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Executive Report: Reducing the risks Suppliers and hirers highlighted their latest relevant products and initiatives at the recent Safety & Health Expo. EHN reports. Health & Safety issues continue to be a major driving force throughout the construction industry supply chain. EHN has regularly highlighted the implications of new legislation concerning work at height, noise and HAV, as well as the tighter limits regarding exposure to dust and other hazards. These developments are making site managers re-appraise working practices and the equipment they hire. The Safety & Health Expo in Birmingham gave an opportunity to see the latest products and initiatives designed to offer solutions to these challenges. As in previous years, Speedy exhibited at the event to show how its Safety from the Ground Up communications campaign could educate construction professionals on various hazards, and advise organisations on how to maintain a duty of care to employees. The company promoted its new ‘Let’s clear the air on dust control’ campaign, its biggest ever Health & Safety initiative, which aims to reduce the number of site operatives who contract respiratory diseases. Staff gave information on this and other workplace risks, and distributed its impressive ‘dust bag’ package to visitors, comprising a booklet that gives an easy to understand yet thorough overview of dust hazards, a CD of reference materials, awareness posters and leaflets, and even a complete toolbox talk. Real-time dust monitor Speedy’s (www.speedyhire.co.uk) stand also displayed products from its fleet that address the dust issue. These included the Microdust Pro real-time monitor from Casella CEL (www.casellacel.com), which also exhibited at the Show. The battery powered, hand-held meter detects airborne dust, fumes and aerosols, and can be used for ‘walk-though’ surveys of ambient and indoor workplace environments. Measurements can be made within a range of 0.01-2500mg/m3, and the display can show numeric levels as well as a graphical analysis indicating overall trends. Figures can be logged inside the unit and downloaded later to a computer. Another exhibitor promoting air sampling solutions was SKC (www.skcltd.com). Included in its line-up is a wide range of dust and particulate sampling pump kits to test for the presence of different sizes and types of particles, such as respirable silica dust (RSD). SKC’s air sampling guide is a veritable mine of information, listing appropriate equipment filters and sampling methods to meet relevant standards governing exposure to literally hundreds of substances, from acetone to zinc. On its stand, A-Plant (www.aplant.com) promoted new equipment added to its fleet to help contractors meet new dust exposure limits. Its site safety pack includes posters, HAV leaflets and a 60-page Health & Safety Handbook, as well as a newly introduced dust supplement focusing on the reduced workplace exposure limits (WELs) for RCS exposure. New equipment offered includes dust extraction and suppression products from Dustcontrol, such as the DC 2800c and DC 1800 that can be attached to power tools for dust extraction at source. The larger DC 3800c Twin is for use with small to medium sized floor grinders and larger power tools in sensitive environments like hospitals. Also featured were products from the company’s fleet of lifting equipment. The AL-Vac Mantis and Handyman Super are mobile battery powered vacuum machines with a maximum load capacity of 160kg. They are designed to facilitate handling of kerbstones, slabs and other concrete products. The HSE says that such materials should be handled and laid mechanically in order to avoid the risk of injury associated with repetitive manual handling. HSS tests work at height knowledge The HSS stand focused on safe working at height. Visitors were invited to take part in a quiz, with a format resembling the Mastermind television programme, to test their knowledge of the subject. The hirer’s display also highlighted products like ladders, safety steps, access towers and powered platforms, as well as the training courses it offers nationally. HSS (www.hss.com) is amongst various organisations participating in the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) current Ladder Exchange initiative being held at various locations in Britain. Tradesmen can have their ladders checked for safety and, where appropriate, can trade them in for new ones at a discounted price. Other organisations involved include Speedy, SGB Taskmaster and the on-line supplier ladderstore.com. More details are available at www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm. Also promoting a safety message was the Ladder Association, the new name for the British Ladder Manufacturers’ Association. The move reflects the organisation’s aim to extend its reach more widely throughout industry rather than simply representing manufacturers. “Working in close co-operation with the HSE, the Association will deliver the clear and unequivocal message that