration work

Step 1 — Identiy the hazard: existence o lead.Potential exposure to lead might cause healthproblems. Those at risk are the workers doing thework, other workers nearby and other people whomay be in the vicinity, especially the vulnerable.

Step 2 — Evaluate and prioritise the risk. Considerthe probability o exposure to lead. Consider who willbe harmed and the severity. Consider the possibleroutes by which the lead might enter the body (e.g.inhalation, ingestion). Consider the possible means orreducing the exposure o workers and others by thechoice o work methods and other related precautions.

Step 3 — Decide on the preventative action that willsecure the occupational health o the workers andothers. Decide the necessary monitoring and reviewarrangements (e.g. no hot burning, use wet stripping/ use o chemical strippers, protective clothing, goodwelare and washing arrangements, protectiveclothing, respiratory protection, instruction andsupervision, air monitoring, health monitoring, etc.).

Step 4 — Provide the necessary materials, protectiveequipment, welare acilities, instruction, supervisionand monitoring regimes.

Step 5 — Carry out monitoring as planned. Reviewthe results rom air monitoring and rom blood-lead analyses. Reappraise the risks and make anynecessary adjustments to the working methods.



1.2.3 Combating the risks at source

Combating risk at source requires the control measures

to be close to the danger point and to be eective inreducing it.

Example 8:

Wood dusts can be harmuli inhaled: provide circularsaws with mechanical dustextraction systems so that thedust is immediately capturedat the point o creation.

Example 9:Dust created during demolition can cause a numbero hazards. It may be harmul i inhaled and it mayreduce visibility: water-sprays directed on work suraces help to prevent dust clouds orming.

1.2.4 Adapting the work to the

individual

In adapting work to the individual, it is essential toconsider the design o workplaces, the choice o work equipment and the choice o working and productionmethods, with a view, in particular, to alleviating

monotonous work and work at a predetermined work rate and to reducing their eect on health.

People have physical limitations on how ar they canreach, how much they can lit and how readily theycan see in various lighting conditions. People also havelimitations on their abilities to analyse cognitive datasuch as instructions, instrumentation readings, etc. Theworking environment can be an additional stressor suchas when it is too hot, too cold or too noisy. Repetitive,monotonous tasks can be a urther stressor. It helps totry and put yoursel in the place o the person doingthe work. Better still, you can ask people who do thework what would make it easier or them.

Good practices:

Recognising that there are limitations on the loadsthat people can saely lit.

Recognising that people can work more easily i theyhave suitable workplaces.

Rotating tasks within a work team so that repetitivemovements do not lead to repetitive strain injuries.

Example 10:

Reduce the weights o cement bags and aggregate,that are supplied to aproject, so that the likelihoodo injury is reduced.

1.2.5 Adapting to technical progress

This means keeping inormed about and using the

latest technical knowledge (when selecting workingmethods, equipment, materials and work equipment,etc.) when carrying out a project. In general, technicalprogress leads to improved perormance, betterergonomics and reduced risks.

Example 11:

Work in conned spaces mayexpose people to non-respirableatmospheres and toxic andfammable gases. Once,monitoring equipment wasexpensive and required a high

degree o expertise to use it.Now, multi-unction gasdetectors are much less expensive and can beeectively used by most workers.

New technology has led to video systems that canremotely inspect conned spaces such as sewers.

Example 12:

Mechanically compacting ll materials in trenchescan cause health problems due to hand-armvibration. Nowadays, radio-controlled compactorsare available that remove the hazard.

1.2.6 Replacing the dangerous by the

non-dangerous or the less dangerous

This is known as substitution. It involves reviewing thechoices that are available and then selecting the onesthat either pose no danger to workers or selecting theones where the dangers are reduced and are such thatthe level o risk is acceptable.

Hazards in the working environment, the task, and the

materials, plant and tools should be considered.

Example 13:

Substitution can involve changing the proposedprocess, e.g.:

there may be instances where mechanical xing•

systems reduce the overall risk when compared toalternative chemical xing systems;

when doing painting works, substituting water-•

based paints or those that contain harmulsolvents;

or road works, using low-temperature asphalt•

helps to prevent exposure to toxic substances.




1.2.7 Developing a coherent overall

prevention policy

In order to control risks, the whole saety systemneeds to be considered: the individual, the task, theplant and equipment, the management organisationand arrangements o the various stakeholders andthe management o the whole project, the widerenvironment and how they interact. Technology,ergonomics and the human sciences can contribute indeveloping a preventative strategy.

This is not dicult. It is important not simply to ocus onthe immediate hazards that are common to the industry:there is equally a need to identiy the underlying actorsthat cause injuries. These are invariably associatedwith the culture in the organisation or on the project.

This strongly infuences the attitudes and behaviour o everyone involved.

a) Human error and violations

How and why people make errors and why peopledeliberately ail to do what was required o them(violations), can raise complex issues.

Errors can be reduced by providing a good workingenvironment and addressing:

extreme task demands (high workload, high alert-•

ness, time pressure);

social and organisational stressors (stang levels,•

conficting attitudes);individual stressors (training, experience, atigue); and•

‘equipment’ stressors (controls, instructions, procedures).•

Human violations can be reduced by a positive saetyculture which includes:

involving the workorce;•

improving the working environment;•

having rules that are:•

relevant and practical, Ūexplained to those who have to ollow them, Ūkept to the minimum by removing unnecessary ones; Ū

providing the necessary work equipment;•

improving relationships between people;•

improved job design and planning;•

improved supervision and monitoring;•

reducing time pressures;•

avoiding alcohol, drugs and substance abuse.•

b) Organisational errors and systemic ailings

Experience shows that the likelihood o ailure can bereduced where there is a positive saety culture. This islikely to be present in organisations where there is awholly committed top management that:

provides eective leadership;•

acknowledges that good occupational saety and•

health management contributes to business goals;

understands the risks;•

has in place eective risk controls;•

has clear perormance requirements;•

eectively communicates; and•

is a learning organisation that listens, reviews and•

learns rom past perormance.

Example 14:

A contractor introduced a behavioural changeprogramme that was led rom the very top o theorganisation. Commitment was demonstrated bymanagers at every level and site standards were raised.

The change initiative ormed a signicant part o the siteinduction process so that workers new to the projectwould appreciate rom the outset that commitment

and expectations were well above the norm.

1.2.8 Giving collective protective

measures priority over individual

protective measures

Priority should be given to collective protectivemeasures as these can eliminate risks to more than oneperson and have major advantages over individualprotective measures.

Example 15:

A guard rail at theedge o a workingplatorm protectseveryone rom allingand requires no actionby the workers whobenet rom it.

Saety harnesses require individuals to make useo them, they need suitable anchorages, and all-arrest devices that must be available and suitablymaintained. Harnesses oten create considerable

practical diculties in their use. Hence, the likelihoodo harnesses achieving the same degree o success asa guard rail in preventing injuries is small.

Moreover, personal protective measures seldomprevent accidents rom occurring. Instead, they maymitigate the outcome. For instance, saety helmetsmight minimise injury rom alling material but theydo nothing to prevent it happening, as opposed tocollective provisions such as protective netting or toeboards on the open edges o working platorms.



Example 16:

The designer added a parapet to the perimetero a fat roo so that there would be permanent

protection or everyone working on the roo throughout the lietime o the building. A system o using harnesses and anchorages was ruled out onthe grounds o continuing maintenance costs andthe limited protection provided.

Example 17:

A contractor clad the açades o a major scaoldin protective sheeting so as to prevent allingmaterial causing injury. (The enclosure alsoenabled work to continue in reasonable comort

during adverse weather.)

Example 18:

When constructing the cantilevered deck o a highbridge, saety nets were installed under the alsework to catch alling materials. This collective protectivemeasure reduced the alling material risk to everyonebelow the bridge.

1.2.9 Giving appropriate instructions

to workersThe last o the principles is the giving o instructions toworkers so they know how to perorm the work saely.

Instructions should describe the risks in the proposedwork, and reer to the protective measures that shouldbe in place (e.g. equipment to be used, personalprotective equipment to be worn). The instructionsshould be communicated in a way that is readilyunderstood by the workers.

Good practices:

Providing:

common induction sessions or all new workers prior•

to starting work (there are a number o commonmatters that workers new to a project need to know);

urther instruction by trade contractors beore their•

workers start a new task and daily reminders beorework start;

routine toolbox talks;•

keeping records o workers’ training and their•

presence at induction sessions.

1.3 Risk assessment

Risk assessment is the rst step in occupational risk

management.It is a structured means or evaluating risks to workers’(and other people’s) saety and health rom workplacehazards. All stakeholders should carry out their ownrisk assessments.

Risk assessment involves a systematic examinationthat considers:

what could cause injury or harm;•

who will be aected and how;•

whether the hazards can be eliminated or reduced•

and i not;what preventative or protective measures should be•

in place to control the risks.

We carry out risk assessments as a matter o routine inour daily lives.

When we want to cross the road, we appreciate that wecould be injured and we readily take a large numbero actors into account, or instance, whether we havesucient sightlines to oncoming vehicles, whether thedrivers can see us, how ast vehicles are travelling, tracdensity, the weather conditions, whether it is light, howar we have to cross, the kind o road surace, etc.

We take into account how we can avoid the hazardaltogether such as by using a subway, a bridge or aroute that does not involve crossing roads.

I we cannot entirely eliminate the hazard, we considerhow we can reduce it such as by crossing at placeswhere pedestrians can use trac lights to stop thevehicles or by crossing where there are pedestrianreuges in the middle o the highway. I such measuresare not open to us, ultimately, we can make careulobservations to determine i and when it might be saeto cross. I we do decide to cross, we will continue tolook out or our saety by monitoring what is actuallyhappening.

Once across, we might refect on whether that wasthe right thing to have done, especially i we eltuncomortable or had a near miss. In doing so, we arereviewing what happened.

There will o course be instances when we willconclude that we cannot reduce the risk any more andthe remaining risk is so great that we do not wish totake it. That will be the correct decision but, in reachingit, there may be pressures on us to decide otherwise,perhaps rom the ear o being late or work, or romriends who are with us and who do take the risk, so

leaving us out o the group. Clearly, our long-term well-being is important to us and there will be times whenwe need to make hard decisions.




So, in crossing the road, we break the task into ve steps:(i) we identiy the hazards;(ii) we evaluate them;

(iii) we decide what we need to do;(iv) we cross the road and monitor conditions as we doso and aterwards;

(v) we review whether we did the right thing.

I we make such complex decisions in managing risksin our daily lives, it should be possible to apply risk assessment to our daily work. In act, risk assessment issimply a matter o taking the same ve steps.

Risk assessment and management as a ve-stepapproach involves:Step 1 — Identiying the hazards and those at risk;Step 2 — Evaluating and prioritising the risks;

Step 3 — Deciding on preventative action;Step 4 — Taking action; andStep 5 — Monitoring and reviewing what is done.

The task o crossing the road could have been so mucheasier and the risks reduced, perhaps even entirelyeliminated, by good design. The same is equally trueor work-related construction hazards.

Article 9(1)(a) o Directive 89/391/EEC requiresemployers to ‘be in possession’ o risk assessments.Article 9(2) requires Member States to set rules ordrawing up risk assessments. You will need to check

the national requirements or your project.

Good practice:

Using a simple record sheet that may help in makingrisk assessments in most straightorward situations.A record is helpul as an aide-memoire o theactions needed and is a means o communicatinginormation to others.

For all stakeholders, see Annex 3 — Risk ➜

assessment record sheet, p. 124

For designers, see Annex 4 — Design record sheet,➜

p. 125

1.3.1 Step 1 — Identiying the hazards

and those at risk

Hazard identication is quite straightorward whenyou have sucient knowledge and experience o theactivities you are considering.

Nevertheless, it is oten helpul to consult otherpeople, including workers and their representatives. I the activity is already happening and you are carryingout a review o an existing risk assessment, you can

also observe what happens in practice. In addition tohazards that cause immediate injuries, think abouthazards that cause ill health over the longer term.Consider also the more complex and oten less obvioussuch as psychosocial and work organisation actors.

See Annex 3 — Risk assessment record sheet, p. 124➜

Take account o other activities that may be taking placeat the same time. Remember also the preparatory andthe nishing-o activities that will take place as a part o

the main activity. In addition to the initial constructionactivities, you will probably need to consider urtheractivities involved in maintaining, repairing and inkeeping the acility clean and in good order. Activitiesinvolved in altering and deconstructing may also berelevant depending on whether you are considering asingle activity or ‘whole-lie’ issues.

Good practices:

Consulting sources o inormation such as:

injury and ill health statistics or your organisation•

and your industry;

websites (•

8

), helplines and publications o saetyand health organisations, trades unions and tradeassociations;

data rom suppliers and manuacturers;•

technical standards; and•

saety and health legislation.•

Next consider what groups o people may be exposedto the hazard. Remember, in particular, the vulnerable(or instance, those with disabilities, predispositionsdue to ill health or medication, migrant workers, theyoung and the old, pregnant women and nursing

mothers and the inexperienced and untrained).You must consider all others who are at work, even i they are not your workers and not engaged in youractivities. It will normally be necessary to work togetherwith others in the project team when eliminatinghazards and managing risks; such cooperation canuseully start during Step 1.

See Annex 3 — Risk assessment record sheet,➜

p. 124

1.3.2 Step 2 — Evaluating

and prioritising the risksStep 2 involves evaluating the risks by considering howlikely, how serious, how oten and how many peoplemay be exposed to the hazard.

Some people, especially those well practised inassessment and knowledgeable o the activity and itshazards might preer to make a combined assessmento likelihood, seriousness, requency and the numbero people at risk by simply recording a single evaluationor all o the actors that are being taken into account.

The greater the risk, the greater should be the eort

devoted to combating it.See Annex 3 — Risk assessment record sheet,➜

p. 124

8( ) For urther inormation, see Annex 8 — More inormation, p. 177.



1.3.3 Step 3 — Deciding on

preventative action

Remember that the best option is to entirely eliminatethe hazard.

Where hazards can be readily eliminated at little orno cost, this should be done no matter how small therisk might be. Do not misdirect yoursel by only takingaction on what seem to be the bigger risks.

Likewise, do not ignore very serious hazards even i theyseem particularly unlikely. Major incidents involvinglarge numbers o casualties are rare and they would berarer still i people acknowledge that they can happenand go on to put in place robust preventative actions.

It may be that others can assist in the elimination o hazards and the reduction o risks. This is particularlyso on construction projects where stakeholders suchas the client, designers and other contractors canwork together in managing occupational saety andhealth risks.

I it is not possible to eliminate the risks, you need toconsider what can be done to reduce them so thatthey do not compromise the saety and health o those exposed.

Good practices:

Consulting widely in considering the options.

Eliminating hazards and reducing risks could involvemodiying design solutions, choosing other materialsthat are non-hazardous or less hazardous, andorganisational or technical changes.

Remember that there are some general principles o prevention to ollow.

See 1.2, General principles o prevention, p. 18➜


p. 124

1.3.4 Step 4 — Taking action

As the assessment draws near to a close, there is theneed to plan and to organise what has to be done. Thequestions o what, where, when, who and how needto be answered so that preventative and protectivemeasures are in place. Workers and their representativesneed to be engaged and inormed.

Training, instruction and supervision are all importanttopics to consider together with the knowledge and

experience that workers will need.Plant and equipment requirements will need to beresolved together with their timely availability andarrangements or their continuing serviceability.

Access, working space, storage, logistics and thematerials that will be used are other matters to considerin addition to the broader working environment.

Good practices:

Using method statements to help identiy whatneeds to be done throughout the activity, especiallyor high-risk activities.

They help to answer the key questions, ‘What, Where,When, Who and, most importantly, How’ an activitywill be perormed.

They oten contain drawings and illustrations to aidcommunication and instruction.

Method statements can be used within the

management structure o a contractor, as a meanso communication with the coordinator and othersincluding discussion with their workers and theirrepresentatives, and with other contractors.

Method statements are a useul instructive tool atthe commencement o the activity on site and as aregular means or rereshing everyone’s memory onwhat is required.

They should:

ocus on what actions need to be taken when the•

task is perormed,

set out in sucient detail the conclusions o •

‘Step 4 — Taking Action’,

include a copy o the risk assessment.•

1.3.5 Step 5 — Monitoring and

reviewing

a) Monitoring

Supervision needs to be in place to provide the

necessary degree o monitoring to ensure that hazardsand risks are properly addressed as the work proceeds.Monitoring also ensures that new and unoreseenproblems are identied and dealt with.

Monitoring regimes need to take account o a numbero actors. These include the amiliarity o the workerswith the activity, their training and competences. Thelevel o risk will be a urther actor.

The level o risk may not be a constant over time. Indeed,it seldom is, notwithstanding the act that many risk assessments presume that it is. A ull understanding o

how risk may change with time and the rate at whichthe change will come about can be essential to on-going saety. I the risk is low and the rate o changein risk is equally low, then the level o monitoring canrefect that. However, i the expected level o risk is highand it is possible or the level o risk to change rapidly




and put large numbers o people at risk, then themonitoring system must be robust i it is to be eective.Indeed, i such a work activity is proposed, it would be

wise to revisit the proposed preventative measures tosee i they can be improved. In the extreme, it may bethat you will reach the conclusion that the activity hassuch a potentially high level o risk that it should notgo ahead.

b) Review

Review is the closing part o Step 5. A rst ‘review’ shouldbe by those who have carried out the risk assessment.Beore completing the assessment, they should check that they are satised with the result. An independenturther review as a part o an approvals system may beuseul, especially where the risk may be high.

A date or urther comprehensive review should beset that takes account o the past experience and thecondence there is in the assessment.


p. 124

1.3.6 Integrated risk registers

There will be occasions when project stakeholdersare able to contribute to eliminating the hazards andreducing the risks aced by the workers o another

stakeholder. Some projects nd it helpul to ormalisesuch a cooperative approach and establish anintegrated risk register or their project even thoughthe Directive does not require it as such.

Good practices:

Using integrated risk registers where a number o stakeholders work together jointly to manage the

occupational saety and health risks in a project.

In such cases, interested stakeholders can be clients,designers, coordinators, contractors, workers andtheir representatives, suppliers, etc.

An integrated risk register requires the stakeholders jointly to carry out risk assessment and develop asingle overarching document, the risk register, or theproject.

The advantages are that all parties are involved inidentiying the hazards and, crucially, they can then

jointly share in their elimination, or in risk reduction,

throughout the lietime o the project with thosebest placed to make the greatest impact havingagreed actions assigned to them. The coordinator orsaety and health matters at the project preparationstage is best placed to set up an integrated risk register or the stakeholders in the project team.Where there is no coordinator, it can be sensible orclients, designers and contractors to develop simpleintegrated risk registers that have regard to thenature and scale o the hazards.



1.4 Further examples o applying the general principleso prevention

The ollowing table provides examples o how the general principles o prevention can be practically appliedduring design, construction and subsequent construction work.

General principle During the designand preparatory stage

During the constructionstage

During subsequentconstruction work

1. Avoiding risks Example 19:

Ensuring sucient workingspace or use during the initialconstruction and subsequentmaintenance.

Providing permanent litingbeams, etc., or moving heavymachinery during installationand maintenance.

Example 20:

Contractors cooperatingto segregate incompatibleactivities such as: (1) the use o fammable liquids and nakedfames; (2) working in areaswhere structural erection is inprogress above.

Example 21:

Perorming maintenanceactivities in normally occupiedareas o a department storeout o normal working hoursso that others are not at risk.

2. Evaluating the riskswhich cannot beavoided

Example 22:

A new atrium roo had to beconstructed in an existingdepartment store wherethe client required tradingto continue. The hazards tothe public o doing so wereidentied during design andthe design work allowed orthe possibility o installing arobust temporary working

platorm under the new roo to provide a working accessand to protect the peoplebelow. The size o the newcomponents and the abilityreadily to lit them by craneand saely assemble them wasalso addressed by design.

The installation o thetemporary working platormwas planned to take placewhen the store was closed.

Example 23:

In the same atrium example(see to the let) the contractorrecognised that passers-byin the street would be at risk when materials were litedto and rom the work areaand road transport. A heavytemporary gantry was erectedover the pavement and parto the road was closed so as

to create sucient workingspace and ensure the saety o road-users.

Example 24:

When planning thereurbishment o a smallrailway bridge in aninaccessible mountainousarea, it was recognised thatoverhead power lines had tobe kept live and would be ahazard during excavation. Anexcavator was rigidly mountedand xed to a railway truck or

both transportation to site andor use.

The reach-height o theexcavator was mechanicallyrestricted so that it could notpass into the danger areacreated by the cables. Clearoperator instructions weredevised and put into eect.

All machinery was connectedto earth.

3. Combating the risks

at source

Example 25:

During the design o a newmulti-storey apartmentbuilding, it was decided thatpreabricated fights o stairsshould be included so thatsuitable sae access wouldbe available at the earliestopportunity. (It also led to ashorter erection cycle or eachstorey.)

Example 26:

Noise: A contractor selectedless noisy equipmentin compliance with theMachinery Directive 98/37/EC.

Falling material: Duringground anchor work toimprove the stability o aslope and to prevent therisk o alling rock, severallevels o anchors had to beinstalled. The work started atthe uppermost level so thatworkers were protected rom

the risk o alling materials asthe work progressed.

Example 27:

Risks during the periodicmaintenance o an in-lineturbine at a hydroelectricplant were addressed duringdesign. A foodgate wasdesigned so that it could beused temporarily to closeo the intake shat againstwater. Additionally, theelectrical control systems orthe foodgate and turbinewere designed to preventany possibility o starting

the turbine in error duringmaintenance.







4. Adapting the work to the individual,especially asregards the designo workplaces,the choice o work equipment and thechoice o workingand productionmethods, with aview, in particular,to alleviatingmonotonous work and work at a pre-determined work rate and to reducing

their eect on health

Example 28:

During design, it wasrecognised that a service ductwould need to be larger toenable workers to maintain agood working posture wheninstalling the services.

Example 29:

Signicant runs o parallelpipe work had to be installedat a high level in a complexbuilding. The contractorrecognised that overheadworking at height wouldcreate risks and decidedto preabricate cradlessupporting sections o completed pipe work. Specialtrolleys with hydraulic litingdevices were used to raise thecradles and to provide working

platorms during installation.

Example 30:

A theatre auditorium had anumber o large, high-levellighting clusters in inaccessiblepositions. Motorised systemswere installed that allowed theclusters to be lowered so theycould be saely cleaned andmaintained.

5. Adapting to technicalprogress

Example 31:

A new pedestrian underpasshad to be constructed at anexisting railway station. Theground was poor and therewas a risk o collapse puttingworkers and others (includingthose on trains) at risk. A designsolution involving jackingpre-cast box sections under thetracks was chosen. The designincluded ground and track

monitoring instrumentationand requirements to coordinate jacking with the operation o the railway.

Example 32:

To cut o the heads o oundation piles cast in situ,purpose-designed hydraulicshears were used so avoidingthe use o hand-heldpneumatic drills.

Example 33:

The external prole o abuilding created particularrisks during routine windowcleaning.

The project team hadrecognised the point andengaged a specialist companythat was able to design andinstall a cradle system thatgave access to all windows.

6. Replacing thedangerous by thenon-dangerous orthe less dangerous

Example 34:

When tunnelling usingsprayed concrete linings, awet mix was specied ratherthan a dry one so as to reducedust. Beore work started, thedesigner advised the clientthat more time would beneeded to allow or trial mixes

and or spraying test panelsbeore the tunnelling startedbut the benets o using newtechnologies were signicant.

Example 35:

In the same tunnellingexample (see to the let) thecontractor selected remotelyoperated spraying machinesso removing workers romareas o high exposure.

Example 36:

A specialist company involvedin the cleaning o stonework acades changed its workingmethods rom the routine useo sand blasting to ne waterspray washing so avoidingworker exposure to ne silicadust altogether.






7. Planning oraccident preventionby developing acoherent overallprevention policywhich coverstechnology,organisation o work,working conditions,social relationshipsand the inuenceo actors relatingto the workingenvironment

Example 37:

The stakeholders in a projectteam at an existing petro-chemical works jointly decidedto raise the prole o saety andhealth on the project by takingan integrated approach to thesubject rom the outset. Theclient recognised the needso the contractors in reducingrisks and the contractorsacknowledged the particularhazards o working at the site.The client made available their

induction training and welareacilities. The contractorsadopted the client’s saety andhealth ‘behavioural change’programme.

Example 38:

The coordinator or saetyand health matters during theproject execution stage andthe contractors on a projectrecognised the saety andhealth benets o engagingwith the workers as one part o a coherent overall preventionpolicy. They paid particularattention to developingeective project-wide saetyand health communicationsand established several

means or workers to eelinvolved (open-door policy tomanagers, suggestions andcomplaints procedures and aworkers’ saety committee).

Example 39:

Those responsible ormanaging the routinemaintenance o a large acilityrecognised that occasionalaccess by various tradeswas routinely needed toplaces that were dicultto reach. They developed aplanned approach so thatwork could be carried outat the same intervals and sothat sae working places (onscaolds, etc.) suitable orall trades could be provided.This increased saety andhealth and also reduced theirmaintenance costs.

8. Giving collectiveprotective measurespriority overindividual protectivemeasures

Example 40:

During the design o the pre-cast cladding or a multi-storeystructure, the horizontal jointswere positioned so that theyprovided edge protection orworkers casting the next foor.

Example 41:

Those using the principalpedestrian routes on theproject were variouslyprotected rom allingmaterials by netting andprotective ans.

Example 42:

Permanent barriers at theedges o terraces protectedeveryone rom alling duringmaintenance work.

9. Giving appropriate

instructions toworkers

Example 43:

The coordinator or saetyand health matters during theproject preparation stage orrepairs and improvements to ahospital developed:

an agreed approach or•

annotating drawings toidentiy inormation aboutessential services thatwere to be kept unctionalthroughout the constructionphase; and,

a common system or brieng•workers about saety andhealth risks specic to theproject.

Example 44:

Contractors arranged or dailysaety and health briengs tobe given about work that wasto be undertaken that day.

Example 45:

The acility user ensured thatthe saety and health le wasreadily available at all timesso that maintenance workers(including those involvedin out-o-hours emergencyresponses) could know aboutless obvious hazards.



2.1 What is a ‘construction site’?...............................................................................................................................32

2.2 What is ‘construction work’? ...............................................................................................................................32

2.2.1 Excavation, earthworks and drainage ............................................. ..................................................... ...................................... 332.2.2 Preabricated components ................................................ .................................................... ...................................................... ... 342.2.3 Fitting-out.............................................................................................................................................................................................34

2.2.4 Conversion and alterations ............................................... ..................................................... ..................................................... ... 342.2.5 Upkeep and maintenance — painting and cleaning work ................................................ ................................................ 352.2.6 Renovation and repairs .............................................. .................................................... ...................................................... ............ 352.2.7 Dismantling and demolition ............................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ... 35

2.3 The stakeholders in a construction projet .......................................................................................................35

2.3.1 Preliminary remarks .................................................... .................................................... ...................................................... ............ 352.3.2 Client ............................................. .................................................... ...................................................... ............................................... 362.3.3 Project supervisor ............................................... ..................................................... ..................................................... ..................... 392.3.4 Designers .............................................. .................................................... ...................................................... ...................................... 402.3.5 Coordinators or saety and health matters ................................................... ..................................................... ..................... 412.3.6 Employers ............................................. .................................................... ...................................................... ...................................... 50

2.3.7 Contractors and subcontractors .............................................. ..................................................... ................................................ 542.3.8 Sel-employed persons .............................................. .................................................... ...................................................... ............ 542.3.9 Workers and their representatives, .................................................. ..................................................... ....................................... 552.3.10 Suppliers ............................................... .................................................... ...................................................... ...................................... 562.3.11 Others.....................................................................................................................................................................................................56

2.4 Documents required or prevention .................................................................................................................57

2.4.1 Prior notice .................................................... .................................................... ..................................................... .............................. 582.4.2 Saety and health plan ............................................... .................................................... ...................................................... ............ 592.4.3 Saety and health le ................................................... .................................................... ..................................................... ............ 61

2.5 Works involving particular/special risks ..........................................................................................................632.5.1 Work involving particular risks to the saety and health o workers ................................................. .............................. 632.5.2 New risks ............................................... .................................................... ...................................................... ...................................... 66

2 Saety and health

requirements at temporaryor mobile construction sites




Article 1

Subject

1. This Directive, which is the eighth individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1)o Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimumsaety and health requirements or temporaryor mobile construction sites, as dened inArticle 2(a).

2. This Directive shall not apply to drilling andextraction in the extractive industries withinthe meaning o Article 1(2) o Council Decision

74/326/EEC o 27 June 1974 on the extensiono the responsibilities o the Mines Saety andHealth Commission to all mineral-extractingindustries (12).

3. The provisions o Directive 89/391/EEC areully applicable to the whole scope reerredto in paragraph 1, without prejudice to morestringent and/or specic provisions contained inthis Directive.

The provisions o Framework Directive 89/391/EEC areully applicable to all work activities without prejudice

to more stringent and/or specic provisions containedin the Construction Sites Directive.

The Construction Sites Directive (92/57/EEC) lays downminimum saety and health requirements or temporaryor mobile construction sites. It does not apply to drillingand extraction in the extractive industries.

2.1 What is a ‘construction site’?What does Directive 92/57/EEC say?

Article 2

Denitions

For the purposes o this Directive:

(a) ’temporary or mobile construction sites’(hereinater reerred to as ’construction sites’)means any construction site at which buildingor civil engineering works are carried out; a non-exhaustive list o such works is given in Annex I;

A ‘construction site’ may cover any place at whichprocesses or activities such as those listed in 2.2 are

carried out. Note that it is a non-exhaustive list.For urther inormation, see 2.2, What is➜

‘construction work’?, p. 32

The list in Annex I to the Directive gives examples o building and civil engineering work. Other work o asimilar nature is also within scope. The Directive is

intended to improve the occupational saety and healtho workers carrying out work at temporary or mobileconstruction sites. Thereore, the Directive applies tothe protection o all such workers. Workers normallyengaged in other kinds o work but whose employersoccasionally require them to do construction work arecovered by the Directive.

Example 46:

Some workers normally employed in a actory on aproduction line were instructed temporarily to stop thatwork and repaint part o the actory. As maintenancework (including painting) is an activity mentioned in

Annex 1 to the Directive (see below), the Directive wasapplicable to the work that they were doing.

Those parts o the acility which are not subject tobuilding or civil engineering works and which continueto unction as normal are not construction sites.

Example 47:

Work is in progress on the external acades o a hospitaland in some segregated places within it. These placesand the acade are construction sites: but the remainingparts o the hospital that are unaected by theconstruction works are not part o a construction site.

2.2 What is ‘construction work’?What does Directive 92/57/EEC say?

Annex I

NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF BUILDING AND CIVILENGINEERING WORKS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2(a)OF THE DIRECTIVE

1. Excavation

2. Earthworks3. Construction4. Assembly and disassembly

o preabricated elements5. Conversion or tting-out6. Alterations7. Renovation8. Repairs9. Dismantling10. Demolition11. Upkeep12. Maintenance — Painting and cleaning work 13. Drainage

The Directive applies to building and civil engineeringworks no matter how long or short their duration. It appliesno matter how many or how ew workers are involved.

See 2.4, Documents required or prevention, p. 57 ➜



2.2.2 Preabricated components

Construction work includes the assembly and

disassembly o preabricated elements on site.The assembly or manuacture o preabricatedcomponents on a site where they are then installed iswithin the scope o the Directive.

However, the assembly and disassembly o componentscarried out at some other place, such as an o-siteactory, is not a part o the construction work and isnot within the scope o the Directive.

Example 51:

A concrete mixing plant set up on a constructionproject and only supplying that project is subject to

the Directive.

A ready-mixed concrete plant at a stand-aloneindustrial acility and which supplies a wide range o projects is not subject to the Construction Directive.

Example 52:

The routine maintenance o site machinery carriedout at the point o use is covered by the ConstructionDirective.

A large machinery maintenance acility on a verylarge project may be considered to be a separate

industrial undertaking at which no construction work takes place. The Construction Directive would notapply but other directives, such as the Framework Directive, would. National legislation may provideurther guidance.

Example 53:

The logistics o receiving precast concrete claddingcomponents onto site, their subsequent storage,hoisting and installation is within the scope o theDirective, but their initial manuacture in an o-siteprecast concrete acility and their transportation to

site is not.

2.2.3 Fitting-out

The Directive applies to any building or civilengineering work that is a part o the tting-out o aacility so that it is suitable or occupation.

Example 54:

To make a school t or use, the laboratories requiredsome tted work benches equipped with electrical,gas and water services. This installation work waswithin the scope o the Directive.

There may be some tting-out operations that arenot generally considered to be building or civilengineering work. However, such work should be

properly coordinated with the construction work i itis carried out at the same time and in the same place,not least because the Framework Directive requiresthe coordination o all work activities at the sameworkplace.

Example 55:

In the nal stages o completing a new hotel, it hadto be carpeted and ree-standing urniture had to beinstalled in the kitchens, common areas and bedrooms.

The project team ensured that workers engaged on allthese tasks were provided with the same protection andhad access to the same welare arrangements as other

workers who were working on the site.

Installing ree-standing urniture is not constructionwork within the meaning o the Directive, but thecarpet fooring is. However, the overriding principle isthat all proessionnals working on a construction siteand sharing the same workplace should cooperatein securing the saety and health o all workers,whether under the Construction Sites Directive or theFramework Directive.

2.2.4 Conversion and alterations

Subsequent construction work to convert or alter anearlier construction is subject to the Directive. Thiskind o work can pose increased risks due to the otencomplex nature o the work.

For instance, the original construction may haveincorporated hazardous materials such as asbestosthat is not immediately identiable without a thoroughsurvey, the opening up o new service riser ducts canlead to the risk o alls and poorly executed structuralalterations can lead to collapses. There may also betripping hazards due to ailure to control the temporarystorage o new and waste materials. This kind o work

oten requires increased resources to properly planbeorehand and manage at site.

Example 56:

A 40-year old oce block that was no longer tor purpose was converted into apartments andsignicant alterations were required, including to thecommon areas and services. All o the project workswere subject to the Directive.



S a e t y a n d h e a l t h r e q u i r e m e n t s a t t e m p o r a r y o r m o b i l e c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s

2.2.5 Upkeep and maintenance —

painting and cleaning work

Upkeep and maintenance activities (includingrepainting) are within the scope o the Directive. Work to services such as passenger lits, electrical, heatingand ventilation require consideration and this is bestdone during the initial design so that sae access isreadily available and sae systems o work can beimplemented.

Window cleaning is an activity that should beaddressed during design so that a nished projectcomplies with the requirements o the WorkplacesDirective 89/654/EEC (9).

Example 57: The external acades o a building with some delicatestone eatures required some routine cleaningand redecoration. Water and hand brushing wasundertaken to remove the accumulated grime.

The window rames were repainted rom the samescaold. All o the work was subject to the Directive.

2.2.6 Renovation and repairs

Renovation and repair work is within the scope o theDirective. The work can oten involve the need or

short-term access to places where workers will be atrisk unless the risks are adequately addressed. Initialgood design can limit the need or and the requencyo this kind o work, and so provide the client with aacility that is saer to maintain as well as being morecost ecient over its ‘whole lie.’

Example 58:

The slate roo o a town hall required extensive repairsto the fashings, cappings and other eatures. Someo the roo timbers required replacing. The integratedclock tower and the clock mechanism also requiredattention. All o the work was subject to the Directive.

However, the clock mechanism was removed romsite and the workshop where it was overhauled wasnot subject to Directive 92/57/EEC.

9( ) Council Directive 89/654/EEC o 30 November 1989 concerningthe minimum saety and health requirements or the workplace(rst individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC).

2.2.7 Dismantling and demolition

The Directive applies to the closing stage o the ‘whole

lie’ o a acility when it is dismantled or demolished.The Directive equally applies to partial dismantlingand demolition.

Good practice:

Designing a acility so that these deconstructionactivities can be saely carried out will reduce thesorts o risks that may otherwise arise.

Example 59:

A large actory buildingno longer provided an

ecient manuacturingunit but the attachedoces were still t orpurpose. The oceswere retained and theremainder o the buildingwas demolished. TheDirective was applicableto the demolition work.

2.3 The stakeholders in aconstruction project

2.3.1 Preliminary remarks

A construction project involves many stakeholdersworking as a team. They need to cooperate andcoordinate with one another to ensure the successo the project. Their cooperation and coordinationis needed to ensure the saety and health o workersthroughout all stages o the initial construction and,likewise, those involved in subsequent constructionwork during the ‘whole lie’ o a acility.

Among the stakeholders, the ollowing have signicant

roles to play:clients or whom a project is carried out;•

project supervisors on whom clients can rely to act•

on their behal during design and/or execution o theconstruction work;coordinators or saety and health matters at the•

project preparation stages — they have a particularpart to play during the preparatory stages o a projecton saety and health aspects;coordinators or saety and health matters at the•

project execution stage who have a particular partto play during the execution stages o a project onsaety and health aspects;

designers o permanent and temporary works;•

contractors and subcontractors who carry out•

construction works;other employers;•

sel-employed persons;•



workers and workers’ representatives (including site•

managers and oremen); andsuppliers o construction materials and substances,•

construction plant, machinery and equipment, andhand tools.

Users are also key stakeholders. They may be involved inurther construction work, such as maintenance work,to which the Construction Sites Directive applies, andthey may have interests in ensuring that the nishedproject can saely be used as a place o work. Usersmay have particular knowledge or experience that canuseully be taken into account by stakeholders such asdesigners.

The Directive denes the obligations, responsibilitiesand rights o key stakeholders or saety and health

during construction projects.

It is important to note that occupational saety andhealth is an issue that concerns everyone involved in aconstruction project.

Example 60:

A residential construction project is to be carried outby a developer-contractor entreprise. The entreprise isboth the client and the contractor. It is also responsibleor the design which will either be carried out by anin-house designer or by an external designer workingunder the close direction and supervision o thebusiness. The developer-contractor business has anumber o roles to ull under the Directive.

2.3.2 Client

a) Denition


Article 2

[…]

(b) ’client’ means any natural or legal person orwhom a project is carried out.

A client is a natural or legal person or whom a projectinvolving construction work is undertaken, whetheror prot or not.

Clients include individuals (i.e. natural persons) suchas householders and those running small businesses.Clients can also be legal persons (or entities), orexample public bodies such as national and localgovernment, and private bodies such as companies

and similar undertakings including charities and other‘non-prot’ organisations.

Example 61:

A man has his house enlarged with the constructiono a garage. He is a client.

Example 62:

A construction company owns aplot o land where it will build a newresidential building. The companydecides to carry out the constructionwork and sell the apartments through aspecialist company.

The client is the construction company. The company is also a contractor.

Example 63:An entity ‘A’ was constituted rom several publicentities (all o whom will be end-users o a new Metroline) to develop a new Metro line in a city. The projectis totally nanced by the government. The project willbe constructed by a private organisation and theywill then have to operate and maintain the Metro orve years. The client is entity ‘A’.

b) More than one client

It is possible to have more than one client or a singleproject: or instance, where a number o businesses

jointly und a large project.There may also be dierent clients at dierent timesduring a project: or instance, a business may sell ortranser their interests in a project to another businessbeore the project is completed.

