HSE HEALTH WEBPAGES UPDATED AND REVISED
Changes reflect raised inspection & enforcement on health risks
The HSE managing health risks webpages have been changed extensively to support the increasing HSE focus on “health as well as safety” risks in construction.
HSE recognise that there have been big improvements over recent years in reducing the number and rate of injuries to construction workers. However, a number of serious ill-health issues continue to affect construction workers. These can be devastating for individuals and families.
This new webpages tell you about these risks and how to manage them.
The ‘Big picture’
Every year more working days are lost due to work-related illness compared to injuries. The statistics[1] reveal that construction workers have a high risk of developing diseases from a number of health issues.
- Cancer – construction has the largest burden of occupational cancer amongst the industrial sectors. It accounts for over 40% of occupational cancer deaths and cancer registrations. It is estimated that past exposures in the construction sector annually cause over 5,000 occupational cancer cases and approximately 3,700 deaths. The most significant cause of these cancers is asbestos (70%) followed by silica (17%) working as a painter and diesel engine exhaust (6-7% each).
- Hazardous substances – dusts, chemicals and potentially harmful mixtures (eg in paints) are common in construction work. Some processes emit dusts, fumes, vapours or gases into the air and these can be significant causes of breathing problems and lung diseases. A number of construction-related occupations also have high rates of dermatitis from skin exposures to hazardous substances.
- Physical health risks – skilled construction and building trades are one of the occupations with the highest estimated prevalence of back injuries and upper limb disorders.Manual handling is the most commonly reported cause of over seven-day injuries in the industry. Construction also has one of highest rates of ill-health caused by noise and vibration.
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY NEWS – END OF NEW CONTENT
The addition of content on this website ceased on 17th April 2020.
Material posted before this date can be found by clicking on our SEARCH NEWS DATABASE function.
CDM REGULATIONS 2015: GUIDES AND TEMPLATES
Summary of our advice and tools to aid CDM 2015 compliance
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Posted on 21st April 2020HSE WARN OF NEED FOR RPE FACE FIT TEST AND CHECK
Incorrectly fitted RPE will not protect the wearer from dangers to health
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Posted on 16th April 2020CORONA VIRUS: LATEST SITE OPERATING PROCEDURES
Industry Bodies publish risk management guidance Version 3
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Posted on 15th April 2020TOWER CRANE OUT OF SERVICE SAFETY ALERT
Important advice from Construction Plant-hire Association and HSE
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Posted on 30th March 2020HSE PLAN AND CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES 2020/21
Appointed CDM 2015 Principal Designers remain focus of HSE inspections
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Posted on 30th March 2020COVID-19 ADVICE & GUIDANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION
BuildUK support industry with advice, guidance and information
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Posted on 30th March 2020HSE TARGETING WELDING FUME CANCER RISK
Inspections to enforce improved controls required by new risk evidence
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Posted on 24th February 2020HSE TO OVERSEE NEW BUILDING SAFETY REGIME
Government to deliver biggest change in building safety for a generation
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Posted on 21st January 2020FESTIVE GREETINGS TO ALL OUR READERS
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SELECTED NEWS POSTED RECENTLY ON TWITTER
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Links to other construction health and safety related news reports
HSE LOOK TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR CDM SUPPORT
Council Inspectors focus on CDM client duties – asbestos, fragility and RCS
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Posted on 14th November 2019HSE WELDING FUME REVISED GUIDANCE PUBLISHED
New research evidence on cancer link prompts revision on welding fume
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Posted on 14th November 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
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Posted on 18th October 2019HSE RISK REDUCTION THROUGH DESIGN AWARD
Regulator seeks to promote hazard avoidance and risk minimisation
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Posted on 18th October 2019HSE START PROJECT HEALTH RISK INTERVENTIONS
Regulator set to check health risks assessed and controls in place
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Posted on 30th September 2019AIF NATIONAL WORKING AT HEIGHT CONFERENCE
HSE Construction Head to speak at Access Industry Forum conference
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Posted on 23rd September 2019NEW HSE HAVS CALCULATOR TO HELP CONTROL RISK
New calculator includes “cautious estimates” for common tools
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Posted on 23rd September 2019IMPROVING CDM DESIGNER HAZARD AWARENESS
Research explores power of “multi-media digital tool” for design hazards
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Posted on 27th August 2019DEMOLITION FEDERATION ON RECENT INCIDENTS
NFDC ‘statement of awareness’ follows unplanned collapses
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Posted on 27th August 2019RAISING COMPETENCE AND MAKING BUILDINGS SAFER
Life-safety-critical disciplines urged to act on Interim Report
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Posted on 27th August 2019BUILDING WORKS COMPROMISED GAS SAFETY
Company and director fined after work created risk to residents
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Posted on 27th August 2019HSE SPEAK AT ACCESS INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2019
AIF National Working at Height Conference November 2019
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Posted on 6th August 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
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Posted on 23rd July 2019CONSIDERING TEMP WORKS IN PERMANENT DESIGN
Useful overview for civil and structural engineers on contemporary practice
Posted on 23rd July 2019
