Fillable Printable Example Risk Assessment for Contract Bricklayers - HSE for Northern Ireland
Fillable Printable Example Risk Assessment for Contract Bricklayers - HSE for Northern Ireland
Example Risk Assessment for Contract Bricklayers - HSE for Northern Ireland
Example risk assessment: Contract bricklayers
thought about the work seen on sites; and ■
talked to employees to help identify the significant ■
hazards and particular work practices.
2 The manager then wrote down who could be harmed
by the hazards and how.
3 For each hazard identified, the manager recorded
what controls, if any, were in place to manage these
hazards. These controls were then compared to the
good practice guidance laid out in the manufacturers’
instructions or the data sheets, Health and safety in
construction, Essentials of health and safety at work
publications and the HSE construction web pages.
Where existing controls did not meet good practice the
manager wrote down what further actions were needed
to manage the risk.
4 Putting the findings of the risk assessment into
practice, the manager decided and recorded who was
responsible for implementing the further actions and
when they should be done. When each action was
completed it was ticked off and the date was recorded.
5 The manager decided that for each new site it was
important to make sure the assessment was suitable
and amend it depending on the particular work and
conditions. A review and update of the general risk
assessment would be made each year and staff would
learn from the work on different sites.
How was the site-specific risk assessment
done?
1 To turn the general risk assessment into a site-specific
assessment the manager checked the following had
been identified:
the right hazards; ■
who might be harmed and how; ■
controls that would need to be taken on this particular ■
site; and
who would be responsible for putting the controls into ■
practice and when.
2 The manager did this by:
checking the construction phase plan for the site. ■
looking at the general layout of the site as well as what ■
materials were to be used (in particular what weight of
blocks and lintels), what equipment and plant would
be needed, and what general rules would need to be
followed;
visiting the site; and ■
discussing the work and the site conditions and general ■
rules with the principal contractor’s site manager.
3 The manager made the supervisor responsible for
briefing the bricklayers about the site rules on their first
day.
Setting the scene
The manager of a successful bricklaying contractor,
with help from worker representatives, carried out
a general risk assessment that covered their typical
work. This assessment was used when tendering for
contracts to demonstrate the firm’s approach to health
and safety. In the tender documents the manager
was clear about what was needed from the principal
contractor to do the job safely and properly.
The firm won a bricklaying contract for a development
of three-storey flats. Work was due to start on 1 May
2006. The manager checked the construction phase
plan and met the principal contractor’s site manager on
the site. This extra information was used to amend the
general assessment so that it was specific to the work
and conditions.
How was the risk assessment done?
The manager followed the guidance in Five steps to risk
assessment (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf).
1 To identify the hazards, the manager:
read HSE’s ■ construction web pages and HSE’s
publication HSG150 Health and safety in construction
(available from HSE Books, www.hsebooks.com);
checked the manufacturers’ instructions for tools/ ■
machinery and the data sheet for mortar;
Example risk assessment for contract bricklayers
1 of 5 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and
how?
What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by
who?
Action by
when?
Done
Falling from height Serious injury or even fatal
injury could occur if a worker
falls.
Agree scaffolding requirements at contract stage, including ■
appropriate load rating and provision of loading bays.
Bricklayers’ supervisor to check with the site manager that the ■
correct scaffold is provided and inspected.
Workers instructed not to interfere with or misuse scaffold ■
– supervisor to keep an eye out for problems.
Ladders in good condition, adequately secured (lashed) and ■
placed on firm surface.
Band stands with handrails to be used for work on internal walls. ■
Workers trained to put up bandstands. ■
Scaffold requirements agreed, including ■
loading bays and appropriate load rating.
TB 20/3/06 20/3/06
Supervisor to speak regularly to site ■
manager to arrange scaffold alterations and
ensure that weekly inspections have been
carried out.
LG From
1/5/06
Collapse of scaffold All operatives on scaffold
may incur crush injuries,
or worse, if the scaffold
collapses on top of them.
Agree scaffolding requirements at contract stage, including ■
appropriate load rating and provision of loading bays.
Bricklayers’ supervisor to check with the site manager that the ■
correct scaffold is provided and inspected.
Supervisor to keep a check to make ■
sure that scaffold is not overloaded with
materials.
LG From
1/5/06
Falling objects
hitting head or body,
including feet
Serious head and other
injuries to workers, others
on site and members of the
public.
Brick guards kept in position on scaffold lifts. ■
Waste materials removed from scaffolding and placed in skip. ■
Safety helmets and protective footwear (with steel toecaps and ■
mid-soles) supplied and worn at all times.
Supervisor to monitor use of safety hats and ■
protective footwear.
LG From
1/5/06
Company name: TVW Contract Bricklayers
Date of risk assessment: 6/3/2006
2 of 5 pagesExample risk assessment: Contract bricklayers
Important reminder
This example risk assessment shows the kind of approach a small business might take. Use it as a guide to think through
some of the hazards in your business and the steps you need to take to control the risks. Please note that it is not a generic
risk assessment that you can just put your company name on and adopt wholesale without any thought. This would not
satisfy the law – and would not be effective in protecting people.
Every business is different – you need to think through the hazards and controls required in your business for yourself.
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and
how?
What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by
who?
Action by
when?
Done
Manual handling All workers could suffer from
back injury and long-term
pain if regularly lifting/
carrying heavy or awkward
objects.
Bricks, mortar etc to be transported and lifted to scaffold using ■
telehandler provided by principal contractor.
Provision of lifting bay agreed with principal contractor. ■
Bricks/blocks to be covered with tarpaulin when stored on site to ■
prevent taking up water.