Good practice:

Where there are a number o clients, agreeingin writing that one client will take the lead incoordinating the unctions o the others.

Example 64:An entity, ‘A’, was constituted and unded by thegovernment to manage the initial stages o theconstruction o a new bridge over a river. Entity ‘A’ wasgiven some government nance to und the initialstages o the project until a concessionaire, entity ‘B’(a private organisation) was ound to complete theproject and maintain the bridge.

The client was initially entity ‘A’. When entity ‘B’ wasappointed, it became the client.

c) Functions o the client

Clients may not have sucient knowledge aboutconstruction processes and they may lack expertise inthe design and management o construction projects.




However, they should normally be in a position to setthe perormance criteria or the completed project andbe able to provide inormation about the intended site

and its environs. Clients are also in a strong positionto determine how their projects will be organised andcarried orward. Equally, they will have a keen interest inhow easily subsequent construction maintenance canbe carried out.

Clients can have a signicant infuence on occupationalsaety and health when selecting the stakeholders.They can play a pivotal role in helping to set the saetyand health culture or the project and they have a clearopportunity to encourage others to take saety andhealth properly into account during all stages o theconstruction process.

All o these actors place clients in a strong positionto be a positive infuence on occupational saety andhealth during construction work over the lietime o the construction work that they commission.

The main unctions assigned to clients by the Directivecan include the ollowing:

appointing project supervisors to assist them i they•

so wish;sending a prior notice to the competent authority;•

appointing one or more coordinators or saety and•

health matters when required;ensuring that saety and health plans are drawn up•

when required; andtaking account o the general principles o prevention•

during design and preparation or a project, includingthe time that the work will require.

National legislation should be consulted. In someMember States, legislation assigns additional unctionsto clients.

Example 65:

A client played an important role duringprocurement. When using ‘best value or money’rather than ‘lowest price’ the client set a budget or

saety and health related to the cost o the project.

A client showed its commitment to occupationalsaety and health by preparing a comprehensivepolicy on the issue setting out the organisation andarrangements that had to be put in place.

Project supervisors

Directive 92/57/EC provides that clients may appoint aproject supervisor to act on their behal i they so wish.This is particularly useul where clients do not have theknowledge, experience or resources to carry out the

unctions assigned to them by the Directive.See 2.3.3, Project Supervisor, p. 39➜

Prior notice


Article 3

[…]

3. In the case o constructions sites:— on which work is scheduled to last longer than

30 working days and on which more than 20workers are occupied simultaneously, or

— on which the volume o work is scheduled toexceed 500 person-days.

the client or the project supervisor shallcommunicate a prior notice drawn up in accordance

with Annex III to the competent authorities beorework starts.

The prior notice must be clearly displayed on theconstruction site and, i necessary, periodicallyupdated.

Where there is a need or a prior notice, clients shouldcommunicate it to the competent authority oroccupational saety and health beore constructionwork starts. Note that project supervisors, whereappointed, can send a prior notice on behal o theirclients.

See 2.4.1, Prior notice, p. 58➜

Appointment o coordinators or saetyand health matters


Article 3

Appointment o coordinators — Saety and healthplan — Prior notice

1. The client or the project supervisor shall appoint

one or more coordinators or saety and healthmatters, as dened in Article 2(e) and (), orany construction site on which more than onecontractor is present.

In order to coordinate the design and constructionwork being undertaken, clients must designate personsor organisations to oversee the coordination o saetyand health matters during the project preparation andexecution stages. Note that any legal or natural person(including persons ullling any o the named rolesin the Directive) can carry out the coordinator roleprovided they are competent and have the resources.

When making appointments, it is essential that clientsare as satised as they can reasonably be that thoseappointed are competent to carry out their saety andhealth-related roles and that they intend to devotesucient resources to such tasks.



The nature, extent and scope o pre-appointmentenquiries about competence and resources willdepend on the scale, complexity and hazards and risks

that are likely to be involved in the project.See 2.3.5(d), Qualifcation o the coordinator or ➜

saety and health matters, p. 43

Good practices:

Appointing coordinators suciently early so thatdecisions taken during the earliest stages o aproject can take account o the saety and healthimplications.

Appointing coordinators in writing and with writtenacknowledgement rom those appointed so that

matters are clear. Any changes in appointmentsshould be similarly made and acknowledged.

Where an organisation or company is appointed as acoordinator, it is good practice or a client to ensurethat the contract or agreement with that organisationensures that there is a named natural person who willtake the lead in perorming the role in order to helpensure continuity.

Keeping records o the appointments made by theclient.

Cooperating with coordinators or saety andhealth matters and other stakeholders in managingconstruction saety and health risks.

Ensuring that the appointed coordinators have themeans and authority to ulll their duties.

Number o coordinators

There are two coordinator unctions or saety and healthmatters or a project: one or the project preparationstage and one or the project execution stage. Oneperson (natural or legal) can be appointed to ullboth unctions. There is nothing to prevent more thanone person being appointed to carry out either o the

coordinator unctions and there may be some instanceson large, complex projects where multiple appointmentswould have advantages. However, this is likely to be theexception and it would require careul management byall parties to ensure that there was neither conusingoverlaps nor gaps in the work being done.

Good practice:

On low-risk projects, clients may be able to appointa single coordinator to carry out both coordinatorunctions and it may be that one o the other projectstakeholders might be in a position to ull the roles,or instance, where a client has a small extension to asimple building and a contractor is also providing adesign service.

Saety and health plan


Article 3

[…]

2. The client or the project supervisor shall ensurethat prior to the setting up o a construction site asaety and health plan is drawn up in accordancewith Article 5(b).

The Member States may, ater consultingboth management and the workorce, allowderogations rom the provisions o the rstsubparagraph, except where it is a question o:

— work involving particular risks as listed inAnnex II, or — work or which prior notice isrequired pursuant to paragraph 3 o this Article.

Article 3 requires clients or project supervisors toensure that saety and health plans are prepared.

Article 5 requires project preparation stage coordinatorsto draw up or cause to be drawn up saety and healthplans.

Saety and health plans are required or all construction

projects (whether or not a project requires coordinators)unless a Member State has allowed derogation inaccordance with Article 3(2) o the Directive.

Derogations are not permitted i a project involves anyo the ‘particular risks’ listed in Annex II or i a projectrequires ‘prior notice’ to the competent authority.Clients and project supervisors will need to clariywhether there is any derogation in national legislationthat applies to their projects.

Clients or their project supervisors will need to check withtheir project preparation stage coordinators whether asuitable and sucient plan has been prepared beore

they permit work to start in setting up their site.

Where there is no coordinator (because there is only onesingle contractor), clients will need to ensure that they,their project supervisor, their contractor or some otherperson prepares a suitable saety and health plan. Insome instances, this may need to be little more than a risk assessment (that includes risk management arrangements)prepared by a contractor under the Framework Directive.

Good practice:

Incorporating prevention measures linked to thesubject matter o the contract in the technicalspecications or invitations to tender and in thecontract perormance clauses and quality contractmanagement by the contracting authorities.

For this and other matters concerning the plan,➜

see 2.4.2, Saety and health plan, p. 59




Taking into account the general principles o prevention


Article 4

Project preparation stage: general principles

The project supervisor, or where appropriate theclient, shall take account o the general principleso prevention concerning saety and healthreerred to in Directive 89/391/EEC during thevarious stages o designing and preparing theproject, in particular:

— when architectural, technical and/or

organisational aspects are being decided, inorder to plan the various items or stages o work which are to take place simultaneously or insuccession,

— when estimating the period required orcompleting such work or work stages. Accountshall also be taken, each time this appearsnecessary, o all saety and health plans and o les drawn up in accordance with Article 5(b) or(c) or adjusted in accordance with Article 6(c).

Project supervisors or clients have to take accounto the general principles o prevention during the

preparative stages o their projects. This is a generalobligation but two issues are particularly highlightedin Article 4.

The rst addresses design, technical or organisationaldecisions that aect the planning o the constructionwork. Such decisions have to take account o thegeneral principles o prevention, whether the activitiesinvolved in the construction work take place at thesame time or successively.

Example 66:

A project supervisor or a bridge replacement project

may oresee the possibility o building a new onealongside an existing bridge and then sliding thenew acility into place during a night-time operation.

The temporary stages o construction may requireclose investigation into matters o stability, necessarypropping and alse work.

The second issue is the time reasonably allowed tocomplete a project or, where the work is in stages, thevarious work stages. Periods set need to be realisticand experience rom other projects with similarconstruction methods may be helpul.

Depending on procurement strategies, clients mayallow contractors to propose alternative designs andconstruction methods. The obligations placed onproject supervisors or clients by Article 4 then needto be considered aresh in the light o the proposals

suggested by contractors. Note also that saety andhealth plans and les are likely to require revision.

While all o the principles in the general principles o prevention are applicable, clients may wish particularlyto consider (i) the risk-based approach o avoiding risksand assessing and managing those risks that cannot beavoided, and (ii) the need to develop coherent overallprevention policies. The ormer is central to controllinghazards and risks. The latter provides the oundationson which to build eective strategies so that projectstakeholders can jointly work together in managingproject hazards and risks.

Where clients believe that they do not have thecompetence to make such decisions, they shouldconsider appointing a project supervisor. Other

stakeholders in a project may also be able to advisethem, especially where the project is small andstraightorward.

See 1.2, General principles o prevention, p. 18;➜

and 2.3.3, Project Supervisor, p. 39

Responsibilities o clients


Article 7

Responsibilities o clients, project supervisors andemployers

1. Where a client or project supervisor hasappointed a coordinator or coordinators toperorm the duties reerred to in Articles 5 and6, this does not relieve the client or projectsupervisor o his responsibilities in that respect.

Appointing coordinators does not relieve clients o their responsibilities.

2.3.3 Project Supervisor

a) Denition


Article 2

[…]

(c) ’project supervisor’ means any natural or legalperson responsible or the design and/orexecution and/or supervision o the executiono a project, acting on behal o the client;

A person (legal or natural) is a project supervisorby virtue o the meaning given to that title by thisdenition. There are two elements to consider: whether



they are responsible or design or or the execution o a project or or supervising the execution o a projectand, i so, whether in doing so they are acting on behal

o a person (legal or natural) who is the client.Project supervisors or those matters delegated to themact as representatives o clients, and clients shouldensure that they have given their project supervisorsthe authority and the means to act on their behal.

Where clients only delegate certain o their unctionsto project supervisors, they should ensure that there isclarity about whom is to perorm the various unctions.Clients and project supervisors need to cooperate toensure that the unctions assigned to them by theDirective are carried out.

Appointing project supervisors does not relieve clientso their responsibilities.

Example 67:

A private client needs to build a house or their ownuse. They do not have the knowledge about how tomanage the process (e.g. selection o a designer anda contractor, etc.). In this case, they deal with theirresponsibilities by appointing a project supervisor.

b) Functions o the project supervisor


Article 4

Project preparation stage: general principles

The project supervisor, or where appropriate theclient, shall take account o the general principles o prevention concerning saety and health reerred toin Directive 89/391/EEC during the various stages o designing and preparing the project, in particular:

when architectural, technical and/or—organisational aspects are being decided, in

order to plan the various items or stages o work which are to take place simultaneously or insuccession,

when estimating the period required or—completing such work or work stages. Accountshall also be taken, each time this appearsnecessary, o all saety and health plans and o les drawn up in accordance with Article 5(b) or(c) or adjusted in accordance with Article 6(c).

The unctions o project supervisors are the same asthose o their clients.

See 2.3.2, Client, p. 36➜

Good practices:

Checking that designers have sucient time to ullydevelop the design.

Providing pre-construction inormation to designersand contractors, in essence, initial inormation romclients or saety and health plans.

Checking that those appointed as designers andcontractors (employers and the sel-employed) arecompetent and adequately resourced to carry outtheir duties.

Ensuring how to apply the general principles o prevention (e.g. the client through their own sta,designers, and those preparing and planning theproject) where a project supervisor is not appointed.

2.3.4 Designers


Article 2

[…]

(c) ’project supervisor’ means any natural or legalperson responsible or the design and/orexecution and/or supervision o the executiono a project, acting on behal o the client;

The unctions o designers are not separately mentionedin the Directive. However, the denition o a projectsupervisor specically mentions persons (legal or natural)responsible or design and acting on behal o a client.

Whether a designer is acting as a project supervisor onbehal o a client is a matter to be decided on the acts o each particular case. A designer engaged by a client to carryout design work or that client’s construction project hascertain obligations under the Directive. In particular, theyhave to take account o the general principles o preventionduring the various stages o designing the project.

See 2.3.3, Project Supervisor, p. 39➜

Designers acting on behal o other stakeholders namedin the Directive (e.g. employers such as contractors andsubcontractors) should equally take account o thegeneral principles o prevention so that they reducethe on-site risks to which workers (and others) wouldotherwise be exposed (although, the Directive doesnot address such situations).

Designers o standard items o equipment (e.g. motors,pumps, ans and common assemblies o parts used

in building services, etc.) that are incorporated intoconstruction projects should similarly take account o the general principles o prevention when they considerthe ways in which their products could be used.

See 4.1.2, Design stage, p. 82➜




2.3.5 Coordinators or saety and

health matters


Article 2

[…]

(e) ’coordinator or saety and health matters atthe project preparations stage’ means anynatural or legal person entrusted by the clientand/or project supervisor, during the projectpreparation stage, with perorming the dutiesreerred to in Article 5;

() ’coordinator or saety and health matters atthe project execution stage’ means any naturalor legal person entrusted by the client and/or project supervisor, during execution o theproject, with perorming the duties reerred toin Article 6.

Good practice:

Both coordinator unctions may be by the samenatural or legal person on low-risk projects.

Coordinators have specic unctions assigned to

them by the Directive. Who carries out these roles andhow that is done will refect the nature and scale o aproject and its hazards and risks. The objective is toadd value to the successul management and controlo occupational saety and health hazards and risks in aproject and not simply to add unnecessary bureaucracyto the project management process.

Some undamental issues include:When is it necessary to appoint coordinators or•

saety and health matters?Who should appoint these coordinators?•

Who can be appointed as a coordinator?•

Can other stakeholders act as coordinators?•

When should these coordinators be appointed and•

when do their tasks end?What are the unctions o these coordinators?•

a) When is it necessary to appointcoordinators or saety and health matters?


Article 3


1. The client or the project supervisor shall appointone or more coordinators or saety and healthmatters, as dened in Article 2(e) and (), orany construction site on which more than onecontractor is present.

Coordinators or saety and health matters are required

when more than one contractor is expected to beinvolved in the execution o the construction stage.

See 2.3.7, Contractors and subcontractors, p. 54,➜

or the defnition o contractor

The ragmented nature o the construction industrymeans that there will be ew projects where a singlecontractor will be involved. In reality, every trade islikely to be a separate contractor other than in themost unusual o circumstances. Where it is obviousthat there is a single, straightorward activity, such asinternal redecoration or some minor works by a local

contractor who is known to have all o the necessaryskills within a directly employed team, it may be saeto conclude that a single contractor will be involved.Otherwise the expectation must be that there will bemore than one contractor.

Good practices:

Recruiting some expert assistance even i only onecontractor is expected to be involved in the project.

Considering appointing designers or contractors tocarry out coordinator unctions provided they havethe knowledge, skills, experience and resources.

Ensuring that coordinators are able to act withoutany conficts o interest.

Ensuring that coordinators have the means and theauthority to ull their duties.

Appointing project preparation stage coordinators orsaety and health matters at an early stage so they can:

assist clients or project supervisors with easibility•

studies on saety and health matters;

help project teams to identiy, eliminate or avoid•

hazards and risks;

provide expert advice and assistance that clients or•

project supervisors require.



b) Who should appoint coordinators or saetyand health matters?


Article 3


1. The client or the project supervisor shall appointone or more coordinators or saety and healthmatters, as dened in Article 2(e) and (), orany construction site on which more than onecontractor is present.

Responsibility or appointing coordinators rests with

clients or project supervisors.

In practice, it is generally clients who pay a coordinator’sees and it is generally sensible or clients to make theappointments relying, as needed, on the advice o theirproject supervisors where appointed.

See 2.3.7, Contractors and subcontractors, p. 54,➜

or the defnition o contractor

Example 68:

A person wants to build his/her/its own house. Asmall contractor, who requires help rom specialisedcontractors (or the electrical and plumbinginstallations), will be engaged. There will be morethan one contractor on site. Saety and healthcoordinators should be appointed.

c) Who can be appointed as a coordinator orsaety and health matters?


Article 2

[…]

(e) ’coordinator or saety and health matters atthe project preparations stage’ means anynatural or legal person entrusted by the clientand/or project supervisor, during the projectpreparation stage, with perorming the dutiesreerred to in Article 5;

() ’coordinator or saety and health matters atthe project execution stage’ means any naturalor legal person entrusted by the client and/or project supervisor, during execution o theproject, with perorming the duties reerred toin Article 6.

It is a matter o competence and resource. It is best toconsider the nature, size and complexity o the projectand the risks that will need to be addressed.

A sensible approach is to consider the saety andhealth needs o the project and make appointmentsaccordingly.

Coordinators may come rom:the client company or entity,•

one or more designing and engineering companies,•

the main contractor,•

the coordinator as a ‘sel-employed consultant,’•

specic companies entrusted with saety and health•

advice or oering coordination tasks,any other competent person.•

Example 69:

For a small project (such as a single-storey extensionto a house), where the construction method isstraightorward and the risks will be low, it may bethat a natural person will have the competencies andsucient time and other resources to perorm thecoordinator role.

Example 70:

Where the project is expected to be more complexand the risks are o a greater magnitude, it is probablethat an individual person working alone would nothave the competencies and resources to carry outthe coordinator role satisactorily. It would then besensible or a business or proessional practice(i.e. a ‘legal’ person) to per orm the role.

Even then a natural person or natural persons romthis company, etc., should be identied so thatpeople know with whom to deal.

In all but exceptional circumstances, there should onlybe one coordinator or each o the stages (preparationand execution). Where needed, they can be assisted byother experts.

I there is more than one coordinator or each o thestages, steps should be taken to ensure that they canwork together properly.

See Number o coordinators, p. 38➜

Note that some national laws may require that a legalperson should always be appointed whatever the sizeor complexity o the project. Where this is the case,such laws should be taken into account.




d) Qualication o the coordinator or saetyand health matters

Good practices:

The competencies o coordinators or saety andhealth matters on a project should take into accountthe need to:

have the requisite knowledge to act as a coordinator;•

have demonstrable skills and experience o similar•

projects;have sucient knowledge o design and construc-•

tion work, and o occupational saety and healthissues specic to the project under considerationhaving regard to its size and complexity; andbe able to satisy the client that they have the resourc-•

es successully to manage the project’s occupational

saety and health risks or the work in question.When assessing the competencies o a legal person,it is necessary to consider the competencies both o the organisation and the people it proposes to useon the project in question.

When assessing other stakeholders, the same broadissues o competence and resources are applicable.

Example 71:

In the case o the construction o a multi-residentialbuilding, the ollowing legal or natural persons maypotentially be able to meet the aorementioned criteria:

an architect, a civil/structural engineer or other•

building proessional as the coordinator or saetyand health matters during the project preparationstage, i.e. someone with the qualications,experience and skills or the management o the design o acilities o a similar type and sizeprovided that they are suciently competent onsaety and health issues;

a qualied and experienced•

construction managementproessional or

civil/structural engineeringor other experiencedbuilding proessional asthe coordinator or saetyand health matters duringthe execution stage, i.e.someone with thequalications, experienceand skills or managing the construction o acilitieso a similar type and size provided that they aresuciently competent on saety and health issues.

Good practices:

Considering the competencies o these experts, theirrecord o past perormance and the resources that

they will be able to devote to the project.

Naming a project representative with adequatequalications, when the coordinator or saety andhealth matters is a legal person (i.e. a company).

Involving other experts i there is a need or complexspecialities (e.g. large excavations in an environmentthat may involve special hazards).

e) Can other stakeholders act as coordinatorsor saety and health matters?

Clients, project supervisors or other stakeholders can alsoact as coordinators or saety and health matters wherethey have the necessary competences and resources.

Moreover, both coordinators or saety and healthmatters (preparation and execution stage) may bethe same person provided they have the necessarycompetences and resources.

Where a person (legal or natural) is appointed to carryout more than one unction, it should be ensured thatboth unctions will be carried orward without detrimentto other stakeholders, and saety and health.

Good practice:

Ensuring that coordinators are able to act withoutany confict o interest rom other stakeholders in thesame project.

) When should coordinators or saety andhealth matters be appointed and when dotheir tasks end?

Coordinators or saety and health matters at projectpreparation stages should be appointed at the earliestopportunity so that they can advise their clients rom

the outset o the project.

Such coordinators need to continue their involvementuntil all preparatory work or starting the project on siteis completed (including the preparation o saety andhealth plans and the rst steps in preparing/updatingsaety and health les) and all design work is similarlycompleted.

Coordinators or saety and health matters or projectexecution stages should be involved as soon as theycan make a signicant contribution to the projecthaving regard to the unctions that they have and the

advantages o their involvement prior to constructionwork commencing on site.

They can useully be appointed beore any contractorsare involved so that they can advise their clients onthe saety and health aspects o such selections. Such




Good practices:

On the smallest o low-risk projects, inormalstakeholder meetings and discussions may well suce.

Large complex projects will require a more structuredapproach so that the identication o hazards andrisks, and their elimination or reduction to acceptablelevels, can be achieved.

Coordinators can useully agree the approach theypropose to take with other stakeholders at the outset.

Liaison during project preparation stages with otherstakeholders, including designers, capable o makingcontributions to eliminating hazards and reducing risks.

Close liaison with the project execution stage

coordinator is normally essential. Drawing up saety and health plans


Article 5

Project preparation stage: duties o coordinators

The coordinator(s) or saety and health mattersduring the project preparation stage appointed inaccordance with Article 3(1) shall:

[…]

(b) draw up, or cause to be draw up, a saety andhealth plan setting out the rules applicable to theconstruction site concerned, taking into accountwhere necessary the industrial activities takingplace on the site; this plan must also includespecic measures concerning work which allswithin one or more o the categories o Annex II;

The development o saety and health plans should beseen as an ongoing process, requiring updates duringthe project preparation stage as well as the project

execution stage.

A key point is that plans should set out rules that willbe applied during construction work to help secureoccupational saety and health. Plans need to take intoaccount any other industrial activities that are takingplace at the site o the construction works where theremay be saety and health implications or either theconstruction work or or the other industrial activities.

Plans must set out specic measures that will need tobe taken during construction to address saety andhealth risks where 10 specied types o work activities

are to be undertaken. These are listed in Annex II to theDirective.

Good practice:

It is good practice to consult other stakeholders andinterested parties when preparing plans.

Once construction work commences, it is thecoordinators or saety and health during projectexecution stages who have to update saety and healthplans.

This guide contains urther advice on saety and healthplans.

See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan, p. 59➜

Saety and health le


Article 5



[…]

(c) prepare a le appropriate to the characteristics o

the project containing relevant saety and healthinormation to be taken into account during anysubsequent works.

Coordinators or saety and health matters duringproject preparation stages should initiate thepreparation o saety and health les.

Good practice:

Where there is an existing le, it may be moreappropriate to extend and update that le ratherthan create a new one.

Files should include inormation that is relevant andwill be helpul to others preparing or and carryingout subsequent construction works during the wholelie o the project once the current construction workshave been completed.

The expectation is that coordinators will take the leadand that others involved in project preparation stageswill cooperate in providing them with inormation.

Files are handed to project execution stage coordinatorsor completion. This guide contains urther advice on

saety and health les.See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle, p. 61➜

For examples o the inormation to be included in➜

the saety and health fle, see Annex 6 — Saety and health fle: suggested contents, p. 130



h) What are the unctions o coordinators orsaety and health matters during the projectexecution stage?

The main unctions o coordinators or saety andhealth matters or the project execution stage are to:

coordinate implementation o the general principles•

o prevention during execution stages;coordinate implementation o the principles in Article 8•

o the Directive by employers and the sel-employed;coordinate implementation o the saety and health•

plan by employers and the sel-employed;organise cooperation between employers and the•

sel-employed (including saety meetings and tool-box talks);coordinate arrangements to check that working•

procedures are being correctly implemented;

take steps to ensure that only authorised persons are•

allowed onto their construction sites;update saety and health plans; and•

update saety and health les.•

This part o this guide summarises these unctions.Further useul inormation is also provided elsewherein this guide.

Coordinating the implementation o the generalprinciples o prevention


Article 6

Project execution stage: duties o coordinators

The coordinator(s) or saety and health mattersduring the project execution stage appointed inaccordance with Article 3(1) shall:

(a) coordinate implementation o the generalprinciples o prevention and saety:

when technical and/or organisational aspects—are being decided, in order to plan the various

items or stages o work which are to take placesimultaneously or in succession,when estimating the period required or—completing such work or work stages;

Pre-planning is essential or the sae completiono construction works. Coordinators have key rolesto play during project execution stages, whetherconstruction work by dierent persons is to take placesimultaneously or in succession. Coordinators have tocoordinate the implementation o saety as well as thegeneral principles o prevention. They must do thisduring the project execution stage when:

decisions are being made about how the•

construction work is to be organised;when technical issues are being decided; and•

when deciding how long is required to complete stages•

o the construction work and the work in its entirety.

Coordinators are only concerned with saety andhealth issues and the Directive does not require themto plan construction works or other purposes such

as or generally progressing the works (although theDirective does not prohibit them rom carrying outother unctions as the parties may agree provided thatany such additional commitments do not compromisetheir abilities eectively to act as coordinators). Theirunctions under the Directive are specically relatedto ensuring that such planning takes ull account o saety and o the general principles o prevention andthat sucient time is allowed or the various stages o the construction work. This requires close liaison andgood working relationships between coordinators andthose planning and managing the construction works.

Coordinators are required to pay particular regard to

decision-making aecting how the construction work will be organised and when technical issues are beingdecided.

Coordinators may need to liaise with those takingbroader decisions during the project execution stage(such as clients, projects supervisors and others) shouldthey be taking decisions about how much time will beavailable or the completion o the construction worksor should they be making managerial or technicaldecisions that have implications or the generalprinciples o prevention or saety.

Good practices:

Agreeing at an early stage with project supervisors,employers and the sel-employed how thecoordinator will work with them to ull thecoordinator unctions.

Working closely with those having the majorinfuence on how the construction work will becarried out.

Ensuring that sucient time is allowed in work schedules and plans so that work can be carried outsaely.

Good practices:

Contributing to planning activities to ensure thatincompatible activities are not carried out at thesame time.

Liaising with project preparation stage coordinatorswhen they are taking decisions about how longshould be allowed or the project (and any stages) andwhen they are preparing the saety and health plan

Liaising during the execution stage with otherstakeholders, including designers, where they are

able to make a contribution to eliminating hazardsand reducing risks.

See 1, General principles o prevention (GPP) on➜

saety and health at work, p. 17




Coordinating the implementation o the principlesin Article 8 o the Directive by employers and thesel-employed


Article 6



[…]

(b) coordinate implementation o the relevant

provisions in order to ensure that employersand, i necessary or the protection o workers,sel-employed persons:

apply the principles reerred to in Article 8 in a—consistent manner,

Coordinators have to take steps to coordinateimplementation by employers (i.e. contractors,subcontractors) and, where necessary, sel-employedpersons to ensure that they apply in a consistentmanner the principles mentioned in Article 8 o theDirective.

Article 8 requires employers and, where necessary, thesel-employed to apply the principles set out in Article6 o Framework Directive 89/391/EEC. Briefy, Article 6o the Framework Directive obliges them to:

take measures to ensure the saety and health pro-•

tection o workers, to prevent risks and to provide in-ormation, training and the organisation and meansor achieving these objectives, including the needto adjust measures to take account o changingcircumstances and to improve current situations;implement the general principles o prevention;•

carry out risk assessments and take preventative•

measures to improve saety and health by action inall their activities and at all managerial levels;

take into consideration workers’ saety and health•

capabilities;consult workers (and/or their representatives) when•

new technologies are being introduced;adequately instruct workers beore they enter areas•

o serious and specic danger;cooperate and coordinate their activities, and ex-•

change inormation or the purposes o saety and

health with other employers sharing the same work-place; andensure that workers do not bear any nancial costs•

or work-related saety, hygiene and health measures.

The prime unction o coordinators is to coordinate theimplementation o these obligations by others and notto perorm those obligations or them.

Good practices:

Coordinators agreeing with other stakeholders atthe outset how they will carry out this coordinatingunction.

Taking a risk-based approach that avoids unnecessarybureaucratic burdens.

Agreeing ways that will be eective on the particularproject.

Agreeing common approaches and actions to securesaety and health — and so reduce burdens.

Coordinating implementation o the saety andhealth plan by employers and the sel-employed


Article 6



[…]

(b) coordinate implementation o the relevantprovisions in order to ensure that employersand, i necessary or the protection o workers,sel-employed persons:

[…]

where required, ollow the saety and health—plan reerred to in Article 5 (b);

Similarly, coordinators also have to coordinateimplementation by employers and the sel-employed toensure that they ollow a project’s saety and health plan.



Good practices:

Coordinators agreeing with other stakeholders atthe outset how they will carry out this coordinating

unction.

Coordinators making sure that employers and thesel-employed have access to, and have opportunitiesto comment upon, the saety and health planprepared by the project preparation stagecoordinator.

Coordinators arranging start-up meetingsimmediately beore execution stages begin. Allemployers should be invited and urther similarmeetings arranged throughout execution stagesshould be held, especially whenever there are majorchanges in the employers on site.

Coordinators should regularly call or saety meetingsinvolving both employers, representatives o employees and sel-employed persons.

Coordinators carrying out regular reviews withemployers and the sel-employed to ensure thatsaety and health plans are ollowed.

Coordinators giving particular attention to high-risk activities.

Coordinators adding value (and not bureaucracy) tothe implementation o plans.

Organising cooperation between employersincluding the sel-employed


Article 6



[…]

(d) organise cooperation between employers,including successive employers on the samesite, coordination o their activities with aview to protecting workers and preventingaccidents and occupational health hazards andreciprocal inormation as provided or in Article6(4) o Directive 89/391/EEC, ensuring that sel-employed persons are brought into this processwhere necessary;

In brie, Article 6(4) o Framework Directive 89/391/EECrequires employers sharing the same workplace tocooperate and coordinate their activities, and exchangeinormation or the purposes o saety and health withother employers sharing the same workplace. Thisis extended so that the same obligations apply to

sel-employed people as they do to employers; andalso where employers (and the sel-employed) aresuccessively on a site.

Good practices:

Coordinators agreeing with other stakeholders atthe outset how they will carry out this coordinatingunction.

Coordinators working in close harmony with thosewho are managing projects at large.

Coordinators taking a risk-based view when decidingwhat they need to do.


Coordinating arrangements to check that workingprocedures are being correctly implemented


Article 6



[…]

(e) coordinate arrangements to check that theworking procedures are being implementedcorrectly;

It is not the unction o coordinators to check thatworking procedures are being correctly ollowed, butit is their unction to coordinate the arrangements bywhich such checks are made. While the distinction maybe a ne one on smaller simpler sites, it becomes moresignicant as projects become larger in size and more

complex.

The ocus should initially be on coordinating thearrangements that will be in place, and then seeingthat those arrangements are put into practice andthat they are eective. It may be that coordinatorswill wish to monitor or audit how the arrangementsare working. As one part o this, they may wish to seedirectly what happens when working procedures arebeing developed and also to see what happens on sitewhen those working procedures are put into eect; butthat does not mean that they have direct responsibilityor the way in which work is being carried out. That

remains the responsibility o employers and the sel-employed.

Coordinators may wish to pay particular attention tohigh-risk activities including those listed in Annex II toDirective 92/57/EEC.




Good practices:

Coordinators agreeing with other stakeholders atthe outset how they will carry out this coordination

unction.

Coordinators working in close harmony with thosewho are managing projects at large.

Coordinators taking a risk-based view when decidingwhat they need to do.


Taking steps to ensure that only authorised personsare allowed onto construction sites


Article 6



[…]

() take the steps necessary to ensure that onlyauthorised persons are allowed onto theconstruction site.

The steps that coordinatorsneed to take will depend on theparticular project, its location andthe surrounding environment.

It is helpul or coordinators toagree with clients or projectsupervisors at the outset whatis required and how it will be

achieved. Normally, the practical implementation(such as the erection o boundary encing, the issuing

o authorisation permits and on-site security) willbe delegated to a contractor. The coordinator’s roleis then one o checking that the unction is beingsatisactorily perormed by the contractor.

See 4, Managing risks during construction➜

projects, p. 79

Good practices:

I there is no national standard o general saetyand health requirements (e.g. the Irish Sae Pass)

beore persons are permitted access to constructionsites, coordinators and clients can determinealternative rules about who is permitted to enter theirconstruction site.

Coordinators agreeing with clients’/projectsupervisors’ security specications that will preventsite access by the unauthorised.

Coordinators monitoring that the agreed precautionsare being taken and that they are eective.

Updating saety and health plans


Article 6



[…]

(c) make, or cause to be made, any adjustmentsrequired to the saety and health plan reerred toin Article 5(b) to take account o the progress o the work and any changes which have occurred;

Coordinators should ensure that saety and healthplans are regularly reviewed having regard to thenature and scale o a project and the saety and healthrisks that it poses.

Reviews can typically be carried out when additionalemployers carrying out high-risk work are selectedor a project so that their observations can be takeninto account, beore commencing major stages o a

project, at intermediate intervals as may be necessaryhaving regard to the particular project and wheneverit is apparent that a plan is not achieving its intendedpurpose.

Relevant stakeholders should be consulted to avoidthe possibility that changes to the plan to suit oneemployer do not inadvertently disadvantage thesaety and health o another‘s workers.

Adjustments to plans should be brought to theattention o those employers and sel-employedpersons who may be aected.



Good practices:

Coordinators agreeing with other stakeholders atthe outset how they will carry out this coordination

unction.

Coordinators making sure that employers and thesel-employed have opportunities to infuenceadjustments to the plan through regularly addressingsaety at meetings, and through introductorymeetings when new employers are introduced to theproject.


Updating saety and health les

Project preparation stage coordinators will passincomplete saety and health les to project executionstage coordinators so that les can be adjusted inthe light o urther inormation that later becomesavailable. The expectation is that coordinators will takethe lead in completing les and that others involved inthe project execution stage will cooperate in providingthem with inormation.

See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle, p. 61➜

2.3.6 Employersa) Denition


Article 3

Denitions

For the purposes o this Directive, the ollowingterms shall have the ollowing meanings:

[…]

(b) employer: any natural or legal person who hasan employment relationship with the workerand has responsibility or the undertaking and/or establishment;

A construction project may involve one or moreemployers.

Contractors and subcontractors, designers, etc., maybe employers and have workers on a construction site.

Example 72:

A company ‘A’ has entered into a works contract toinstall a heating and ventilation system or a private

client who is constructing an oce building. Thiscompany employs 10 employees or workers onthis project. The company ‘A’ is an employer and acontractor.

The company ‘A’ subcontracts the thermal insulationwork to a company ‘B’ which employs one worker onthe site. Company ‘B’ is also an employer.

Companies ‘A’ and ‘B’ are responsible or the saety andhealth o their respective employees and they haveurther obligations where their work may adverselyaect other workers.

b) Functions o employers

The obligations o employers under Directive 92/57/EECare explained in this guide. Employers will have urtherobligations under a range o saety and health directives,most notably Framework Directive, 89/391/EEC andits individual directives. These are beyond the scope o this guide although some mention is made o someFramework Directive articles where they are specicallymentioned in Directive 92/57/EEC.


Article 9

Obligations o employers

In order to preserve saety and health on theconstruction site, under the conditions set out inArticle 6 and 7, employers shall:

(a) in particular when implementing Article 8, takemeasures that are in line with the minimumrequirements set out in Annex IV;

(b) take into account directions rom thecoordinator(s) or saety and health matters.

Article 6 sets out how construction work should becarried out on a construction site to secure saety andhealth by placing unctions on project execution stagecoordinators. Briefy, employers need to note thatthe conditions set out by Article 6 give a number o important unctions to coordinators and that employersneed to cooperate with coordinators so that thoseunctions can be successully perormed. For advice onwhat these unctions are, see Article 6.

Article 7 makes clear that the principle o employers’responsibilities under Framework Directive 89/391/EECor the saety and health o their workers is unaected bythe responsibilities and unctions o other stakeholders ina construction project.




Employers have to implement the requirements o Article 8 insoar as their activities aect the saety andhealth o their workers and other construction workers.

Article 8 comprehensively covers the issues that arelikely to secure the saety and health o constructionworkers on a project. Annex IV sets minimumrequirements or a wide range o issues specic toconstruction work and employers have to meet theseminimum requirements when taking steps to complywith Article 8.

Employers have to take into account directions romcoordinators on matters o saety and health. These canbe wide-ranging given the unctions that coordinatorshave, including or saety and health plans and lesand or coordination unctions in securing saety andhealth during construction works. Employers should

note that they need to take account o directionsrom project preparation stage coordinators as well asproject execution stage coordinators.

See 2.3.5(h), What are the unctions o ➜

coordinators or saety and health matters duringthe project execution stage?, p. 46

Employers who are personally engaged in work activities on construction sites have additionalobligations.

See 2.3.6(c), Employer personally engaged in➜

work activity, p. 53

Example 73:

A company specialises in repairing the acades o buildings. It employs our workers with specialistskills.

This employer normally carries out work at heightusing working platorms suspended rom roo level.

The saety and health plan prepared or the projectspecies that the work should be perormed usingtraditional scaolding placed around the peripheryo the building because other trades need to ollowon ater the repairs have been carried out and so thatworkers using the building will not be at risk romalling material and, likewise, members o the public.

The employer thereoretakes the saety and healthplan into account andadopts working methodsusing traditional scaolding.

The employer is thereoreacting in conormity withthe Directive and Annex IV.

Implementation o Article 6 o Directive 89/391/EEC


Article 8

Implementation o Article 6 o Directive 89/391/EEC

When the work is being carried out, the principlesset out in Article 6 o Directive 89/391/EEC shall beapplied, in particular as regards:

(a) keeping the construction site in good order andin a satisactory state o cleanliness;

(b) choosing the location o workstations bearingin mind how access to these workplaces isobtained, and determining routes or areas or

the passage and movement and equipment;(c) the conditions under which various materials arehandled;

(d) technical maintenance, pre-commissioningchecks and regular checks on installations andequipment with a view to correcting any aultswhich might aect the saety and health o workers;

(e) the demarcation and laying out o areas orthe storage o various materials, in particularwhere dangerous materials or substances areconcerned;

() the conditions under which the dangerousmaterials used are removed;

(g) the storage and disposal or removal o wasteand debris;

(h) the adaptation, based on progress made withthe site, o the actual period to be allocated orthe various types o work or work stages;

(i) cooperation between employers and sel-employed persons;

(j) interaction with industrial activities at the placewithin which or in the vicinity o which theconstruction site is located.

The principles set out in Article 6 o Framework Directive89/391/EEC are the general principles o prevention.



Items (a) to (j) set out above cover the general activitiesthat occur on construction sites and require no urtherexplanation in this guide.