ladders are not banned from the workplace,” states new Chairman, Don Aers, who is also Technical Manager at the Youngman Group. “We are telling people that, when it is right to use a ladder, use the correct one and use it safely.” The Association’s (www.ladderassociation.org.uk) national training scheme is designed to ensure that users have appropriate safety knowledge. Successful candidates receive a certificate and a photo card as proof of competence. Seen on the Alto Towers stand (www.alto-towers.co.uk) was the Aluguard telescopic advance guardrail made by Alsure (www.alsure.com) of Birmingham. The system is designed to enable the erection and dismantling of aluminium towers in compliance with the Work at Height Regulations. The telescopic frames have a special locking device that can be operated from three different positions, from either above or below. The guardrails are designed to facilitate climbing and descending, and a simple rotating lock secures the braces when not in use. Youngman’s stand promoted a wide variety of products and initiatives. The company previewed a new work at height DVD promoting safe use of ladders and stepladders, designed to complement the HSE’s campaigns. Key aspects covered include risk assessment, choosing and checking ladders and components, maintenance, storage, training and record keeping. The overall message dovetails with information in Youngman’s (www.youngmangroup.com) comprehensive educational campaign, The Knowledge. A full product line-up included Boss GRP (glass reinforced polyester) and aluminium towers, as well as seven podium-type steps, two of which have been designed for maintenance work on the London Underground. Also displayed were aluminium and GRP extension ladders, and GRP non-conductive stepladders. In addition, Youngman previewed two battery powered, self-propelled personnel lifts offering platform heights between 0.55-4.1m and available in one and two-person models. Cage extensions can be fitted to increase the platform area, and the machines feature tight turning circles. Being self-propelled they can be loaded on to a van under their own power. Prominent on the Pop-Up Products stand was the Pop-Up Plus, a higher-reach version of the successful Pop-Up battery powered scissor lift with a maximum platform height of 2.5m, and giving a 4.5m working height. The machine, which will be available for delivery in October, has the same 1200mm by 700mm footprint as the existing 1.65m platform height model. Integral safety features include LED lights to confirm stabiliser setup. Pop-Up (www.popupproducts.co.uk) Managing Director, Paul Gallacher, states that the original machine has proved hugely popular with national hirers and that more independents are showing interest. The company also plans to develop export markets in Europe and the US. Monitoring equipment dealing with various workplace risks was displayed by the Castle Group. Its new Pro-DX Vocis sound meter incorporates software so that, after capturing data, it shows the protection level afforded by a particular hearing protector. This can be compared with the exposure limit value under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations. Also new is the GA113 combined sound level meter and dosemeter, a pocket sized unit that measures noise and calculates daily exposure based over time. For HAV measurement, Castle’s (www.castlegroup.co.uk) Excieo allows readings to be stored with a record number, employee name, tool reference and work location. Data can be sorted and searched to aid risk assessment, and a USB connection enables downloads to a computer. Besides promoting Larson Davis HAV meters, which are used by several hirers, ProsCon Environmental (www.proscon.co.uk) gave details of its noise measurement products, including the SoundTrack LXT. Designed for straightforward assessment of workplace exposure and plant noise surveys, it can be held and operated with one hand. It enables data to be gathered, analysed and sorted. Colour-coded sound display Aearo
Technologies
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Optime
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existing
alert
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quickly
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Impacto Protective Products (www.2protect.com) displayed examples from its range of gloves claimed to reduce HAV. A resilient bubble material inside the glove is designed to reduce vibration energy transmission to the hand. The gloves mould to the palms and fingers to facilitate control of power tools. New versions are available in a nitrile finish for solvent and chemical resistance, and in water resistant rubber. Next year’s Safety & Health Expo dates are 13-15 May – which, like this year, are exactly the same as SED. The many construction professionals with responsibility for site safety issues will once again have to exercise careful time management. • Executive Hire News › Archives › July 2007 › Executive Report › Reducing the risks
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