Spot boards to be raised with blocks to easy working height. ■
Trolley to be used for moving loads of bricks around the scaffold ■
lift.
Check at tender stage for any blocks or lintels over 20 kg and ■
make arrangements.
Heaviest blocks are 15 kg, no special ■
arrangements necessary.
VP From
1/5/06
Concrete lintels are well over 20 kg, to ■
be positioned using telehandler (all are
accessible).
VP From
1/5/06
All workers to be instructed not to carry ■
materials up by hand.
LG From
1/5/06
Workers struck or
crushed by moving
vehicles on site
Workers could suffer serious
or even fatal injuries from
vehicles and machines on
site – particularly when
reversing.
Manager to agree safe route to work area with principal ■
contractor based upon the construction phase health and safety
plan.
Induction to each site to be carried out for all workers on first ■
day.
Safe route agreed with principal contractor ■ TB 20/3/06 20/3/06
Supervisor to liaise with site manager to ■
ensure safe route stays clear.
LG From
1/5/06
Instruct staff that they must never drive ■
vehicles and plant on this site.
LG From
1/5/06
High-visibility vests to be provided. ■ LG From
1/5/06
Supervisor to check vests are worn on all ■
sites where the principal contractor requires
them.
LG From
1/5/06
Slips and trips All workers may suffer
sprains or fractures if they
trip over waste including
brick bands and pallet debris.
Slips at height could result in
a serious fall.
Good housekeeping maintained at all times. ■
Waste including brick bands and pallet debris disposed of in ■
skip.
Safety footwear provided to all workers. ■
Safe route to workplace agreed with principal contractor based ■
on construction phase health and safety plan.
Temporary storage locations to be agreed ■
with site manager.
TB 20/2/06 20/3/06
Supervisor to ensure that workers wear ■
safety footwear whenever on site.
LG From
1/5/06
Example risk assessment: Contract bricklayers 3 of 5 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and
how?
What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by
who?
Action by
when?
Done
Stepping on nails and
sharp objects
All workers could suffer foot
injuries.
Safety boots with steel toecaps and mid-soles provided to all ■
workers.
Waste disposed of in skips. ■
Explain the need to wear safety boots and ■
dispose of waste in skips – repeat annually.
LG 1/5/06 1/5/06
Supervisor to check that safety boots are ■
always worn and waste disposed of properly.
LG From
1/5/06
Hazard to eyes,
cutting bricks
Bricklayers could suffer eye
injury through flying brick
fragments.
Safety goggles (EN 166 B standard) worn when breaking bricks. ■ Use of goggles to be monitored by ■
supervisor.
LG From
1/5/06
Hazardous
substances, mortar
Direct skin contact with the
mortar could also cause
bricklayer contact dermatitis
and burns.
Risk of dermatitis or cement burns and precautions explained to ■
all workers.
Use cement or cement containing products within the use-by ■
date.
Direct skin contact to be avoided, CE marked PVC gloves used ■
when handling mortar.
Good washing facilities on site, with hot and cold water, soap ■
and basins large enough to wash forearms.
Principal contractor’s first aid includes emergency eyewash. ■
Training on how to treat exposure to be given ■
to all operatives.
TB 17/4/06 26/4/06
Supervisor to be aware of anyone with early ■
signs of dermatitis.
LG From
1/5/06
Dust from cutting
bricks
Dust exposure could cause
silicosis.
Angle grinders replaced with block splitter, removing the risk of ■
significant dust exposure.
The use of a grinder for chasing etc is not needed on this job. ■
Operating cement
mixer
Workers could be crushed
or cut if the mixer topples or
they get caught in moving
parts. Damage to electrics
could result in a shock.
Cement mixer located on firm, level ground. ■
Mixer is fully guarded and guards in place during operation. ■
Mixer is 110 volt and PAT tested every three months. ■
Supervisor to check mixer daily for obvious ■
damage.
LG From
1/5/06
4 of 5 pagesExample risk assessment: Contract bricklayers
5 of 5 pagesExample risk assessment: Contract bricklayers
Published by the Health and Safety Executive 11/08
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and
how?
What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by
who?
Action by
when?
Done
Noise from use of
equipment, eg angle
grinder
Workers using grinders or
working near people who
may suffer hearing loss.
Angle grinders replaced with block splitter, removing high noise ■
levels from our work.
Construction phase plan show other trades using grinders etc ■
should not be working close enough to cause problems.
Supervisor to monitor and talk to site ■
manager if noisy work does start close by.
LG From
1/5/06
Vibration from use of
equipment such as
angle grinder
Exposure to vibration can
lead to the development of
‘vibration white finger’ (VWF).
Angle grinders replaced with block splitter. No significant ■
vibration left.
Fire/explosion All operatives in the vicinity
could suffer from smoke
inhalation or burns.
Suitable fire extinguisher kept in site office and welfare block. ■
Good housekeeping monitored by supervisor. ■
Supervisor to brief all workers on first day ■
on emergency arrangements agreed with
principal contractor.
LG 1/5/06 1/5/06
Welfare/first aid Good facilities help prevent
dermatitis etc.
Principal contractor will have facilities on site by the time ■
bricklaying starts, including:
flushing toilet; -
hot and cold running water, soap, towels and full-size -
washbasins;
heated canteen with kettle etc; -
first-aid equipment; -
principal contractor will arrange clearing and ensure the -
necessary electrical and heating safety checks are made;
and
site agent is appointed person for first aid. -
Supervisor to brief workers on facilities and ■
keeping them clean.
LG 1/5/06 1/5/06
Assessment review date: 25/8/06