Employers have to apply the general principles o prevention when they carry out such activities. Theyadditionally have to ensure that the measures theytake are in line with the minimum requirements set outin Annex IV to Directive 89/391/EEC.

See 4.1.3, Concluding preparations beore starting➜

construction work, p. 92; and 4.2(c), Managing projects or saety and health, p. 104



Inormation or workers


Article 11


1. Without prejudice to Article10 o Directive 89/391/EEC,workers and/or theirrepresentatives shall beinormed o all the measuresto be taken concerning theirsaety and health on theconstruction site.

2. The inormation must becomprehensible to theworkers concerned.

Briefy, Article 10 o Directive 89/391/EEC requiresemployers to provide inormation to workers and/ortheir representatives about:

saety and health risks;•

the protective and preventative measures that will be•

taken by their employer; andwhich people have been designated to deal with rst•

aid, reghting and emergency evacuation.

Article 11 o Directive 92/57/EEC requires workers to beinormed more generally about what is to be done tosecure their saety and health while they are workingat particular construction sites. Employers need toensure that the inormation is provided. They canarrange or others to do this so long as the unctionis properly discharged. For instance, or some projectsthere may be a common approach to the provision o general inormation that is applicable to all workers onthe site. In such instances, individual employers wouldthen provide urther inormation particular to theirown workers.

Comprehension is an issue raised by the Article.

Those providing inormation need to ensure thatit is comprehensible. Inormation needs to be clearand concise; people need to be given time to absorband understand it. It need not be in written orm.Word o mouth, illustrations and video presentationsmay achieve equal or better results. Care needs tobe taken that workers on sites where the commonlanguage is not their native tongue ully understandthe inormation they are given.

Good practices:

Coordinators making campaigns on specic topics(e.g. personal protective equipment, noise, etc.).

Having short weekly toolbox talks where saety andhealth is an integrated item.

On larger or more complex construction sitesrequesting a specic introductory course beore anyworker can enter the site.

Example 74:

The coordinator and employers on the project agreethat a common video induction presentation willbe given to all workers beore they are authorised to

enter the construction site. This presentation dealswith issues that aect all workers on the project (e.g.general saety and health risks at the project andwhat collective measures are being taken to combatthem, emergency procedures and the site rules thatare applicable to all. Workers will also be given smalldurable cards with essential reminders.

The coordinator and employersagree to have a ‘hazards’ board thatis updated with inormation aboutparticular ‘hazards o the day’.

They also agree to arrange regular

‘toolbox talks’ or all workers thatocus on topics relevant to the stageo construction.

Employers understand that they need tocomplement this inormation with urther saetyand health inormation that is particular to theirown workers during the activities that they are toundertake beore the activities start and during them.

They include short reviews by each gang beore work starts on every working day.

Example 75:A small contractor employs a range o trades tocarry out short-term repair work that oten lasts lessthan a ew hours. This business has saety and healthinormation that is likely to apply to nearly all o itswork; this is explained to all new workers as a parto their initial induction. Regular saety briengsare arranged to remind workers. Succinct job cardsare issued or all work activities and these containany additional inormation that is unique to theparticular job.

See Training, inormation, consultation and ➜

participation, p. 98; Inormation, consultationand participation — workers and/or their representatives, p. 106; and Site access pointsand routes, p. 95




Consultation and participation o workers


Article 12


Consultation and participation o workers and/or o their representatives shall take place in accordancewith Article 11 o Directive 89/391/EEC on matterscovered by Articles 6, 8 and 9 o this Directive,ensuring whenever necessary proper coordinationbetween workers and/or workers’ representativesin undertakings carrying out their activities at theworkplace, having regard to the degree o risk andthe size o the work site.

Article 11 o Framework Directive 89/391/EEC setsout in detail how workers and their representativesshould be consulted on saety and health issues. It isbeyond this guide to provide detailed advice on thegeneralities o what that Directive requires.

Briefy, workers are entitled to be consulted on mattersrelated to their saety and health and to make proposalsor the improvement o any preventative measuresthat are to be implemented by the employer. Thisconsultation and participation can typically include:

selection o personal protective equipment;•

collective protective equipment (e.g. guard rails, saety•

nets, etc.);saety and health training programs; and•

a range o other issues relevant to the workplace.•

Article 12 o Directive 92/57/EEC requires that thisconsultation and participation is extended to theollowing issues, briefy, the:

coordination o the implementation o the general•

principles o prevention and other provisions at theconstruction site (Article 6);the possible need to make adjustments to saety and•

health plans (Article 6);cooperation, coordination and the sharing o •

inormation between employers (Article 6);coordination o arrangements or checking working•

procedures (Article 6);exclusion o unauthorised people rom the•

construction site (Article 6);core employer unctions in Article 6 o Framework •

Directive 89/391/EEC (Article 8); andemployer obligations o Directive 92/57/EEC (Article 9).•

Article 12 requires that there is coordination betweenworkers and/or workers’ representatives. Note shouldbe taken o the degree o risk and the size o theworksite when deciding what coordination there

should be.

Good practices:

The coordinator and employers on the project agreethat a common approach will be taken to worker

consultation and participation. Opportunities orconsultation and participation are introduced intoall induction presentations and toolbox talks. A‘saety suggestions’ box is provided, regular ‘opendoor’ opportunities to speak to senior managersare introduced and a saety and health committeeis established or the project with membershiprefecting the state o progress and the hazards.

Representatives o all contractors and otheremployers executing the works on the site willparticipate in the committee.

Employers understand that they need to

complement this consultation and participation asnecessary with their own company arrangements.

The employer integrates consultation andparticipation into initial worker induction and regularsaety briengs.

See Training, inormation, consultation➜

and participation, p. 98; and Inormation,consultation and participation — workers and/or their representatives, p. 106

c) Employer personally engaged in work

activityWhat does Directive 92/57/EEC say?

Article 10

[…]

2. In order to preserve saety and health on thesite, where employers are personally engaged inwork activity on the construction site, they shall:

(a) comply in particular with the ollowing,mutatis mutandis:

(i) Article 13 o Directive 89/391/EEC;(ii) Article 4 o Directive 89/655/EEC and therelevant provisions o Annex I thereto;

(iii) Articles 3, 4(1), (2), (3), (4), (9) and 5 o Directive 89/656/EEC;

(b) take account o the comments o thecoordinator(s) or saety and health.



Employers who are personally engaged in work activity on a construction site are a separate groupo persons with certain speciic obligations. They

have to:take care as ar as possible or their own saety and•

health and that o other persons aected by theirwork activities;comply with certain requirements o Directive•

2009/104/EU relating to the sae use o work equipment;comply with certain requirements o Directive•

89/656/EEC relating to personal protectiveequipment; andtake account o the comments o coordinators or•

saety and health.

Guidance on these other directives is beyond the scope

o this guide.

d) Employers’ responsibilities underFramework Directive 89/391/EEC


Article 7

[…]

2. The implementation o Articles 5 and 6, and o paragraph 1 o this Article shall not aect theprinciple o employers’ responsibility as providedor in Directive 89/391/EEC.

The unctions assigned to coordinators by Directive92/57/EEC do not relieve employers rom theirresponsibilities under Framework Directive 89/391/EEC.

Directive 92/57/EEC assigns additional responsibilitiesto employers to refect the nature o construction work and the requirements in the Directive or addressinghazards and risks.

2.3.7 Contractors and subcontractors

In common usage, a contractor is a person (naturalor legal) who undertakes or manages constructionworks; a subcontractor is a person who undertakesor manages construction work assigned to them by acontractor.

The Directive specically reers to contractors indetermining whether coordinators are required (i.e.more than one contractor) and in the inormationrequired by the ‘prior notice’.

The Directive makes no mention o subcontractors

because they are considered to be contractors.For the purposes o this Directive, contractors andsubcontractors will either be employers or sel-employed people; they should ull the unctionsassigned to them.

2.3.8 Sel-employed persons

a) Denition


Article 2

[…]

(d) ’sel-employed person’ means any person otherthan those reerred to in Article 3(a) and (b) o Directive 89/391/EEC whose proessional activitycontributes to the completion o a project;

For the purposes o this Directive, sel-employedpersons are not persons employed by an employer and

they are not employers; they are other persons whoseproessional activities contribute to the completion o a project at whatever stage. Other denitions o sel-employed persons are o no relevance.

Sel-employed persons have particular unctions toperorm under this Directive. In many respects, theyare treated as though they were both employees andemployers.

b) Duties


Article 10

Obligations o other groups o persons

1. In order to preserve saety and health on theconstruction site, sel-employed persons shall:

(a) comply in particular with the ollowing,mutatis mutandis:(i) the requirements o Article 6(4) and

Article 13 o Directive 89/391/EEC andArticle 8 and Annex IV to this Directive;

(ii) Article 4 o Directive 89/655/EEC and the

relevant provisions o Annex I thereto;(iii) Article 3, Article 4(1) to (4) and (9) andArticle 5 o Directive 89/656/EEC;

(b) take into account directions rom thecoordinator(s) or saety and health matters.

Briefy, sel-employed persons have to:cooperate and coordinate their activities, and ex-•

change inormation or the purposes o saety andhealth with employers, other workers and other sel-employed people sharing the same workplace;take care as ar as possible or their own saety and•

health and that o other persons aected by theirwork activities;comply with the requirements o Article 8 o this•

Directive;comply with the requirements o Annex IV to this•

Directive;




comply with the requirements o Article 4 o Di-•

rective 2009/104/EU and the relevant provisionso Annex I thereto relating to the sae use o work

equipment;comply with the requirements o Article 3, Article 4(1)•

to (4) and (9) and Article 5 o Directive 89/656/EECrelating to personal protective equipment; andtake into account directions rom the coordinators or•

saety and health matters.

For urther inormation, see the relevant parts o thisguide.

Good practices:

The coordinator taking steps to ensure that sel-

employed persons are suciently inormed and havesucient training, knowledge and experience o saety and health issues relevant to their work.

Sel-employed persons ensuring that they sucientlyplan, organise and monitor their work or theirsaety and health and or that o others according toprovisions included in saety and health plans.

2.3.9 Workers and their

representatives

a) Denition


Article 3

DenitionsFor the purposes o this Directive, the ollowingterms shall have the ollowing meanings:

(a) worker: any person employed by an employer,including trainees and apprentices but excludingdomestic servants;

[…]

(c) workers’ representative with specicresponsibility or the saety and health o workers: any person elected, chosen ordesignated in accordance with national lawsand/or practices to represent workers whereproblems arise relating to the saety and healthprotection o workers at work;

These denitions are sel-explanatory.

Formal elections o workers’ representatives mayperhaps create problems where the turnover o workersis high due to the nature o the project. Selection byother permitted means might provide an alternativeway orward, subject to national legislation.

Good practices:

On large projects, agreeing at the outset withemployers, workers and/or their representatives how

workers’ representatives will be selected according tonational legislation.

On smaller projects, considering the selection o acommon workers’ representative working acrossdierent contractors.

Considering the selection o regional representativesor the workers.

b) Inormation o workers


Article 11


1. Without prejudice to Article 10o Directive 89/391/EEC, workersand/or their representativesshall be inormed o allthe measures to be takenconcerning their saety andhealth on the construction site.

2. The inormation must be comprehensible to theworkers concerned.

Workers have the right to be inormed o the measuresthat will be taken to address saety and health risks,including on matters such as rst aid, reghting andemergency evacuation.

See Inormation or workers, p. 52➜

c) Consultation o workers


Article 12


Consultation and participation o workers and/or o their representatives shall take place in accordancewith Article 11 o Directive 89/391/EEC on matterscovered by Articles 6, 8 and 9 o this Directive,ensuring whenever necessary proper coordinationbetween workers and/or workers’ representativesin undertakings carrying out their activities at theworkplace, having regard to the degree o risk andthe size o the worksite.

Article 11 o Framework Directive 89/391/EEC setsout in detail how workers and their representativesshould be consulted on saety and health issues. It isbeyond this guide to give good practice advice on thegeneralities o what it requires.




2.4 Documents required orprevention

Directive 92/57/EEC introduces the ollowing threedocuments:

Prior notice,•

Saety and health plan,•

Saety and health le.•

In brie, prior notices give notication to thecompetent authorities o new projects, while saetyand health plans and saety and health les aim toidentiy and prevent occupational saety and healthrisks, the rst during project execution stages and thesecond during subsequent construction work overthe ‘whole lie’ o a acility.

The preparation o saety and health plans andsaety and health les should start during aproject’s preparation stage. Where appropriate,they should be included in any tendering or similar

pre-contract document exchanges so that allprospective contractors may take them into accountwhen preparing their proposals.

Both are open and dynamic documents. They shouldbe updated throughout the lie o the project so thatthey serve their intended purposes.

There are other documents that may typically becreated during a project. These include:

pre-construction inormation that clients, assisted by•

project supervisors and coordinators or saety andhealth matters at project preparation stages, put to-gether to assist designers and contractors carryingout their work; andrisk assessments made by project stakeholders under•

the Framework Directive or as a means or ullling

unctions stakeholders have under Directive 92/57/EEC.

The ollowing table summarises when prior notices andsaety and health plans and les are required. It alsoindicates when coordinators should be appointed.

Conditions or the provision o documents required or prevention and appointment o coordinators

Number o contractors(including

subcontractors)

Prior noticeSaety andhealth plan

Saety andhealth le

Appointmento coordinators

Less than 31 workingdays and 21 workers,and less than501 person days.

More than 30 workingdays and 20 workers,or more than500 person days.

One contractor Note that nationalderogations arepermissible i there isno particular risk.

More than onecontractor(includingsubcontractors)

Note that nationalderogations arepermissible i there isno particular risk.

Red indicates that there is no need to prepare the document or to appoint coordinators.Green indicates that documents and/or coordinators are required.



2.4.1 Prior notice

a) Denition


Article 3

[…]

3. In the case o constructions sites:

— on which work is scheduled to last longer than30 working days and on which more than20 workers are occupied simultaneously, or

— on which the volume o work is scheduled to

exceed 500 person-days,

the client or the project supervisor shallcommunicate a prior notice drawn up in accordancewith Annex III to the competent authorities beorework starts.

The prior notice must be clearly displayed on theconstruction site and, i necessary, periodicallyupdated.

The prior notice aims to inorm the competentauthorities (normally the Labour Inspectorate) when

work is to commence on construction sites. In orderthat the competent authority can be aware o projectsrom their inception, some Member States require theprior notice to be sent as soon as a coordinator hasbeen appointed.

Clients or project supervisors can send prior notices.The ormat o such notication (in paper ormat orelectronically) is dened at national level. Work cannotstart on site unless such notice has been given.

Once construction work starts, the prior notice mustbe clearly displayed at site and it should be periodicallyupdated, i necessary.

Good practice:

Sending prior notice to the competent authorityat the time the design and other preparatory work started so that the competent authority has theopportunity to meet with the project stakeholdersduring the design and preparatory work and thenupdating this notication beore commencing work on the construction site. Sending urther notice tothe competent authorities where there are signicantchanges to the inormation that has been provided(e.g. duration, nature o the works, etc.).

b) Application

Prior notice is required i work on a site is scheduled

to last more than 30 working days and on whichmore than 20 workers are occupied simultaneously. Aworking day is a day on which any construction work is carried out no matter how much or how little. Thesimultaneous working o more than 20 workers is notrequired throughout the construction work; it simplyhas to be scheduled at some point during the work.

Prior notice is also required i the work is scheduledto exceed 500 person-days. A ‘person-day’ means aday on which a construction worker works on theproject. For instance, i 10 workers are scheduled to beengaged in construction work or 10 days, that wouldequate to 100 person-days and would not require prior

notice. Fiteen workers or 40 days would equate to600 person-days and would require prior notice as it isabove the threshold o 500 person-days.

Clients should seek advice rom other parties involvedin their projects i they are unsure whether thethresholds or prior notice will be exceeded.

c) Requirements


ANNEX III

CONTENT OF THE PRIOR NOTICE REFERRED TO INARTICLE 3(3), FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE DIRECTIVE

1. Date o orwarding:

2. Exact address o the construction site:

3. Client(s) (name(s) and address(es)):

4. Type o project:

5. Project supervisor(s) (name(s) and address(es)):

6. Saety and health coordinators(s) duringthe project preparation stage (name(s) andaddress(es)).

7. Coordinator(s) or saety and health mattersduring the project execution stage (name(s) andaddress(es)):

8. Date planned or start o work on the constructionsite:

9. Planned duration o work on the construction site:

10. Estimated maximum number o workers on theconstruction site:

11. Planned number o contractors and sel-employed persons on the construction site:

12. Details o contractors already chosen:




The inormation that is required is sel-explanatory.Its display is also important not least to inormemergency and rescue services about the possible

number o workers that could be involved. Someinormation can only be given ater contractors havebeen chosen. It is important or competent authoritiesto know the key contractors as well as the estimatednumber o workers on the construction site and it isvery important to update the prior notice i these arenot known suciently early.

2.4.2 Saety and health plan

a) Preliminary remarks

Saety and health plans:aim to identiy and put in place arrangements or pre-•

venting occupational saety and health risks duringthe execution stages o projects;place risk assessment and risk management at the core•

o improved saety and health perormance; andare essential tools or managing saety and health•

issues on construction sites.

All projects require saety and health plans (whetheror not there is a coordinator) unless the MemberState has decided to introduce derogations that arepermitted by the Directive. For small, low-risk projectswith a single contractor, a risk assessment made underthe Framework Directive may be sucient or a saety

and health plan.A derogation is not permitted i the project involveswork involving ‘particular risks’ or ‘prior notice’is required. You will need to clariy the nationalrequirements or your project.

Early recognition o occupational saety and healthrisks enables clients and other stakeholders to plan,organise and put in place measures to protect thesaety and health o workers who would otherwise beexposed to uncontrolled risks.

This means in particular that:

risks to all those involved in construction and risks to•

third parties rom the construction site can be identi-ed, eliminated where possible and, where they can-not, the remaining risks can be eectively managed;andthe likelihood o personal injury, property damage•

and delay can be reduced;costs can be reduced by better management and•

increased eciency in the use o labour and plant.

Experience shows that a planned approach tooccupational saety and health has other benetssuch as better project management, improved quality,

reduced costs and increased eciency. Planningthereore creates opportunities or a sae project thatis on schedule, o the right quality and within costs.

Plans should not simply be a bureaucratic exercise.Rather, they should add real value to project

management unctions in combating risks to the saetyand health o people exposed to construction work. Itis important to ensure a broad ownership o the saety

and health plan among all stakeholders involved in theconstruction project.

b) Denition


Article 3

[…]

2. The client or the project supervisor shall ensurethat prior to the setting up o a construction site asaety and health plan is drawn up in accordance

with Article 5(b).

The Member States may, ater consulting bothmanagement and the workorce, allow derogationsrom the provisions o the rst subparagraph, exceptwhere it is a question o:

work involving particular risks as listed in—Annex II, orwork or which prior notice is required—pursuant to paragraph 3 o this Article.


Article 5



[…]

(b) draw up, or cause to be drawn up, a saety andhealth plan setting out the rules applicable

to the construction site concerned, takinginto account where necessary the industrialactivities taking place on the site; this plan mustalso include specic measures concerning work which alls within one or more o the categorieso Annex II;

Plans set out rules that have to be applied duringconstruction work to help secure occupational saetyand health. Plans need to take into account any otherindustrial activities that are taking place at the siteo the construction works where there may be saetyand health implications or either the construction

work or or the other industrial activities. Plans mustset out specic measures that will need to be takenduring construction to address saety and health risksas regards any activities that are to be carried out atsite, inter alia, those that are mentioned in Annex II tothe Directive.



Good practices:

Preparing saety and health plans that areproportionate to the size o the site and the risks

involved.

Preparing saety and health plans that take intoaccount the risks to which workers and other peoplemay be exposed.

Plans can be benecial even in the case wherea Member State does not require one. In suchcases, a client and their contractor can record theiragreements about how the construction work will becarried out in a simple plan.

Where there is no coordinator, clients, designersand contractors should agree who will prepare the

plan and what will be included. As plans relate toconstruction activities, contractors would normally beexpected to take the lead.

c) Application

Coordinators or saety and health during the projectpreparation stage have to ensure that saety and healthplans are drawn up. They can prepare plans themselvesor they can take steps to ensure others do so in whichcase they need to ensure that plans are satisactory.

See 2.3.5(g), What are the unctions o ➜

coordinators or saety and health matters duringthe project preparation stage?, p. 44

Others who may be in a position to draw up a planor parts o a plan will generally be one or more o theother project stakeholders. It is important to clariywho is to contribute to the preparation o a plan at theearliest opportunity as the start o construction work could otherwise be delayed.

Whoever takes the lead in preparing a plan, othersshould be consulted. These include:

clients;•

designers;•

project execution stage coordinators as they will•

be more directly involved during the constructionstage;utilities companies;•

the contractors involved in the project;•

certain suppliers, or instance o concrete elements or•

ventilation equipment.

A sensible risk-based approach should be taken so thatthe plan contributes towards improving occupationalsaety and health, including through cooperativeand collaborative working between the projectstakeholders. Plans should be comprehensible, clearly

expressed and proportionate to the risks.They should be prepared in such a way as to be adynamic or ‘living’ document that can be expandedduring the construction process according to thecharacteristics and the risks that will be present.

Plans enable stakeholders to:identiy and review the hazards and risks rom the•

work and rom the working environment;

decide how these can best be addressed;•

organise and make necessary arrangements beore•

the work starts;take a structured approach during the work; and•

have a benchmark against which to monitor and•

review perormance.

Clients or their project supervisors will need to check with their project preparation stage coordinatorswhether a suitable and sucient plan has beenprepared beore they permit work to start in setting upthe site.

Plans should be made available to clients and project

supervisors, coordinators or saety and healthmatters during construction stages, contractors andemployers, sel-employed persons and workers´ andtheir representatives so that they may appreciatewhat contributions they are expected to make duringproject execution stages.

d) Requirements

Saety and health plans are required or all constructionsites unless a Member State has allowed derogation inaccordance with Article 3(2) o the Directive.

A derogation is not permitted i the project involveswork involving ‘particular risks’ or ‘prior notice’is required. You will need to clariy the nationalrequirements or your project.

See 2.4.1, Prior notice, p. 58; and 2.5.1, Work ➜

involving particular risks to the saety and healtho workers, p. 63

The Directive’s requirement or saety and health plansdoes not release employers and other persons romany obligations they may have under this or otherdirectives.

e) Contents o saety and health plans

Saety and health plans serve primarily to set out therules applicable to the construction site concernedand must specically deal with any activities that areto be carried out at the site including those that arementioned in Annex II to the Directive. They should takeinto account any other industrial activities taking placeat the site. Plans can assist in coordinating measuresthat are relevant to a number o contractors.

Plans can useully cover other matters. A comprehensiveplan or a large complex might include the sorts o

issues set out in Annex 5 to this guide. However, it isimportant that the contents, ormat and style o a planis appropriate having regard to the hazards and riskson the project.




Annex 5 may also serve as a checklist or smaller projectsprovided a sensible approach is taken in determininga plan’s contents.

Plans can be arranged under the ollowing majorheadings:

general inormation about the project;•

project-specic inormation and inormation sources;•

inormation on how the project will be managed;•

arrangements or controlling signicant risks; and•

arrangements or contributing or the saety and•

health le.

Plans may be developed at the outset to cover all o theconstruction work that will be involved. However, it isprobable that such an approach is unrealistic or majorprojects, not least because nal designs and contractor

selection or some o the high-risk activities may notbe suciently advanced or complete. Where this is so,plans can be structured so that they can be updated andextended to cover such activities provided that they areinitially suitable or the early construction work.

Good practices:

Agreeing at an early stage who will prepare, who willbe consulted and who will contribute to a plan.

Ensuring plans are comprehensible, clearly expressedand proportionate to the risks.

Making plans readily available so that others canconsult them.

Keeping plans up to date.

See Annex 5 — Saety and health plan: suggested ➜

contents, p. 126, or urther detailed suggestions onthe kinds o issues that might be included in a plan

) Update


Article 6



[...]

(c) make, or cause to be made, any adjustmentsrequired to the saety and health plan reerredto in Article 5(b) and the le reerred to in Article5(c) to take account o the progress o the work and any changes which have occurred;

Once construction work has commenced, it is thecoordinators or saety and health during projectexecution stages who have to update saety and

health plans.Plans should be regarded as dynamic working aidsthat have to be adapted and updated so that they cancontribute to urther project planning and execution.

Good practices:

Updating might be necessary when:

the means or hoisting materials changes (oten•

cranes are removed once structural work has beencompleted and hoists are installed; thus new risks,such as alls, arise);

the nature and scope o the work changes;•

design changes are made;•

contractors change or additional ones are•

appointed;

clients’ requirements change;•

the surrounding environment changes;•

additional inormation relevant to saety and health•

becomes available;

method statements or tasks change;•

new legal requirements and technical standards•

are introduced.

2.4.3 Saety and health le

a) Denition


Article 5

[…]

(c) prepare a le appropriate to the characteristicso the project containing relevant saety and

health inormation to be taken into accountduring any subsequent works.

Saety and health les are the principal documentsor assisting in identiying and managing risks duringsubsequent design and construction work ater aproject has been completed and throughout the ‘wholelie’ o the nished work until its eventual dismantlingor demolition.

Files should contain relevant occupational saety andhealth inormation that might useully be taken intoaccount.



Example 76:

During the maintenance or replacement o operationalequipment in tunnels, special hazards arise rom the

road or rail trac i the tunnel cannot be closed. Aparticular risk is posed, or instance, when workingin smoke evacuation galleries, i their activation incase o a tunnel re is not precluded. The saety andhealth le must prescribe organisational mitigationprocedures; better still would be technical precautionssuch as double-key systems hindering the activation o dangerous unctions during maintenance.

Files help clients and others byproviding a single document containing essential•

saety inormation about a completed project;making it easier to understand how routine•

maintenance and repairs can be carried out insaety; andmaking the design and planning o subsequent•

construction work easier to achieve.

There is no single detailed list o contents that isapplicable to all projects. The contents o a le mustrefect the hazards and risks o the project underconsideration.

See Annex 6 — Saety and health fle: suggested ➜

contents, p. 130

b) ApplicationA saety and health le is mandatory or all constructionprojects where there are coordinators.

The Directive requires coordinators or saety and healthmatters at the project preparation stage to start thepreparation o the saety and health le. Coordinatorsor saety and health matters at the project executionstage update and complete les as construction work is carried out.

Good practices:

Updating and extending an existing le or a acilitywhen alterations, etc., are being made rather than

starting a new le.

Having a le even where there is only a singlecontractor and no coordinator to prepare it.Clients can make arrangements with other projectstakeholders so that les are prepared and updated.

Clients and coordinators agreeing in the early projectstages the contents, orm (e.g. paper, electronic) andlayout o a le.

Ensuring that les are comprehensible, clear, conciseand well indexed.

Excluding inormation that adds no value to a le.Considering whether the inormation in a le mightuseully be an integral part o other building records,such as maintenance and repairs manuals.

Coordinators letting other stakeholders know whatand when they will be expected to contribute to thepreparation o a le.

Coordinators agreeing who will take the lead atparticular times in the preparation o the le, howbest to make the handover and how to deal withany outstanding inormation. Decisions about thebest way orward are best taken on a project basishaving regard to keeping the interaces betweencoordinators as simple as possible.

Completing les at the earliest opportunity so thatclients have inormation that they need.

Having a system or ensuring that there is a‘controlled’ master copy and or the controlled issueo updates.

Passing les on when ownership changes.

Passing copies to others where a number o people areseparately responsible or the upkeep o a part o a acility.

c) Contents o saety and health les

The contents o the le should be determined by theoreseeable needs o other people designing, planningor carrying out urther construction work on thenished project. Foreseeable high-risk activities shouldbe given particular attention (e.g. work at height, thereplacement o heavy plant items).

Unnecessary text should be excluded. It makes ndingessential inormation more time consuming and dicult.

The contents, orm and ormat will necessarilyvary depending on the project, the client, and theoreseeable hazards and risks. Annex 6 provides achecklist or the suggested contents but each caseshould be decided on its merits.




Account should be taken o any existing les andwhether it is better to update them or create a new le.Such decisions will necessarily need to have regard to

the uture needs o clients, designers and contractorsin readily identiying the inormation they will requirehaving regard to the key hazards and risks.

Contractors should pass all the inormation requiredto complete or update a le to the coordinators. Thistranser o inormation should happen as early aspossible so that there is no delay in completing les.Delays generally lead to increased costs being incurredby all stakeholders and a reduction in the quality o theinormation provided.

Procedures should be in place to ensure that anyinormation rom changes during the execution stage

is available on time to the coordinator.

Files should be handed to clients as soon as they arecompleted. Ideally, this should be at the conclusiono construction or, ailing that, as soon as practicablethereater.


contents, p. 130, or urther detailed suggestions onthe kinds o issues that might be included in a fle

d) Updating les

Saety and health les will be used during the wholelie o the acilities to which they relate. It is thereorehelpul or a le to be kept up to date even i theurther work does not require a le. A le that providesan incomplete record can create dangerous situationsi it is relied upon. Retrospective surveys and otherwork to update a poorly maintained le is liable toprove expensive and can be avoided where there areeective arrangements or keeping les up to date.

Example 77:

Any removal or encapsulation o asbestos or asbestos-containing materials should be noted in the le.

2.5 Works involvingparticular/special risks

2.5.1 Work involving particular risks

to the saety and health o workers


ANNEX II

NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF WORK INVOLVINGPARTICULAR RISKS TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OFWORKERS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3(2), SECONDPARAGRAPH OF THE DIRECTIVE

1. Work which puts workers at risk o burial underearth alls, engulment in swampland or allingrom a height, where the risk is particularlyaggravated by the nature o the work or processesused or by the environment at the place o work or site (*).

2. Work which puts workers at risk rom chemicalor biological substances constituting a particulardanger to the saety and health o workersor involving a legal requirement or healthmonitoring.

3. Work with ionizing radiation requiring the

designation o controlled or supervisedareas as deined in Article 20 o Directive (¹)80/836/Euratom.

4. Work near high voltage power lines.

5. Work exposing workers to the risk o drowning.

6. Work on wells, underground earthworks andtunnels.

7. Work carried out by divers having a system o airsupply.

8. Work carried out by workers in caissons with acompressed-air atmosphere.

9. Work involving the use o explosives.

10. Work involving the assembly or dismantling o heavy preabricated components.

*( ) In implementing point 1, Member States have the option o setting gures or individual situations.

¹( ) OJ No L 246, 17. 9. 1980,p. 1. Last amended by Directive84/467/Euratom (OJ No L 265, 5. 10. 1984,p. 4).

The Directive identies in Annex II certain worksinvolving particular risks that require saety and healthplans to be prepared beore site work commences. TheDirective also requires that saety and health plans toinclude specic measures concerning such work.



The rst category o work identied in Annex IIconcerns the work where the risk is particularlyaggravated by the nature o the work or processes

used or by the environment at the place o work orsite. Member States have the option o setting guresor individual situations and you will need to check national legislation to nd out how this aects yourproject. Three activities are covered by this rstcategory and they are listed in point 1 o Annex II: risk o burial under earth alls, engulment in swampland,alling orm a height.

a) Burial under earth alls (11)

This can occur or a number o reasons such as thegeology, adjacent acilities, previous disturbance o the ground by earlier excavations or by the work that

is proposed; or instance, i vehicles and plant are tobe used close to excavations or i the structure o the ground will beadversely disturbed by the work.The best approach is to identiythe hazards and avoid the risks bygood design. Where the risk cannotbe entirely eliminated, it is usual toprovide temporary supports to thevertical sides o excavations or toslope the sides so that they will bestable without support. Complexexcavations require particular

consideration.b) Engulment in swampland

Some ground will not be able to support the loadsimposed by workers, plant and materials. Theseneed to be identied beore work starts and theyshould then be clearly demarcated and avoided. Saeworking methods using special plant and vehiclesmust be devised where it is necessary to work overswampland.

c) Falling rom a height

This is the most commoncause o atal injuries duringconstruction work. Seriousalls, occasionally atal, canoccur rom the lowest o heights. Falls can occurdue to a number o causessuch as untidy workplaces,slippery suraces and, mostimportantly, the ailure toprovide common protective

measures such as suitable guard rails or to use personalprotective equipment. Falls through ragile materials

are a common cause o serious and atal injuries.

11( ) This is one o the three work types where Member States havethe option o setting gures or individual situations. See AnnexII to the Construction Sites Directive.

Work at height, thereore, requires particularconsideration in construction site saety and healthplans. Again, the best solution is through good

design that eliminates the hazard and the applicationo good management to any residual risks thatremain. For instance, o-site manuacture, pre-assembly at ground level (or in other well controlledenvironments) can reduce work at height. Theprovision o suitable and well maintained temporaryworking platorms and mechanised access platormshelp in reducing risks.

Directive, 2009/104/EC (12), concerning the minimumsaety and health requirements or the use o work equipment by workers at work, particularly addressesthe issue in its Annex II. You will nd comprehensivepractical advice in the non-binding guideline ‘How

to choose the most appropriate work equipment orperorming temporary work at a height’ (13).

d) Chemical or biological substances

Work which puts workers at risk romchemical or biological substancesthat constitute a particular dangerto the saety and health o workersor involving a legal requirement orhealth monitoring always requiresthe preparation o a constructionsite saety and health plan.

Employers and the sel-employedalready have obligations dueto a number o other directives,in particular, the Chemical Agents (14), BiologicalAgents (15) and other substance-specic directives —Asbestos (16).

The directives require a risk-based approach andthose assessments need to be taken into account inconstruction site saety and health plans.

12( ) Directive 2009/104/EC o the European Parliament and o the

Council o 16 September 2009 concerning the minimum saetyand health requirements or the use o work equipment by work-ers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 5.

13( ) http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=140&type=2&urtherPubs=yes

14( ) Council Directive 98/24/EC o 7 April 1998 on the protection o the health and saety o workers rom the risks related to chemi-cal agents at work (ourteenth individual Directive within themeaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 131,5.5.1998, p. 11.

15( ) Directive 2000/54/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 18 September 2000 on the protection o workers romrisks related to exposure to biological agents at work (seventh in-

dividual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive89/391/EEC), OJ L 262, 17.10.2000, pp. 21–45.

16( ) Directive 2003/18/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 27 March 2003 amending Council Directive 83/477/EECon the protection o workers rom the risks related to exposure toasbestos at work, OJ L 97, 15.4.2003, pp. 48–52.




In principle, there are three dierent ways o cominginto contact with chemical substances: rst, assubstances specied or use in a construction project,

e.g. paint, glue, surace coatings, etc.; second, rom thecutting or degradation o construction materials, e.g.wood dust, quartz particles rom concrete, etc.; andthird, as residues rom the past, e.g. asbestos, lead,contaminated land and PCBs, etc.

Asbestos continues to damage the health o construction workers. While it is no longer used in newconstruction, it is liable to be ound in many locationsduring work on existing acilities and pre-constructionsurveys will normally be required. Maintenance anddemolition workers need to be aware o the risks.

Lead is still used in new construction, or example or

roong and decorative cladding, and in repairs andrenovation work. Dust rom such work poses a healthrisk. Lead umes can be a hazard when hot cuttingthrough suraces that have been coated with lead-based paints.

A wide range o chemicals is used in modernconstruction work. This requires designers and usersto consider the hazards and select materials andworking methods that give the best opportunitiesor preventing harmul exposure. There can also beexposure to chemicals in contaminated ground androm contaminated acilities and plant due to industrial

processes, whether or not they are still active or ceasedmany years ago.

Biological agents can be present in the soil, in sewersand drains, in water-cooling towers, in attics, inbasements, in certain workplaces such as biohazardlaboratories, etc.

e) Ionizing radiation

Work with ionizing radiation requir-ing the designation o controlledor supervised areas as dened inDirective 96/29/Euratom (17).

Ionizing radiation can be used oron-site non-destructive testingwhen examining welds and carryingout other investigations. Special

exposure prevention measures will be required underthat Directive and these should be taken into accountin construction site saety and health plans.

Once more, there are ways o avoiding such hazardsaltogether. Alternative non-destructive testingmethods can be used on site and, i there is noalternative to these kinds o examinations, o-site

testing in purpose-built acilities may be an option.

17( ) Council Directive 96/29/Euratom o 13 May 1996 laying downbasic saety standards or the protection o the health o workersand the general public against the dangers arising rom ionizingradiation, OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, pp. 1–114.

Workers may also be at risk o radiation exposure dueto the working environment, or instance at nuclearacilities (e.g. deence establishments, power stations,

research acilities, universities, hospital nuclear medicineacilities, etc.) and rom equipment containing ionizingsources such as density gauges and smoke detectors.

) Work near high voltage power lines or nearto the high voltage installations

Work near high voltage power lines can cause serious andatal injuries due to direct contact with live lines or arcingrom those lines to nearby plant and equipment. Thesehazards can be avoided by good design, by making thelines dead or the duration o thework, (clearly the best option), orby eective management controls

involving sae working methodsand the clear demarcation o zones (in consultation with the lineoperators) rom which plant andmachinery should be excluded.

Work in close proximity tohigh voltage lines during theirinstallation and maintenanceis a highly specialised activity that should only beundertaken by employers and the sel-employed whohave the necessary knowledge and experience.

g) Risk o drowningThis risk can arise when crossing water to reach a place o work, and when working over or nearby water. These riskscan be managed by the provision o suitable systems o work and equipment together with eective means orrescuing and treating workers in the event o an incident.

It is possible to ‘drown’in other situations. Siloscontaining grain andne powders are typicalexamples.

h) Work on wells,underground earthworks and tunnels

Unless properly designed, planned and managed, thesekinds o work have the potential or ground collapsesthat will trap or bury workers underground. The risksare oten exacerbated by the lack o alternative meanso escape. Those on the surace can also be at risk due to the development o swallow holes and risksrom collapsing surace structures. (Note that theConstruction Sites Directive does not apply to drillingand extraction in the extractive industries. See insteadDirective 92/104/EEC) (18).

18( ) Council Directive 92/104/EEC o 3 December 1992 on theminimum requirements or improving the saety and healthprotection o workers in surace and underground mineral-extracting industries (twelth individual Directive within themeaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 404,31.12.1992.



When working in tunnels or sewers, there can also berisks rom suocation, water ingress and explosion inaddition to the more generic risks described elsewhere

such as compressed air.i) Diving using air supply systems

Diving is normallynecessary to get tounderwater places o work. It requires expertisein planning, managingand conducting the work so that the saety andhealth o the divers isprotected. Diving projectplans, diving supervisors

and divers whose health is monitored are requiredtogether with the correct plant and equipment or theplanned dives and or emergencies. Member States arelikely to have their own laws on diving. You will need toclariy the national requirements or your project.

j) Work in caissons in compressed air

Working in compressed air creates the risk o decompression sickness, an acute condition thatcauses pains around joints such as the knees and, morerarely, it can be lie-threatening through adverse eectson the central nervous system. Other risks include

damage to air-containing bodycavities such as the ears andsinuses and long-term chronicconditions that damage hipand shoulder joints.

There is an increased risk o re because compressed aircontains increased quantitieso oxygen and this requiresspecial consideration.

