Site safety is  important these days;  to ensure building contractors operate a safe site environment, health and safety authorities are clamping down on companies in violation of safety guidelines.

Architects Belfast offer assistance to contractors by identifying potential risks on each site. They work with contractors to develop suitable method plans for site safety as part of their comprehensive architectural services. The main purpose of the method plan is to identify hazards and control risks. This plan will organize, control, and use a system of monitor and review to ensure health and safety throughout the contract period for the project.

Onsite Building Safety Risks

Site safety covers every activity on site where there is the potential that a worker, or member of the public could be injured through faulty equipment, inadequate work methods, or pure carelessness. It also deals with welfare facilities in the form of a dining canteen, first aid, toilets and washing facilities. Protective clothing is an essential part of site safety. The health and safety regulations used are applicable to all types of construction works including new build, refurbishment and maintenance works.

Safe Usage of Ladder’s Onsite

One piece of equipment that will be found on probably all building sites is ladders. A ladder is an essential piece of equipment allowing a worker to gain access up to parts of the building above ground level. If used improperly, ladder’s are a major safety risk.

There have been numerous accidents around the world on building sites with workers falling off ladders as a result of carelessness or complacency.

Two essentials of using a ladder:

• First, that the worker can gain access to the working position, without having to stretch to the side.
• Secondly, the ladder should be securely tied to prevent it slipping.

Workers should never climb a ladder with tools or materials in one hand, while holding on with the other hand. Both hands must be free to grab each rung as they ascend or descend the ladder. The ladder must also be in good condition, be strong enough for the job, and have no rungs cracked or missing. Makeshift ladders made on site should not be used under any circumstances. When a ladder is purchased it should never be painted in the contractors corporate colours as the paint can quite often hide defects in the material of the ladders. Ladders should be inspected on a regular basis and if a ladder is damaged in any way, it should be removed off site preventing anyone from using it.

Ladders are only secure when both feet are resting on a level firm ground. The ladder should not be positioned on uneven ground or on top of loose brick or rubble. The angle at which the ladder is placed against a wall is also very important. If the angle between the line of the ladder and the wall is small there is the possibility that the ladder will fall away from the wall. The general rule is that the ladder must be out one for every four up.

Ladders longer than 3m should be tied at the top and bottom. If the ladder cannot be fixed, a second person must be used to foot the ladder while being used. At the top, the ladder should project beyond the landing for about 1m allowing the user to get on and off.

These simple rules, if applied consistently, will help to eliminate accidents on site while using ladders.

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