WIXLIB

Safety Handbook forConstruction Site WorkersOccupational Safety and Health BranchLabour Department

This handbook is issued free of charge and can be obtainedfrom offices of the Occupational Safety and HealthBranch, Labour Department. It can also be download fromhttp://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/b69.htm. For enquiriesabout the addresses and telephone numbers of the offices,please call 2559 2297.This handbook may be freely reproduced except for advertising,endorsement or commercial purposes. Please acknowledgethe source as‘Safety Handbook for Construction Site Workers’,published by the Labour Department.

Safety Handbook forConstruction Site Workers

IntroductionMost accidents can be prevented by taking simplemeasures or adopting proper working procedures. Thishandbook is intended to outline important issues on safetyand health that should be paid attention to on constructionsites for easy reference by the workers. If we work carefullyand take appropriate safety measures, there will definitelybe fewer work injury cases, and our sites will become a safeand secure place to work in.The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, whichcame into operation on 23 May 1997, covers most workplacesin order to protect the safety and health of employees atwork. Other legislation applicable to construction sitesincludes the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinanceand its subsidiary legislation, particularly the ConstructionSites (Safety) Regulations.Employees' ResponsibilitiesEmployees should cooperate with their employers andother persons in complying with the safety legislation andguidelines, and should not do anything to endangerthemselves and other persons.1

Basic Rules for SafetyTidy up construction sites Keep passages clear all the time.Sort out materials and pile them up safely. The stacks should not betoo high.Beware of floor openings and ensure that they are fenced or covered.Remove refuse as soon as possible.Provide sufficient lighting.Familiarize with the location and the operation of fire-fighting equipment.Safety measures Before you operate a machine, ensure that the dangerous part of themachine has been installed with a guard.Avoid going to any area with insufficient lighting as there may be somedangerous places which have not been provided with fencing.Keep vigilant all the time and watch out for moving cranes, hooks orother lifting equipment.Before you use any electrical installation or tool, check the condition ofits electric cables.Avoid dragging electric cables on the ground or allowing the cables tocome into contact with water.Use electrical tools installed with an earth leakage circuit breaker.Use and handle chemicals with care.Personal Safety Wear protective equipment.Do not drink or take drugs while working.Pay attention to personal hygiene.Do not play in the workplace.Report to your supervisor immediately if you notice any unsafe condition.2

Emergency Response to AccidentsYou should have a good understanding of your working environmentand the instructions given by your supervisor. When evacuationis required in an emergency, you should keep calm and find out : What dangerous situation the alarm refers to.The routes for evacuation.The safe place that you should go to as designated by the company.When someone is found seriously injured, you should : Keep calm. Seek help immediately. Accompany the injured person. Assist in the immediate rescue work as far as possible. Call the site safety staff. Do not try to move the injured person unless it is really necessaryto do so. Do not tamper with the accident scene while waiting for the arrivalof the investigation team.When a fire breaks out, you should remember : Put out the fire with a fire extinguisher if it is a small fire. If the blaze is out of control, do not try to extinguish the fire on yourown. Call the Fire Services Department right away.Emergency telephone numbers : Always pay attention to the emergency telephone numbers postedon the notice board in the site office.3

‘Tips’for Workplace SafetyFalsework, scaffold and fencingFalseworkd in falseworkIf you are engageould:operation, you shthe falsework isrheet Check whance with theerected in accorddesign.the falsework is Make sure thatsecurely erected.r the struts of the Check whethecure.falsework are sedprops are erecte Ensure that thenged at avertically and arrain a row.suitable distancesupervisor when Report to yourtion is found.any unsafe situaScaffoldDo not use scaffolds unless they havebeen erected by trained workmen and underthe supervision of a competent person. Donot use a scaffold unless it hasbeen inspected and certified safe bya competent person before use. Strictly follow the instructions of acompetent person. Donot alter thescaffold unless authorized to do so.Do not work on an unfinished scaffold. When it is necessary to work on a mobilescaffold, lock the wheels of the scaffoldbefore you start working. Donot work on a scaffoldunless it has beenprovided with a suitableworking platform. 4

FencingDo not work in a dangerouunless its places floor edges andopeningshave been installesecure fed withncing. If you notice any dangerousthat haveplacesnot beeninstalledfencingwithor the fencing hadamages beend, reinstall or repafencing.ir theIf this isbeyondcapabilityoury, informyoursupervisor at once. n,constructioh is of goodichwr.ethdgd Use a laquate strenrial and adeg itsound matebefore usinthe ladderls.a Examinervter int it at reguladnaand inspeclleveladder on a Place the.firm footingropriater at an appeddlaeth Placeangle.r has aat the ladde Ensure thpper endngth. The usufficient leat leaster should bagainstof the laddeindthe lan gveobaetre1mdder leans.which the launless itsse a ladder Do not us beenwer end haupper or lod byuced or se resecurely fixrker.sanother wol installationre electrica.rse If there addtal lanot use meody,rrboaseen2 metrcarried out If work isa suitabler,othe flo usemore abovetform.working plaLadder51Mfastenedsecurely４１