Like diving, it requires specialist expertise, sae systemso work, competent workers, medical surveillance,

eective compression and decompression proceduresand emergency procedures.

Good design can eliminate the need or work incompressed air.

k) Work using explosives

Work involving the use o explosives creates risks romexplosive over-pressure orces,uncontained fying materialsand toxic umes. Premature

detonation, the ailure toachieve the intended collapseand the ailure to detonate

all o the explosive materials are urther hazards thathave to be addressed together with the sae storageand transportation o explosives. Once more, this work

requires expert contractors and consideration whendeveloping the construction site saety and healthplan.

See Explosion risks, p. 75➜

l) Work involving heavy preabricatedcomponents

Work involving the assemblyor dismantling o heavypreabricated componentscreates risks to those workingwith the components andothers as the components aremoved and secured in place.

The work needs to be careullyconsidered and planned.

Workplaces used or very short periods are the normin this kind o activity. Planning needs to ensure thatsae access and egress is provided to them and that theworkplaces are themselves sae.

There can be opportunities to reduce risks by pre-assembly on the ground (a process that can be reversedwhen disassembling) so reducing work at height.

The provision o suitable barriers to prevent alls rom

edges is oten easible as is the provision o poweredarticulating working platorms, or instance whenerecting steel ramed acilities. Designers can makemajor contributions to risk reduction by taking ullaccount during design o the need or sae erectionmethods.

2.5.2. New risks

All new and emergent technologies, processes andactivities require particular attention by all o thestakeholders who infuence the risks that will bemet in a project. These stakeholders include clients,project supervisors, saety and health coordinators,

designers, workers, suppliers o items (e.g. materials,components, plant and equipment) that are neededor the permanent and temporary works, employers,contractors and subcontractors. Such technologies,processes and activities should be subject to asuciently in-depth hazard/risk analysis.

It may be that there will be experiences o others toconsider rom past and current practice throughoutthe world; it may equally be that the new proposal canreasonably be considered as an extension o a knownapproach. In such cases, hazard analysis can be assistedby researching past practical experience and by the

direct involvement o those with expert knowledge,expertise and experience. However, caution is requiredwhen relying on past experience elsewhere especiallywhen inormation is unclear, incomplete, or is solely ormainly coming rom a supplier or other stakeholderwho has a commercial interest.




An apparently good track record does not mean thatthere are no risks in the new approach: it may simplyrefect good luck or a paucity o inormation about

past problems and ailures. Likewise, the particularcircumstances o use may be dierent (e.g. groundconditions).

Crucially, the lack o amiliarity, knowledge andexpertise in designer and contractor teams and inthat o their workers involved in the proposed projectwill need to be ully addressed when there are new orunamiliar hazards and risks. Depending on the natureo the hazards, it may be that representative small-scale trials will be required to better understand whatthe hazards and risks might be.

Hazard and consequence analysis and risk control

proposals should be based upon a ull understandingo what is proposed so that the process hazards canbe properly considered. A mechanistic and overlysimplistic approach that ocuses on generic hazardswill not be sucient. Consideration must be given tohazards that may arise during all stages o design andconstruction, including during intermediate stages o construction rom the plant, equipment, any temporaryworks that may be required and rom repairs/makinggood. Organisational as well as technical actors mustbe considered.

Any major hazard potential that may put any numbero workers or the public at risk must be explored andully addressed.

It is likely that a number o stakeholders will need tobe involved in hazard and consequence analysis andin the subsequent steps o hazard elimination and risk management. A project risk register that identieswhat individual stakeholders are to do and that isregularly reviewed and updated is a useul tool in suchcircumstances.

Example 78:

1. The o-site preabrication o complete bathrooms,the construction o a skeletal structure on site andthe subsequent installation o the bathrooms.

2. New substances, such as adhesives andsurace nishes, that provide increased in-use perormance but which may have addedoccupational saety and health risks duringconstruction.

3. New machinery and plant or gaining workeraccess at greater height.

4. The adoption o tunnelling methods that are wellproven in hard rock or use in other geologicalormations.



3.1 Falls .......................................................................................................................................................................70

3.2 Risks related to electricity .................................................................................................................................70

3.3 Risks related to gas.............................................................................................................................................71

3.4 Risks related to tra c ........................................................................................................................................71

3.5 Risks related to construction machinery .......................................................................................................71

3.6 Risks related to manual handling operations ...............................................................................................72

3.7 Risks related to bad postures ...........................................................................................................................72

3.8 Risks related to the use o explosives .............................................................................................................72

3.9 Risks related to instability.................................................................................................................................72

3.10 Risks related to health .......................................................................................................................................72

3.11 Transport ..............................................................................................................................................................76

3.12 Hygiene ................................................................................................................................................................76

3.13 Other risks ............................................................................................................................................................76

3Hazards and risks during

all stages o a constructionproject — some examples



3.1 Falls

a) Work at height

Falls rom height are the maincauses o atal accidents in theconstruction industries o theMember States o the EuropeanUnion.

The risks related to work at heightmay be subdivided in two groups:

those that may arise rom the all o workers; and•

those that may arise rom the all o objects onto•

those working below.

The rst group o risks is identied as ‘particular risks’

under Appendix II to the Directive.

These risks may arise at most construction sites. Theconsequences are generally more severe the greaterthe alling height. Falls generally occur rom unguardededges or openings at height, through ragile materials,into excavations, rom ladders, rom temporaryplatorms, rom places o work on an existing acilityand on stairways (19).

There are additional requirements in Directive2009/104/EC (20).

b) Erecting and dismantling o scaolding orany other similar equipment

Risks related to scaolding may be subdivided in twogroups:(i) those involved during the assembly, alteration and

dismantling o the scaolding; and(ii) those related to the use o the scaolding (e.g. risk

o slipping).

These risks can be present wheneverscaolds are used. Similar risks arisewhen systems similar to scaoldingare used in alsework.

Directive 2009/104/EC applies toscaolds. It requires that an assembly,use and dismantling plan should bedrawn up by competent persons.

Standardised orms and documentscan assist when checking scaoldson a large project.

19( ) You will nd comprehensive practical advice in the non-bindingguideline ‘How to choose the most appropriate work equipmentor perorming temporary work at a height’ (http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=140&type=2&

urtherPubs=yes).20( ) Directive 2009/104/EC o the European Parliament and o the

Council o 16 September 2009 concerning the minimum saetyand health requirements or the use o work equipment by work-ers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L, 3.10.2009, p. 5.

Some small system scaolds (e.g. small mobile towerscaolds) can be saely erected ollowing limitedtraining and competence assessment provided strict

controls are maintained.c) Falls on the same level

Risks related to alls on the same levelgenerally come about by tripping andslipping. They are likely to be moreprevalent on untidy sites.

3.2 Risks related to electricity

The major risks related to electricityare electrocutions and burns.

Many deaths and injuries arise rom:use o poorly maintained electrical•

equipment;work near overhead power lines;•

contact with underground power•

cables during excavation work orhorizontal boring or drilling;mains electricity supplies;•

use o unsuitable electrical equipment in explosive•

areas;res started by poor electrical installations and aulty•

electrical appliances;

untested worksite distribution boards and deective•

residual-current-operated protective devices.

Working near high voltage power lines can causeserious and atal injuries due to direct contact with livelines or arcing rom those lines to nearby equipment.

Electrical injuries can be caused by a wide range o voltages but the risk o injury is generally greater withhigher voltages.

Alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)electrical supplies can cause a range o injuriesincluding:

electric shock •

electrical burns•

loss o muscle control•

thermal burns.•

There are additional requirements in Directive1999/92/EEC (21).

21( ) Directive 1999/92/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements or im-proving the saety and health protection o workers potentiallyat risk rom explosive atmospheres (teenth individual Direc-tive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC),OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 57.



H a z a r d s a n d r i s k s d u r i n g a l l s t a g e s o a c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t – s o m e e x a m p l e s

3.3 Risks related to gas

Natural gas is usually distributed

through network o buriedtransmission and distribution pipes.

Gas releases can occur as a result o mains ailures but also as a result o accidental damage. Leaks can alsooccur rom bulk storage tanks androm smaller cylinders stored andused on construction sites.

Under certain circumstances, these leaks can result ina re or explosion.

3.4 Risks related to trafca) Work perormed on existing trafc roads

Risks related to working on existing roads with livetrac depend on the type o work to be perormed.

They may include:collisions between vehicles working inside the site,•

and between vehicles passing close to the site;collisions by passing vehicles with site machinery,•

equipment (e.g. scaolds) and workers (perhapswhere the site is not adequately signed and physically

protected);asphalt umes produced during paving works — this•

may aect dierent parts o the body (skin, eyes,throat, etc.) and may cause cancer;exhaust umes and diesel particles.•

Work in existing tunnels canpresent particular risks rom andto moving trac.

Other risks may also beinvolved as or example, heat(manipulating the asphalt), dust(during the excavations or the

preparation o the pavementbase), etc.

Directive 92/58/EEC (22) provides additional requirementsor the provision o saety and/or health sign.

22( ) Council Directive 92/58/EEC o 24 June 1992 on the minimum re-quirements or the provision o saety and/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 245, 26.8.1992.

b) Trafc on sites (machineryand pedestrians)

Risks to pedestrians rom on-sitetrac can be reduced by providingsegregated pedestrian andvehicular routes that are properlydemarcated and by providingadded protection or pedestriansat places o particular risk. Crossingpoints require particular attention.

3.5 Risks related toconstruction machinery

Risks rom construction machinery depend uponthe type o equipment under consideration (e.g.earthmoving equipment, liting equipment, etc.) andthe work activities.

Risks related to earthmoving equipment (backhoes,loader shovel excavators, etc., including theiraccessories) may include: roll-over o the equipment,objects alling onto the equipment, and rommalunctioning saety and other warning devices, etc.

The risks related to liting equipment (e.g. towercranes, mobile cranes, etc., including accessories

such as slings) mayinclude: workers allingrom height during theinstallation, operationand dismantling o theequipment, collapse o the equipment duringuse due to overloadingor during erectionand dismantling, and ailures due to poor slingingtechniques, etc. Demonstrable operator competenceollowing training specic to the machinery, properplanning and supervision o the work, and eectiveinspection, maintenance and repair arrangements are

some o the measures that can be taken to reduce thelikelihood o accidents.

Directive 2009/104/EC (23) concerning the minimumsaety and health requirements or the use o work equipment by workers at work addresses these kindso issues.

23( ) Directive 2009/104/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 16 September 2009 concerning the minimum saetyand health requirements or the use o work equipment by work-ers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 5.



Internal market directives (e.g. Directive 2000/14/EC (24)on noise emission by equipment used outdoors, andDirective 2006/42/EC (25) on machinery) are applicable

in addressing risk.

3.6 Risks related to manualhandling operations

Manual handling generally involves liting and movingloads by hand or other bodily orce. Many people hurttheir backs, arms, hands or eet when routinely litingeveryday loads and not just when liting a single loadproves to be too heavy.

Upper limb disorder reers to the neck, shoulders, arms,wrists, hands and ngers. Repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

can happen in almost any workplace where people dorepetitive, manual activities with awkward postures orprolonged periods o time.

These can cause muscular aches and pains, which mayinitially be temporary but, i such work is not properlymanaged and the early symptoms are not recognised andtreated, can progress to chronic and disabling disorders.

Cumulative damage can build up over time causing painand discomort in people’s backs, arms, hands and legs.Most cases can be avoided by providing suitable litingequipment together with relevant training on both

manual handling and in using the equipment saely.Directive 90/269/EEC (26) on the manual handling o loads where there is a risk particularly o back injury toworkers also applies.

3.7 Risks related to gesturesand postures

These are risks o occupational injury ordisease due to constraining posturesand intense or repetitive physicaleorts. Cumulative damage can occur

and there are other similarities to thepreceding risk example.

In many instances, a ullconsideration o workstation layoutand the materials and equipmentprovided or use can reduce risks.

24( ) Directive 2000/14/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 8 May 2000 on the approximation o the laws o theMember States relating to the noise emission in the environmentby equipment or use outdoors, OJ L 162, 3 .7.2000, p. 1.


Council o 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive95/16/EC (recast), OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 24.

26( ) Council Directive 90/269/EEC o 29 May 1990 on the minimumhealth and saety requirements or the manual handling o loads where there is a risk particularly o back injury to workers(ourth individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EECC), OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.

3.8 Risks related to the useo explosives

Explosives create risk o injury rom the explosion, romprojected or fying material, rom toxic umes and romover pressures.

Explosives should be stored, transported and usedsaely and securely.

Sae systems o work are required to prevent injuryrom explosions and rom projected or fying material.

3.9 Risks related to instability

Risk o injury may be created by alling objects rom

an upper level or rom the collapse o structures,earthworks and equipment.

Instability can adversely aect existing acilities at ornearby the project, new structures under construction andtemporary structures erected as a part o the constructionwork. Loss o structural integrity canbe due to a number o causes. Theseinclude ailures in design especially o temporary works, ailures in correctlyexecuting the works as designedand ailures in properly monitoringthe work being undertaken to take

account o the unoreseen.Complex excavations such as tunnels, shats and deepexcavations in urban areas require particular care.Earthworks such as earth dams can also suer rominstability.

3.10 Risks related to health

a) Physical risks (noise, vibration, burns,extreme temperatures, weatherconditions, etc.)

Noise

Exposure to loud noise can permanentlydamage a person’s hearing. This is most likely i high noise exposure is a regular part o the job.

Occasional or low-level exposure is less likely to causeill health although a single exposure to an extremelyloud noise can cause instantaneous damage. Noisecan also create a saety risk i it makes it dicult orworkers to communicate eectively or stops themhearing warning signals.

Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent.Noise exposure may not just be rom the equipmentbeing operated — it might be produced by xed plant(e.g. a generator) or the activities o another worker.




Who might be aected?Workers who use power tools, such as:•

concrete breakers, pokers and compactors;-

sanders, grinders and disc cutters;- hammer drills;-chipping hammers;-chainsaws;-cartridge-operated tools; and-scabblers or needle guns.-

Workers who operate heavy plant or control machines•

on site, and anyone in close proximity to them.

The Noise Directive 2003/10/EC (27) requires particularsteps to be taken to reduce risk rom exposure to noise.

Vibrations

Vibration rom work with powered hand-held tools,equipment or processes can damage the hands andarms o users causing ‘hand-arm vibration syndrome’.This is a painul, irreversible condition which includes‘vibration white nger’. The eects can be impairedblood circulation, damage to the nerves and muscles,and loss o the ability to grip properly.

The main sources o vibration rompowered hand-held tools are demolitionhammers, drills, hammer drills, anglegrinders, chain saws and hand-heldcircular saws.

Back pain can be caused by or aggravatedby vehicle or machine vibrations that passthrough the vehicle’s seat and into thedriver’s body through the buttocks. This isknown as whole-body vibration. Whole-

body vibration can also be caused by standing on avibrating platorm o a vehicle or machine. In this case,vibration passes into the operator through their eet.

The main sources or vibration are excavators, wheelloaders, caterpillars, graders, scrapers, site dumpers,articulated dump trucks, wheeled (motor) scrapersand rough terrain orklit trucks.

Directive 2002/44/EC (28) requires risks rom vibrationto be addressed.

27( ) Directive 2003/10/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 6 February 2003 on the minimum health and saetyrequirements regarding the exposure o workers to the risks aris-ing rom physical agents (noise) (seventeenth individual Direc-tive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC),OJ L 42, 15.2.2003, p. 38.


Council o 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and saety re-quirements regarding the exposure o workers to the risks arisingrom physical agents (vibration) (sixteenth individual Directivewithin the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC) —Joint Statement by the European Parliament and the Council,OJ L 177, 6.7.2002, p. 13.

Burns

Touching high temperature objects when working in

close proximity to them creates a risk o burning. Theescape o hot liquids, vapours and gases are otherways o suering high temperature burns. Exposure tochemicals can cause burns as can electricity.

Temperature

Temperatures must be appropriate having regardto the working methods and the physical demandso the work. The temperature in rest areas, welareaccommodation and rst-aid acilities should also beappropriate to the particular purpose o such acilities.I orced ventilation systems are used, they should bemaintained in working order and should not expose

workers to draughts that are harmul to health.

Construction workers might be exposed to extremeso temperatures due to the work that they are doing.

Workers can ace high temperatures and be at risk o heat stroke during work such as:

the demolition o metal melting tanks;-welding, especially in conned spaces;-work in live plant rooms especially where additional-stressors are present, such as the use o respiratoryequipment when, say, stripping asbestos; andblast urnace reconstruction.-

Work is best planned to avoid such situations. Wherethat is not possible, temperatures should be kept aslow as possible, such as by allowing more time or aninstallation to cool down and by introducing increasedventilation by cooling air.

Workers can ace extremely cold temperatures inplaces such cold stores. Again, work is best plannedto avoid such situations. Where that is not possible,temperatures should be moderated as ar as possible.

Expert advice should be sought to determine whatreduced working periods are possible in extreme

conditions and what additional precautions are required.You should check what particular requirements applydue to the laws o the relevant Member State.



Weather conditions

Workers should be protected against atmospheric

infuences which could adversely aect their saetyand health.

Weather conditions that may increase risks to saetyand health include:

high winds;•

precipitation — rain and snow;•

icy conditions;•

high humidity;•

exposure to the adverse eects o the sun; and•

extremes o temperature.•

Strong winds can adversely aect the operation o cranes and other liting gear, especially when handling

large sheet items such as cladding and roong sheetsand ormwork panels. Strong winds can also adverselyaect workers handling large lightweight panels, orinstance when xing sheet roong and metal decking.

Bad weather is a general body stressor. Hightemperatures in the summer might lead to heatstrokeor burns by ultraviolet radiation.

Low temperatures may increase the adverse eects o vibratory tools and may increase colds and inections.

You should check how the relevant Member State has put

these requirements o the Directive into national law.Dust

Dusts are harmul to the respiratory tract and respiratorysystem. Some dusts are carcinogenic (e.g. asbestos).

Dust may arise, or example, rom:removing asbestos structure during reurbishment;•

cutting wood;•

chasing and cutting brickwork, blockwork, concrete•

and stone;manipulation o cement and other powders.•

Two directives are o particularinterest regarding dust exposure.They require the applicationo control measures: Directive2004/37/EC (29) on exposure tocarcinogens or mutagens at work and Directive 2009/148/EC (30) onexposure to asbestos.

29( ) Directive 2004/37/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 29 April 2004 on the protection o workers rom therisks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work

(sixth individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Council Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 50.

30( ) Directive 2009/148/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 30 November 2009 on the protection o workersrom the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work, OJ L 330,16.12.2009, p. 28.

b) Chemical and biological risks

Chemical risks

Chemical risks on construction siteshave dierent sources including:

the chemicals that are already•

there, beore the constructionprocess starts — such sourcesmight be natural or man-made;the chemicals that are a part o •

the construction process; andchemical risks as a by-product o •

a construction process.

Risks o the rst kind arise mainly during demolition

work and the clean up o ormer waste deposits andabandoned sites. Asbestos may be ound in existingacilities where it was used or structural re protectionor insulation purposes. A wide range o chemicals canresult rom ormer industrial processes, e.g. at the siteso old coke oven plants, contaminated acilities as wellas contaminated ground can be expected.

The possible presence o chemicals must beconsidered in detail and the appropriate protectivemeasures should be determined beore any work starts. Oten the measures include the protection o the environment as well.

Chemical risks o the second kind arise romchemicals used during the constructionprocess. These might typically be romthe evaporation o solvents used in paints,varnishes, lacquers and adhesives. Solventsare harmul to the nervous system andmight cause brain damage. Isocyanates andepoxy resins ound in paints, adhesives andbonding agents may irritate skin and lungsand may lead to severe allergic reactionsand asthma. These examples are indicativeand are not an exhaustive listing.

Generally, chemical risks o this kind can be avoided i lessharmul materials are used. In the design and planningstage, substitute materials should be considered so thatchemical risks can be reduced. Protective measuresagainst the remaining risks depend on the particularagent and possible work methods.

Examples o chemical risks arising as a by-product o aconstruction process include the dust made when drilling,sawing or hammering. Exposure is related to workingmethods and the equipment being used. Priority shouldbe given to avoid the risks, e.g. by using sae methods.




Directive 98/24/EC (31) on the risks related to chemicalagents at work requires action to be taken to protectworkers rom chemical risks.

Biological risks

Biological agents can typically be present in the soil,in sewers and drains, in roong voids, attics andbasements, in water-cooling towers, rotten materials

and in certain workplaces suchas hospitals and biohazardlaboratories. Agents can beairborne. They can be releasedby disturbance such as duringthe demolition o contaminatedacilities and the removal o contaminated plaster.

Pigeon droppings are a urther example o biological risk as is Weill’s disease rom watercontaminated by rats.

The possible existence o biological agentsshould be considered and the appropriateprotective measures determined beore anywork starts. Oten measures to protect theenvironment are also required.

Directive 2000/57/EC (32) adds particularrequirements.

c) Fire-explosion-asphyxia risks

Fire risks

Fire risks on a construction sites have many sourcessuch as:

the use o fammable liquids;•

welding or abrasive cutting techniques•

used in places not specially preparedor such works; liquid gases used with an open fame;•

and

fammable and combustible materials,•

e.g. petroleum, timber and packaging.

Work in compressed air creates an increased risk o re. Fire risks when working in conned spaces whereescape may be dicult similarly requires careulconsideration.

31( ) Council Directive 98/24/EC o 7 April 1998 on the protection o the health and saety o workers rom the risks related to chemicalagents at work (ourteenth individual Directive within the meaning

o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 131, 5.5.1998, p. 11.32( ) Commission Directive 2000/57/EC o 22 September 2000 amend-

ing the Annexes to Council Directives 76/895/EEC and 90/642/EECon the xing o maximum levels or pesticide residues in and onruit and vegetables and certain products o plant origin, includingruit and vegetables respectively, OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 76.

Explosion risks

Explosive atmospheres can be

present at construction sitesbecause o the processes beingundertaken by those carryingout the construction works andby others carrying out otherindustrial processes.

The Explosive Atmospheres Directive 1999/92/EC (33)requires particular precautions to be taken.

Explosion risks can typically occur rom:the use o solvents and ignition by sparks;•

static electricity (e.g. it might ignite blasting agents);•

explosive atmospheres in sewers;•

damage to pipes containing explosive gases; and•

unexploded ordinance in the ground.•

Substitution o explosive materials as ar as possible,good ground exploration and trained workers reducethe likelihood o explosions.

Asphyxia risks

Asphyxia risks exist in those places where either toxicgases are present or where gases have displaced oxygenleading to a non-respirable atmosphere. Sewer systems,including those designed to carry surace water, need

to be checked beore entering as do other connedspaces. Acute intoxication by hydrogen sulphide (H2S)

can lead to death as can oxygen deciency.

Fine dusts can also cause a risk o asphyxia.

d) Risks o drowning

Risks o drowning exist when:crossing water to reach a place o work;•

working over or nearby water;•

alling into silos containing grain or ne powders;•

andperorming underwater work such as underwater•

concreting.

Even good swimmers are atrisk o drowning i they areinjured during alls. Chilling incold waters and hazards romstrong currents and dangerousvortices are typical causationactors in drowning incidents.

33( ) Directive 1999/92/EC o the European Parliament and o the Coun-cil o 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements or improv-ing the saety and health protection o workers potentially at risk rom explosive atmospheres (teenth individual Directive withinthe meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 23,28.1.2003, p. 57.



3.11 Transport

Transport risks can arise during travel to and rom work when workers perorm distant assignments on behal o their employers. Increased saety can be secured byadvanced driver training, limiting working hours andthe provision o high quality, well maintained vehicles.

On-site transport creates urther risks to pedestrians.The public can be at risk at vehicular access points.Well prepared transport plans that take such risks intoaccount will reduce injuries.

3.12 Hygiene

A lack o general hygiene on a construction site canlead to unnecessary risks to health. There is a need to:

provide decent washing acilities (including•

showers where needed) to enable workers to cleanthemselves eectively rom contaminants;

provide in particular cases•

special clothing so that ordin-ary clothing and exposed skindoes not become contami-nated with anything harmul; instruct workers about the•

precautions that are requiredto combat particular risks;

keep work areas and welare•

acilities in a good state o cleanliness; andensure adequate ood hygiene and the sae disposal•

o unwanted ood stus that might otherwise attractvermin.

3.13 Other risks

Other risks may include, but are not limited to:pressurised fuids (compressed air, hydraulic circuit),•

work in conned spaces (crawl space, tank),•

work-related stress (imbalance between workers’•

capability and work constraints),workplace violence (e.g. mugging),•

ionising and non-ionising radiation (laser, radio•

communication),nanoparticles,•

electromagnetic elds (•34),

articial optical radiation (•35),

increased risk o injury and ill health due to the com-•

bined eects o a number o dierent hazards (i.e.synergistic/multi-actor eects).

Reerence should be made to other European directivesconcerning the protection o workers.

These and other risks may arise rom constructionactivities and rom other industrial processes close tothe construction works (e.g. works in or nearby an oilrenery, a nuclear power plant, etc.).

34( ) Directive 2008/46/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 23 April 2008 amending Directive 2004/40/EC onminimum health and saety requirements regarding the expo-sure o workers to the risks arising rom physical agents (electro-magnetic elds) (18th individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 114, 26.4.2008, p. 88.

35( ) Directive 2006/25/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 5 April 2006 on the minimum health and saety re-quirements regarding the exposure o workers to risks arisingrom physical agents (articial optical radiation) (nineteenthindividual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 114, 27.4.2006, p. 38.



4.1 The project preparation stage ...........................................................................................................................80

4.1.1 Start o a project .................................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ..................... 80

4.1.2 Design stage ................................................. .................................................... ..................................................... .............................. 82

4.1.3 Concluding preparations beore starting construction work ............................................ ................................................ 92

4.2 Execution stage o the project ........................................................................................................................ 103

4.2.1 Construction stage ............................................. ..................................................... ..................................................... ...................103

4.2.2 End o the construction stage .................................................. ..................................................... ..............................................109

4.2.3 Post-construction stage ..................................................... .................................................... ...................................................... .111

4 Managing risks

during constructionprojects



M a n a g i n g r i s k s d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s

Establishing overarching project managementarrangements or occupational saety and healthso that all stakeholders know the part that they

have to play and how they should cooperate andcoordinate with others

Clients or project supervisors have important unctionsto discharge under Article 4.

Ensuring that suitable arrangements are in placeduring design and other project preparationactivities is one crucial step

Good practices:

Large projects: clients who take expert advice on howtheir projects should be managed or occupationalsaety and health and who then ensure that such

arrangements are put in place.

Micro projects: clients who agree with theircontractors upon some simple liaison rules that willensure saety.

Identiying client needs so that they can bemet at the same time as minimising the risks toconstruction workers

Good practices:

Large projects: studies to consider client needs andthe options involving construction solutions and

selecting possible solutions that do not lead tounnecessary risks.

Micro projects: as above, but more pragmatically (e.g.rather than partially replace a ailing roo over time,replace the whole roo so that a suitable scaold isonly erected once, so increasing saety and reducingcosts over the longer term).

Identiying other people whose saety and healthmay be adversely aected by the project andestablishing working arrangements with them orsuitable intermediaries

Good practices:Large projects: ormal reviews and the establishmento working relationships (e.g. neighbouringenterprises, user enterprises (hospitals, schools, etc.),highway authorities, tenants, etc.

Micro projects: contacting such persons and talkingthrough problems and solutions.

Assembling inormation about current siteconditions, its environs and possible technical anddesign solution

Good practices:

Large projects: working up a schedule o inormationneeds and assigning team members/commissioningothers to collect and then analysing the inormationcollected to determine possible options.

Micro projects: discussions with the designer and/orcontractor at the proposed worksite.

As design develops and other decisions all to bemade applying risk assessment to oreseeableoccupational saety and health issues and, likewise,applying the general principles o prevention

Good practices:

Large projects: individual stakeholders carryingorward their individual contributions to eliminatinghazards and reducing risks and ormal structuredreviews by the wider team as designs and otherpreparatory work develops.

Micro projects: discussions with designers/ contractors recording only what is essential orsecuring occupational saety and health.



Estimating adequate periods o time or completingthe work involved

Good practices:

Large projects: ormal expert project planninganalysis inormed by saety and health considerations.

Micro projects: making use o the expertise o the contractor when discussing and agreeing areasonable period. Being fexible when unanticipatedsaety or health considerations occur.


Ensuring that saety and health plans are drawnup, where required (and that the need or a similardocument is considered when one is not requiredaccording to national legislation)

Good practices:

Large projects: preparation by the coordinator takingully on board advice elsewhere in this guide.

Micro projects: identiying someone to prepare abrie plan that has ull regard to the hazards and thelevel o risk.





Good practice:

Unlike the approach that the Directive takes whensetting minimum saety and health requirements or

work carried out on construction sites (see AnnexIV to the Directive), the Directive simply requiresthe project supervisor or the client to take accounto the general principles o prevention. This givesthose developing designs considerable scope to usetheir proessional skills in developing satisactorydesign solutions rather than being constrained byprescription. The ollowing text on design explainssome o the underlying issues and provides a ‘goodpractice’ ramework through which design work canbe taken orward.

It is essential that those selecting designers are as

satised as they can reasonably be that those theyhave selected are competent to carry out their saetyand health-related roles and that they intend to devotesucient resources to such tasks. The nature, extentand scope o pre-appointment enquiries will dependon the scale, complexity, and the hazards and risks thatare likely to be involved in the project.

Designers are in a position to make major contributionsto occupational saety and health by hazardidentication and elimination, and by risk reductionduring all stages o design.

Addressing occupational saety and health issuesshould be considered an integral part o good designpractice alongside aesthetics, unctionality, buildability,cost, etc.

It is not helpul to complete a design and then consideroccupational saety and health issues. I such anapproach was taken, there is a risk that some initialdecisions would be ound to be unsatisactory andthat additional work involving redesign would then berequired resulting in additional costs.

Understanding the potential hazards and risks thatmight arise rom design decisions is one essential part

o the competence that a designer needs to have. Itrequires sucient knowledge about the work activities(including any temporary works that their designs willrequire or may adversely aect).

Designers should take a sensible approach tooccupational saety and health hazards and risks sothat they add value through good design. The moreserious the hazards and the greater the potential risks,the more other stakeholders will look to designers todo all they can to eliminate them through design.

The design o temporary works (such as temporary

supports, or temporary access and working places) thatmay be required during construction work should similarlytake account o the general principles o prevention.

a) Stakeholders

There are a number o stakeholders who can make

contributions at the design stage o a project.These may include:

designers who develop designs that take account o •

the general principles o prevention;clients or project supervisors who ensure that•

designers do so in accordance with the Directive;coordinators or saety and health matters at the•

project preparation stage who coordinate the work o designers and others during design developmentto ensure that designs take account o the generalprinciples o prevention;coordinators or saety and health matters at the•

project preparation stage who may have contribu-

tions to make so that nished designs take accounto the needs o those carrying out the construc-tion works as they seek to comply with the generalprinciples o prevention;contractors, employers and the sel-employed who•

are to carry out the construction work may likewisehave contributions to make;suppliers o materials and plant (whether or•

incorporation or or use during construction);those responsible or any continuing work activities•

at the site o the construction works and, similarly,those responsible or any new activities once theproject is completed;

those responsible or nearby places o work and•

work activities (including other construction sites,transport systems, etc.), whether xed or transient,who will wish to ensure that their work activitiesare not placed at risk and that they do not place theconstruction workers at risk;those responsible or other nearby places and activi-•

ties that are not work-related and which need to betaken into account or saety and health purposes;andrepresentatives o local communities, elected ocials,•

their ocers and other community groups.

When possible, those dealing with designs can useully

take account o such a wide range o stakeholders sothat:

there is cooperation between them;•

appropriate design decisions are made; and•

essential inormation is made available or the benet•

o the project as a whole.

Clients or project supervisors, their coordinators orsaety and health matters at the project preparationstage and designers will need to decide how this cansensibly be done so as to assist in the developmento designs. There is no common solution to this issue.Regard should be given to the nature and scale o the

project, and the hazards to construction workers andothers that will need to be addressed and managedthroughout the lie o the project.



Coordinators or saety and health matters duringthe project preparation stage have roles to play incoordinating design or the purposes o saety and

health.

Example 82:

Having all designers work on the same BIM (BuildingInormation Model, i.e. a computer-aided design toolthat integrates the work o a number o designersand, amongst other unctions, identies someincompatibilities in the designs) to minimise risk romnon-compatible designs.

b) Whole lie

Designers need to take a ‘whole lie’ view so that they

not only consider how the design will be initiallyconstructed but also how it can be saely kept in goodorder, maintained, redecorated, renovated, repairedand nally deconstructed. Consideration should alsobe given to other stages in the ‘whole lie’ o the designwhen activities such as tting-out, alteration andconversion may be designed and carried out by others.

This means that designers need to consider personswho may be exposed to hazards when:

undertaking the proposed construction work; and•

carrying out urther construction work during the•

lie o the acility or the intended use o the building

ending with its deconstruction.

Under the Construction Sites Directive, designers haveno obligations to consider the saety and health o those people not involved in construction work andwho use a completed design in other ways. However,there are clearly benets in doing so, not least to ullthe wider expectations o clients.

c) Designing or the saety o others

Good practices:

In addition, designers may useully consider:

members o the public and others who are not•

involved in construction work but may be exposedto hazards as a consequence;

those using the nished project as a place o work •

(see below); and

those carrying out work or the upkeep o the•

acility that might not strictly be considered asconstruction work.

d) Designing or ‘use’

At some stage in the design, a ull account o how a

completed project will be used as place o work willneed to be made so that the design enables people(such as owners, occupiers, and users) to comply withother EU Directives such as the Workplace Directive andother individual directives made under the Framework Directive (89/391/EEC).

While there is no specic duty on designers to do sounder the Construction Sites Directive (92/57/EEC), itis clearly in clients’ interests or completed projects to

be such that they can be put into use without costlyalterations. The users or those with experience o their likely needs are additional stakeholders who canuseully be consulted or the purposes o occupationalsaety and health.

Designers should reer to relevant Member Statelegislation or urther advice about what may berequired.

e) Who is a designer?

Any stakeholder might make design decisions. It isnot only typical designers such as architects, civil and

structural engineers who take design decisions. Thereare oten other specialists, and also designers includingmechanical and electrical services, lits, cladding, andothers who are ‘design, supply and t’ specialists andalso temporary supports works designers. Someonewho makes a choice about the selection o a certainmaterial or substance would be taking a design decision.Clients, contractors and others can be designers insoaras they carry out design work or take design decisions.Where designers present a number o options to otherpersons, say clients, designers should be satised thatevery option is suitable or use.

Example 83:

In planning a wastewater treatment plant, it willmake sense or the design lead to be taken by theprocess engineer who is amiliar with the biologicalpurication steps and the mechanical equipment.Such a lead designer will o course need thecompetencies that will enable them to developdesigns that take account o the Construction SitesDirective.

Designers are not only involved in new work. Thosedesigning works associated with tting-out, alteration,conversion, maintenance, redecoration, renovation,

repair and deconstruction are also designers.

) Empirical designs

While designs are normally committed to a record,whether on paper or electronically, some designsare not. This is typically the case or empirical designdecisions requently taken on site, whether or thepermanent or temporary works (including temporarysupports and temporary working platorms).Nevertheless, they are still designs that need to takeaccount o the general principles o prevention.

g) Hazard identication and risk managementHazard identication and risk management areessential processes or designers to understand andadopt throughout the design process.




National legislation addresses the point in a numbero ways, but there is a common underlying theme thatdesigns will take account o the general principles o

prevention, by:identiying and eliminating hazards; and, where elimi-•

nation is not wholly possible:reducing risks rom any remaining hazards to accept-•

able levels, andtaking ull account o the ‘hierarchy’ within the gen-•

eral principles o prevention.

The key objective is to develop designs so that, as aras possible, construction work can be saely carried outthroughout the ‘whole lie’ o the acility.

See 1.3 Risk assessment, p. 22➜

Good practices:

Good design is oten an iterative process thatproduces records in the orm o design bries,assumptions made, drawings, calculations, notes orother designers, etc.

Producing written records during the design processas a part o a well managed approach, althoughthe Directive does not explicitly require any writtenrecord to be made. There will be situations where theadvantages o written records are limited, or instanceor simple projects where a single designer deals withall the design issues over a limited time span.

Good practice:

Creating records or occupational saety and healthmatters just as records are created or other issueswhere projects involve other designers and designteams over extended periods.

Stages o design

There are a number o ways in which designers dividethe design process into distinct stages.

These include:initial and detailed design;•

concept, scheme and detailed design; and•

a ve-step approach o (i) appraisal; (ii) design brie •

(as two preparatory stages); (iii) concept design;(iv) design development; (v) technical or detaileddesign.

Equally, there may be only a single stage or thesimplest o projects.

For the purposes o occupational saety and health, itdoes not generally matter what stages or processes are

adopted in carrying out a design. The key is to ensurethat the approach taken is structured and sensible andthat relevant saety and health issues are addressed atevery stage o design.

Example 84:

Moving the proposed locations o acilities touncontaminated or less contaminated parts o a

site during concept design to avoid working incontaminated ground.

Structuring the design process

Designers should take a structured approach to saetyand health during design.

Good practices:

Determine client needs.

Determine who needs to be a part o the design

team and who needs to be consulted or otherwiseinvolved as the design develops.

Determine design inormation needs.

Identiy hazards that may arise as a result o thedesign during construction work throughout thewhole lie o the acility and, likewise, when used as aplace o work.

Eliminate hazards where possible and reduce risksrom remaining hazards by ollowing the generalprinciples o prevention (consider/change designsolutions, work methods, materials).

Provide inormation with the design about projectrisks not likely to be obvious to others.

Provide inormation or the saety and health le.

The Directive fags up some work activities involvingparticular risks to the saety and health o workers atAnnex II. These should be given special attention bydesigners.

h) Determining client needs

These may relate solely to the use to be made o the

nished acility but there may also be other essentialinormation that should be sought rom the client.

Example 85:

Subsequent tting-out requirements and longer-term plans or urther developing the acility throughplanned alterations and anticipated conversions toother uses.

In such cases, the design can be developed so thatsubsequent design and construction work is notmade unnecessarily complex and dicult.



i) Determining who needs to be a part o thedesign team and who needs to be consultedor otherwise involved as the design develops

The expectation is that the design team has withinit the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience tocarry out the work, not least because one obviousundamental step beore a client provides a commissionand a designer accepts it is or the designer to satisythe client on issues o competency.

In most cases, there will be the need to work withothers to make sure that occupational saety andhealth issues are properly addressed. A wide range o people might need to be involved. These may includespecialist designers, those with particular knowledgeabout possible construction methods and those

rom the client team who are to use and maintain thenished acility, and saety and health specialists.

It will also be necessary to take account o how theclient or project supervisor want to be involved sothat they can be assured that designers will developdesigns that take into account the general principles o prevention. Where and how the coordinator or saetyand health matters at the project preparation stagewill work with the design teams will also need to betaken into account where the project requires theirappointment.

Good practices:

Including contractors, when appointed, to be a parto the consultation process so that their occupationalsaety and health expertise can contribute to thedesign process.

