Page 18 - Safety and health in construction

Safety and health in construction

2.2. General duties of employers

2.2.1. Employers should provide adequate means and organisation and should
establish a suitable programme on the safety and health of workers consistent with
national laws and regulations and should comply with the prescribed safety and health
measures at the workplace.

2.2.2. Employers should so provide and maintain workplaces, plant, equipment,
tools and machinery and so organise construction work that as far as is reasonably
practicable there is no risk of accident or injury to health of workers. In particular,
construction work should be so planned, prepared and undertaken that:
(a) dangers liable to arise at the workplace are prevented as soon as possible;

(b) excessively or unnecessarily strenuous work positions and movements are avoided;
(c) organisation of work takes into account the safety and health of workers;

(d) materials and products are used which are suitable from a safety and health point of
view;
(e) working methods are employed which protect workers against the harmful effects of
chemical, physical and biological agents.

2.2.3. Employers should establish committees with representatives of workers
and management or make other suitable arrangement consistent with national laws and
regulations for the participation of workers in ensuring safe working conditions.

2.2.4. Employers should take all appropriate precautions to protect persons
present at, or in the vicinity of, a construction site from all risks which may arise from
such site.

2.2.5. Employers should arrange for regular safety inspections by competent
persons at suitable intervals of all buildings, plant, equipment, tools, machinery,
workplaces and systems of work under the control of the employer at construction sites
in accordance with national laws, regulations, standards or codes of practice. As
appropriate, the competent person should examine and test by type or individually to
ascertain the safety of construction machinery and equipment.

2.2.6. When acquiring plant, equipment or machinery, employers should ensure
that it takes account of ergonomic principles in its design and conforms to relevant
national laws, regulations, standards or codes of practice and, if there are none, that it is
so designed or protected that it can be operated safely and without risk to health.

2.2.7. Employers should provide such supervision as will ensure that workers
perform their work with due regard to their safety and health.

2.2.8. Employers should assign workers only to employment for which they are
suited by their age, physique, state of health and skill.

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