Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 1:39 pm
Apols if you've already got this from the mailing list or twitter....
Risks and Hazards for paving contractors
Here’s an interesting mental challenge for you over the next couple of weeks or so as the days are short, the weather crap, and the work scarce.
As some of you will know, I’ve been part of a Health & Safety Executive working group looking at how we can minimise risk of injury and long-term health problems in the paving trade. As someone who had to retire from the tools at the all-too-youthful age of just 36 due to an injury that was a direct result of laying too many kerbs and flagstones for too many years, this is something I feel passionately about.
So, this group is trying to create what is known as a “Risk Matrix�, which is essentially a big table listing all the identified risks and hazards, along with links to suggested workarounds, alternatives, relevant legislation, etc. in order to create a sort-of one-stop risk assessment aid for anyone working in the hardscape trade.
If you want to see a very crude and basic draft of the Risk Matrix template, you can view it as a PDF available on the pavingexpert website
On this working group, while the other members are equally committed, I’m the only one who has actually earned a living by laying paving, and as such, it has fallen to me to list all the possible health and injury issues that occur in our trade.
Obviously, there will need to be some judicious editing. For example, scratches to hands, broken nails (of the finger variety), blood blisters on thumb will all be grouped together under “manual handling�, but at this stage, we are solely interested in learning about as many possible hazards and risks as we can.
The next stage will be to look at how these risks can be minimised. We did something similar a few years back with the compulsory dust suppression when using a cut-off saw. I know some think this is more of a hindrance than a help, but over the long-term, we *will* see fewer paviors having to take early retirement or even dropping dead because of COPD (dust on the lungs).
We’re also very interested in any photies or other images which you think perfectly illustrate a risk or hazard. These will need to be either your own images to which you’re willing to grant HSE basic reproduction rights (sorry, but there’s nowt in it for you other than eternal fame and glory) or images you know to be copyright/IP free.
This is YOUR chance to improve working conditions and practices in OUR trade. The decisions taken in building this risk matrix will determine how paving is handled and laid for years to come. Don't let faceless desk-jockeys tell us how to do our job: let's tell them how WE want to do it!
So: off you go. Tell me about all your aches and pains, accidents and near-misses, and anything else you think the trade should know about….
Edited By Tony McC on 1355060617
Risks and Hazards for paving contractors
Here’s an interesting mental challenge for you over the next couple of weeks or so as the days are short, the weather crap, and the work scarce.
As some of you will know, I’ve been part of a Health & Safety Executive working group looking at how we can minimise risk of injury and long-term health problems in the paving trade. As someone who had to retire from the tools at the all-too-youthful age of just 36 due to an injury that was a direct result of laying too many kerbs and flagstones for too many years, this is something I feel passionately about.
So, this group is trying to create what is known as a “Risk Matrix�, which is essentially a big table listing all the identified risks and hazards, along with links to suggested workarounds, alternatives, relevant legislation, etc. in order to create a sort-of one-stop risk assessment aid for anyone working in the hardscape trade.
If you want to see a very crude and basic draft of the Risk Matrix template, you can view it as a PDF available on the pavingexpert website
On this working group, while the other members are equally committed, I’m the only one who has actually earned a living by laying paving, and as such, it has fallen to me to list all the possible health and injury issues that occur in our trade.
Obviously, there will need to be some judicious editing. For example, scratches to hands, broken nails (of the finger variety), blood blisters on thumb will all be grouped together under “manual handling�, but at this stage, we are solely interested in learning about as many possible hazards and risks as we can.
The next stage will be to look at how these risks can be minimised. We did something similar a few years back with the compulsory dust suppression when using a cut-off saw. I know some think this is more of a hindrance than a help, but over the long-term, we *will* see fewer paviors having to take early retirement or even dropping dead because of COPD (dust on the lungs).
We’re also very interested in any photies or other images which you think perfectly illustrate a risk or hazard. These will need to be either your own images to which you’re willing to grant HSE basic reproduction rights (sorry, but there’s nowt in it for you other than eternal fame and glory) or images you know to be copyright/IP free.
This is YOUR chance to improve working conditions and practices in OUR trade. The decisions taken in building this risk matrix will determine how paving is handled and laid for years to come. Don't let faceless desk-jockeys tell us how to do our job: let's tell them how WE want to do it!
So: off you go. Tell me about all your aches and pains, accidents and near-misses, and anything else you think the trade should know about….
Edited By Tony McC on 1355060617