Involving those who will be involved in itssubsequent use, upkeep and maintenance as theymay be able to add urther insights into the hazardsthat may arise and the possible ways o addressingthem during design.

j) Determining design inormation needs

There are generally three elements to consider whendetermining design inormation needs:

Inormation about the general environment in which the•

acility will be constructed and the proposed construc-tion site (including any existing saety and health les)

This will normally have been brought together in theinitial stages o the project. The design team shouldreview the inormation and any shortcomings shouldbe identied. Steps should then be taken to makegood any deciencies.

Inormation about speciic client needs and•

expectations o the design and constructionstakeholders

This needs to have been resolved with the client beoredesign work commences. Client expectations may

extend to the occupational saety and health standardsthat they expect stakeholders to achieve throughoutthe project in its preparations, in its design, during its

construction and during its ‘whole-lie’ use. Designersshould be aware o the likelihood o such widerexpectations and o the need to ensure that they playtheir part in meeting them.

Inormation about possible construction methods•

that may be used

This last element will depend upon the design solutionsthat are explored. Designers will need to know theoccupational saety and health implications related tothe possible construction methods. Other stakeholdersin the project team may be able to assist and designersshould actively involve them so as to gain a better

understanding o the potential hazards and increasedknowledge about alternative design solutions.

k) Identiying hazards that may arise duringthe whole lie o the acility

Hazards to which people are exposed duringconstruction work throughout the ‘whole lie’ o thebuilt environment created by the project need to beconsidered so that designers can make the ullestcontribution to improving occupational saety andhealth. Likewise, designers can sensibly consider thosehazards and risks that may be present during use as a

place o work and which can be eliminated or reducedby good design.

Hazard identication should take place at each stepo the design process and should involve people withthe necessary expertise. For the simplest o projects,one person may have all the necessary knowledgeand experience. For the most complex projects, amore ormal approach involving a team drawn romthe project’s stakeholders and a system o structuredanalyses may be appropriate.

Hazard identication at each stage should be sucientlyrobust to ensure that the correct decisions are taken.

The approach to occupational saety and health shouldbe integrated into routine design practice, and intochecking and approval systems. It can be very wasteulo resources i it is later ound necessary to revisit earlierdecisions and to have to carry out redesign.

Hazard identication at each stage o design (e.g.concept, scheme and detailed) should ocus on thedecisions that are being taken at that time and onthe implications that they may have or occupationalsaety and health. A structured approach is best takenso that the implications o each o the design optionsbeing considered can be explored. Many design

organisations will have established systems as part o their quality assurance to address hazard identication.Where this is not the case designers may nd generichazard lists helpul as aide-memoires.

See 3, Hazards and risks during all stages o a➜

construction project — some examples, p. 69



Example 88:

Rearranging the overall layout may enable adangerous trac hazard at the point o entry to thesite to be avoided, both or the construction teamand or subsequent users.

More undamentally, it should be recognised thatpeople suer injury on construction sites due either tothe activities they themselves are doing or due to thegeneral working environment (including the activitieso others).

It naturally ollows that the likelihood o injuries andill health during construction work can be reduced bydesigns that minimise the numbers o people on theproject through:

increased o-site abrication; and•

selecting processes that minimise the site labour time•

that will be required (i.e. buildability).

The same is true or subsequent construction work through the remaining ‘whole lie’ o the project whereexposure to hazards can be reduced by speciyingnishes that are maintenance-ree.

Where hazard elimination is apparently achieved bysubstitution, it is important to check that the meanso doing so has not unintentionally introduced otherhazards.

Example 89:

O-site preabrication can lead to increased short-term risks during the site installation o largepreabricated units i such assembly risks are not ullyaddressed during design.

See column 5 o Annex 4 — Design record sheet,➜

p. 125

Evaluating risks which cannot be avoided

Not all hazards can be eliminated and some willinevitably remain.

Designers need to consider the risks that will ollowrom the design outcomes they individually decide,rom those that they decide jointly with others androm those that come about by deault because noone thought to address them. (The latter is a particularissue where design coordination is poor or non-existentand where two or more designers might equallyaddress an issue but neither does, e.g. the saety andhealth implications at the interace o temporary andpermanent works design.)

Where a structured approach has been taken bydesigners, they will already have developed lists o issues or activities that may give rise to hazards andwhich have not been eliminated to date.

Good practices:

Applying a simple qualitative evaluation andreduction ramework specic to the project by

reviewing how design decisions can best reduce:

the likelihood o occupational saety and health•

injuries occurring;

the potential severity o injuries that might occur;•

and

the requency and duration o exposure to the risk •

o injury.

A highly developed quantied risk assessment is notlikely to be required unless aspects o the project havethe potential or causing a major accident hazard.

Designers should ocus on risk reduction using theknowledge and experience that they (and the othersthat they have consulted) have about the activitiesthat will be required throughout the ‘whole lie’ o the acility. Where it has been necessary to carry outresearch and trials (e.g. or new or unamiliar activities),inormation about hazards and control measures willadd to the body o knowledge.

A ocus on signicant risks will clearly pay dividends.In a similar vein, sucient consideration o issues thatcause relatively trivial injury should also be consideredwhere they can be reduced, especially where the cost

implications are small.The prevention o ill health, including rom longer termworker exposure, should be given due considerationrather than a narrower consideration o more obvioussaety matters. Designers should not simply concludethat risks can be addressed by others during the projectexecution phase.

Many risk reduction design strategies will be well knownthrough the knowledge and experience accumulatedrom previous good practice and will be easy to adopt.Innovation through new design approaches to long-standing problems should also be on the agenda so

that progress can continue to be made in improvingthe industry’s perormance.

Good practice:

Involving other stakeholders in the project team sothat occupational saety and health issues can be

jointly reviewed at each stage o design process,especially on larger projects.

Combating risks at source

By combating risks at source, the risk is contained atthe point where it arises, oten but not always, by someorm o physical barrier.




Example 90:

Preabricated structural elements that provide edgeprotection or those erecting them.

Noise enclosures around sources that cannot beeliminated.

Guards around dangerous parts o movingmachinery.

Barriers to segregate pedestrians and movingvehicles.

A design that includes preabricated staircases so thatthe permanent access can be installed early.

Adapting work to the individual

In adapting work to the abilities o individuals, designersare able to contribute, directly or indirectly to:

the layout o temporary construction workplaces;•

choice o work equipment; and•

choice o working and production methods.•

All designers need to have regard to the abilities o people to work saely (e.g. reach, lit and manipulateand o the space that will be required) when they takedesign decisions about the weight, shape, size andlocation o component parts o the acility includingthe services within it.

Example 91:

The layout o a mechanical/electrical plant roommust take account o the potential diculties orthose who have to construct, install, maintain andreplace items within it.

Adapting to technical progress

Designers need to keep ully inormed about technicaldevelopments so that the problems o yesterday canbe resolved in the designs o today to make or saertomorrows.

For instance, access solutions or maintaining theexternal suraces o acilities have made great advancesin recent decades. Designers can make good use o these in their designs provided they ully understandthe capabilities and limitations o such solutions.

Example 92:

Designing hardstandings around buildings to allowthe use o mobile elevating work platorms.

Taking advantage o developments in advancedsurace coatings and jointing compounds thathave extended perormance and so require lessmaintenance.

Selecting mechanical handling systems that providean integrated approach to materials handling andso reduce the need or manual handling (e.g. staticand mobile cranes, goods hoists, rough terrain orklittrucks, pallet trucks, etc.).

Replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or

the less dangerous

It is relatively straightorward or designers to complywith this principle provided that they do not seek absolutely to rank design choices where the risks maybe broadly similar. The same is true whether a majordesign is being developed or a decision is only beingmade about the specication or repainting a room. Acommon sense approach will generally quickly identiythe better design solutions.

Example 93:

Avoiding the need or services excavations in potentiallycontaminated or otherwise dicult ground either byplacing the services elsewhere or by aligning servicesin common service runs and pretreating the ground insuch areas. There will still be a risk during the excavationwork but it will be less dangerous as the hazards romcontaminated ground will have been avoided.

Example 94:

Providing access routes to plant rooms that avoidvertical ladders and the need to be exposed toadverse weather. The new route will still have somerisks but they will have been substantially reduced.

Example 95:

Speciying the use o concrete retarders to createexposed surace nishes as opposed to percussiveconcrete tooling. Retarders are not risk-ree butexposure to noise and dusts when tooling will havebeen avoided.

Example 96:

A precautionary approach to the selection o materials and substances. The use o somesubstances is obviously banned. Some designpractices have developed ‘red, amber and green’preerence lists or other materials and substances;they routinely take these into account in all theirdesigns. Non-fammable, non-toxic adhesives andsurace coatings are typical examples.



Developing a coherent overall prevention policy

Design practices will generally have in place procedures

or a ormalised approach to developing client briesand subsequent designs so that expectations are met.It is a straightorward step to integrate occupationalsaety and health into such decision-making andreview processes.

Projects will also have procedures, oten inormal orsmaller projects, so that stakeholders are able to work together to achieve their common aims. Occupationalsaety and health should be included.

Good practice:

Providing ‘shared project risk registers’ as a tool or

the identication o hazards, or their elimination orreduction, and or the eective management o theremaining risks.

Giving collective measures priority over individualprotective measures

A design solution that requires workers to make useo personal protective equipment (PPE) has not metthe principle o collective protection as PPE only goessome way to protecting the individual user. Collectivemeasures protect everyone who may be at risk.

Example 97:

A parapet around a fat roo protects everyone on theroo: an unprotected roo edge puts people at risk o alling. Designers will need to consider i there are anyhazards that solely aect those installing collectivemeasures and, i so, take them into account duringdesign development.

Giving appropriate instructions to workers

This nal principle in the general principles o prevention is perhaps best seen rom a designer’sperspective, in terms o providing inormation

about risks that are not likely to be obvious to others(including the unusual).

Recording hazard elimination and risk reduction

Where designers have decided to make some recordsat each stage o the design process, it is useul briefyto record what has been achieved and what needs tobe addressed in later stages o design.

Providing risk inormation with the design

Designers are entitled to take the view that other

stakeholders in the project team are competent to carryout the work assigned to them. These stakeholdersare equally entitled to expect designers to provideinormation or ‘warning notes’ with their designs incertain instances.

Designers should provide warning notes when theremaining occupational saety and health risks are notlikely to be obvious to other competent stakeholders.

This may be because they are hidden or unusual.Such risks may emanate rom:

the designs, or•

the existing environment in which the work is to be•

carried out.

Where such project risks emanate rom design, it isreasonable to expect designers to take the lead inbringing these to the attention o other stakeholders.This can be done in a number o ways. Inormationor ‘warning notes’ should be communicated in plainlanguage, that is, they should be brie, clear and precise.They should be in a orm suitable or the users. For

most people, this can normally be achieved by usingnotes on drawings that, where necessary, reer to othersupporting documents. The inormation needs to bepassed to others in good time so that they can take itully into account when developing urther designs orpreparing or construction work.

I there are hazards rom the existing environment (suchas asbestos, contaminated land, poorly consolidatedground, lead, PCBs, and existing acilities), designerswill have identied the risks during the design processand will thereore be in a position to bring these tothe attention o coordinators, contractors and others,

including other designers who may rely upon thesedesigns or be required urther to develop them. Whereprojects require coordinators or saety and healthmatters during the project preparation stage, they canwork together with designers in making sure that therisks are drawn to the attention o others. I there is nocoordinator, designers should take the lead.

See Annex 4 — Design record sheet, p. 125➜

Providing inormation or the saety and health le

Designers should provide relevant inormation tocoordinators so that they can take it into account as

they prepare or update saety and health les.

This inormation will come rom completed designsand should be helpul to others carrying out urtherdesign or construction work. There are boundariesthat can reasonably be drawn around the inormationthat should be provided. It should be rememberedthat the inormation needed or a le is likely to dierrom the inormation needed or initial constructionwork as the purpose o a le is to ensure that there is astore o inormation that will be useul or subsequentconstruction work.


contents, p. 130




m) Examples on three dierent types o sites

Example 98:

Construction o a multi-residential new buildingo seven foors above ground, ground fooror commercial use and two underground foorsor garages

Characteristics:

Piling

Problems:

The designers recognised that pilingoperations would create problemso noise adversely aecting workersand the public, especially an

adjacent school. They were alsoconcerned about noise and hand-arm vibration risks to those usinghand-held breakers when cuttingthe tops o the piles.

Solutions:

They sought the advice o the contractor andthe contractor brought in a specialist pilingsubcontractor. Together, they considered the optionsand ound a solution to the problems that meteveryone’s needs.

Augured in situ concrete piles were preerred overdriven piles so as to avoid percussive driving andhydraulic ring splitters were used to cut the tops o the piles rather than rely on hand-held breakers. Thisreduced the noise to which those on site and thosein the school were exposed. It also removed theexposure o workers to hand-arm vibration.

Example 99:

Re-equipping the science laboratory o a school

Characteristics:A suite o laboratories in a large school neededmodernisation in two stages so as to keep theschool in operation. This included replacing all o thebenches and the associated services.

Problems:

The client wanted the minimum o disruption. Thedesigner and the contractor were also aware o theneed to minimise, so ar as they could, injuries toworkers and to school children and they also wantedto make the second stage as easy to construct as

possible.Solutions:

The designer selected o-site manuacturedlaboratory benches and liaised with the servicesdesigner about the positions o isolation switchesand valves.

Manuacture o-site meant that ewer workers wereat risk on the site as the installation task was quicklycompleted. Raw materials needs were also substantiallyreduced so minimising the numbers o deliveries andthe need or storage space on a very conned site. Thecareul placing o services isolation points meant thatthe second stage could go orward without having toswitch o the services to the rst stage.

This made it much easier or the site work in thesecond stage and it minimised disruption in theschool. It also made easier urther maintenanceoperations on the services. Where possible, work wascarried out when the school was unoccupied.



Example 100:

Construction o a new tunnel using an unamiliartechnique

Characteristics:

The client and designers were keen to make use o an unamiliar technique when constructing somelarge diameter tunnels in an urban area. It had beensuggested to them that there were substantialeconomies to be had.

Problems:

The method had not been used in that country beoreand the project stakeholders were concerned aboutthe possible hazards rom a sudden major collapse.

The method involved a thin, sprayed concretetemporary lining that was later to be reinorced bya permanent one and a complex system o stagedconstruction so that the ground remained supported.

Solutions:

An experienced design team was engaged to designthe permanent and temporary works so that therewas the ullest saety coordination between them. Arobust and cautious approach was taken to the designand to parameters that were set or the perormanceo the temporary lining. The contractor made surethat their engineers and other workers were ully

trained and that sucient experienced supervisionwas also engaged. An independent system o closelymonitoring the works was devised and put into eectby the designers so that progress would not be atthe expense o saety. A trial length o tunnel wassuccessully constructed in a sae location.

Lessons were learned and the same stakeholders(now better equipped to carry out the remaindero the project) were engaged to ollow the sameworking methods and engineering supervision andmonitoring that had proved successul at the trial.

The project works were successully completedwithout any major mishaps.

4.1.3 Concluding preparations beore

starting construction work

Clients or project supervisors and project preparationstage coordinators have unctions to perorm at thispoint in their projects.

Execution stage coordinators, employers, contractors,subcontractors and the sel-employed also haveunctions to ull at this time as a part o theirpreparations or the project execution stage when

construction work will be perormed.See 4.1.1, Start o a project, p. 80; this sets out the➜

principal steps that need to be taken during the preparation stages o projects or the purposes o occupational saety and health

They are replicated below and have been annotatedto indicate the unctions that are likely to be in handas the start o construction work draws near. (Practical

guidance about preparatory work more closely relatedto work on site is given thereater.)

a) Establishing project teams that havethe necessary competences (knowledge,expertise, skills and experience) inoccupational saety and health and resourcessuccessully to complete the project

Additional stakeholders, typically lead contractorsand subcontractors, will be added to the team. Robustselection criteria should be used.

Good practices:Integrating occupational saety and health intoormalised selection criteria.

In any selection process, cost will probably be anissue to consider along with service, quality anddelivery time. Consideration should equally be givento saety and health. It is imprudent to select bylowest price alone.

Making clear rom the outset (such as in the saetyand health plan) what high-risk construction activitiesare o particular interest to those who were involvedin the preparation stages o a project such that they

expect to see suitable method statements beorework commences.

Setting clear saety and health criteria that will beused in assessing prospective contractors, makingthese clear to prospective contractors and expectingthem to do likewise should work be sublet.

b) Establishing overarching projectmanagement arrangements or occupationalsaety and health so that all stakeholders knowthe part that they have to play and how theyshould cooperate and coordinate with others

Project management arrangements or occupationalsaety and health should be reviewed to ensure thatthey satisactorily encompass contractor unctions.Arrangements should ensure that project team memberscan cooperate with one another and coordinate theiractions in order to secure on-site saety and health.

Good practices:

Arrangements that enable occupational saety andhealth to be a topic that is dealt with in an integratedmanner alongside other project matters are generallyheld to be more successul than those that addressthe topic in isolation.

Ensuring that subcontractors are included in thearrangements when they may be able to makepositive contributions.




c) Identiying client needs so that they can bemet at the same time as minimising the risksto construction workers

Final client needs (that are likely to relate to points o detail during construction) should be resolved.

Good practice:

Clients taking account o the needs o theircontractors, oten or the space needed or working,storage, and welare.

d) Identiying other people whose saetyand health may be adversely aectedby the project and establishing workingarrangements with them or suitable

intermediaries

Liaison should continue where called or andadditional team stakeholders (e.g. contractors) shouldbe introduced.

e) Assembling inormation about current siteconditions, its environs and possible technicaland design solutions

Inormation about a site is likely to have increased anda urther stream o inormation about the intendedconstruction works, in particular rom design work,

will be available and should be drawn, as necessary, tothe attention o stakeholders (including contractors asthey prepare proposals or their clients).

Good practice:

Coordinators taking the lead on the assembly anddistribution o inormation required by others incontributing to increased saety and health duringconstruction work.

) As design develops and other decisionsall to be made, applying risk assessment tooreseeable occupational saety and health

issues and, likewise, applying the generalprinciples o prevention

Risk assessment and the general principles o prevention should continue with a broadenedapplication as other employers (i.e. contractors andsubcontractors) become additional stakeholders in theproject team.

Good practice:

Integrated risk registers where key stakeholderswork together to identiy hazards and agree thebest means or their elimination where possibleand the reduction o risk to acceptable levels whereelimination is not achievable.

g) Estimating adequate periods o time orcompleting the work involved

At the macro level, clients, their advisers and leadingcontractors should resolve any issues about how muchtime is required saely to complete a project. At the microlevel, the same issues should be resolved, normallybetween employers (contractors and subcontractors)and, including as appropriate, coordinators.

h) Ensuring that saety and health plans aredrawn up

Saety and health plans should be at an advanced stageo development and should include useul inormationo the kind mentioned above.


Good practices:

Coordinators who involve others, especially keycontractors, in developing and rening saety andhealth plans.

Contractors who similarly engage with theirsubcontractors.

Providing plans as a part o the inormationassembled to assist prospective contractors as theyprepare proposals or submission to clients.

Contractor providing plans (or essential extracts romthem) to prospective subcontractors as they in turndevelop their proposals.

i) Ensuring that the preparation o saety andhealth les are commenced where required

Files will have been urther developed. Files maycontain useul inormation or the newer stakeholdersin a project team. Stakeholders can be inormed o the urther contributions that they will be expected tomake so that les can be completed.

j) Prior notice

Prior notice should be communicated to the competentauthority once key contractors have been selected andbeore any work starts on site.

See 4.1.1, Start o a project, p. 80➜

k) Preparatory work prior to commencing on site

There are some practical issues that generally require

consideration by those dealing with preparatorymatters beore work commences on site. Thoseinvolved can include clients, project supervisors,coordinators where required, employers, (contractorsand sub contractors) and the sel-employed.



Clients and project supervisors should continue to ullthe unctions they have under Article 4.

See 2.3.2, Client, p. 36; and 2.3.3, Project supervisor,➜

p. 39

Project preparation stage coordinators should likewiseull their unctions.

See 2.3.5(g), What are the unctions o ➜

coordinators or saety and health matters duringthe project preparation stage?, p. 44

Time should be allowed by clients, their projectsupervisors and by saety and health plans or thepreparatory work that will be required beore work commences on sites.

Good practices:

Allowing a realistic period or pre-start preparations.

Reassessing the period should contractors expressviews that the time allowed is insucient.

In the case o term maintenance projects, especiallywhere there are obligations to respond to clientemergencies in maintaining their acilities, puttingin place as much o the preparatory work as canbe done having regard to oreseeable constructionwork and developing procedures that permit

remaining preparatory work to be completed withthe minimum o delay without compromising saety.(e.g. a company contracted to respond out o hoursto emergencies such as water leaks or a client with alarge chain o consumer stores agrees with the clientthat key inormation about saety and health risks andhow to combat them (e.g. isolating electrical powercircuits, sae access routes, etc.) will be kept by theaccess doors to all premises.

Clients, project supervisors, coordinators andcontractors should work closely together. A sensibleapproach that takes account o the nature and scale

o the works and the risks should be taken. Practicalissues under consideration will include:

saety and health plans;•

saety and health les;•

management and organisational arrangements•

(including site rules);advance works;•

site access;•

securing boundaries and demarcating any exclusion•

areas;existing and temporary services;•

site layout including trac routes, storage areas;•

materials handling;•

temporary oces and welare acilities;•

personal protective equipment policies;•

emergency arrangements;•

training.•

Familiarisation with the proposed works and site

Stakeholders new to the project

should amiliarise themselveswith the nature and scope o theproposed works and the site sothat they can be aware o theimplications or occupationalsaety and health. This can includereviewing documents and carryingout site visits.

Good practices:

Checking inormation provided by others at a siteinspection, e.g.:

Is hazardous waste present?•

Are there indications o dangerous substances•

(e.G. Asbestos), contamination or unexplodedordinance?

Are there overhead power lines, underground•

services or other masts and are they showncorrectly on site plans?

Is there a water supply or reghting?•

Is a power supply available?•

Are there other restrictions such as rom•

surrounding premises, roads or railways?

What trac management controls and restrictions•

are already in place?What measures are in place to protect the public?•

Saety and health plans

Saety and health plans are key documents that willneed to be considered by stakeholders new to theproject teams so that they are amiliar with and ullyinormed about project-specic occupational saetyand health issues.


Good practice:

Joint reviews o saety and health plans bycontractors, saety or workers representatives,coordinators and clients/project supervisors andupdating the plans in the light o agreementsreached.

Saety and health les

Where there are existing saety and health les,there will be urther documents that may need to beconsidered by stakeholders new to the project teams

so that they are amiliar with and ully inormed aboutexisting occupational saety and health issues. Whereessential inormation in such les has been taken ullyinto account when preparing saety and health plans,the need or review will be reduced.




In cases where the preparation o a new le (or theupdating o an existing one) is required, contractorsshould make themselves amiliar with their roles and

contributions expected o them.See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle, p. 61➜

Good practices:

Stakeholders new to the project teams reviewingexisting les and raising issues with others wherethere is doubt about the signicance or saety andhealth.

Contractors making sure that they and theirsubcontractors know what is expected o them incontributing to saety and health les.

When establishing a new le, agreeing with clientswhat contributions to existing les or other recordsmight be helpul.

Management and organisational arrangementsincluding site rules and plans

Saety and health plans should contain inormationon this topic. Plans should be reviewed, adjusted andupdated as necessary. Steps should be taken to put thearrangements into place, including selecting suitablepeople, developing necessary procedures and putting

them into eect (including any training that may berequired or the purposes o saety and health).

Site rules should be prepared and agreed. The meansor bringing them to the attention o workers and otherpeople should be decided.

Developing site layout plans showing trac routes,on-site acilities and arrangements is generally helpulin contributing towards site saety.


Where, according to national legislation, saety and

plans are not required, similar issues will still need tobe considered by those about to start constructionwork. For short-term work, verbal agreements, brie notes or simple sketches may be helpul in agreeingsuch matters with clients.

Good practice:

Extending saety and health plans to include sitelayout plans showing trac routes and on-siteacilities, etc., where such are not already available.

Advance (or enabling) works

It is at this stage in a project when any advance orenabling works should be put into eect, i that hasnot already been done.

Example 101:

For work on rivers and watercourses, risks romintense rainall and storm surges can require advance

saety measures, e.g. deviation channels and dykes.

Good practice:

Completing decontamination, asbestos removal anddealing with issues o unexploded ordinance beorecommencing the remainder o the construction works.

Site access points and routes

Suitable site access points and routes should bedetermined and established so that construction work can commence on site.

The number and orm will depend on the requirementso the work and the requirements o others (e.g. clients,neighbouring properties, highways authorities, etc.).On very large sites, advance planning may determinethat access points should change during the work.

Good practices:

Consulting with clients, occupiers o neighbourproperties and highways authorities about the bestplaces to put access points and routes and theirdesign.

Agreeing the criteria or access/egress points (e.g.minimum visibility lines, etc.).

Taking account o existing trac fows andmovements so as to reduce risks, especially wherework is on a highway.

Recognising that pedestrians may be vulnerable totrac movements at points o access and egress andplanning or those with disabilities.

Avoiding crossing public routes where possible,otherwise providing controls such as trac-lightsignalling equipment.

Separating entry and exit points and introducingone-way trac fows on site.

Giving road-users and pedestrians advance warningo site entrances and exits.

Marking emergency routes so that they are kept clear.

Placing site roads within the operating areas o cranesand other liting gear.

Ensuring sucient saety distances rom excavations,construction plant and natural hazards such as trees,uneven ground and watercourses.



Securing boundaries, demarcating any exclusionareas and excluding the unauthorised

The general principle shouldbe that construction work is segregated rom peoplenot engaged in the work,in particular the public,especially vulnerable people.Moreover, the surroundingsand the perimeter o the sitemust be signposted and laid

out so as to be clearly visible and identiable.

Segregation can normally be provided by physicalbarriers and by separation in time (e.g. where the work is done out o hours) or by distance (e.g. where work

is wholly isolated rom the presence o other people).The nature o the segregation required will depend onthe project and the work in hand as well as the locationo the site. What is suitable or a large building sitewould not necessarily be suitable or the constructiono a power transmission line in an isolated location,maintenance work on existing roadways that remainin use, or some minor works. The possible need torelocate barriers as the work proceeds may also havean infuence.

Secure boundaries can serve a double purpose: theycan help to protect the public rom risks arising during

the work and they can also protect workers romexternal risks such as passing trac.

Secure boundaries help prevent unauthorised personsrom accessing the site. Additional security measureswill normally be required at access points.

There may be exclusion areas within a site boundarythat need to be established to protect constructionworkers rom existing hazards.

Good practices:

Consulting clients, neighbours, local government,

highways authorities, etc., when addressing suchmatters.

Access controls requiring site passes. (The passes mayalso contain saety and health competencies, trainingrecords and essential occupationally related healthinormation.)

Using specialist contractors to demarcate workingareas where segregation involves high density orast moving trac. (Additional crash barriers orrobust temporary walls are examples o a means orproviding protection and maximising working areas.)

Collective measures, such as temporarily closingroads and railway operations, as opposed to visual oracoustic warning methods.

Existing and temporary services

Any requirements or temporary services needed

or the purposes o saety and health should bedetermined and arrangements made or their supply.These can include communication services requiredor dealing with emergencies.

Existing and temporary services that may pose saetyrisks should be identied, located and marked. SomeMember States have published guidance on how thiscan be achieved in saety.

Good practices:

Keeping up-to-date records o where services arelocated.

Ensuring potable water supplies are available ratherthan relying on the daily importation o drinkingwater.

Installing temporary services to high standards andagreeing matters (such as earthing etc.) with supplycompanies.

Installing temporary electrical installations anddistribution services that will provide or saety (e.g.low voltage and battery-operated tools with theprovision o adequate charging points).

Placing bulk uel storage (e.g. gas, uel oil, etc.) in saelocations.

Project requirements or articial lighting should bedetermined and provided.

Good practices:

Planning the lighting o trac routes,storage, work and welare areas.

Providing lighting that illuminates allnecessary areas and does so withoutcreating glare.

Taking account o the need or publicsaety and lighting the outside o theboundary, in particular, access and exitpoints.

Site layout including trac routes and storage areas

Other than or the smallest projects, it is good practiceto prepare site layout plans showing saety-relatedmatters. Plans generally require updating as the work proceeds.




Good practices:

Show on-site layout plans:

temporary site accommodation and welare units;•

storage acilities — open areas and enclosed stores,•

waste disposal;

access and exit points;•

parking arrangements;•

prepared trac routes or segregating vehicles and•

pedestrians;

work areas;•

external constraints due to activities by others•

beyond site boundaries;

xed plant and equipment such as silos;•

cranes and other mechanical handling devices•

(with their liting capabilities useully shown);

operating points or mobile plant;•

permanent and temporary services;•

areas in which the use o personal protective•

equipment is mandatory;

major scaolds;•

the orientation o temporary lights;•

the placing and distribution o utilities like•

electricity, water, gas, etc.

Materials handling

An integrated approach to materials handling thatminimises double handling and maximises the use o mechanical handling devices reduces the likelihood o injuries.

Good practices:

Develop plans that permit an integrated approach tomaterials handling, e.g.:

storage areas and bulk silos, etc., that are directly•

accessible by delivery vehicles;

storage areas that are saely within the operating•

capabilities o site cranes.

Plant and equipment

Plant and equipment requirements should be resolvedand arrangements made or their sae operation wherethere is common usage.

Good practices:

Common on-site training, including reresher training.

Clear understandings on common use, testing andmaintenance regimes.

Temporary oces and welare acilities

Permanent acilities oten

provide the best saety andwelare solutions wherethey are available. Wherethey are not, requirementsor temporary acilitiesshould be assessed andprovided.

Contractor’s temporary accommodation units arenormally required or welare acilities (or takingmeals, changing, washing and toilet acilities, rstaid), recreation rooms, residential and sleepingaccommodation where required, site oces or theproject team, tool stores and materials stores uel

storage.

Good practices:

Locating site oces so that it is possible to observesaety critical locations.

Taking into account access by those with disabilities.

Enabling sae access routes rom boundary accesspoints to oces and welare so that PPE is notrequired.

Locating welare acilities so that they are saely

segregated rom trac routes and movements.Locating welare acilities close to the work to reduceon-site travel time. On large sites, considering makingacilities available at a number o locations.

Locating welare acilities so that they are not atunacceptable risk rom the possibilities o structuralcollapses during the work.

Taking ull account o the need to provide oremergency escape.

Agreeing that acilities set up initially or use o onecontractor will be used by another as construction

work progresses.

Ensuring acilities are regularly cleaned.

Suitable sanitary andwashing acilities should beprovided rom the outset.These will include sanitaryconveniences, hot and coldwashing acilities (includingshowers where required),changing rooms, storage

acilities or protectiveclothing and personalclothing not worn at work,messing, restrooms (including, as required, specialprovision or pregnant workers) and places to shelterrom inclement weather.



Arrangements should be made and put into eect sothat they are kept clean and in a suitable condition.Annex IV to the Directive provides urther detailed

requirements.Personal protective equipment policies

Personal protective equipment policies should bedeveloped and made known, perhaps through siterules. Hard hat zones are the most likely componentso such a policy having regard to the risk o allingmaterials: but other equipment may be required orconsidered benecial depending on the work that willbe undertaken.

Good practice:

Introducing requirementsor the mandatory use o necessary personal protectiveequipment (e.g. high visibilityclothing, protective ootwear,eye protection, protectivegloves, etc.) where pastexperience indicates thatthe likelihood injuries will bereduced by their use.

Emergency arrangements including rst aid

Emergency planning should cover man-made andnatural disasters (e.g. inundations, re, structuralcollapses, earthquakes, lightning, etc.).

Common emergency plansand arrangements or rst-aidprovision are advantageous.The Framework Directiverequires employers tocooperate and coordinatewhat they do or occupationalsaety and health, and thisis an example o where suchaction is benecial.

First-aid provision and emergency arrangementsshould take account o hazards rom the work, numbersexposed and the likelihood o support and likelyresponse times by emergency services, especially orisolated projects. Liaison with the emergency servicescan be benecial when addressing such issues.

Emergency plans should cover the possibility o res. Issues such as hot processes, the storage o combustible or fammable materials, liquids, gasesand waste and increased risks during the night-timeoccupation o residential accommodation are typical

issues to consider.Other hazards and possible emergencies (includingnatural disasters) should be considered having regardto the nature o a project and its location.

The key to emergency planning is rst to ensure:

that eective management action is taken to prevent•

an emergency occurring;that there are systems in place or quickly identiying•

emergencies and communicating with an emergencyresponse team;that all workers are made aware o an emergency and•

know what actions to take;that the emergency response team is properly trained,•

equipped, instructed and supervised;that emergency services are contacted; and•

that others who may be adversely aected are notied.•

Good practices:

Agreeing comprehensive re and

rescue measures with the appropriateauthorities or large construction sitesand or projects with high re loads, orwhere the rescue o personnel may beparticularly dicult.

Planning and implementingemergency procedures and carryingout practices.

Sending route maps to emergency services where itmight not be apparent how to access the work.

Placing rst-aid acilities close to site exits so they are

readily accessible to ambulance sta.Having re points with extinguishers at danger points andon circulation routes, and training workers in their use.

Training, inormation, consultation andparticipation

Training needs specic to the project should beconsidered and action taken. Individuals may requiretraining to ull their respective roles on site. Thecompetences (qualications, skill, knowledge, andexperience) o workers, including project managers,should be reviewed to ensure that they are capable o

saely playing their parts.

Induction training or everyone entering the site will berequired so that they are aware o the particular hazardsand risks, and the appropriate emergency responses.

Action should be taken to ensure that workers will receivenecessary inormation about on-site saety and health.

Special attention should be paid to the training needso migrant workers and other groups such as youngpeople, temporary workers and new entrants to theconstruction industry.

Start-up meetings at the initial construction stage canuseully be organised in order to achieve commonunderstandings o site rules. Similar meetings canalso be organised when major changes involving newcontractors occur.

See Inormation or workers, p. 52➜




Action should be taken to ensure that workers areconsulted on saety and health, and that they activelyparticipate.

See Consultation and participation o workers, p. 53➜

Good practices:

Developing and putting into eect project trainingplans.

Developing common site induction training.

Developing a programme o common toolbox talks.

Developing common approaches to inormationtranser, consultation and participation.

Issuing saety passes to all workers who complete atraining programme. The trade or proession and thename o their employer can be mentioned on saetypasses.

l) Planning and arranging site activities

This part o the guide provides inormation on sometypical matters to address when planning and arrangingor site activities. The topics covered are indicative o those arising at many projects but they are unlikely tobe suciently comprehensive or particular tasks.

Account should be taken o Annex IV to the Directive,other worker protection directives and nationallegislation that may set higher standards.

Clients or their project supervisors continue tohave unctions to ull under Article 4 and projectpreparation coordinators similarly have unctionsunder Article 5 o the Directive.

See 2.3.2, Client, p. 36; 2.3.3, Project supervisor,➜

p. 39; and 2.3.5, Coordinators or saety and healthmatters, p. 41

Employers (contractors and subcontractors) and sel-

employed persons, once selected, should plan andorganise their site activities beore they start work sothat they do not put people at unnecessary risk.

Management and supervision

Suitable management and supervision arrangementsshould be put in place having regard to the nature andscale o the project and risks involved. The arrangementsshould be integrated into the managementarrangements or the project as a whole.

Sae working methods

Sae working methods should be developed. Elementso sae working methods, that is sae access, egress, placeo work, plant, handling, and working environment, andthe provision o training, inormation and instruction,are addressed by the ollowing part o this guide.

Suitable access, egress and working places

Suitable and sae means o access and egress should

be provided together with sae places o work. Thesemay either be provided by existing acilities, bycompleted construction work or by temporary meanssuch as mechanical access plant, scaolds, temporarystairways and ladders. Choice will be determined by arange o matters including risk assessments.

Work at heights

Directive, 2009/104/EC (36)on the minimum saetyand health requirementsor the use o work equipment by workers

particularly addresses thisissue. You will nd comprehensive practical advice inthe non-binding guideline ‘How to choose the mostappropriate work equipment or perorming temporarywork at a height’ (37).

A risk-based approach should be taken to determinethe most appropriate choice o equipment or aparticular task.

Good practices:

Using integrated stairs as a mean o access.

Temporary stairs are preerable to ladders. Stairsreduce the stresses on workers and contribute toaster working processes.

Temporary acilities

Temporary acilities may include scaolding, guardrails, saety nets, shoring, alsework, and other ormso temporary support. These need to be planned anddesigned.

They need to be saely constructed and inspectedbeore being brought into use.

They should also be subject to routine monitoring thattakes into account modications, alterations, adverseweather and the conditions o use.


Council o 16 September 2009 concerning the minimum saetyand health requirements or the use o work equipment by work-ers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 5.

37( ) http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=140&type=2&urtherPubs=yes



Sae handling, storage and transportation, etc.

Planning should take

account o the meansor saely handling,storing, transporting andusing articles, tools, pre-abricated assembliesand substances that willbe incorporated intothe nished works or

otherwise used during construction activities. Otherdirectives deal with the sae use o substances.

Ergonomics

Ergonomic considerations should be taken into

account when planning,especially where there arelikely to be repetitive ordiicult bodily movements.

Directive 2002/44/EC (38)gives urther indications onthe exposure o workers tothe risks arising rom physicalagents (vibration).

Example 102:

Where heavy block-laying cannot be avoided, usinga scissor lit is one means o providing a suitableworking platorm to lit the heavy block.

Example 103:

When heavy windows have to be installed, planningso that scaolds have su cient working spaceand load-carrying capacity so that suitable litingequipment can be used.

38

( ) Directive 2002/44/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and saety re-quirements regarding the exposure o workers to the risks arisingrom physical agents (vibration) (sixteenth individual Directivewithin the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC) —Joint Statement by the European Parliament and the Council,OJ L 177, 6.7.2002, p. 13.

Liting equipment

The construction industry makes

considerable use o temporary sitecranes and mobile cranes. Their sae userequires particular attention. Directive2009/104/EC (39) concerning the minimumsaety and health requirements or the useo work equipment by workers at work,addresses this issue.

This includes the suitability o the ground and anytemporary oundations, sae erection and dismantlingoperations, saety during use (including slingingand banksmen, and the training and competenceo drivers) and the working environment (e.g. work in hand nearby, overhead power lines, adjacent land

uses, clearance around moving/slewing parts, etc.).Crane lits should be planned so that operationsare sae and within the operating envelope o themachines. Inspection and maintenance regimes needto be planned and ollowed.

The use o temporary hoists and other litingequipment, such as rough terrain orklit trucks,requires similar consideration.

Good practices:

Developing integrated solutions to the liting o materials.

Agreeing and providing sae access routes to theplace o use and preparing the worksite so that litingequipment can be saely installed and used.

Coordinating the use o such plant where there are anumber o users.

Keeping liting equipment inspected, tested,maintained and t or its intended use.

Clear rules o operation where several cranes arepresent on a construction project.

Physical barriers to demarcate working areas romexclusion areas (e.g. overhead power lines andvulnerable underground services).

Clear training procedures. Many national provisionsor mandatory training or receiving certicates orliting equipment.

