Recently a number of construction and engineering-based projects have been in the news as some workers involved suffered from work-related injuries.
Tunnellers were trapped by a fire while working on HS2 in the Chilterns. In another incident, two workers became injured, one critically and were hospitalised during a collapse of a steel framework at Hammersmith Town Hall, in London. And in a recent court judgment, Network Rail received a £1.4 million fine after its workers sustained life-changing injuries in an on-site accident.
These incidents, although thankfully infrequent, remind us that health and safety in the construction and engineering sector continues to be a top priority for employers. Here, Ola McGhee, a Solicitor and employment law expert provides an overview of the key legal considerations employers need to bear in mind:
Understanding the Health and Safety legislation
Since 1974, the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA) has been in place to put legal responsibility on all employers “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work” for all their employees and people working on their sites.
To encourage ‘Successful Health and Safety Management’, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released guidance which consisted of its slogan ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’. This motto promotes the need for construction bosses to think out their projects and consider any risk factors.
What other legislations must construction bosses consider?
When planning and performing any work, some more laws must be considered and obliged, such as the following:
The Building Act 1984 – “secure the health, safety, welfare, and convenience of persons in or about buildings and others who may be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings”.
- The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 – read about it here.
- The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989
- The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
- The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
Additionally, now that the UK has left the EU, many UK legislations now longer follow EU law and have therefore experienced changes.
If you need to learn more about these laws or want advice on conducting a risk assessment, please get in touch with us for advice.