Construction H&S Support

The most important thing is to stop the dust getting into the air to prevent breathing in the wood dust and the best way is by using specially designed tools that can be fitted with an industrial H or M vacuum unit that sucks the dust away as it is being created and stores it until emptied.

Sometimes things can go wrong, so for this reason some form of RPE, a mask, will also be needed especially when using powered cross-cut saws and sanders on hardwood, red cedar or MDF and when sanding softwood indoors. It is recommended the masks should be to FFP3 face standards, Mask must be face fitted as they rely on a tight seal with the face to work so that only air going through the filter is breathed in. 

If the mask does not fit properly the dust can slip through any gap between the mask and the face and into the airways. Dust particles can be much smaller than the width of a hair so the face seal needs to be very good and so persons must be clean shaven.

Yes. Every employer must ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to their employees who may be exposed to risks to their health or safety while at work. 

According to the HSE ‘Where a maintenance activity involves construction processes, requires construction skills and uses construction materials, then it is most likely to fall within the term ‘construction work’.

In other words, if it clearly looks like a construction job, then it’s likely to be covered by the CDM Regulations 2015. However, maintenance or repair of fixed plant which mainly involves mechanical adjustments, replacing parts or lubrication is unlikely to be construction work.’

Under the CDM 2015 regulations the Pre-Construction Information is required on ALL projects and is normally completed by the Principal Designer on behalf of the client with the assistance of the Client and also Designers who are appointed at concept stage of the project.