39( ) Directive 2009/104/EC o the European Parliament and o theCouncil o 16 September 2009 concerning the minimum saetyand health requirements or the use o work equipment by work-ers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 5.




Other plant and equipment

Other large items o plant and

equipment require specialconsideration includingissues concerning its delivery,installation, use and subsequentremoval rom site.

Good practices:

Investigating the access routes to the constructionsite or large plant such as truck-mounted concretepumps.

Paying particular attention to the overhead clearanceand width and the load-bearing capacity o bridgesand access routes.

Having production installations (like concrete mixingplant or places or preabrication) in close proximityto the construction site.

Sae working environment

Consideration o a sae working environment includesa review o hazards and risks:

rom the work activities in question to those carrying•

them out and to others,rom other work activities on the project,•

rom other industrial activities at the site,•

and rom the general environment in which the•

project is being undertaken.

A sae working environment will result rom project saetyand health plans and les, and by inormation receivedrom other employers sharing the same workplace. Clientsor project supervisors and coordinators have unctions todischarge. The sel-employed and employers carrying outconstruction work should consider their own saety andhealth and that o others who may be adversely aected.

Collective protective measures

Measures that achieve collectiveprotection or workers should be given

priority as they reduce risks to all workers.

Contractors should cooperate andcoordinate their activities to achievesuch outcomes. Clients or projectsupervisors and coordinators shouldplay their respective parts.

See 1.2.8, Giving collective protective measures➜

priority over individual protective measures, p. 21

Example 104:

Installing barriers when construction work is near towatercourses where there is risk o drowning.

Providing suitable edge protection where there is risk o alling.

m) Inormation, consultation, participation,training, instruction and supervision o workers and sel-employed workers

Workers and/or their representatives should be:inormed about the measures to be taken concerning•

their saety and health;consulted and encouraged to participate in saety•

and health matters;trained, instructed and supervised or the work they are•

required to perorm. See Framework Directive 89/391/EEC.

Good practice:

Sel-employed workers and employers whothemselves carry out construction work shouldconsider their training needs.

See 4.2.1, Construction stage, p. 103; and 2.3.9,➜

Workers and their representatives, p. 55

n) Examples on three dierent types o sites

Example 105:

Construction o a new multi-storey residential buildingounded on piles and on contaminated ground.

Characteristics:

New construction work by a private developer who isnot a contractor.

Problem:

How to construct the piled oundation withoutexposing workers to unnecessary risks.

Solutions:

The client seeks and relies upon the expert designers,architects and engineers that have been appointed. Theycommission investigations into the level o contaminationand possible technical solutions or the piling. Initial

solutions are developed involving the on-site treatmento the ground that is heavily contaminated and or theo-site transportation and disposal o piling arisings. Asaety and health plan is developed by the coordinatorwho has been involved rom an early stage.

Specialist piling contractorsare then invited to express aninterest in carrying out thework. One suggests the useo a relatively new auguredpiling system that creates theminimum o arising and soreduces worker exposure to

contaminated soil as well asreducing o-site disposal costs.

The client places the work with this contractor andthe saety and health plan is adjusted and acceptedby the client beore work commences on site.



Example 106:

Painting operating theatres in a major hospital

Characteristics:Routine maintenance work to achieve high-qualitywall nishes that can be easily kept clean.

Problems:

Such nishes oten contain harmulsubstances, especially when sprayedin internal poorly ventilated rooms.

Risks to patients and other workers(hospital sta) using the sameworkplace.

The creation o a construction site within an existingworkplace.

Some theatres need to be available at all times oremergency cases.

Solutions:

Alternative surace coatings were considered and theone creating the least hazards was selected.

Means or sealing the permanent ventilationsystems and other possible transmission routes orumes and dust were devised. Suitable portable

mechanical extraction ventilation systems wereselected and temporarily installed and tested sothat the work areas were under negative pressureand sucient resh air was introduced or workersaety. Suitable personal protective equipment wasselected to protect the workers and suitable welareaccommodation provided.

Phased working ensured that theatres remainedavailable with segregated access routes orconstruction workers (created by heavy-dutypolythene tunnels).

The client’s senior saety and health adviser and the

coordinator or the project worked in concert withthe architect, the equipment and surace coatingsuppliers and the contractor. Special arrangementsor monitoring the working environment o thecontractor and the hospital were devised and ormeda part o the saety and health plan. Special siterules were developed with the contractor. Workersemployed by the hospital and the contractor (andtheir representatives) were kept ully brieed andinormed.

Example 107:

Demolition o a tall chimney on a conned site

Characteristics:Demolition o a tall reinorced concrete chimneycreates particular dangers or construction workers aswell as or people beyond a site’s boundary.

Problems:

Falling material, tools and equipmentduring the work.

Damage to other acilities puttingpeople at risk.

In this case, insucient space to use

explosive demolition techniques.

Fall hazards to workers.

Dust rom the work.

Solutions:

Expert consultants were engaged by the client.Specialist demolition contractors were invited todemonstrate their competence or carrying out thework by giving presentations about their businesses,their past projects and their proposals or how theproposed work could be saely accomplished (by

outlining sae working methods).

Two alternative solutions emerged rom twocompeting contractors: one in which parts would besawn o by workmen using heavy sawing equipmentand thermic lances with pieces lited o by crane andanother in which a specialist demolition machinewith a breaker point would be positioned on top o chimney, demolished material would be dischargeddown the chimney and then removed by a machinewith a protected cab. Both involved specialistscaolding systems inside the chimney that could behydraulically lowered as the work proceeded.

Both methods were subjected to rigorous hazard andrisk assessment by the client’s expert consultants,advised by the coordinator, and taking into accountthe numbers o workers exposed and the hazards towhich they were exposed.

The second option was chosen as it involved themechanisation o the process and so placed ewerworkers at risks.




4.2 Execution stageo the project

4.2.1 Construction stage

During construction, the project enters its executionstage with the involvement o execution stage saetyand health coordinators, employers, contractors andsubcontractors. They have particular unctions toperorm.

See 2.3, The stakeholders in a construction➜

project, p. 35

Workers and their representatives are also involved asothers have obligations to inorm, consult and seek

their participation.

See 2.3.9, Workers and their representatives,➜

p. 55

Saety and health plans and les where these arerequired should inorm people about the execution o the construction works.

See 2.4.2, Saety and health plan,p. 59, and 2.4.3,➜

Saety and health fle, p. 61

Good practice:

Where plans and les are not required, it is normallya good idea to have agreements between thestakeholders involved to cover similar issues whereenhanced saety will result.

Project execution stage coordinators should:coordinate implementation o :•

the general principles o prevention,-the principles in Article 8 by employers and the-sel-employed,saety and health plans by employers and the sel--employed;

organise cooperation between employers including•

the sel-employed;coordinate arrangements to check that working•

procedures are being correctly implemented;update saety and health plans and les; and•

take steps to ensure that only authorised persons are•

allowed onto construction sites.

See 2.3.5(h), What are the unctions o ➜

coordinators or saety and health matters duringthe project execution stage?, p. 44

Good practice:

Where coordinators are not required, it is normally agood idea to have agreements between clients andthe single contractors engaged to cover similar issueswhere cooperation and coordination between clientsand their contractor will enhance saety.

Whether or not there are coordinators, employersshould:

implement Article 6 o Directive 89/391/EEC;•

take measures that are in line with the minimum•

measures set out in Annex IV to Directive 92/57/EEC;provide comprehensible inormation to workers and/ •

or their representatives;ensure consultation and participation o workers and•

their representatives;ull responsibilities that they have under Framework •

Directive 89/391/EEC;take account o directions rom coordinators where•

they are appointed; andthose employers personally engaged in construc-•

tion work should comply with the issues identied inArticle 10(1).

See 2.3.8, Sel-employed person, p. 54; Contractors➜

and subcontractors should reer to part 2.3.7,Contractors and subcontractors, p. 54; Suppliersand others should reer to 2.3.10, Suppliers, p. 56,and 2.3.11, Others, p. 56

The actions that will be necessary to ull theseunctions will depend on the nature and scale o theproject, the hazards and risks that will be created,and what will be required to ensure that the risks areeectively controlled. Actions taken should avoidunnecessary bureaucracy: rather, they should addvalue to the project by reducing occupational saety

and health risks to which people might otherwise beexposed.

The implementation o eective managementarrangements is the key irrespective o the nature,scale and duration o the construction works. Saetyand health plans, where required, should inormpeople o the management arrangements. The positiveinvolvement o workers so that they can make eectivecontributions to on-site saety is also essential.

Clients committed to having a project that achievesexemplary standards can play a useul part bydemonstrating their commitment during the

construction stage o a project.

Good practice:

Appointment by the client o an ‘ambassador’, aperson who can make clear the client’s commitmentto good working conditions and who acts as achannel or maintaining contact with site workers.



a) Managing projects or saety and health

Eective organisation and

coordination o constructionwork is essential to itssae completion. TheDirective requires executionstage coordinators totake the lead on theseunctions and requiresemployers (contractors and

subcontractors) and the sel-employed to take intoaccount directions they are given by coordinators. Theseunctions are best carried out so that the managementorganisation, arrangements and actions on occupationalsaety and health matters are integrated into themainstream activities o managing projects. This requires

coordinators to work closely with those stakeholderscarrying out such broader management unctions.

Good practice:

All project stakeholders working in close cooperationhaving agreed a common objective o a ‘zerotolerance’ towards poor saety perormance by anymember o the team.

Coordination

It is essential to note that the coordinators’ unctions are

to coordinate implementation o the general principleso prevention and the detailed issues raised by Article8, and saety and health plans. Their unctions are notdirectly to manage work activities by employers andothers to achieve such ends. Coordination involvesa broad consideration o the work activities and thesaety and health issues that will arise. This should bedone in advance o the work commencing.

Coordinators will be led by their knowledge o the work to be done, by risk assessments carried out by employers(contractors and subcontractors) and rom the workingmethods that employers and the sel-employed areproposing to adopt. Coordinators should work with

employers with a view to ensuring that work activities willsecure saety, including in particular that the work o onestakeholder will not put others at risk and that acilitiesto be used in common will be provided, maintained andused as intended by project plans.

Employers and the sel-employed should cooperatewith coordinators and take ull account o the directionsthat they give so that they can satisactorily carry themout. They should also recognise the positive benets tothem rom the work o coordinators and their obligationsto coordinate with one another under the Framework Directive.

Good practice:

The development o shared risk assessments orparticular stages o a project (e.g. structural erection)involving all o the parties involved in the work orable to infuence positive saety outcomes.

Cooperation

The Directive requires coordinators to organise

cooperation between employers (including the sel-employed) or the purposes o saety and health.Employers and others have obligations under theFramework Directive to cooperate with one anotherwhen implementing their actions on occupationalsaety and health. Cooperation requires employersto address what they can do to work together indealing with the issues that they ace, both in theirindividual work and where they share working areasand acilities. The cooperation that is required and themeans or achieving it will depend on the particularhazards and risks. Employers and the sel-employedshould take ull account o the directions that they aregiven by coordinators in seeking cooperation between

stakeholders.

Good practice:

An agreed project-wide approach coordinationand arrangements that will provide a means o coordinating hazard elimination and risk reductionthat includes designers and contractors.

Working eectively

Exchanges o inormation, exploring and reachingagreement on matters o common interest and

implementing those agreements are at the core o eective coordination and cooperation. Eectivecommunications between stakeholders also play animportant part. Saety and health plans provide ameans or setting out in advance how these unctionswill be carried out and or refecting changes that aremade as the construction work proceeds.

Good practice:

Team building events that help to demonstrate howwin-win solutions can come rom working eectivelytogether.

Checking perormance

Coordinators have also to implement arrangementsto check that working procedures are being correctlyimplemented. They may do so themselves or theymay require others (in particular, employers and thesel-employed) to play a part in doing so. In practice, acombination o the two is likely to be the most eectiveway orward so that employers can monitor their ownactivities as well as the interaces between them andothers, and inorm coordinators o the outcomeswhilst coordinators can independently review projectperormance by taking a more holistic viewpoint and

by paying particular attention to the eectiveness o the management arrangements that are in place oroccupational saety and health.




Good practice:

Setting success criteria beore construction work commences and measuring perormance against

them.

Example 108:

A client required a bonus program or improvingoccupational saety and health. The contractincluded a sum to cover the bonus payments to thecontractors and the workers. Payments depended onachieving good scores on key perormance indicatorsor saety and health (e.g. keeping the site tidy,participating in on-site training courses, reportingnear misses, participation in saety meetings).

Subcontractors

Employers when addressing cooperation, coordinationand monitoring o their work activities should takeaccount o any activities that they have subcontractedto others. They should include subcontractors in thearrangements that have been made. Employers shouldensure that their subcontractors are ully aware o,are able to infuence and are kept up to date on anychanges in saety and health plans.

Good practices:

Inorming coordinators about all subcontractorsworking on site.

Ensuring that subcontractors play a ull part inaddressing saety and health, especially thoseengaged in high-risk or saety-critical activities.

Others

Coordinators or project execution stages will alsoneed to seek the cooperation o and secure thecoordination o clients or their project supervisors,project preparation stage coordinators and others suchas designers and suppliers in achieving satisactory

project outcomes.

Good practice:

Others who might otherwise be on the periphery o aproject are encouraged to become actively involved.

Site meetings

Depending on the project, site meetings provide

one communication means or securing the eectivetranser o inormation, cooperation and coordination,and the review o occupational saety and healthperormance.

Occupational saety and health is generally bestaddressed by integrating issues into discussions onhow projects are managed such that they are given ullconsideration when dealing with technical reviews, thedistribution o inormation, discussions on progress,work scheduling, logistics, etc. However, separateconsideration should always be given to perormancereviews and corrective actions to achieve the requiredstandards o occupational saety and health.

Example 109:

When working on a live railway,the coordinator ensured thatrepresentatives o the railwaycompany were present atspecic project meetings sothat the hazards identied inthe preparatory stages weresuccessully managedthroughout the project, andregular reviews o the hazards register undertaken.

This ensured the sae completion o the project andthe sae operation o the railway system.

Controlling access to site

Coordinators have unctions or ensuring that stepshave been taken to exclude unauthorised people romentering construction sites.

Authorised persons are likely to include those whohave been inducted and then permitted to enter aconstruction site such as:

those carrying out and supervising the construction•

work;

clients, project supervisors and others they have•

appointed such as designers; andpersons authorised by legislation (e.g. building con-•

trol ocers, competent authorities or occupationalsaety and health, police and re services, etc.).

The eectiveness o the measures in place should beconsidered by coordinators when carrying out reviewso project perormance; corrective action should betaken where needed. Future developments in theconstruction work that might adversely aect securityshould be considered so that arrangements can be putinto eect to maintain security.




employers have to:•

implement Article 6 o Directive 89/391/EEC,-take measures that are in line with the minimum-

measures set out in Annex IV, andull responsibilities that they have under-Framework Directive, 89/391/EEC;

sel-employed workers have to comply with Article 8•

and Annex IV.

See 2.3, The stakeholders in a construction➜

project, p. 35

Article 8 itemises 10 instances when the principlesshould be particularly applied. They are with regard to: (a) keeping the construction site in good order and in

a satisactory state o cleanliness;

(b) choosing the location o workstations bearing inmind how access to these workplaces is obtained,and determining routes or areas or the passageand movement and equipment;

(c) the conditions under which various materials arehandled;

(d) technical maintenance, pre-commissioning checksand regular checks on installations and equipmentwith a view to correcting any aults which mightaect the saety and health o workers;

(e) the demarcation and laying-out o areas or thestorage o various materials, in particular wheredangerous materials or substances are concerned;

( ) the conditions under which the dangerous materialsused are removed;

(g) the storage and disposal or removal o waste anddebris;

(h) the adaptation, based on progress made with thesite, o the actual period to be allocated or thevarious types o work or work stages;

(i) cooperation between employers and sel-employedpersons; and

(j) interaction with industrial activities at the placewithin which or in the vicinity o which theconstruction site is located.

c) Some other issues

Selection o plants/ tools/materials and workingmethods

Choices should be made having regard to the generalprinciples o prevention and ergonomic principles.

See 1.2, General principles o prevention, p. 18➜

Workstations should be designed having assessedthe risks and by taking ergonomic actors intoaccount.

Work platorms should be stable and arranged so as toprevent alls. Sae access should be provided.

Construction machinery, liting apparatus and othermachines should be appropriate or the work in hand,checked, tested and maintained. Workers should besuitably trained.

Air quality, noise, vibration, dust, lighting,cleanliness

Working environments should be provided andmaintained so that they comply with the appropriate

European directives (e.g. noise, chemicals, etc.).

See Annex 7 — European Union legislation —➜

Other saety and health Directives, p. 132

Conormity o work equipment

Work equipment should be appropriate, checked,tested and maintained. Workers should be suitablytrained in its use.

Contractors can useully review similar matters with

their subcontractors.

Good practices:

Having a policy in the company that includes saetyand health criteria in their purchasing and rentalprocedures.

Using equipment that conorms to Europeanstandards and has statements o conormity. The CEMarking should be visible on the work equipment.

Having work equipment with a high level o perormance regarding the prevention o risks relatedto its use (e.g. vibration, dust emissions, etc.).

Coordinators promoting the use o work equipmentwith emission capture at source and, similarly,equipment that has the lowest vibration levels.

d) Updating saety and health plans

The Directive assigns the unction o updating saetyand health plans to coordinators. Plans should beregularly reviewed and changes agreed and made aterconsultations with relevant stakeholders. Managementarrangements or securing occupational saety and

health should be regularly reviewed to ensure thatthey remain t or purpose.




e) Updating saety and health les

The Directive requires coordinators to update les.

Additional inormation is likely to come rom thosecontinuing to develop designs and rom those carryingout construction work.


) Examples on three dierent types o sites

Example 112:

Construction o a multi-residential new buildingo seven foors above ground, ground foor orcommercial use and two underground foors orgarages (see Example 98, 4.1.2(m) above)

Characteristics:

Client: private developer who is not a contractor.

A seven-foor building o reinorced concrete ramewith in-situ slabs with brick cladding/masonry.

Pile oundations.

Flat roo with parapet.

Projecting balconies.

Ground foor or shops and two underground foors.

Built on a contaminated site.

Next to a school and a busy road.

Also adjacent to another construction site.

Problems:

During a saety and health audit at the site, it is oundthat the bricklaying subcontractor is working romthe structure rather than an external scaold and thatworkers are at risk o alling rom unprotected edges.

According to the saety and health plan, an external

scaold should have been erected or the use o anumber o trades including the bricklayers.

Solutions:

Work is stopped until a suitable scaold is erected.

The site saety committee is inormed.

Toolbox talks are arranged or all trades about saeworking at height.

Example 113:

Changing an underground sewerunder a public road

Characteristics:

The client, a city council that has anengineering department, is replacingpart o a oul water sewer under anexisting roadway involving more thanone contractor.

Problems:

Close proximity to the public and residentialproperties.

Presence o underground and overhead services andutilities. Risk o collapse o the excavations.

Solutions:

Appoint a coordinator.

Prepare a saety and health plan because o thespecic risk o burial under earthalls irrespective o the need or prior notice.

The coordinator takes an active part in sitemeetings and reviews with others the accuracyand interpretation o the plans o existing services.Agreement is reached or a suitable orm o encing

around the works. The coordinator and contractors jointly review working methods including the saeuse o plant and equipment, especially or excavatingnear live services and or liting.

‘Toolbox talks’ on the key risks (e.g. overhead andunderground services, collapses o excavations,excavators used as cranes) are carried out beorework starts.




Example 114:

Renovating a suspension bridge

Characteristics:Renovation o a suspension bridge.

Nature and objectives o the works:

paint stripping and repainting o parapets;•

corrosion protection treatment o cables;•

renovation o the wearing course;•

replacement o movement joints.•

Total duration approximately our months.

Problems:

Trac restrictions.

Night work when replacing the wearing course.

Risks related to incompatibility between tradesworking a the same time(shot blasting, cabletreatment, wearing course).

Risks related to work at a height.

Solutions:

Specially designed platorms or work at a height(cables, parapet).

Jointly assessing the risks o one trade adverselyaecting another. Initial worker induction andinormation about working in the vicinity o live trac.

Worker training about night work.

Particular attention to the methodologies or high-risk work such as work at height.

On-site monitoring during shot blasting to assess therisks related to dust and noise.

4.2.2 End o the construction stage

Once construction work is completed, a project is

nearly concluded. There is the need to completework on saety and health les and the opportunityto take stock on the lessons that can be learned orimplementing on subsequent projects.

a) Update o the saety and health le

Saety and health les should be updated to takeaccount o any urther inormation. They should thenbe handed to clients and explanations given about itspurposes and what it contains.


b) Saety and health perormance evaluationo the construction project

Good practices:

Providing a Saety and health project closeout report.

Doing a perormance evaluation o each constructionproject at its completion, based on proactive andreactive monitoring at the end o the project. (Thisapproach may also be used during a project and is thenorm in many construction projects so that immediatecorrective action can be taken when needed.)

Comparing the actions perormed against thoseplanned at the start o the project (i.e. proactivemonitoring).

Measuring ailure by monitoring the occurrenceo occupational injuries and ill health (i.e. reactivemonitoring).

Developing ways (meetings etc.) to gather inormationand experiences rom this project to improve saetyand health perormance on the next project.



c) Examples on three dierent types o sites

Example 115:

Construction o a multi-residential new buildingCharacteristics:

At the end o the execution stage o the building, thecoordinator or saety and health matters during theexecution stage has received rom the contractor allthe inormation related to the building to update andcomplete the saety and health le o this project.

Problems:

During the maintenance stage there will be a needto use scaolding or the uture maintenance o the açade (painting, repairs, etc.). How should the

scaolding be xed to the structure?

Solutions:

Install some anchorage points in the structure during theexecution stage to allow scaolds to be anchored to itand explicitly mentioning this in the saety and health le.

The coordinator or saety andhealth matters or the executionstage passes the completedsaety and health le to the clientor the person nominated by theclient (e.g. the building manager

appointed by the owners o eachapartment). It is a good policy tokeep the original o this le in asae place and use copies.

The building manager can cooperate by keepingthe le updated and making it available to any o the apartment owners whenever needed (e.g. orauthorised alterations inside each apartment). Whenthe building manager changes, the le is passed tothe new manager.

Any work to common parts o the building or itsequipment is a new project and requires people to

consult the le.

Example 116:

Changing expansion joints on a viaduct/bridge

Characteristics:Expansion joints are used in viaducts and bridgesand also in many other acilities (buildings, pipelines,railways, etc.).

They are designed to ‘work’ permanently and to dealwith movements (e.g. expansion and/or contraction).

They can also deal with movement in use (e.g. thatcaused by moving trac).

Problems:

The lie o these elements is usually less than thelie o the structure in which the joint was installed.

Thereore, such joints wear out and juxtaposedsuraces suer movements. This can causedisturbance to passing vehicles.

Solutions:

When this happens, it is time to change the joints.Special measures are normally required to divertvehicles to allow the work to be carried out in asae manner. These measures can include tracmanagement plans and saety and health plans.

Once the joints have been replaced,the organisation responsible or the

maintenance o the structure shouldensure that the saety and health leis updated with inormation that willbe helpul to others when carryingout urther construction work. Insuch cases, it is unlikely that there isthe need or a new le.




Example 117:

Renovating the running surace o a majorhighway

Characteristics:

The running surace o a major highway needs tobe renovated due to the replacement criteria thathave been set. It was originally constructed ater theDirective came into eect.

Problems:

The renovation work is a new project. There may beone or more les rom previous construction projectsinvolving highway maintenance. The current positionis unclear.

Solutions:

The organisation responsible or the maintenance o the highway decides that a single le will be createdand updated or all maintenance work irrespective o whether this is required by the Directive. Inormationthat is known about the highway rom other sourcesis included so as to create a more useul record.

4.2.3 Post-construction stage

The post-construction stage is when the buildings (orother acilities rom completed projects) are ready or orare in permanent use ater completion. Oten saety andhealth aspects during this stage are underestimated,especially when carrying out maintenance and similarworks.

Particular note should be paid to ensuring that:risks to the saety and health o workers involved in•

subsequent work on the acility are eliminated orreduced to acceptable levels; and thatsaety and health les are kept up to date.•

a) Keeping the saety and health les updated

Files are intended to provide those who perormsubsequent work on the acility with inormation thatwill enable them to plan and perorm urther work saely and with due regard to health.

The le should be updated i changes are made thathave implications or the saety and health o workersduring oreseeable urther construction work.

Files should normally be kept by clients.

Clients normally give copies o les to users and hand

les over to new owners when ownership changes.See 2.4.3, Saety and health fle p. 61➜

b) Examples on three dierent types o sites

Example 118:

Construction o a multi-residential new buildingo seven foors above ground, ground fooror commercial use and two underground foorsor garages

Characteristics:

Client: private, a developer

The saety and health le drated beore theconstruction work commenced does not takeaccount o changes made and working methodsused during construction. Beore completing theproject, the contractor provides inormation toupdate the partially completed le. Other companieswho carried out work, such as subcontractors, alsocomply with the obligation to provide relevantinormation or the le and pass this to the contractorso that it can be passed on to the coordinator.

Problems:

Updating les to take account o changes duringconstruction.

Solutions:

Companies who carried out the work comply withthe obligation to provide relevant inormation or the

le.

Modications to piping diagrams, etc., can bedocumented with relative ease since the plans andconstruction management are carried out by onerm; but the question must rst be asked: What, i any, o this inormation is essential or saety andhealth during subsequent construction work?

Anchorage points have been included in thespecication or use by those tasked with windowcleaning activities. Inormation about their inspection,maintenance and use should be put in the le.

Periods or maintenance work on heating and air-conditioning equipment and equipment requiringtesting, etc., have been determined in conjunctionwith the manuacturers; but the question must beasked: What, i any, o this inormation is essential orsaety and health during subsequent constructionwork?

The le will be o use when new services including,or example, new building management technologyand solar technology, are added.



Example 119:

Replacing some roo tiles on a barn at a arm

Characteristics:Replacing roong tiles on a pitched roo o a smallarm building can be hazardous.

Problems:

Pitched roo: risk o alling rom the edge o the roo or through it

Accessibility, since there are broken tiles on variousparts o the roo.

Solutions:

The armer hires a mobile elevating work platorm(MEWP) o sucient size to provide suitable edgeprotection and replaces the broken roong tilesin the autumn when the barn is totally lled withstraw (harnesses (personal protective equipment)are attached to the MEWP). Hazards and risks arereduced.

No urther action is necessary once the work iscomplete.

Example 120:

Maintenance/cleaning works o ventilationsystem in an airport terminal

Characteristics:

Ventilation ducts within the building require regularcleaning. The acility operators and designers agreedsuitable intervals or this work. Every year, a contractis put out to tender or the cleaning work.

Problems:

Cleaning while the airport is operating, i.e. thisactivity must not disturb or harm passengers.

Risk o alling, since ventilation ducts are usuallyattached to high ceilings.

Solutions:

The same company has been engaged to carry outthe work or a number o years as it is amiliar withthe site, understands the client’s needs, employspersonnel exclusively or this special task and has anexcellent saety record.

Cleaning plans or the ventilation system wereprepared as a part o the designer’s contribution tothe saety and health le. Walk-in ventilation ductingis designed to be cleaned by personnel.

Smaller ducting is cleaned using robots and suctionapparatus.

Cleaning is documented.

Mobile scaolding is used or access, work aectingpassengers is carried out when the airport is less busyand segregation o work areas is achieved by barriersystems o a type used elsewhere in the airport tocontrol passengers.



5General table o duties

o each stakeholder duringthe construction project

1 2 3

Stakeholders Duties where there will be only onecontractor during the execution stage

Additional duties, where there will bemore than one contractor during the

execution stage

NB: all duties in column 2 also apply

Clients May appoint a project supervisor to acton their behal, i they so choose

Clients or project supervisors

(Note that project supervisor meansperson(s) responsible or design and/or execution and/or supervision o theexecution o a project, acting on behal o the client.)

Communicate prior notice to thecompetent authority where required

Take steps to ensure that prior noticeis clearly displayed at the constructionsite and that it is updated as necessary(Article 3(3))

Take account o the general principleso prevention during the various stageso designing and preparing the project(Article 4)

Ensure that a site saety and health planis drawn up beore work starts on site(Article 3(2)) (Note that there may benational derogations in certain limitedinstances.)

Appoint coordinators or the projectpreparation stage and the projectexecution stage (Article 3(1))

Note that clients and projectsupervisors have continuingresponsibilities under Articles 5 and6 even though they have appointedcoordinators (Article 7(1))

Coordinators or saety and healthmatters at the project preparationstage

There is no duty to appoint acoordinator.

Coordinate implementation o Article 4(Article 5(a))

Ensure that a saety and health plan isprepared (Article 5(b))

Prepare a saety and health le(Article 5(c))



ANNEXES

Annex 1 — Glossary .................................................................................................................................................. 120

Annex 2 — Table o examples ................................................................................................................................. 121

Annex 3 — Risk assessment record sheet ............................................................................................................. 124

Annex 4 — Design record sheet .............................................................................................................................. 125

Annex 5 — Saety and health plan: suggested contents ................................................................................... 126

1. General inormation about the project ..............................................................................................................................................1262. Project-specic inormation and inormation sources....................................................................................... ...........................1273. Inormation on how the project should be managed ..................................................................................................................1274. Arrangements or contributing inormation or the saety and health le ......................................................... ..................129

Annex 6 — Saety and health le: suggested contents ...................................................................................... 130

Annex 7 — European Union legislation ................................................................................................................ 132

Framework Directive 89/391/EEC .............................................................................................................................................................132Construction Sites Directive (92/57/EEC) ...............................................................................................................................................140Other saety and health at work directives ............................................................................................................................................157Communication COM(2008)698 ................................................................................................................................................................159

Annex 8 — More inormation .................................................................................................................................. 177

European Union bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................................177Inormation providers ...................................................................................................................................................................................178Experts involved in the preparation o this guide ............................................... ..................................................... ...........................184



Annex 1 — GlossaryTerm Denition

Client Any natural or legal person or whom a project is carried out.Coordinator or saety and health mattersat the project execution stage

Any natural or legal person entrusted by the client and/or projectsupervisor, during execution o the project, with perorming the dutiesreerred to in Article 6 o Directive 92/57/EEC.

Coordinator or saety and health mattersat the project preparation stage

Any natural or legal person entrusted by the client and/or projectsupervisor, during the project preparation stage, with perorming the dutiesreerred to in Article 5 o Directive 92/57/EEC.

Construction Sites Directive (92/57/EEC)(see Annex 7, p. 132)

Directive 92/57/EEC o the European Parliament and the Council onthe implementation o minimum saety and health requirements attemporary or mobile construction sites. It is the eighth individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC onthe introduction o measures to encourage improvements in the saetyand health o workers at work.

Employer Any natural or legal person who has an employment relationship with aworker and has responsibility or the undertaking and/or establishment.

Framework Directive (89/391/EEC)(see Annex 7, p. 132)

Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction o measures to encourageimprovements in the saety and health o workers at work.

Prevention All the steps or measures taken or planned at all stages o work in anundertaking to prevent or reduce occupational risks.

Prior notice A schedule o inormation about a project that, in certain instances, hasto be sent to the competent authority beore work commences on aconstruction site.

Project execution stage That stage o a project when construction work is carried out on aconstruction site.

Project preparation stage That stage o a project when it is designed and pre-constructionpreparations are made.

Project supervisor Any natural or legal person responsible or the design and/or execution and/or supervision o the execution o a project, acting on behal o the client.

Saety and health le A document appropriate to the characteristics o the project, that containsrelevant saety and health inormation that should be taken into accountduring subsequent construction works.

Saety and health plan A document, required by Directive 92/57/EEC, that sets out the rulesapplicable to a construction site and addressing particular mattersmentioned in Article 5. Member States may allow derogations to it in certaincircumstances — check the national legislation.

Sel-employed person Any person other than those reerred to in Article 3(a) and (b) o Directive 89/391/EEC whose proessional activity contributes to thecompletion o a project.

Temporary or mobile construction sites Any construction site at which building or civil engineering works arecarried out; a non-exhaustive list o such works is given in Annex Ito Directive 92/57/EEC.

Worker Any person employed by an employer, including trainees and apprenticesbut excluding domestic servants.

Workers’ representative with specicresponsibility or the saety and healtho workers

Any person elected, chosen or designated in accordance with national lawsand/or practices to represent workers where problems arise relating to thesaety and health protection o workers at work.



A n n e x e s

Annex 2 — Table o examplesSmall Yellow indicates small project examples

Medium Green indicates medium project examples

Large Orange indicates large project examples

NoExample

Page Type o work Type o risk

A

l t e r a t i o n — c o

n v e r s i o n

C o n s t r u c t i o n

D i s m a n t l i n g — d

e m o l i t i o n

E x c

a v a t i o n s — e a r t h

w o r k s

R e n o v a t i o n — r e p

a i r

U

p k e e p — m

a i n t e n a n c e

P r e

a b r i c a t e d c o m p o n e n t s

F i t t i n g - o u t

R e u r b i s h m e n t

A c c e s s

C o l l a p s e

C o n t a m i n a t e d g r o u n d

C o n f n e d s p a c e s

D u s t

E l e c t r i c i t y

E r g o n o m i c s

E x p l o s i o n

F a l l s r o m h e i g h t

F a l l i n g m a t e r i a l

F i r e G a s

M a n u a l h a n d l i n g

N o i s e

P u b l i c s a e t y

S l i p s

T r a c

T o x i c s u b s t a n c e s

V i b r a t i o n

W e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s

Ex. 1 21 x x x x x x

Ex. 2 21 x x x x x

Ex. 3 22 x

Ex. 4 22 x x x x x

Ex. 5 23 x x x x

Ex. 6 23 x x x x

Ex. 7 23 x x

Ex. 8 24 x x

Ex. 9 24 x x

Ex. 10 25 x xEx. 11 25 x

Ex. 12 25 x x x x

Ex. 13 26 x x x x

Ex. 14 27

Ex. 15 27 x x x x x x

Ex. 16 28 x x x

Ex. 17 28 x x

Ex. 18 28 x x

Ex. 19 35 x x x x

Ex. 20 35 x x x x x

Ex. 21 35 x x

Ex. 22 35 x x x x x

Ex. 23 35 x x x x

Ex. 24 35 x x x

Ex. 25 36 x x

Ex. 26 36 x x x

Ex. 27 36 x

Ex. 28 36 x x

Ex. 29 36 x x x x x x

Ex. 30 36 x x x x

Ex. 31 36 x x x xEx. 32 36 x x

Ex. 33 36 x x x

Ex. 34 37 x x x



NoExample


A l t e r a t i o n — c o

n v e r s i o n



e m o l i t i o n

E x c a v a t i o n s —

e a r t h w o r k s

R e n o v a

t i o n — r e p

a i r

U p k e e p — m

a i n t e n a n c e

P r e a b r i c a t e d

c o m p o n e n t s



A c c e s s

C o l l a p s e



D u s t


E r g o n o m i c s

E x p l o s i o n


F a

l l i n g m a t e r i a l

F i r e G a s


N o i s e


S l i p s

T r a c

T o x

i c s u b s t a n c e s

V i b r a t i o n

W e a t h

e r c o n d i t i o n s

Ex. 35 37 x x x

Ex. 36 37 x x x

Ex. 37 37 x

Ex. 38 37 x

Ex. 39 37 x x x

Ex. 40 38 x x x

Ex. 41 38 x xEx. 42 38 x x

Ex. 43 38 x x

Ex. 44 38 x

Ex. 45 38 x x

Ex. 46 41 x

Ex. 47 41 x x

Ex. 48 42 x

Ex. 49 42 x

Ex. 50 43 x

Ex. 51 43 x x

Ex. 52 43 x x

Ex. 53 43 x

Ex. 54 44 x

Ex. 55 44 x

Ex. 56 44 x

Ex. 57 45 x

Ex. 58 45 x

Ex. 59 46 x

Ex. 60 48 x

Ex. 61 48 x

Ex. 62 48 xEx. 63 48 x x

Ex. 64 49 x

Ex. 65 50

Ex. 66 53 x x

Ex. 67 55 x

Ex. 68 58 x

Ex. 69 59

Ex. 70 59

Ex. 71 60

Ex. 72 72 x

Ex. 73 72 x x x x

Ex. 74 72 x

Ex. 75 72 x

Ex. 76 72 x x

Ex. 77 72 x



A n n e x e s

NoExample


A l t e r a t i o n — c o

n v e r s i o n



e m o l i t i o n

E x c a v a t i o n s —

e a r t h w o r k s

R e n o v a

t i o n — r e p

a i r

U p k e e p — m

a i n t e n a n c e

P r e a b r i c a t e d

c o m p o n e n t s



A c c e s s

C o l l a p s e



D u s t


E r g o n o m i c s

E x p l o s i o n


F a

l l i n g m a t e r i a l

F i r e G a s


N o i s e


S l i p s

T r a c

T o x

i c s u b s t a n c e s

V i b r a t i o n

W e a t h

e r c o n d i t i o n s

Ex. 78 72

Ex. 79 72 x x x

Ex. 80 72 x

Ex. 81 72 x

Ex. 82 72

Ex. 83 72

Ex. 84 72 xEx. 85 72 x

Ex. 86 72

Ex. 87 72

Ex. 88 72 x

Ex. 89 72 x

Ex. 90 72 x x x x x x

Ex. 91 72 x

Ex. 92 72 x x x x

Ex. 93 72 x x

Ex. 94 72 x x x

Ex. 95 72 x x x

Ex. 96 72 x x

Ex. 97 72 x x

Ex. 98 72 x x x x

Ex. 99 72 x x x

Ex. 100 72 x x x

Ex. 101 72 x

Ex. 102 72 x x x x

Ex. 103 72 x x x x

Ex. 104 72 x x x x x

Ex. 105 72 x xEx. 106 72 x x x

Ex. 107 72 x x x x x x

Ex. 108 72

Ex. 109 72 x x

Ex. 110 72 x x x

Ex. 111 72

Ex. 112 72 x x x x x x x

Ex. 113 72 x x x x x x

Ex. 114 72 x x x x x x x

Ex. 115 72 x x x

Ex. 116 72 x x x

Ex. 117 72 x x

Ex. 118 72 x x

Ex. 119 72 x x x

Ex. 120 72 x x x x



Annex 3 — Risk assessment record sheet

NB: This record sheet is a suggestion, and not an obligation under the Construction Sites Directive (a risk assessmentis always due under the Framework Directive).

PROJECT................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ACTIVITY ................................................... ASSESSOR ......................................................... DATE ..............................................................

Col. 1 Col. 2 Col. 3 Col. 4 Col. 5 Col. 6 Col. 7 Col. 8

STEP 1Identiying hazards and those

at risk

STEP 2Evaluate and prioritise

STEP 3Deciding onpreventative

action

STEP 4Taking action

STEP 5Monitoring

Re. No Issue/

activity/

element

of con-

struction

Identiedpotentialhazardsduring“whole lie”and to users

Peopleat risk

Howlikely?

Howserious?

Howoten?

Howmany?