Equipment and Electricityd Gearcrane,Lifting Appliance and. In the case of aance unless traineing appliDo not operate a liftd.irequain sling,a certificate is rehook, shackle or chaschsuargeing Before using lifttear.re is any wear andcheck whether the.edliftbetodt of the loa Check the weighofdloangrkithe safe wo Do not exceedor lifting gear.ceanplia lifting apct lifting method. Adopt the corregearappliance or lifting Do not use a liftingiedrtifexamined and ceunless it has beent examiner.safe by a competenpliance unless itap Do not use a liftingrepaired andhas been regularlympetent person.maintained by a copair is allowed.No unauthorized resworking instruction Follow the safeance.pliapingr of a liftof the manufactured load.deenspsuath any Do not work bene Material HoistDo not ride on a material hoist.Do not operate a material hoist without prior propertraining. Donot exceed the safe working load ofa material hoist. Donot use a material hoist unless it hasbeen examinedand certified safe by a competent examiner. Donot use a material hoist unless its gates have beeninstalled with an effective interlockingsafety system.The hoist is only operable after all thegates have beenclosed. Donot use a material hoist unless it hasbeen repairedand maintained by a competent person. No unauthorizedrepair is allowed. Donot put loose materials into receptaclesunless properlysecured. Ensure good communication with the operatorof a materialhoist. All signals should be understood and followed. No carriageof Persons6

Loadshifting MachineryUnless you are a worker concerned,do not work inan area wherea loader,an excavator,etc. is in oper ation.Do not operate any loadshiftingmachinery without training andapproval. Operators offorklift trucks,bulldozers, loaders, excavators,trucks or lorries should possessappropriate certificates. PortablePower ToolDo notuse a portable p(such aower tos saw, golrinder aunless itnd drill)s dangerous pabeen effrts haveectively guardedPlace th.e electric cablehose ofanda tool at an apppositionropriateto avoidtrippinghazards. ed Fixing ToolCartridge-operatcartridgeDo not operate aol unless you haveoperated fixing tocertificate.possessed a valideye and ear Wear suitableoperating aprotectors whiled fixing tool.cartridge-operateol-operated fixing to Use a cartridgewith great care. 7

CompressedAirr specifieded air only foUse compresspurposes.ed airany compress Do not usedevicesleand re vantesippt,enmpequiction andgood construofeareythunlessrtified safeamined and cehave been exore use.t examiner befby a competenly.ectors proper Fix the connt the pipes. Do not twisssed airuse of compreetheusabt Do noa brush or aurpose. Usefor cleaning pust fromr to remove dvacuum cleaneskin.clothing and Electric ToolBefore using an electric tool,tool and itcheck thesplug and c onnectingDo not uscable.e a dama ged tool.Do not use an electric tool uits connecnlessting cableis wellprotected. Do not use an electric tool uits metal cnlessasing is earthed anpower sud itspply is provided withan earth leakage cir cuit breakDo not reer.pair or alterany electrinstallationicalunless co mpetent toIf you meedo so.t any faultor problemit to your, reportsupervisor immediately. 8

Workplace Safety and Fire PreventionExcavationsKeep the fence on all sidesofan excavationintact. Use safe access for ingressand egress. Do not pile soil or any othermaterials at the edge of anexcavation. Make sure that a trench issecurely shored beforeworking in it. ing andGas WeldttingFlame CuFlashback arrestorsingr gas weldipment fouqeeinthatta eduse Do notyou havesslenuificate.guttinvalid certaldoor flame chdanf 18 yearsnless itthe age ocylinder usagyrs.naesuck arresto Do noth flashbaitwdet.ttnfimehas beentive equipnal protecorsepra Wece clean.e workpla Keep thishersre extingu Place fich.within rears in ansa cylinde Keep gsecureition andsopthgriuprturning.avoid ovetoyrlepit proetected,akage is d If gas lervisoryour supereport it toly.immediate9

Fire Risk. However,ays a fire risklwaisreehTreduced,f fire can beosecnahcthedo whenow what toknillwuyoandout if you:a fire breaksplace cleanep the work Always keand tidy.d tools thatachinery an Handle mr heatte sparks omay generacarefully.nakedoke or use Do not smereny area whflames in avesiloand expflammabledreare sto .substancesers aree extinguishfirreehww Knore used.how they alocated andembly forplace of ass Know thetion.fire evacuaPublic SafetyPay attention topublic safety.Members of thepublic are oftenunaware of or donot understandthe work carriedout onconstruction sitesand the risksinvolved. Take great care to prevent the fallof materials fromheight. Donot stack materials on flooredges or on scaffolds. 10

posalWaste Disnwantedtes, and usawllaeof at Disposdisposedebtsummaterials.ted placea designaof theupervisorsruoyfy Notiseparatent for therequiremel orf chemicadisposal o.le wastesinflammabwith nailsskleave plan Do notgeways.on passaSafety SupervisorsTheir responsibility is to assistothers to work smoothlyand safely. They have received specificsafety trainingand areimportant members of theconstructionteam. They have legal responsibilityor liability forthe overall safetyof the construction site. You should get to know yoursafety supervisor. 11