GIG Managers Weekly Safety Inspection Report

Information

Client / Site
Conducted on
Prepared by
Location

Access on site

Can everyone get to their place of work safely – and work there safely?
Are access routes in good condition and clearly signposted?
Are edges which people could fall from provided with double guard rails or other suitable edge protection?
Are holes protected with clearly marked and fixed covers to prevent falls?
Is the site tidy, and are materials stored safely?
Is lighting adequate?

Welfare

Are toilets readily available and are they kept clean and properly lit?
Are there washbasins with hot and cold running water, soap and towels?
Are the washbasins large enough to wash up to the elbow and are they kept clean?
Is there somewhere to change, dry and store clothing?
Is drinking water provided?
Is there a place where workers can sit, make hot drinks and prepare food?
Can everyone who needs to use them get to the welfare facilities easily and safely?
Are welfare facilities kept warm and well ventilated?

Working at height

Has work been planned properly and identified suitable precautions to make sure work can be carried out safely?
Have you thought about whether you can avoid working at height by using different equipment or a different work method?
Can you use equipment that will prevent a fall from happening, such as scaffolding or a mobile elevating work platform?
Can you put in place measures to reduce the distance and consequences of a fall should one happen, such as nets, soft landing systems or safety decks?
Will the weather conditions threaten the health and safety of those carrying out the work?
Have you thought about all the options and are you certain that you are gaining access to height using the safest means possible?

Scaffolds

Are scaffolds erected, altered and dismantled by competent people?
Are all uprights provided with base plates (and, where necessary, timber sole plates)?
Are all uprights, ledgers, braces and struts in position?
Is the scaffold secured to the building or structure in enough places to prevent collapse?
Are there double guard rails and toe boards, or other suitable protection, at every edge to prevent falling?
Are additional brick guards provided to prevent materials falling from scaffolds?
Are the working platforms fully boarded, and are the boards arranged to avoid tipping or tripping?
Are there effective barriers or warning notices in place to stop people using an incomplete scaffold, e.g. where working platforms are not fully boarded?
Is the scaffold strong enough to carry the weight of materials stored on it and are these evenly distributed?
Are scaffolds being properly maintained?
Does a competent person inspect the scaffold or proprietary tower scaffold regularly, e.g. at least once a week; and always after it has been altered, damaged and following bad weather?
Are the results of inspections recorded?
Are tower scaffolds being erected in accordance with suppliers’ instructions?
Have the wheels of tower scaffolds been locked when in use and are the platforms empty when they are moved?

Ladders & Steps

Ladders and stepladders are the last resort. Can you buy or hire some alternative equipment that would provide a safer means of access?
If ladders are being used is there a written risk assessment on site to justify their use?
Is the work of short duration and low risk?
Are ladders and steps in good condition?
Do ladders rest against a solid surface and not on fragile or insecure materials?
Are ladders secured at the top and bottom to prevent them slipping sideways and outwards?
Do ladders rise at least 1 metre above their landing place? If not, are there other handholds available?
Are the ladders positioned so that users don’t have to overstretch?
Do you have to use the top three rungs of a stepladder? If so your stepladder is too short.

Roofwork

Is there edge protection to stop people or materials falling?
Where nets are used, have they been hung safely?
Have you identified fragile materials such as glass and roof lights which could be fragile?
Have you taken precautions to stop people falling through fragile materials when working on the roof, e.g. by providing barriers, covers or working platforms?
Are people kept away from the area below the roof work?
Are workers trained and experienced to recognise the risks and are they competent to do the work?

Manual handling

Are there heavy materials such as glass and steel elements or bagged / boxed products (e.g. gaskets, packers, etc.) which could cause problems if they have to be moved by hand?
If so, can you choose lighter materials?
Use of trolleys, hoists, telehandlers and other plant or equipment so that manual lifting of heavy objects is kept to a minimum?
Order materials such as cement and aggregates in 25 kg bags?
Avoid the repetitive laying of heavy building blocks or other masonry units weighing more than 20kg?
Have people been instructed and trained how to use lifting aids and other handling equipment safely?
Have people been trained how to lift safely?

Loading and unloading goods

Have you checked that the load has not moved or destabilised during the journey to site?
Is there an exclusion zone around the loading/unloading area to keep people who are not involved away from the work?
Have you planned your method of unloading?
Does your lifting equipment have a current thorough examination certificate?
Do you have to access the back of the lorry at all, or can the preparation work be done from ground level?
If not do you have a safe way of getting up and down from the back of the vehicle?
Do you have something in place to prevent workers from falling off the back of the vehicle?
Are your employees provided with sensible safety footwear with a good grip?