Preventativeactions:

to eliminatehazards; or toreduce the risks

Actionby whomand when

Monitoringarrangements

Example Multiplecranework

Intererencein operatingrange

Workers,peoplenearby

Med. Med. Med. Optimisesite layout,electronicdelimitation o operating range

Coordinatoror theexecutionstage

Testdelimitationaterinstallation

Topplingover

Workers,peoplenearby

Low High High Craneoundations tobe approved by

engineer

Contractorduring sitepreparation

Measureverticality(monthly

by oreman)Example Roo

work Falls romheight

Workerson theroo

High High High Edge protectionincluding guardrails

Contractorbeore work starts

Daily by siteoremen

Fallingobjects

Otherson theground

High High High Protective ansand saetynetting

Contractorbeore work starts

Daily by siteoremen

Approved by ......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Next review date ...............................................................................................................................................................................................



A n n e x e s

Annex 4 — Design record sheet

NB: This record sheet is a suggestion and not an obligation under the Construction Sites Directive.By completing such a pro orma at each design phase, a record o the decisions taken as the design developedwill be created.

PROJECT .............................................................................. COORDINATOR ................................................................................................

DESIGNER ........................................................................... DESIGN PHASE ...............................................................................................

Col.1 Col. 2 Col. 3 Col. 4 Col. 5 Col. 6 Col. 7

Re No Issue/activity/

element o

construction

Identiedpotential

hazards during

‘whole lie’and to users

People at risk Actions takenduring design:

to eliminate

hazards orto reduce the risks

Remainingrisks not likelyto be obvious

to others?YES/NO

I YES, actiontaken

(e.g. note

on drawing)

Example Battery roomor standbypower supply

Gases romdeectivebattery

Maintenancecrew o user

Provide roomventilation andalarm sensor orgas detector

Chemicalhazards are lessamiliar

Provideinormation or thesaety and healthle on hazardswhen maintainingthe system

Example Pre-stressedground anchors

Anchor‘explodes’ whenruptured

Workers duringsubsequentexcavations

Speciy de-tensioning o ground anchorsater thepermanent acility

is complete

Temporarymeasures notin the as-builtdrawings

Note on drawings,speciy intendering, check beore backlling



IntroductionA comprehensive plan or a large complex projectmight include the sorts o issues set out in this non-exhaustive appendix remembering always that a planshould cover the particular issues applicable to thehazards and risks in a project. The contents, ormat andstyle o a plan should have regard to the hazards andrisks on the project.

It should also be noted that the contents will haveto evolve over the lie o a project as some o theinormation suggested will not be available at theproject preparation stage, but will be gathered as

the project progresses.

Annex 5 may also serve as a checklist or smallerprojects provided a sensible approach is taken indetermining a plan’s content. A saety and healthplan or a smaller project should only cover the issuesapplicable to the project.

Plans can be arranged under the ollowing majorheadings:

1. General inormation about the project

2. Project-specic inormation and inormationsources

3. Inormation on how the project should be managed

4. Arrangements or contributing inormation to thesaety and health le


Description o the project

This should be sucient to give a ull overview o what

is involved in the project including any preparatoryworks, any phased handover o the site, any phasedhandover o the completed work and any jointoccupation that may be required.

The ocus should be on those issues relevant to theoccupational saety and health o workers and anyother people who might be adversely aected.

Names o the stakeholdersThe plan should make clear the names o:

all clients and the name o the lead client (i there•

is more than one and it has been decided that oneclient will take the lead);project supervisors;•

coordinators;•

all designers (no matter who has appointed or will•

appoint them);all employers (no matter who has appointed or will•

appoint them);all contractors (no matter who has appointed or will•

appoint them);

any social partners requiring particular mention;•

any other local parties who are stakeholders in the•

project (e.g. representatives o local communities, elect-ed ocials, their ocers and other community groups);any other parties who can be considered as stake-•

holders (e.g. suppliers o plant and equipment orincorporation in or or use when constructing theworks, etc.);saety supervisors o parallel industrial operations.•

This inormation may best be set out in tabular ormso that the parties and their respective contributionscan readily be identied. It is probable that the list will

grow as a project develops.Client expectations on how the project will becarried out and the saety and health successcriteria that will be applied

This provides clients with an opportunity to make cleartheir policy objectives and commitment towards therespect or the saety and health o all those who maybe exposed to risk.

Client success criteria can be expressed in a numbero ways. Perormance criteria based on incidence rateso injuries and ill health are oten used but these are

essentially measures o ailure and the data is simplyhistorical.

More positive perormance measures are to bepreerred. These may measure activity levels (e.g.numbers o preventative audits, site saety inductions,occupational health assessments, site saety meetings,etc.) and they can also useully measure positiveachievements in the sae perormance o the work suchas may be indicated by saety and health audit scores(or both on-site activities and or other stakeholderperormance in applying preventative strategies, e.g.designers and coordinators).

Annex 5 — Saety and health plan: suggested contents



A n n e x e s

2. Project-specic inormation

and inormation sources

Project drawings and specications might be consideredas key inormation sources. However, such documentsnormally address many matters other than occupationalsaety and health. While certain parts might be useulreerence points, more needs to be done to fag up thekey saety and health reerence sources.

Identiying project hazards

A register o hazards can useully be compiled listingthe source documents where urther inormation canbe ound.

On-site hazards may include (but will not be limited to)

issues such as:existing acilities and plant above and below ground•

and any structural weaknesses, instabilities, ragileroos, etc.;live and potentially live services in or serving the site,•

whether permanent or temporary;the presence o any hazardous materials (especially•

asbestos) and substances in or on the site, acilities orplant, or in storage or transit;adverse geological conditions;•

contaminated ground;•

watercourses and fooding risks;•

underground and overhead services;•

continuing work activities by the client during the•

construction work and the process hazards and risks;continuing work activities by others during the•

construction work and the process hazards and risks;work in or close to moving trac, whether road, rail,•

water or air;work in or close to public areas, especially where vul-•

nerable people such as children, those with disabilitiesand the elderly are present;obligations to maintain access routes, services, working•

space, etc., to or or others during the work;other construction work that will be ongoing during•

the project;any other project risks emanating rom the existing•

environment that require special attention.

Identiying o-site hazards that will need to betaken into account

A similar schedule can useully be compiled. O-sitehazards may include (but will not be limited to) issuessuch as:

those noted above but in relation to nearby land uses•

and the ollowing:the use to which nearby land is put where there are•

saety and health implications (e.g. vulnerable peoplesuch as the young, the inrm and the elderly and vul-

nerable work activities such as high hazard industrialworksites, high speed transport systems, etc.);access roads and any restrictions on their use that•

may cause diculties;limitations placed on construction activities by•

local planning or other similar controls (e.g. fooding,

over-fying aircrat, work adjacent to high-speed railroutes, etc.);any other project risks emanating rom the existing•

environment that require special attention.

Identiying risks rom the design that are notlikely to be obvious to others (including theunusual)

Designers ollowing the suggested structured approachto design in this guidance will have considered whethertheir designs create any project risks that are not likelyto be obvious to others (including the unusual). Suchrisks should be mentioned under this heading o theplan together with reerence to where additionalinormation can be ound.

Identiying work involving particular risksaccording to Annex II

Annex II to the Directive lists 10 work activities thatare believed to create particular risks. The list is notexhaustive and those preparing and contributingto saety and health plans may identiy urther work activities in particular cases. Work activities involvingone or more o these particular risks should bementioned under this heading and, once more, thereshould be reerence to where additional inormationcan be ound.

Identiying other sources o inormationrelevant to saety and health

Project stakeholders may have identied urtherinormation sources that can useully be mentionedin the plan. These may be project-specic (e.g.client standards) or more general (e.g. national andinternational standards).

3. Inormation on how the project

should be managed

Where the management organisation andarrangements or occupational saety and health are

dierent in the preparatory and construction stages,inormation about both should be given.

Inormation should be given on how it is intendedto manage the project as a whole, involving all o the stakeholders, and not simply or those at theconstruction site, although this will clearly be oneessential part.

A structured approach to managing occupationalsaety and health should be agreed between thestakeholders and details should be included in thesaety and health plan.

It is important that the organisation and arrangementsare appropriate to the nature and scale o the projectand the hazards and risks so that sensible outcomesresult. The emphasis should be on the eectivemanagement o risk.



Project preparation stage coordinators will need toliaise closely with others in developing the plan, inparticular, with:

the project execution stage coordinator;•

those employers and contractors who will be taking•

the lead on site; andthose who will be involved in high-risk activities.•

Typical issues that might need to be specicallyaddressed include the ollowing (NB: The list o issuesis not exhaustive).

Management arrangements

The project management arrangements oroccupational saety and health should be clearly setout so that all stakeholders know what is expected o

them. This can involve:agreeing and setting project saety and health•

objectives;project saety and health management organisation,•

arrangements and procedures;means or coordination and cooperation between all•

stakeholders including with designers (i.e. not onlybetween contractors);the development and sharing o risk assessments and•

method statements;the sequencing and timing o activities, and the-allocation o work areas so as to secure saety andhealth (project construction plans will need to take

ull account o such saety and health issues),worker consultation procedures;-special initiatives, publicity, etc., or promoting•

improved occupational saety and health; andmonitoring implementation o saety and health plan•

as well as perormances and investigating adverseevents including near misses.

Arrangements or welare

The arrangements should cover what is the necessaryprovision or both sexes or:

changing;•

the sae storage o personal protective equipment,•

protective clothing, personal belongings and clothing;the drying o clothing;•

washing acilities including the provision o showers•

having regard to risk and personal hygiene;sheltering rom extremes o weather;•

providing drinking water;•

preparing and consuming ood and drink;•

taking rest breaks;•

protecting non-smokers rom tobacco smoke;•

or pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those•

with disabilities; andaccommodation or living, sleeping and recreation•

where the work requires.

Account should be taken o the nature o the work andthe risks to saety and health.

Site rules (taking account as necessaryo other industrial activities at the site)

Site rules should be drated in plain and simplelanguage so that they can be readily understood.They should be kept to the minimum necessaryto achieve the intended objectives. They shouldbe brought to the attention o all employers,contractors and workers when they are inducted tothe project and they should be clearly displayed onthe project.

While generic site rules are oten used, it may be thatrules particular to an individual project will be requiredbecause o the hazards and risks.

Arrangements made to deal with common issues

These will depend on the nature o the project and thework to be done. They could include the ollowing andhow they are to be managed and coordinated:

a common approach to matters mentioned else-•

where in this guide about the saety and health plan;a common approach to particular on-site and o-site•

hazards identied earlier in the plan;access and egress or people, plant and or logistics•

deliveries and removals;on-site pedestrian and vehicular routes, and trac•

management;o-site and on-site material storage;•

the provision, use and maintenance o shared:•

access routes and access systems,-site plant, tools and equipment,-mechanical handling devices,-temporary services and energy sources;-

the protection and marking o all services and energy•

sources that may pose a hazard;protection rom alls and alling materials;•

the saety o the public and others (especially•

vulnerable groups) who may be adversely aected;re precautions (general and process risks);•

securing the site boundary;•

risks to site workers rom the activities o others on or•

near the site;

keeping the site and its acilities clean, tidy and in•

good order;waste management;•

consultation between the social partners on•

occupational saety and health matters;saety meetings;•

saety inspections and audits;•

worker and visitor induction;•

initial and reresher training (toolbox talks etc.).•



A n n e x e s

Occupational health can useully receive specialmention:

initiatives to raise awareness;•

attention to the common occupational health issues•

as well as those that are activity specic including:hazardous materials and substances;-contaminated ground and plant;-manual handling;-noise;-vibration;-dust;-ionising and non-ionising radiation;-exposure to the sun;-biological hazards;-special attention to the planning and organisation-o those work activities that may have adverseimplications or occupational health.

Arrangements made to deal with project risksthat are not likely to be obvious to others(including the unusual)

This guidance explains how designers can identiyand provide inormation about such project risks.Coordinators may also add their expertise in a similarway. The plan can useully be a table where urtherinormation can be ound.

Arrangements made to take account o work involving particular risks

The Directive requires that such work activities notedin Annex II to the Directive must be addressed in saetyand health plans. The plan should identiy such risksand must include the specic measures or dealingwith the risks.

Arrangements made to take account o otheractivities at the site including industrial ones

The Directive requires that these must be addressed.The plan should identiy such risks and how they willbe addressed.

Arrangements or saety and health duringany joint occupation with the client andeventual handover to them

During construction stages, clients may continue orcommence activities that are non-industrial at or nearthe site o the construction works. Joint occupationcan have implications or the occupational saety andhealth o workers and others such as members o thepublic. Where this is the case, the arrangements thatwill need to be put in place to deal with them shouldbe set out. An explanation o the hazards and riskswould also be helpul.

Activities during the handover o a project to itseventual user can create unnecessary risk unlessmanagement attention is given by all parties to

coordination and control. The arrangements or doingso should be set down in the plan.

Arrangements in the event o injuriesand emergencies

The arrangements should take ull account o thehazards and risks rom the construction work androm the working environment, including rom otherindustrial and non-industrial activities, etc.

These can include:the training o rst-aid teams, the on-site provision o •

equipment and acilities;

the means or the rescue and evacuation;•

re prevention, response in the event o re and•

evacuation including the provision o instruction,training and equipment;emergency response and evacuation procedures or•

other oreseeable events;liaison with other employers and the emergency•

services; andarrangements or practice exercises.•

Notice should be taken o special risks such as dealingwith adverse events in dicult locations, e.g. up towercranes, on suspended access, in tunnels, in compressed

air and conned spaces, etc.4. Arrangements or contributing

inormation or the saety

and health le

It is helpul or project stakeholders to know how andwhen they are expected to contribute to the saetyand health le. It is similarly helpul to know whatthose contributions are expected to cover, whetherparticularised or expressed in more general terms.Such matters can useully be included in the plan.

It is also helpul in clariying how coordinators or theproject preparation stage and the project executionstage will cooperate in preparing the saety andhealth le.



IntroductionA le can be arranged under the ollowing majorheadings:

General inormation about the project•

Project-specic inormation and inormation sources•

Inormation on how designers took account o haz-•

ards that might arise during uture construction work Identiying other sources o inormation relevant to•

saety and health

The contents, orm and ormat will necessarilyvary depending on the project, the client and the

oreseeable hazards and risks. At all times, have regardto the need or a le to contain inormation that is likelyto be useul during urther design and constructionwork with a clear ocus on the occupational saety andhealth o workers and any other people who might beadversely aected. Particular regard should be given tooccupational health risks as these are oten missed.

It is not the purpose o a le to provide a ull recordo what was done during previous construction work nor to be a repository or a complete set o as-builtdrawings unless such are essential: that is only likely tobe the case in exceptional instances.


Description o the project

This should be sucient to give a clear overview o what the le covers so that persons reading it latercan understand whether it covers all o a acilitythat then exists or only a part o it. There should bea means or recording when a le is updated andwhat the scope and limitations o the update mightbe. Where copies are made, a controlled copy systemwill be required.

Names o past stakeholders

Details o those stakeholders who might holdinormation that may be relevant to occupationalsaety and health and which is not included in the leshould be included (or instance, designers o highlycomplex acilities may retain large amounts o designinormation that cannot reasonably be held in a le).

2. Project-specic inormation

and inormation sources

Project drawings and specications can be considered or

inclusion where they help to explain inormation in thele and where they provide a useul means or conveyinginormation that will be relevant to occupational healthduring subsequent construction work.

Identiying hazardsA schedule o hazards that are not likely to be obviousto others can useully be compiled listing their location,how they have been dealt with to date, and any sourcedocuments where urther inormation can be ound(e.g. surveys o contaminated land, asbestos, locationo underground services and other services that mightnot be visible or immediately apparent, potentiallydeective acilities, etc.).

Identiying hazards rom the design

Designers ollowing the suggested structured

approach to design in this guidance will haveconsidered whether their designs create any hazardsthat are not likely to be obvious to others (includingthe unusual). Such matters should normally beincluded in the schedule o hazards unless they areunlikely to arise once the initial construction work hasbeen completed.

Hazards that might oreseeably arise during urtherconstruction work such as hazards rom unusualstructural solutions (e.g. pre- and post-tensioning,potential instabilities), the inclusion o hazardousmaterials and substances, limitations on foor loadings,

etc., should also normally be included.Identiying high-risk hazards (Annex II)

Where it can reasonably be expected that urtherconstruction work may create particular risks (seeAnnex II to the Directive), it may be prudent to mentionit in the schedule o hazards.

3. Inormation on how designers took

account o hazards that might arise

during uture construction work

Routine maintenance

During developments o designs, designers shouldhave taken into account how routine maintenanceo the acility can be carried out saely. Inormationshould be included in the ile so that it is clear howsuch work can be done (e.g. window cleaning,replacement o those building elements and plantwith relatively short liespans compared to theacility o which they are part, maintenance o building services, etc.) with a clear emphasis on likelyhazards. Access at height, work in conined spaces,means or moving heavy plant and equipment,

means or isolating, maintaining, repairing andreplacing hazardous plant and equipment, etc.,and the isolation o live plant are typical issues thatshould be covered.

Annex 6 — Saety and health le: suggested contents



A n n e x e s

More major work

Likewise, designers should have taken into account

how other more major construction work that canreasonably be oreseen throughout the whole lieo the completed works (including dismantling ordemolition) can be carried out. Inormation shouldagain be considered or inclusion so that the leprovides a useul source o inormation.

4. Identiying other sources

o inormation relevant to saety

and healthThere may be urther inormation sources that canuseully be mentioned in the le.



Annex 7 — European Union legislation



A n n e x e s



A n n e x e s

Other saety and health directives

It is advisable to check the EUR-Lex website (http://eur-lex.europa.eu) to ensure that you are reerring to

current European legislation.Directive 89/654/EECCouncil Directive 89/654/EEC o 30 November1989 concerning the minimum saety and healthrequirements or the workplace (rst individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989L0654:EN:HTML

Directive 89/656/EECCouncil Directive 89/656/EEC o 30 November 1989on the minimum health and saety requirements or

the use by workers o personal protective equipmentat the workplace (third individual Directive within themeaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJL 393, 30.12.1989.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989L0656:EN:HTML

Directive 90/269/EECCouncil Directive 90/269/EEC o 29 May 1990 onthe minimum health and saety requirements orthe manual handling o loads where there is a risk particularly o back injury to workers (ourth individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1) o

Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31990L0269:EN:HTML

Directive 90/270/EECCouncil Directive 90/270/EEC o 29 May 1990 onthe minimum saety and health requirements orwork with display screen equipment (th individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31990L0270:EN:HTML

Directive 92/58/EEC

Council Directive 92/58/EEC o 24 June 1992 on theminimum requirements or the provision o saetyand/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directivewithin the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 245, 26.8.1992.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31992L0058:EN:HTML

Directive 92/85/EECCouncil Directive 92/85/EEC o 19 October 1992concerning the implementation o measures toencourage improvements in the saety and health o pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth

and women who are breasteeding (tenth individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive89/391/EEC), OJ L 348, 28.11.1992.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31992L0085:EN:HTML

Directive 98/24/ECCouncil Directive 98/24/EC o 7 April 1998 on theprotection o the health and saety o workers rom therisks related to chemical agents at work (ourteenth

individual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1)o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 131, 5.5.1998, p. 11.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31998L0024:EN:HTML

Directive 1999/92/ECDirective 1999/92/EC o the European Parliament ando the Council o 16 December 1999 on minimumrequirements or improving the saety and healthprotection o workers potentially at risk rom explosiveatmospheres (teenth individual Directive withinthe meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC),OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 57.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.

do?uri=CELEX:31999L0092:EN:HTML

Directive 2000/54/ECDirective 2000/54/EC o the European Parliament ando the Council o 18 September 2000 on the protectiono workers rom risks related to exposure to biologicalagents at work (seventh individual directive withinthe meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC),OJ L 262, 17.10.2000, p. 21.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32000L0054:EN:HTML

Directive 2002/44/EC

Directive 2002/44/EC o the European Parliament ando the Council o 25 June 2002 on the minimum healthand saety requirements regarding the exposureo workers to the risks arising rom physical agents(vibration) (sixteenth individual Directive within themeaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC) 13)— Joint Statement by the European Parliament andthe Council, OJ L 177, 6.7.2002, p. 13.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32002L0044:EN:HTML

Directive 2003/10/ECDirective 2003/10/EC o the European Parliament ando the Council o 6 February 2003 on the minimum

health and saety requirements regarding theexposure o workers to the risks arising rom physicalagents (noise) (seventeenth individual Directive withinthe meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC),OJ L 42, 15.2.2003, pp. 38–44.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32003L0010:EN:HTML

Directive 2004/37/ECDirective 2004/37/EC o the European Parliament andthe Council o 29 April 2004 on the protection o workersrom the risks related to exposure to carcinogens ormutagens at work (sixth individual Directive within

the meaning o Article 16(1) o Council Directive89/391/EEC) (codied version), OJ L 158, 30.4.2004, p. 50.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32004L0037R(01):EN:HTML



Directive 2004/40/ECDirective 2004/40/EC o the European Parliamentand o the Council o 29 April 2004 on the minimumhealth and saety requirements regarding the

exposure o workers to the risks arising rom physicalagents (electromagnetic elds) (eighteenth individualDirective within the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 159, 30.4.2004, p. 1.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:184:0001:0009:EN:PDF

Directive 2006/25/ECDirective 2006/25/EC o the European Parliament ando the Council o 5 April 2006 on the minimum healthand saety requirements regarding the exposure o workers to risks arising rom physical agents (artiicialoptical radiation) (nineteenth individual Directivewithin the meaning o Article 16(1) o Directive

89/391/EEC), OJ L 114, 27.4.2006, p. 38.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:114:0038:01:EN:HTML

Directive 2009/104/ECDirective 2009/104/EC o the European Parliamentand o the Council o 16 September 2009 concerningthe minimum saety and health requirements or the

use o work equipment by workers at work (secondindividual Directive within the meaning o Article 16(1)o Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 260, 3.10.2009, p. 5.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009L0104:EN:HTML

Directive 2009/148/ECDirective 2009/148/EC o the European Parliament ando the Council o 30 November 2009 on the protectiono workers rom the risks related to exposure toasbestos at work, OJ L 330, 16.12.2009, p. 28.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009L00148:EN:HTML



A n n e x e s

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL

COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

on the practical implementation of Health and Safety at Work Directives 92/57/EEC

(temporary and mobile sites) and 92/58/EEC (safety signs at work)

1. INTRODUCTION

This communication follows a Commission undertaking1 to assess the implementation of the

regulatory framework with a view to improving it.

It is based mainly on the national reports supplied by the Member States2 and an independent

experts' report analysing implementation of the two Directives in all the private and/or publiceconomic sectors concerned. It also draws on the results of European inspection campaigns on

safety in the construction sector carried out in the 15 Member States in 2003 and 2004, on

recent European statistics on accidents at work, and on the lessons that the Commission has

learned from monitoring the transposition and application of the Directives.

The assessment covers the transposition and implementation of two Directives: Council

Directive 92/57/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the implementation of minimum safety and health

requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites3 and Council Directive 92/58/EEC of

24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at

work 4, in the EU-15 countries only. The Commission believes that this assessment will also

be a source of much useful information for the 12 new Member States in applying the two

Directives.

2. LEGAL EFFECTS

2.1. Directive 92/57/EEC

The national reports by the Member States5 show that the formal impact of Directive

92/57/EEC (simplification, streamlining, consolidation and codification) enabled the Member

States to unify, consolidate and update existing national legislation. However, some Member

States say the Directive has had no impact on legal/administrative principles.

The substantive impact on national legislation has been considerable in all Member States.

Even those Member States that said they already had sophisticated national legislation

1 In the communication Improving quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007-2012 onhealth and safety at work, COM(2007) 62 final, 21.2.2007.

2 Sent to the Commission under Articles 14 and 11 of the two Directives. Those Articles were

subsequently repealed by Directive 2007/30/EC.3

OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 6.4

OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 23.5 Two Member States, which were keen to ensure that the Directive was assessed objectively, used

surveys/studies carried out by independent external consultants; in almost all the Member States thesocial partners played a very important part in drafting the report.

COM(2008)698



introduced amendments to cover the Directive’s basic concepts. The Directive led to

substantial additions to all national occupational health and safety legislation, in particular

regarding design and site coordination, the safety and health plan and the safety and health

file.

The new approach to prevention, in particular, defining the obligations and responsibilities of

the various parties on a construction site, is seen as having had a major impact.

Directive 92/58/EEC

Most Member States simply repealed earlier provisions on safety signs transposing

Directive 77/576/EEC and replaced them with new legislation transposing Directive

92/58/EEC. Some say the new provisions supplemented, broadened or updated their legal

framework and also enabled national provisions to be consolidated.

The main substantive amendments introduce new rules on signs, including verbalcommunication and hand signals, health signs not covered by the previous Directive, and

new obligations on the employer to inform, train and consult workers; they also extend the

scope of the Directive to all sectors of activity.

3. AWARENESS-RAISING AND FLANKING MEASURES FOR DIRECTIVES 92/57/EEC AND

92/58/EEC

Once the two Directives had been adopted, the Commission and the Member States publicised

them and provided advice on implementing them on construction sites and on signs at work.

The European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work in 1992, the EuropeanHealth and Safety Weeks and national awareness-raising campaigns were particularly

instrumental in disseminating information and making duty-holders aware of their obligations.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, set up in 19946, engaged in Europe-

wide information and awareness-raising and in turn set up the European Construction Safety

Forum to promote the exchange of experience between players in the sector and, in particular,

between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Senior Labour Inspectors

Committee (SLIC)7 also came up with enforcement and awareness-raising initiatives

(European inspection campaigns).

The Member States introduced extensive plans to promote active prevention, to raise

awareness of integrated prevention, and to draft practical guidelines to help employers andworkers comply with the new legislation. In some Member States these activities were

targeted at key players such as clients. Professional federations, workers’ trade unions and

associations of architects and engineers also informed their members about the new

legislation, through seminars, meetings, leaflets and other written media. Lastly, some large

construction companies drafted their own information for their workers and their

subcontractors.

6

Council Regulation (EC) No 2062/94 of 18 July 1994 establishing a European Agency for Safety andHealth at Work (OJ L 216, 20.8.1994, p. 1). Last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1112/2005 (OJ L184, 15.7.2005, p. 5).

7 Commission Decision of 12 July 1995 setting up a Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (OJ L 188,9.8.1995, p. 11).



A n n e x e s

4. TRANSPOSITION

Despite in-depth prior consultation of the social partners, and unanimous adoption by the

Council, the majority of the Member States failed to meet the transposition deadlines for the

two Directives, which had considerable repercussions on the levels of practicalimplementation at workplaces8.

Following transposition, the Commission monitored conformity and began discussions with

the national authorities to clarify and resolve any problems and to make the necessary

corrections. Where necessary, it began infringement procedures under Article 226 EC.

Complaints to the Commission also provided valuable information enabling it to identify

weak points in national legislation.


Implementing Directive 92/57/EEC is a complex technical and administrative matter;Member States regularly revise and update their legislation. This explains why, in some

Member States, the Directive has been transposed in a highly fragmented fashion in several

pieces of legislation (more than 40 in some cases) which complicates assessment. The

assessment revealed differences in national legislation stemming from the previous regulatory

framework and from the fact that the Directive lays down minimum requirements and leaves

the Member States free to maintain or establish higher levels of protection9.

The main compliance problems identified related to the scope of the legislation, definitions,

the designation of coordinators, project preparation and execution, and the responsibilities of

clients, project supervisors, coordinators and employers.

However, in a number of Member States, the legislation went further than the minimum

requirements of Directive 92/57/EEC, clarified certain coordination issues and set out

procedures for effective compliance.

The compliance problems identified and the extremely high rate of accidents at work in

the construction sector suggest that there are difficulties in understanding Directive

92/57/EEC which are exacerbated by the complexity of the national implementing

measures.

Additional non-binding instruments at European level to help all players understand

their obligations and rights better might be a useful means of improving nationalapplication of the Directive. The Commission has therefore started work, in close

cooperation with the Advisory Committee10 and the various professionals in the sector,

on drafting a non-binding guide to applying the Directive.

8In most of the Member States all representatives of the construction sector (social partners, architects,clients, project supervisors, etc.) were consulted beforehand and given the chance to participate in the

transposition of the Directive.9 See paragraph 17 of the Court of Justice judgment in Case C-84/94 United Kingdom v Council [1996]ECR I-5755.

10 Council Decision of 22 July 2003 setting up an Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (OJ

C 218, 13.9.2003, p. 1).




By its very nature, this Directive has been transposed virtually to the letter in the vast majority

of the Member States. The very few cases of potentially incompatible transposition were

resolved through contacts with the competent authorities, without the need for further legalaction.

5. ACTION IN THE FIELD: THE PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVE

92/57/EEC

An assessment of the situation on sites yields an uneven picture: in some Member States,

implementation of the Directive has indeed helped to improve health and safety conditions

and prevent accidents, while in others much still needs to be done to meet the requirements

and to reap the full benefits of effective prevention.

Despite all the efforts made, the occupational accident statistics are indisputable: construction

is still a high-risk sector, with twice as many accidents as the average rate for all sectors of

activity and 2.5 times as many fatal accidents11.

The Directive gives all those active on a construction site key roles in prevention. Its

implementation was therefore assessed in terms of the influence that each group has on

prevention of and protection from occupational risks. The main conclusions are as follows:

Clients

The Directive imposes various obligations on clients to implement prevention measures for health and safety. These obligations cause them some unease.

Clients fall into various categories, depending on:

– the sector concerned: public or private;

– the size of the site: large, medium or small;

– the frequency of performance of construction or civil engineering works: regular or

occasional;

– the legal entity: individuals, construction companies or developers, public housing

agencies.

The effort that different categories of clients put into prevention varies considerably, because

of differences in their knowledge of the legislation, in their allocation of resources for

prevention and in their motivation. Individuals acting as clients on occasional, small sites

generally do not know about their prevention obligations, whereas major clients working

regularly on large sites normally know what their obligations are and take an active role in

preventing occupational risks. The latter clients are convinced that prevention is essential and

will ultimately result in savings, even though they seek to reduce the cost as far as possible.

The main problem these clients say they have is the rise in costs caused by the new legislation

11Source: Eurostat ESAW 2005 data.



A n n e x e s

and, in particular, by coordination. In contrast, individuals carrying out occasional work are

very reluctant to engage in prevention, which they see as a financial and bureaucratic

constraint, and believe that their responsibility ends when they sign a construction contract.

This problem, however, does not stem directly from the Directive, which allows the Member

States to assign responsibility for prevention according to the type and size of the construction

project.

Poor planning and time constraints were mentioned several times as factors which greatly

undermine the prevention of accidents and ill-health. Clients who insist on excessively short

execution deadlines were often cited as the cause of these problems.

Although the Directive does not forbid a natural or legal person from taking on several tasks

at the same time, combining roles such as those of client and coordinator appears to create

practical problems. A client is often not in a position to perform a coordinator’s role, for

example, because he or she does not have the relevant skills or knowledge.

The situation in some Member States reveals a need to inform, train and raise awareness

among the different categories of clients according to the size of the site (small), the legal

entity (individuals), and the nature of the work (occasional or regular). National authorities

and professional associations need to take the lead in this area.

Some Member States have already taken steps to ensure that good standards of occupational

safety and health feature appropriately in public procurement contracts. This practice should

be followed by other Member States.

Clients — as those with the economic and financial resources to carry out the works — were

intended to have the leading role in the prevention system under the Directive. However, theyoften lack the requisite knowledge and skills, so the Directive provides for them to involve

other players, without evading their responsibility.

Project supervisors

Very often the client also takes on the role of project supervisor. To improve prevention

management where several enterprises work on a site as subcontractors, the main contractor

responsible for the work may act as project supervisor within the meaning of Directive

92/57/EEC.

As a rule, project supervisors are familiar with coordinating safety and health matters during project execution but regret that safety is not taken sufficiently into account in the design and

preparation, and feel that the responsibilities of the supervisor and the client ought to be more

clearly defined. Some enterprises appreciate the value of coordination but not the

administrative formalities it entails, and point to confusion between the tasks of coordinators

and those of prevention services.

The large enterprises that were visited know the requirements well. They often use prevention

services, and their professional associations provide them with regular information. Small and

micro-enterprises tend not to know the regulations so well, and even those who do are still

reluctant to undertake prevention in general and coordination in particular. SMEs that are not

members of professional associations lack information, which restricts their knowledge of occupational safety and health. Moreover, the longer the subcontracting chain, the greater the

information shortfall. In the eyes of clients and project supervisors, long subcontracting



chains dilute responsibility. Only the small enterprises at the start of the subcontracting chain

can benefit from the main contractor’s experience and good practice.

Prevention is often highly developed in subcontracting companies which specialise in

particular tasks (e.g. gas installation or lift maintenance).

Strong collaboration throughout the supply chain reflects the fact that effectively

planned, managed and coordinated construction projects are more likely to be healthy

and safe. They are also more likely to reap commercial benefits in terms of less time

lost through days off work, less waste and less chance of failing to come in on budget.

Everyone in the supply chain — clients and contractors alike — should remember this

and act accordingly.

Given the difficulties in reaching enterprises that are furthest along the chain from the

main contractor, subcontracting remains an issue to be dealt with in depth. It also

affects the enforcement of health and safety provisions. As part of the Community

strategy for 2007-12 the Commission has to consider this problem.

Architects, engineers and consultancy firms

While the Directive does not refer explicitly to architects, engineers or consultancy firms, this

group was evaluated because the designer plays a key role in the project preparation stage,

and is so important in preventing occupational risks on construction sites.

The architects and engineers who design projects have made it clear that they know the

requirements but do not totally agree with the new measures imposed. Some are not in favour

of the client appointing a coordinator for the design stage as, in their view, this hampers their

creative freedom.

In some Member States, however, architects and engineers often act as coordinators at the

design stage. This has greatly improved on-site working conditions, by providing for

collective protection and signs. The majority of project designers accept the philosophy

behind coordination but are reluctant to assume additional responsibilities. Some report

problems in convincing clients and project supervisors to take the necessary preventive

measures. Architects also criticise the formalism of certain national rules on small sites and

the different interpretations to which these are liable to give rise.

Preventative health and safety is often not integrated into the project at the design stage

because safety conditions during execution and subsequent use and maintenance are

not a major factor in design/architectural choices.

There is a long way to go in all the Member States before the culture of prevention

effectively takes root at the design stage.

To achieve this, the competent national authorities must make an effort to train project

designers at vocational schools and at university, making prevention a key part of the

curriculum.



coordinator’s job is, and self-employed workers and subcontractors on the site are even less

inclined to acknowledge the coordinator’s authority.

By contrast, relations between the coordinator and workers are very good when the

coordinator is independent (i.e. is linked neither to the project supervisor nor to the architector engineers, etc.), which makes it easier for workers to tell him or her about any prevention

problems which they might be disinclined to report to the person in charge of the site. It is

easier to build up this trust if the coordinator visits the site regularly.

On large sites the situation as a whole is acceptable, and there is effective and efficient

coordination. However, on small or medium-sized sites the situation is very different, and the

Directive is seldom implemented. On small private sites, coordination is almost invariably

ignored and is restricted to ‘administrative compliance’; the coordinator is often designated

late and small enterprises generally regard coordination as ‘optional’.

The difficulties of effective coordination on small sites should be dealt with when

developing non-binding instruments, so that the essential prevention tasks are carried

out in a simple and proportionate manner in keeping with the site’s size and risks.

Workers

In many Member States, workers in the construction sector are of various nationalities, which

gives rise to communication and comprehension problems. Language barriers make it more

difficult for workers to follow safety and health instructions for the use of machinery and

chemical substances. Migrant workers appear to be less well trained and informed than others

regarding the prevention of occupational risks. Often the lack of a prevention culture and a

different perception of fundamental values may lead to workers taking unacceptable risks.

Training and education on health and safety prevention are fundamental to improving this

situation.

Construction workers’ representatives are key to day-to-day compliance with good prevention

practices, particularly on small sites where the project supervisor and coordinator are not

always present. Workers’ representatives are seeing genuine progress on hygiene measures

(changing rooms, canteens, sanitary facilities) and access to sites, thanks to the Directive.

Workers report they do not understand the coordinator’s role or obligations at the design

stage, but they are more familiar with the coordinator’s job at the execution stage.

Clients say workers do not adopt a proactive attitude to prevention, but are content to carry

out their duties without worrying about the effects on their health and safety.

The on-site assessment shows that, in addition to a general lack of training, there are

major communication and comprehension problems, which are exacerbated when

migrant workers work on the site. Training programmes of the ‘Safe Pass’12 type

might be an example to follow.

12 The Safe Pass Health and Safety Awareness Training Programme is a one-day programme run byIreland’s training and employment authority. Safe Pass aims to ensure that all construction workers inIreland have a basic knowledge of health and safety, so they can work on construction sites without

being a risk to themselves or others who might be affected by their actions.



A n n e x e s

Having workers’ representatives on the site could improve working conditions.

Workers often see the coordinators’ duties as including on-site inspections, in

particular with regard to the use of personal protective equipment.

Self-employed workers

The number of self-employed workers on sites is steadily increasing in all the Member States

as a result of a growing trend towards subcontracting. This situation is addressed in Article 10

of Directive 92/57/EEC, which requires self-employed workers on sites to meet certain

obligations and to follow the instructions of coordinators.

Self-employed persons engaged in renovation for private clients pose a major problem

because they are service providers, not subcontractors; they usually work without any

technical supervision and often are not even familiar with the legislation.

The competent authorities should conduct specific awareness-raising campaigns

targeting self-employed workers. Clients or companies that hire self-employed

workers must assume responsibility for their health and safety and for the impact of

their actions on other workers.

Prevention services

In general, the new legislation has encouraged an increase in the number of consultants in

occupational safety and health, but they are involved only in the execution phase of the

project, not in the design and preparation phases.

In some Member States, prevention services have been very active in providing training and

information, in particular for coordinators and clients. However, they claim that they lack the

necessary resources to intervene at the design stage.

Prevention services should be given a more active role in on-site training and information for

workers.

5.1. Documents required: real prevention or just red tape?

One of the major criticisms levelled at Directive 92/57/EEC is the increase in the

administrative burden and disproportionate costs that it entails for enterprises, in particular

SMEs.

The Directive provides for three types of document designed to take full account of health and

safety matters in all phases of construction: from design to execution, during use and

maintenance, during renovation and fitting-out and, where appropriate, through to demolition.

Prior notice

Under Article 3 of Directive 92/57/EEC, in certain cases prior notice giving administrative

information on the site must be drafted by the client or project supervisor and displayed on the

site. In the vast majority of cases, this prior notice has to be given to the competent authoritieswithin time limits laid down by national legislation. It is often the coordinator, who is only



appointed when the project has reached an advanced stage, who urges the client to comply

with this requirement.

The way in which prior notice is drafted and sent to the competent authorities differs from one

Member State to another. Often, the coordinator does this job although the Directive stipulatesthat it is the task of the client or the project supervisor.

Under the Directive, prior notice is intended to provide basic information identifying the site

and key players, and the number of workers, enterprises and self-employed workers on the

site, but it is needed only for certain categories of site. From a prevention point of view, this

document alerts the client and/or project supervisor to their obligations and enables the

competent authorities to ensure that these obligations are met from the design stage onwards,

before work is started.

The majority of the Member States systematically require prior notice, although under

the Directive it is required only for certain sites.

