Enactment Faade Preservation in Swansea High Street - Case Study Example

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Student’s Name Instructor Institution Course Date Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment--Façade Retention in Swansea High Street This assessment identifies hazards linked with façade retention and construction of new offices along Swansea High Street. The hazard identification is conducted through detailed inspection of the building along the street and in particular façade retention and the offices under construction. In addition, the assessment carries succinct risk assessment with regard to different legal provisions and in particular, legislations relevant to health safety and legislation in construction. The first part of assessment identifies hazards and cross referenced photographs provided as appendix. Secondly, the assessment details risk assessment with regard to legislations relevant to health safety and legislation in construction. The risk assessment will be detailed with regard to the buildings provided and in line with regulation 3 requiring every employer and self-employed persons to make necessary and sufficient assessment of the risk to the health and safety of employees or health and safety to which they self-employed is exposed whilst s/he is at the building and the offices along the street. Hazard Identification Most of the buildings along the street, including construction of new offices require that façades that are to be retained are of load bearing construction with elements such as floorboards that are supported on timber joists. However, while this is missing in most of the buildings as pictured in appendix 1, it is evident that joists ends as well as boards are showing signs of rot not to mention replacement roof spars above damaged suspended ceiling. In addition, there is trailing cables, obstructions, raised or worn floor covering on walkways leading to electricity as the hazard identified. These hazards have been compounded by poor office layout and storage arrangements that result in insufficient air circulation. Presence of these hazards indicate that there is contravention of Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 in the sense that construction of new offices did not consider hazards or risks that were linked with the façade retention or failed to undertake risk assessment in the workplace so as to act accordingly to ensure that constructions undertaken are done so in a safer environment. Secondly, hazard is recognizable with regard to shoring. Looking at the appendix 2, there is evidence that self-weight is assumed to be suitably supported and the greatest load is carried by the shoring system. However, in the design of the system the size of the façade holes, the intensity of the wind load and the load factoring are not taking account of the likely life of the building including those of the offices. According to research by scholars such as Hughes and Ferrett (2012) there are different hazards related to such practices especially when the loads and load factors are not appropriate to the expected length of time the shoring system is anticipated to be serve Swansea High Street. Generally, there is likely of falls from these buildings especially when accessing high level storage areas. According to investigation carried out by Hughes and Ferrett (2012) when the intensity of the wind load and the load factoring is not taken into account workers in the construction areas are susceptible to hazards such as dropping of items that are handled when working at height. This means that these elements can be summarized as slips and trips as main hazards. This level of risk calls for the intervention of Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 so that while the legislation will protect the interests of construction workers along the street, it will also impose strict liability on employers who fails to consider hazards that are caused by façade detentions. Looking at the northern end of the figure in appendix 3, there are lightwells that were to be deepened to the same level as the new basement with different openings through the façade even before the construction of the new offices. Critical analysis indicate that the area underneath the pavement is likely to be formed using a sheet pilling wall and a new concrete slab that has been cast at basement level as well as ground floor. First, there is lack of new opening in this case; especially underneath the façade that can be used to access the external basement area leading to the new offices. This creates two critical hazards, first entails work at height in the sense that workers in some offices may lack clear access to and at various areas and systems. Secondly, fire is the likely hazard in the sense that façade retentions creates combustible materials to be in close contact to sources of heat. There is also chance that portable heaters are kept in unsafe places or inappropriate locations. These hazards on the other hand contravene provisions of Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 with regard construction employees (Thomas and Murray 2009). That is, provision of Health, Safety and Welfare requires that construction employers to make workplace safer by controlling lighting, temperature, cleanliness, and ventilation and room dimensions. Additionally, the Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 is relevant in this case as it provides direction that directly affects the safety and welfare of construction workers in this particular case. Specifically, houses adjacent to “Best Kebab” shop fails to meet minimum standards that constructions workers should take note of while dealing with equipment. Just like Tombs and Whyte (2013) note, this legislation ensures that relevant elements of legal and regulatory systems conceptualised hazard identification and management. Risk Assessment Building: Swansea High Street and New Offices Date of Risk Assessment: 13th December, 2015 Identified Hazards Those who might be harmed and how What is already done Further actions required Persons who have undertaken the action(s) Date when actions was taken Date of completion Slips, trips and falls Individuals working in and around the street are likely to be affected by the hazard identified in above. Specifically, individual at higher risk involve but not limited to staff members working in the new offices. They are susceptible to injuries such as bruises and fractures. Spillages are cleaned up where necessary Staff is reminded to ensure that all cleaning materials should not be left unattended The correct cleaning materials are used for specified jobs and staff are allowed to follow safe systems of work Constant consultation between supervisors and employees to ensure that awareness is created regarding trips, falls and slips. Constant reminders to cleaners to report any instances of façade related hazards inside or outside the building to supervisors . Shift supervisors – at least twice every 10 weeks Shift supervisors – at least twice every 10 weeks 13th December, 2015 Not completed Work at height, like high cleaning of windows and fascias Members of staff working in the new offices and around the streets are at risk of bruising and fracture injuries if they fall from any height. Most of offices and building along the street do not have policies for ladders thus exposing workers around. As a result an effort is made to ensure that all high levels as seen in appendixes below are conducted by trained staff suing elements such as telescopic poles with cleaning tools on them SStaff and workers trained in safe systems of work and provided with suitable tools (litter pickers) and personal protective equipment This stage does not require further actions Electrical People around the street, including occupants to the newly constructed offices are at high risk of electric shocks or burn related accidents that may come from electrical installations or equipment or instances where occupants misuse electrical appliances Staff and workers have been taken through basic training that enable then detect basic problems with cables, sockets and switches before using electrical appliances in the offices and different places of constructions. Electrical appliances have been tested and maintained in accordance with Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. We have also undertaken basic training including ways of avoiding water splashes near sockets. Constant reminder to staff to pre-use checks before using electrical appliances Supervisors 13th December, 2015 Not completed Fire If trapped, staff could suffer fatal injuries from smoke inhalation/burns Our risk assessment has made a consideration of the fact that some technicians and professional bodies have undertaken a fire risk assessment including assessment conducted by www.communities.gov.uk/fire that have undertaken the needed action concerning Swansea High Street The assessment has considered a continued co-operation with different stakeholders within the street including shops selling kebabs to ensure that all the actions that have been identified as necessary are considered for actions. Supervisors 13th December, 2015 Not completed References Hughes, P. and Ferrett, E., 2012. Introduction to health and safety in construction. Routledge. Thomas, W.J.C. and Murray, J.R.D., 2009. The incidence and reporting rates of needle-stick injury amongst UK surgeons. Annals of the royal college of surgeons of England, 91(1), p.12. Tombs, S. and Whyte, D., 2013. Transcending the deregulation debate? Regulation, risk, and the enforcement of health and safety law in the UK. Regulation & Governance, 7(1), pp.61-79. Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Read More