Traffic, vehicles and plant

Are vehicles and pedestrians kept apart?
Are people kept away from slewing vehicles or, if not, can you use a zero tail-swing machine?
Can reversing be avoided, e.g. by using a one-way system or a turning area? If not, are properly trained banksmen used?
Are vehicles and plant properly maintained, e.g. do the steering, brakes, hydraulics, mirrors and any other vision aid work properly?
Are tyres in good condition and at the correct pressure?
Have drivers received proper training and are they competent and fit to use the vehicles or plant they are operating?
Are loads properly secured?
Have you made sure that passengers are only carried on vehicles designed to carry them?
Have you made sure that plant and vehicles are not used on dangerous slopes?
If you need to work on or drive across sloping ground, have you checked that the plant and vehicles are safe to use?

Tools and machinery

Are the right tools or machinery being used for the job?
Are all dangerous parts guarded, e.g. gears, chain drives, projecting engine shafts?
Are guards secured and in good repair?
Are tools and machinery maintained in good repair and are all safety devices operating correctly?
Are all operators trained and competent?

Hoists

Has the equipment been installed by a competent person?
Are the operators trained and competent?
Is the rated capacity clearly marked?
Does the hoist have a current report of thorough examination and a record of inspection?
Is there a suitable base enclosure to prevent people from being struck by any moving part of the hoist?
Are the landing gates kept shut except when the platform is at the landing?

Emergencies

Are there emergency procedures, e.g. for evacuating the site in case of fire?
Do people on site know what the procedures are?
Is there a means of raising the alarm, and does it work?
Is there a way to contact the emergency services from site?
Are there enough suitable escape routes and are these kept clear?
Is the first-aid provision good enough?

Fire

Is the quantity of flammable materials, liquids and gases kept to a minimum?
Is the flammable materials, liquids and gases properly stored ?
Are flammable gas cylinders returned to a ventilated store at the end of the shift?
Are smoking and other ignition sources banned in areas where gases or flammable liquids are stored or used?
Are gas cylinders, associated hoses and equipment properly maintained and in good condition?
When gas cylinders are not in use, are the valves fully closed?
Is flammable and combustible waste removed regularly and stored in suitable bins or skips?
Are suitable fire extinguishers provided?

Hazardous substances

Have you identified all harmful substances and materials, such as lead, solvents, paints, etc.?
Have you identified and put into place precautions to prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances.?
Have workers had information and training so they know what the risks are from the hazardous substances used and produced on site, and what they need to do to avoid those risks?
Have you got procedures to prevent contact with solvent based paints?
Have you arranged health surveillance for people using certain hazardous substances (e.g. lead, silica, sensitisers such as two-pack adhesives or coatings)?

Noise

Have you identified and assessed workers’ exposure to noise?
Have workers had information and training so they know what the risks are from noise on site, and what they need to do to avoid those risks?
Can the noise be reduced by using different working methods or selecting quieter plant, e.g. by fitting breakers and other plant or machinery with silencers?
Are people not involved in the work kept away from the source of the noise?
Is suitable hearing protection provided and worn in noisy areas?
Have hearing protection zones been marked?
Have you arranged health surveillance for people exposed to high levels of noise?

Hand-arm vibration

Has exposure to HAV been avoided or reduced as much as possible by selecting suitable work methods and plant?
Have you chosen the lowest vibration tool that is suitable and can do the job efficiently?
Have you limited the time that each worker uses high vibration tools such as concrete breakers, angle grinders or hammer drills as far as possible?
Have workers had information and training so they know what the risks are from hand-arm vibration (HAV) on site, and what they need to do to avoid those risks?
Have vibrating tools been properly maintained including keeping bits and drills sharp?
Have you arranged health surveillance for people exposed to high levels of hand-arm vibration, especially when exposed for long periods?

Electricity and other services

Have all necessary services been provided on site before work begins and have you also identified existing services present on site (e.g. electric cables or gas mains) and taken effective steps, if necessary, to prevent danger from them?
Are you using low voltage for tools and equipment, e.g. battery-operated tools or low-voltage systems?
Are cables and leads protected from damage?
Are all connections to the system properly made and are suitable plugs used?
Are tools and equipment checked by users, visually examined on site and regularly inspected and tested by a competent person?
Have hidden electricity cables and other services been located (e.g. with a locator and plans) and marked, and have you taken precautions for safe working?
Where there are overhead lines, has the electricity supply been turned off, or have other precautions been taken, such as providing ‘goal posts’ or taped markers?

Protecting the public

Is the work fenced off from the public?
Are traffic routes barriered off and lit?
Are the public protected from falling material?
When work has stopped for the day is the boundary secure?
When work has stopped for the day are all ladders removed or their rungs boarded so that they cannot be used?
When work has stopped for the day are excavations and openings securely covered or fenced off?
When work has stopped for the day is all plant immobilised to prevent unauthorised use?
When work has stopped for the day are bricks and materials safely stacked?
When work has stopped for the day are flammable or dangerous substances locked away in secure storage places?