To reduce red tape, the Member States could consider combining prior notice with

other administrative procedures, such as granting a construction permit.

Safety and health plan

Article 3(2) of Directive 92/57/EEC provides for the client or the project supervisor to ensure

that a safety and health plan is drawn up before a construction site is set up. The coordinator

drafts the plan, specifying the rules applicable at the site.

The assessment shows that plans vary in quality from excellent to barely acceptable. In somecases, the coordinator at the preparation stage brings in the coordinator for the execution stage

to help define the safety measures to be applied. The safety and health plan should cover safe

working methods to be used on the site and must be updated if necessary. It is especially

important if a large amount of work is being subcontracted.

The plan is often based on standard documents, particularly in the case of small sites and

small enterprises, and so becomes an administrative formality rather than reflecting specific

measures needed for a particular site. In other cases, it is no more than a list of good general

prevention practice, regardless of the site.

The enterprises adopting this attitude argue that a construction site constantly changes anddoes not justify very detailed planning which could very rapidly become obsolete.

However, a large number of accidents in the sector are due to poor planning and lack of

foresight. This proves that the safety and health plan is not just a bureaucratic requirement but

is crucial to improving working conditions, where the plan evolves in line with changes in the

site situation.

Moreover, in practice, Member States have rarely used the possibility afforded by the

Directive for exempting enterprises from drafting a safety and health plan, although this is an

option in all cases except those specified in the Directive (work involving particular risks and

work for which prior notice is required). This is all the more striking because there is noknowledge of or reference to this possibility when the administrative burdens of the Directive

are discussed.



A n n e x e s

To facilitate the tasks of clients and project supervisors, a non-binding guide will

cover the various aspects of the safety and health plan and the possibilities afforded

by the Directive for exempting enterprises from the obligation to draw up certain

documents in cases where the risks do not justify it.

Safety and health file

Under Article 5 of the Directive, the project coordinator prepares a file containing relevant

safety and health information to be taken into account during any subsequent works on the

project. This is seldom produced at the end of the design phase. Often it is the coordinator for

the execution stage who draws it up and gives it to the client when the work has been

completed.

This file is very often confused with the safety and health plan, and tends to be drafted as a

routine operation. In the case of small sites, however, the safety and health file should suit thetype of project, be kept simple and contain only the relevant safety and health information

needed for subsequent use. The Directive explicitly allows the contents of the file to be

adjusted to suit the project.

Some players regard the safety and health plan and the safety and health file as

administrative formalities that add no value to health and safety on the site.

It is clear that the purpose and importance of the safety and health file in preventing

occupational risks during subsequent work is not yet properly understood.

For small sites, the documents are often copies of standard models that do not reflectthe actual conditions on site and add no value in terms of improving working

conditions.

A non-binding guide will address this problem with a view to easing the

administrative burden on enterprises without reducing protection, and to improving

commitment to and ownership of the health and safety documents.

5.2. The responsibility of the various players on the site

Article 7 of Directive 92/57/EEC lays down the responsibilities of clients, project supervisors

and employers.

In some cases, national laws transposing the Directive do not clearly describe the duties and

responsibilities of clients, project supervisors and employers. In practice, this means that each

player interprets his or her responsibilities subjectively, and tasks and responsibilities may

therefore be delegated by one player to another: designers pass on their responsibilities to

enterprises, who then pass them on to subcontractors; the coordinator in the preparation phase

withdraws as soon as the plans and specifications have been completed, even if the detailed

design has not yet been prepared.

On-site assessment shows that clients often think they can delegate responsibility for

occupational safety and health to the architect or the project supervisor. This is not allowed inMember States where the transposing legislation stipulates that the client and not the project

supervisor is responsible for prevention. Clients still believe that only the project supervisors



are responsible for health and safety on the site. This phenomenon is particularly widespread

on small private sites.

5.3. Enforcement

Enforcement of national legislation transposing Directive 92/57/EEC is in general the

responsibility of the labour inspectorates in the Member States.

In 2001, the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) decided to conduct an EU-wide

enforcement campaign in the construction sector. The first campaign took place in 2003 in the

then 15 Member States. It was an inspection and information campaign on the implementation of

Directive 92/57/EEC, with particular emphasis on preventing falls from heights. The 2003

inspection campaign was repeated in 2004 and widened to include transport at the workplace,

falling objects and lifting.

The results of the 2003 campaign indicated that, in relation to coordination, the safety and health plan, prior notice and the project file, there is a positive correlation between the size of the site and

the degree of compliance with the Directive, with large sites (over 50 workers) obtaining far better

scores than small ones. Although large sites are safer than small ones in practice, the degree of

compliance is still unsatisfactory (20-30% of large sites are not in compliance, as against 40-50%

of small sites).

The results of the 2004 campaign were no better. On the contrary, there is evidence that the

situation on small sites may even have worsened slightly, confirming the 2003 conclusion that it is

imperative for the construction sector to pay greater attention to safety and health matters and

improve working conditions.

6. ACTION IN THE FIELD: PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVE 92/58/EEC

In the majority of the Member States, the players are familiar with safety and health signs, as

these were already being used before the adoption of Directive 92/58/EEC. There were very

few changes in the form, logos, colours, etc., of previous signs, the only exception being those

indicating the location of emergency exits in the event of a fire.

In most Member States, employers ask for advice before purchasing certain types of signs.

Generally, they ask about the type of signs to be used and the best place to put them.

While enterprises in most Member States were well aware of the legislation, they did not

always comply with it because of a widespread assumption that the legislation was marginal

and supplementary.

As a rule, enterprises were more familiar with fire and evacuation signs, as these are

the risks most often highlighted by the competent authorities and by insurance

companies.

While most enterprises knew they must signpost hazards, small enterprises were less

well informed than large ones, and in some sectors (e.g. agricultural holdings,

restaurants and hotels, construction sites), compliance was less widespread.

Risks directly linked with the enterprise’s main activity (for example, chemical risks

in chemical companies) are signposted more than other risks (such as those of road



A n n e x e s

traffic or transporting heavy loads).

The legislation is applied more consistently in new enterprises than in older ones. However,

even in cases where the new signposting legislation is obeyed, many shortcomings are noted

in practice. Often signs are not renewed.

The consequences of non-compliance may be very serious. A lack of signs indicating

vehicles at the place of work, suspended loads, open drains, electrical risks, etc. can

often be the cause of serious accidents.

Specific training on the meaning of signs and other visual information for workers appears not

to be widely available in the majority of the Member States. In most cases workers receive

general training and information on safety and health matters, with only a small component

devoted to signs. The specific case of migrant workers deserves to be studied, in order to

establish the extent to which they understand signs.

Certain problems also emerge with regard to interpreting ‘Emergency exit’ and ‘Telephone

for rescue and first aid’ signs, as opposed to ‘Fire equipment’ and ‘Fire telephone’ signs. The

only difference between these two groups of signs is the colour of the background.

7. GENERAL ASSESSMENT

7.1. The main positive effects of the two Directives

Directive 92/57/EEC

In their national reports the Member States indicate that implementing Directive 92/57/EEC

raised awareness of safety and health matters on a large scale and prompted them to update

national legislation. The Member States regard the adoption of this new legislation as

indispensable, a positive development, useful, relevant, justified and satisfactory.

Directive 92/57/EEC has been highly beneficial in terms of improving working conditions on

construction sites. In particular, it has boosted the culture of prevention in this sector, which is

a ‘black spot’ for accidents at work and occupational diseases. Many Member States say the

quality of on-site facilities has improved considerably (hygiene, training premises, canteens,

sanitary facilities and offices) and that the Directive has improved dialogue and

communication between the various players on-site at different stages.

The Directive’s major innovation, which all sides see as a step forward, is that it makes all

players, and mainly the client, responsible. Introducing coordination at the preparation and

execution stages is also seen as highly beneficial, as is the obligation to draw up a safety and

health plan and a safety and health file.

According to some Member States, enterprises are increasingly acknowledging the relevance

of safety and health protection at work. Safety and health measures are no longer considered

solely as costs, but also as economic benefits, because they may reduce absenteeism and

ultimately increase productivity.



Directive 92/58/EEC

The new legislation defined signs in practical and exhaustive terms, enabling the signs used at

workplaces to be harmonised across all the Member States. The fact that the Directive has

included and regulated signs other than visual ones — such as luminous, acoustic, and verbalsigns and hand signals — has also met with approval.

The national reports show that the Directive provided an opportunity to renew and add to

existing national legislation. It helped to make national legislation consistent and to introduce

a coherent set of EU safety and health provisions.

7.2. Main problems of implementation

Directive 92/57/EEC

The main problems reported by the Member States stem from the requirement to draft a safetyand health plan and to designate coordinators as early as the project preparation stage.

In most national legislation, the client is responsible for prevention policy. Clients face

difficulties in discharging their increased responsibilities. Designation of coordinators is still

unsatisfactorily or is delayed at the preparation stage, as this too is seen as an administrative

burden.

If the safety and health plan has not been drawn up or the coordinator has not been designated

before the project execution stage, the obligation to incorporate prevention principles in

project preparation has not been met. Moreover, the various national provisions on the safety

and health plan are too vague and general to enable those responsible to know what theyshould include in the plan. Labour inspectorates detected another serious problem, namely

that some enterprises rely on standard safety plan models which do not allow inspection of the

specific working conditions of a specific site. Member States report that enterprises fail to

grasp the role that the safety and health file plays in the prevention system.

Another problem mentioned is the low rate of participation by construction workers in the

prevention of occupational risks through their representatives.

A shortfall in training for workers, subcontractors, self-employed workers and SMEs was

found. Moreover, SMEs suffer from an excess of red tape and a lack of flexibility in national

legislation.

Lastly, in many Member States the coordinator’s competencies are not defined by the

legislation. This creates situations where coordination cannot be effective because those who

take on the role do not possess the necessary knowledge.

Directive 92/58/EEC

The Member States’ reports and the experts’ evaluation indicate that the main problem is a

lack of training for workers. In most cases, workers receive general health and safety training,

with only a small section devoted to signs. In more general terms, the lack of interest shown

by enterprises and managers in implementing the Directive was also identified as a problem.



A n n e x e s

8. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Directive 92/57/EEC

Some Member States say it is difficult to apply the Directive because its terms are too general.Some have asked the Commission to prepare non-binding information addressing possible

questions and doubts, to help with implementation.

In general, the national reports show that the Member States’ chief concern is shortcomings in

developing safety coordination at the preparation stage. Some would therefore like the

Commission to cover coordination at the preparation stage in non-binding instruments.

Others would like their national legislation to clarify the interaction between the project

coordinator, the designers and the client, and between the project coordinator, the project

supervisors, self-employed workers and the client.

Directive 92/58/EEC

A number of suggestions were made to improve either the legislation or the way it is applied.

One of the suggestions to improve the legislation was to include compulsory basic training for

workers on safety signs, although the training provided would need to be proportionate to the

risks involved. Another was to review the rules on hand signals, to improve implementation.

Efforts should be made to harmonise the Directive with international standards.

9. ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEGISLATION

Directive 92/57/EEC

It is very difficult to demonstrate objectively the link between the implementation of the

Directive and the improvement of the situation in terms of reducing accidents at work and

occupational diseases in the construction sector.

The growth in the construction sector since the Directive’s entry into force; the introduction

of new technologies; the complexity of introducing a prevention system on-site and the

multiplicity of players; seasonal variations; and the way the Directive contains some new

provisions and others that are grafted onto existing national regulations all complicate an

assessment of its effectiveness.

The construction sector continues to hold the poorest record for accidents at work compared

with other sectors of economic activity. While implementing the Directive has produced a

steady fall in the incidence rates of accidents in construction over the years, the reduction is

still not as big as expected.

(a) Effects on accidents at work and occupational diseases

The most recent available European statistics on accidents at work on EU-15 construction

sites are for the year 2005. Since 1996, a gradual improvement in the incidence rate13 has

13 The incidence rate defined by ESAW methodology is the number of accidents at work per 100 000

workers in employment.



been observed in the case of both fatal accidents (1996: 13.3; 2005: 8.8) and accidents

involving more than three days’ absence from work (1996: 8 023; 2005: 6 069). However, it

should be noted that the rate of fatal accidents in construction is almost 2.5 times the average

rate for all activities, including construction, and the rate of accidents involving an absence of

more than three days from work is twice as high.

(b) Impact on productivity, employment and competitiveness

Most Member States do not provide any information on the impact that the new legislation is

having on productivity, employment and competitiveness. As a rule, the new measures are

seen as beneficial in some Member States in terms of productivity and competitiveness,

particularly in the long term. According to these Member States, implementing the Directive

encourages modernisation and streamlining of production processes, which logically lead to

improved productivity by ensuring that work organisation is planned and reviewed.

Directive 92/58/EEC

(a) Effects on accidents at work and occupational diseases

No specific data are available on this subject, as the statistics generally do not take account of

accidents due to signs. The absence of signs, in particular, is not generally considered to be a

material factor in an accident. Consequently, the absence of signs is not included on the list of

material agents linked with accident statistics. It is for this reason that the lack or absence of

safety and health signs does not feature in studies carried out to pinpoint the causes of

accidents at work.

(b) Impact on productivity, employment and competitiveness

The Member States have found it difficult to measure the impact of the Directive on

productivity, employment and competitiveness. One Member State said that, as a

management instrument, the Directive contributed to productivity; another Member State

stated that it had beneficial effects on the number of absences from work due to illness and on

working conditions in general.

10. CONCLUSIONS

Directive 92/57/EEC

While the incidence rate and the number of accidents at work were down both for fatal

accidents and for accidents involving an absence of more than three days from work (which in

itself testifies to the positive impact of the Directive in terms of safety and health of workers

in the EU), the numbers are still unacceptable: construction is still the sector where workers

are exposed to the greatest risks.

The assessment appears to show clearly, as do the above figures, that an improvement in the

health and safety of workers on construction sites can only be achieved if Directive

92/57/EEC is implemented more effectively in practice. Now does not appear to be the right

time to embark on a process of amending the Directive without first taking alternative actionat national and/or European level to enable the Directive to take full effect, and to ensure

compliance with it. In developing national health and safety strategies, the Member States

could take action to apply Directive 92/57/EEC more effectively, mainly by streamlining and



A n n e x e s

simplifying existing national legal frameworks while abiding by the principles of consistent

and effective legislation. The exercise to reduce administrative burdens in the European

Union14, in which the Commission is currently engaged, is crucial in this respect. It includes

an assessment of Directive 92/57/EEC and will enable unnecessary administrative burdens

caused by both national and EU legislation to be identified.

The Member States all agree, and assessment in the field confirms this, that non-binding

instruments are needed at European and/or national level to make it easier to apply Directive

92/57/EEC in practice. Specifically, the majority of the Member States highlight problems in

understanding and drawing up the health and safety plan and in identifying the persons

responsible for doing so. The role of the safety and health file also needs to be explained.

In general, the Member States report problems stemming from the absence of clear

information on the definition, the role, the tasks and the qualifications of coordinators

according to the type of project.

Increased efforts must be made, through training and information, to raise clients’ awareness

of their responsibilities and to convince them that coordination is not an additional cost but an

effective means of reducing costs throughout the project. The architects and engineers

involved in design must also be given training on prevention of occupational risks, preferably

as part of their university studies. Basic training requirements for coordinators should be

developed. Lastly, small enterprises and workers, especially migrant and self-employed

workers, need to be informed and properly trained in the legislation and their responsibilities.

A crucial aspect is enforcement of the Directive in an equivalent manner across the EU. In

addition to focusing on the execution phase of construction, enforcement must pay more

attention to ensuring that clients and designers comply with their obligations at the designstage. Sites should be inspected more frequently, and safety and health plans and the safety

and health file should also be checked for both form and substance. Effective, proportionate

and dissuasive penalties must be imposed on both clients and project supervisors where they

fail to meet their obligations. In this context, SLIC plays a fundamental role and should

address the particular situation in the construction sector as a priority in its future work.

To sum up, the following action needs to be developed either at national or at EU level:

– draft non-binding instruments (guidelines);

– integrate specific safety and health issues into vocational school and tertiary education programmes at national level for professionals playing a key role in the implementation of

the directive;

– introduce national competence requirements for coordinators;

– systematic incorporation of prevention measures linked to the subject matter of the contract

in the technical specifications for invitations to tender and in the contract performance

clauses and quality contract management by the contracting authorities;

14 COM(2007) 23 of 24.1.2007, Communication from the Commission to the Council, the EuropeanParliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Action

programme to reduce administrative burdens in the European Union (SEC(2007) 84) (SEC(2007) 85).



– improve education and training for workers and communicate with them through training

programmes (such as ‘Safe Pass’);

– hold specific national awareness-raising campaigns targeting self-employed workers;

– combine preparation the prior notice with other relevant national administrative procedures

(such as applying for the construction permit);

– inspect sites more frequently;

– introduce effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties.

Construction remains a particularly dangerous sector requiring extra effort by all players if

implementation of Directive 92/57/EEC is to improve significantly. The Commission will

contribute to this aim, inter alia by drawing up a practical, non-binding guide to clarify

certain key concepts and to help all players to meet their obligations.

Directive 92/58/EEC

All the Member States believe that Directive 92/58/EEC has had a very positive impact in

terms of protecting the safety and health of workers and of third parties. It has enabled risk

situations to be clearly identified, independently of language knowledge, and has contributed

decisively to implementing a major principle of Community law: the free movement of

workers.

The Directive will be affected by the introduction of the Globally Harmonised System of

Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) — which amends the criteria, pictogramsand symbols for toxicity, flammability and other chemical risks — and will therefore have to

be updated.



Inormation providers

European Union

European CommissionDirectorate-General or Employment, Social Aairs andEqual Opportunities1049 BrusselsBELGIUMPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://ec.europa.eu/social/home.jsp?langId=en

European Agency or Saety and Health at Work Gran Vía, 3348009 BilbaoESPAÑATel. +34 944794360Fax +34 944794383

E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://osha.europa.eu

Belgique/België (Belgium)Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and SocialDialogueFederale Overheidsdienst Werkgelegenheid, Arbeiden Sociaal OverlegErnest Blerotstraat 11070 BrusselBELGIËPublications are available at the ollowing address:

http://www.meta.gov.bePreventInstitut pour la prévention, la protection et le bien-être au travailInstitute or Occupational Saety and HealthRue Gachard 88/41050 BruxellesBELGIQUETel. +32 26434444Fax +32 26434440E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.prevent.be

България (Bulgaria)Министерство на труда и социалната политикаMinistry o Labour and Social PolicyTriaditza Street 21051 SoaBULGARIATel. +359 28119443Fax +359 29884405Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mlsp.government.bg

Национален център по опазване на общественотоздравеNational centre o public health protection (NCPHP)

15 Akademik Ivan Evstatiev Geshov Blvd1431 SoaBULGARIATel. +359 28056200Fax +359 29541211E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://ncphp.government.bg/

Česká republika (Czech Republic)Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí ČRMinistry o Labour and Social AairsNa Poříčním právu 1/376128 01 Praha 2

ČESKÁ REPUBLIKATel. +420 221921111Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mpsv.cz

Výzkumný ústav bezpečnosti práce (VÚBP)Occupational Saety Research InstituteJeruzalémská 9116 52 Praha 1ČESKÁ REPUBLIKATel. +420 221015811Fax +420 224238550Publications are available at the ollowing address:

http://www.vubp.cz/Centrum odborných činností v ochraně a podpořeveřejného zdraví SZÚOdbor hygieny práce a pracovního lékařství Centre o Industrial Hygiene and OccupationalDiseasesŠrobárova 48100 42 Praha 10ČESKÁ REPUBLIKATel. +422 67082658Fax +422 67311236E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:

http://www.szu.cz/odbor-hygieny-prace-a-pracovniho-lekarstvi

Κύπρος (Cyprus)Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικών ΑσφαλίσεωνMinistry o Labour and Social InsuranceΤμήμα Επιθεώρησης ΕργασίαςDepartment o Labour InspectionApellis Str. 121493 NicosiaCYPRUSTel. +357 22405623Fax +357 22663788

E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/dli



A n n e x e s

Danmark (Denmark)BeskætigelsesministerietMinistry o Employment

Ved Stranden 81061 KøbenhavnDANMARK Tel. +45 72205000Fax +45 33121378E-mail: [email protected] Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.bm.dk

Arbejdstilsynet(WEA)Danish Working Environment AuthorityLandskronagade 33–352100 KøbenhavnDANMARK

Tel. +45 39152000Fax +45 39152560Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.arbejdstilsynet.dk/

Det Nationale Forskningscenter or ArbejdsmiljøNational Research Centre or the WorkingEnvironmentLersø Parkallé 1052100 KøbenhavnDANMARK Tel. +45 39165200Fax +45 39165201

E-mail: [email protected] Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.arbejdsmiljoorskning.dk

Branchearbejdsmiljørådet or Bygge & AnlægThe Sector Council or Occupational Health & Saety inConstructionBygmestervej 52400 København NVDANMARK Tel. +45 36141400E-mail: [email protected] Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.bar-ba.dk

Deutschland (Germany)Bundesministerium ür Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS)Ministry o Labour and Social Aairs (BMAS)Reerat IIIb2 – Grundsatzragen des ArbeitsschutzesWilhelmstraße 4910117 BerlinDEUTSCHLANDPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.bmas.bund.de

Bundesanstalt ür Arbeitsschutzund Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA)Federal Institute or Occupational Saety and Health

Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1–2544149 DortmundDEUTSCHLANDTel. +49 2319071-0Fax +49 2319071-2454E-Mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.baua.dePostanschrit: Postach 17 02 02, 44061 Dortmund,DEUTSCHLAND

Eesti (Estonia)Ministry o Social AairsLabour Department

Gonsiori 2915027 TallinnEESTI/ESTONIAPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.sm.ee/

TerviseametHealth BoardPaldiski mnt 8110617 TallinnEESTI/ESTONIAE-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:

http://www.terviseamet.ee/Eire (Ireland)Department o Enterprise, Trade and Employment23 Kildare StreetDublin 2IRELANDTel. +353 16312121Fax +353 16312827E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.entemp.ie/

Health and Saety Authority(HAS)

James Joyce StreetDublin 1IRELANDTel. +353 16147000Fax +353 6147020E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.hsa.ie

España (Spain )Ministerio de Trabajo e Inmigración/Ministry o Labour and ImmigrationC/Agustín de Bethencourt, 4

28071 MadridESPAÑATel. +34 913630000E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mtas.es/index.htm



Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higieneen el Trabajo (INSHT)Torrelaguna, 73

28027 MadridESPAÑATel. +34 913634100Fax +34 913634327Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.insht.es/portal/site/Insht/ or http://www.mtin.es

FranceMinistère du Travail, de la Solidarité,et de la Fonction PubliqueDirection des relations du travail (DRT/CT)39–43 quai André Citröen75739 Paris Cedex 15

FRANCEPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.travail.gouv.r

Institut national de recherche et de sécurité Paris(INRS)30 rue Olivier Noyer75680 Paris Cedex 14Tél. +33 140443000Fax +33 140443099Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.inrs.r

Ελλάδα (Greece)Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής ΑσφάλισηςMinistry o Labour and Social AairsΓενική Διεύθυνση Συνθηκών και Υγιεινής της ΕργασίαςGeneral Directorate o Working Conditions and HealthPireos str. 40101 82 AthensGREECE

Ελληνικό Ινστιτούτο Υγιεινής και Ασφάλειας τηςΕργασίας (ELINYAE)Hellenic Institute or Occupational Health and SaetyLiosion 143 and Thirsiou Str 6104 45 Athens

GREECETel. +30 2108200100Fax +30 2108200222E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.elinyae.gr

Italia (Italy)Ministero del Lavoro, della salute e delle politichesocialiVia Veneto 5600187 Roma RMITALIA

Tel. +39 648161638Fax +39 0648161441E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.lavoro.gov.it/lavoro/

Istituto superiore per la prevenzione e la sicurezza dellavoro (ISPESL)Via Urbana 167

00198 Roma RMITALIATel. +39 064742281Fax +39 064741831Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.ispesl.it

Latvija (Latvia)Latvijas Republikas Labklājības ministrijaMinistry o Welare o the Republic o LatviaSkolas iela 28LV-1331LATVIJATel. +371 67021600

Fax +371 67276445E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.lm.gov.lv

Valsts darba inspekcijaState Labour Inspectorate o the Republic o LatviaKr. Valdemāra 38Rīga, LV-1010LATVIJAPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.vdi.gov.lv

RSU Darba drošības un vides veselības institūtsInstitute o occupational saety and environmentalhealth, RSUDzirciema iela 16Rīga, LV-1007LATVIJATel. +371 2409139Fax +371 7828155Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.rsu.lv/darba-drosibas-un-vides-veselibas-instituts

Lietuva (Lithuania)Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija

Ministry o Social Security and LabourA. Vivulskio g. 11LT-03610 VilniusLIETUVA/LITHUANIATel. +370 52664201Fax +370 52664209E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.socmin.lt/index.php?879686114

Valstybinė darbo inspekcijaState Labour Inspectorate o the Republic o LithuaniaAlgirdo g. 19

LT-03607 VilniusLIETUVA/LITHUANIAPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.vdi.lt



A n n e x e s

SODRAState Social Insurance Fund Board o the Republic o Lithuania

Konstitucijos pr. 12LT-09308 VilniusLIETUVA/LITHUANIATel. +370 52724864Fax +370 52723641E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.sodra.lt

Luxembourg (Luxemburg)Ministère du travail et de l’emploi26, rue Zithe2939 LuxembourgLUXEMBOURG

Tel. +352 2478-6100Fax +352 2478-6108E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mte.public.lu/

Inspection du Travail et des Mines3, rue des Primeurs2361 LuxembourgLUXEMBOURGPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.itm.lu

Association d’Assurance contre les Accidents (AAA)125, route d’EschBP 13422976 LuxembourgLUXEMBOURGTel. +352 2619-151Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.aaa.lu

MaltaMinistry or social policyPalazzo Ferreria, 310, Republic StreetValletta VLT 2000MALTA

Tel. +356 2590 3100Fax +356 2590 3121E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.msp.gov.mt/deault.asp

Occupational Health and Saety Authority (OHSA)17, Triq Edgar FerroPieta’ – PTA 1533MALTATel. +356 21 24 7677Fax +356 21 23 2909E-mail: [email protected]

Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.ohsa.org.mt

Magyarország (Hungary)Szociális és Munkaügyi MinisztériumMinistry o Social Aairs and Labour

BudapestAlkotmány u. 3.1054MAGYARORSZÁG/HUNGARYTel. +36 14738100Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.szmm.gov.hu/main.php?olderID=13318andlangchanged=eng

OMMF — Hungarian Labour InspectorateBudapestMargit krt. 85.1024MAGYARORSZÁG/HUNGARY

Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.omm.gov.hu

Munkavédelmi Kutatási Közalapítvány (MKK)Public Foundation or Research on OccupationalSaetyBudapestÖtvös János u. 2.1021MAGYARORSZÁG/HUNGARYTel. +36 13942922Fax +36 13942932E-mail: [email protected]

Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mkk.org.hu/

Nederland (the Netherlands)Ministerie van sociale zakenMinistry o Social Aairs and EmploymentPostbus 908012509 LV Den HaagNEDERLANDPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://home.szw.nl/

TNO ArbeidPostbus 718

2130 AS HooddorpNEDERLANDTel. +31 235549394Fax +31 235549394E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.nia.tno.nl

Nederlands Centrum voor Beroepsziekten(NCVB)Netherlands Center or Occupational DiseasesPostbus 226601100 DD AmsterdamNEDERLAND

Tel. +31 20566387Fax +31 20569288E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.beroepsziekten.nl/



Österreich (Austria)Bundesministerium ür Arbeit, Soziales undKonsumentenschutz

Federal Ministry o Labour, Social Aairs andConsumer ProtectionStubenring 11010 WienÖSTERREICHTel. +43 171100-0E-Mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.bmask.gv.at/cms/siteEN/index.html

Allgemeine Unallversicherungsanstalt (AUVA)Austrian Social Insurance or Occupational RisksAdalbert-Stiter-Straße 651200 Wien

ÖSTERREICHTel. +43 133111-0Fax +43 133111-347Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.auva.sozvers.at

Polska (Poland)Ministerstwo Pracy i Polityki Społecznej(Ministry o Labour and Social Policy)ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/500-513 WarszawaPOLSKA/POLANDTel. +48 226611000

E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mpips.gov.pl/index.php

Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy(National Labour Inspectorate)ul. Krucza 38/4200-926 WarszawaPOLSKA/POLANDTel. +48 4203731 / 224203730Fax +48 224203725 / 226254770Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.pip.gov.pl/html/en/html/index.htm

Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy(Central Institute or Labour Protection)ul. Czerniakowska 1600-701 WarszawaPOLSKA/POLANDTel. +48 226233698Fax +48 226233693E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.ciop.pl

PortugalInspecção-Geral do Trabalho

Avenida Casal Ribeiro, 18-A1000-092 LisboaPORTUGALTel. +351 213308700Fax +351 213308710E-mail: [email protected]

Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho (ACT)Avenida Casal Ribeiro, n.º 18-A1000-092 Lisboa

PORTUGALTel. +351 213308700Fax +351 213308710E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.act.gov.pt

Centro Nacional de Protecção Contra os RiscosProssionais (CNPRP)Avenida da República, 25, 1.°esq.1094 LisboaPORTUGALTel. +351 213547153Fax +351 213522748

E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.seg-social.pt

România (Romania)Ministerul Muncii, Familiei și Protecției SocialeMinistry o Labour, Family and Social ProtectionStr. Dem. I. Dobrescu nr. 2–4Sectorul 1,BucureștiROMANIATel. +40 213136267E-mail: [email protected]

Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.mmuncii.ro/ro/website/ro/

Inspecția MunciiStr. Matei Voievod nr. 14Sectorul 2,BucureștiROMANIATel. +40 3027030Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.inspectmun.ro/

Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentruProtecția Muncii (INCDPM)

Bdul Ghencea nr. 35ASectorul 6,BucureștiROMANIATel. +40 213133158Fax +40 213157822E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.inpm.ro/

Slovenija (Slovenia)Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeveKotnikova 5

SI-1000 LjubljanaSLOVENIJATel. +386 13697700Fax +386 13697832Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.gov.si



A n n e x e s

ZVD Zavod za varstvo pri delu d. d.Institute o Occupational Saety o the Republico Slovenia

Chengdujska cesta 25SI-1260 Ljubljana-PoljeSLOVENIJATel. +386 15855100Fax +386 15855101Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.zvd.si

Slovensko (Slovakia)Ministerstvo práce, sociálnych vecí a rodiny SRMinistry o Labour, Social Aairs and Family o theSlovak RepublicŠpitálska 4–6816 43 Bratislava

SLOVENSKO/SLOVAKIATel. +421 22046 0000Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.employment.gov.sk/index.php?SMC=1

Národný inšpektorát práceMasarykova 10040 01 KošiceSLOVENSKO/SLOVAKIATel. +421-55-7979902Fax +421-55-7979904E-mail: [email protected] Publications are available at the ollowing address:

http://www.saework.gov.sk/Výskumný a vzdelávací ústav bezpečnosti práce (VVUBP)Trnavská cesta 57814 35 BratislavaSLOVENSKO/SLOVAKIATel. +421 25729 1109Fax +421 2 5729 1171

Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera (Switzerland)Federal Department o Economic Aairs (FDEA)Communication ServicesFederal Palace East Wing3003 Berne

SWITZERLANDTel. +41 31 322 2007Fax +41 31 322 2194E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.evd.admin.ch

Schweizerische Unallversicherungsanstalt (SUVA)Fluhmattstrasse 16002 LuzernSCHWEIZTel. +41 41419-5111/5049Fax +41 41419-5828

E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.suva.ch

Suomi (Finland)Ministry o Social Aairs and HealthDepartment or Occupational Saety and Health

P.O. Box 536FI-33101 TampereSUOMI/FINLAND

Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.stm./

Työterveyslaitos — Finnish Institute o OccupationalHealth (FIOH)Topeliuksenkatu 41FI-00250 HelsinkiFINLANDTel. +358 947471Fax +358 92414634Publications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.occuphealth.

Sverige (Sweden)

ArbetsmarknadsdepartementetMinistry o EmploymentMäster Samuelsgatan 70SE-103 33 StockholmSVERIGEPublications are available at the ollowing address:http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/8281

ArbetsmiljöverketSwedish Work Environment AuthorityLindhagensgatan 133SE-112 79 StockholmSVERIGE

Tel. +46 87309000Fax +46 87301967E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.av.se/inenglish/

United KingdomDepartment or Work and PensionsCaxton HouseTothill StreetLondonSW1H 9DAUNITED KINGDOMPublications are available at the ollowing address:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

Health and Saety Executive (HSE)Rose Court2 Southwark BridgeLondonSE1 9HSUNITED KINGDOM

Redgrave CourtMerton RoadBootleMerseyside

L20 7HSUNITED KINGDOMTel. +44 1519514000Fax +44 1619528222E-mail: [email protected] are available at the ollowing address:http://www.hse.gov.uk



Experts involved in the preparation

o this guide

Ad-Hoc Working partyGovernmentals

Mr. Andrew EASTHealth and Saety ExecutiveRose Court SSW2 Southwark BridgeUK-London SE1 9HSUNITED KINGDOM

Mrs Evangelista TSOULOFTA - KAKOUTADepartment o Labour InspectionCY-1493 Nicosia

CYPRUS

Mr Martin MOKRAONárodný Inspektorát práce Kosice(National Labour Inspectorate Kosice),Masarykova 10SK-040 01 KosiceSLOVAK REPUBLIC

Mr. Matthias VAHLBRUCHc/o Bundesministerium ür Arbeit und Soziales(BMAS)Reerat IIIb2 - Grundsatzragen des Arbeitsschutzes

Wilhelmstr. 49DE-lOll? BerlinGERMANY

Mr Boudewijn NOUWENS (Deputy Member)Ministerie van Socia Ie Zaken en WergelengenheidPostbus 90801NL-2509 LV Den HaagTHE NETHERLANDS

Workers

Mr Horst BUHRSchlehdornweg 8a

DE-82256 FOrsteneldbruck/BuchenauGERMANY

Mr. Rol GEHRINGFETBB-EFBWWRue Royale 45, bte 3BE-lOOO BruxellesBELGIUM

Mr Lars VEDSMANDBAT-KartelletKampmannsgade 4Postboks 392

DK-1790 CopenhagenDENMARK

Mr Cornel CONSTANTIOAIAC.N.S.L.R.269, rue Gh.Gr, Cantacuzino

Blok 16 AP. 39RO-100208 Ploiesti, Jud PrahovaROMANIA

EmployersMrs Veronique FOUILLEROUXFédération rançaise du bâtiment33 Avenue KleberFR-75784 Paris Cedex 16FRANCE

Mr. Jose GASCON Y MARINFCC Construccion S.A.Pedro Teixeira 8-6a

ES-28020 MadridSPAIN

Mr.Andre PELEGRINFABA-FEGCRue du Lombard 42BE-lOOO BruxellesBELGIUM

Mr Michele TRITTOANCEVia Guattani 16IT-00161 Rome

ITALYMr Bart VANMARCKE (Deputy member)HSE Group Team PartnerMainiine and Metros DivisionVaartdjikstraat 5BE-8200 BrugesBELGIUM

External experts to the Working Party

Mr. Philip BAKERISHCCOc/o Foyer Technique

4-6, Bd Grande Duchesse CharlotteL-1330LUXEMBOURG

Mr Jörg-Martin HOHBERGEFCA c/o IUBThunstrasse 2CH-3005 BernSCHWlTZERLAND

Mr Adrian JOYCEACE29, rue Paul Emile Janson

BE-1050 BrusselsBELGIUM



A n n e x e s

Mr Luc PROESMANSBOUWUNIESpastraat 8

BE-lOOO BrusselsBELGIUM

Mr Jacob Ravn THOMSENAEEBC - KonstruktøroreningenVester Voldgade 111DK-1552 KøbenhavnDENMARK

Mr Alexander RYCHTERBFWKurFUrstendamm 57DE-10707 BerlinGERMANY

European Commission

Mrs Teresa MOlTINHOEuropean Commission DG EMPL F/4EUFO 02/218010 rue, R. StumperL-2920 LuxembourgLUXEMBOURGE-mail: [email protected]

Mrs Christina FOGELQUISTEuropean Commission DG EMPL F/4

EUFO 02/218110 rue, R. StumperL-2920 LuxembourgLUXEMBOURGE-mail: [email protected]

Consultants

Mrs Marie-Amelie BUFFET

EUROGIP - France55 rue de la FédérationFR - 75015 - ParisFRANCETel: +33 140 56 30 40Fax: + 33 1 40 56 36 66E-mail: [email protected]://www.eurogip.r

Mr Bruno BISSONCaisse Regionale d’Assurance Maladie d’Ile De France(CRAMIF)FRANCE

Mr Luis ALVES DIASInstituto Superior Tecnico (IST) - Portugal

Mr Ulrich BERGBerusgenossenschat der Bauwirtschat (BG BAU)GERMANY

Mr Martin THURGOODConsultantUNITED KINGDOM



European Commission

Non-binding guide to good practice or understanding and implementingDirective 92/57/EEC ‘Construction Sites’

Luxembourg: Publications Oce o the European Union

2011 — 185 pp. — 21 × 29.7 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-15721-9doi:10.2767/31797

This non-binding guide gives practical inormation or understanding and implementing

Directive 92/57/EEC on the minimum saety and health requirements at temporaryor mobile construction sites. By explaining the Directive and by giving good practicesuggestions and examples, it aims to assist all parties involved in construction, includingclients, project supervisors, designers, coordinators, contractors and other employers,workers, suppliers and others, in the ollowing areas:

in understanding and implementing the general principles o prevention (Chapter 1);•

in understanding the saety and health requirements o the Directive including when and•

to what it applies, the duties and roles o stakeholders and the documentation that isrequired (Chapter 2);by identiying some typical hazards and risks during construction work (Chapter 3);•

in managing risks throughout the duration o construction projects, rom project•

preparation, during construction, and into the post-construction stage (Chapter 4); andby summarising the duties o stakeholders by stages (Chapter 5).•

This publication is available in printed ormat in English, French and German and inelectronic ormat in all other EU ocial languages.A CD containing 22 language versions (Catalogue number: KE-31-11-011-1X-Z,ISBN 978-92-79-19096-4) is also available.



How to obtain EU publications

Free publications:

• viaEUBookshop(http://bookshop.europa.eu);

• attheEuropeanUnion’srepresentationsordelegations.Youcanobtaintheircontactdetails on the Internet (http://ec.europa.eu) or by sending a ax to +352 2929-42758.

Priced publications:

• viaEUBookshop(http://bookshop.europa.eu).

Priced subscriptions (e.g. annual series o the Oicial Journal o the European Union

and reports o cases beore the Court o Justice o the European Union):

• viaoneofthesalesagentsofthePublicationsOfficeoftheEuropeanUnion (http://publications.europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm).



Are you interested in the publications o the Directorate-General or Employment,Social Aairs and Equal Opportunities?

I so, you can download them or take out a ree subscription athttp://ec.europa.eu/social/publications

You are also welcome to sign up to receivethe European Commission’s ree Social Europe e-newsletter at

http://ec.europa.eu/social/e-newsletter

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Guide en Final Web Optimised

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