Unit 2046 - Brickwork Level 2 CAA Diploma ... - Pearson Schools

Unit 2046
How to carry out thin joint masonry and masonry cladding
166
Level 2 NVQ/SVQ Diploma Brickwork 3rd edition
Safety tip
Guidance on the dangers
of working at height can be
found on pages 27–33
Safety tip
As well as your normal PPE,
always wear goggles, gloves
and a face mask when
cutting blocks
Health and safety and risk assessments
One of the main health and safety issues is the risk of mortar
coming into contact with the skin or splashing into the eyes when
it is being used. There is also a risk of inhaling dust or fumes from
mortar. Appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) such as
gloves, safety goggles and a respiratory mask should be worn.
Blocks should be unloaded and transported around the site by
forklift. If being used on scaffolding, they should also be lifted by
forklift, not carried up ladders by hand or on a shoulder.
Blockwork should not be built too high without proper security
being in place as this may cause structural collapse. This is
particularly important if working in windy conditions as walls can
be blown down, causing damage to property or people. Another
reason to avoid laying too high is that you will not be able to see
the line correctly. If the block touches the line, it will move and
cause the wall to bow. You could also cause yourself damage by
reaching too high, pulling muscles in your back or stomach.
Wall ties must not be left exposed, as there is the danger that
workers and site users may snag themselves on the ties.
You must conduct a risk assessment of the area you are working
in to identify any site-specific risks that may exist. You will then
be able to put work practices into effect to protect you from
the risks.
Cutting components
When preparing to build walls, you may need to cut and prepare
blocks. There are three different methods that can be used:
by hand using a hammer and bolster chisel
by hand using a saw
by machine using a portable disc cutter or fixed table saw.
The method used sometimes depends on the type of block being
used. For example:
A hand saw would be no good to cut concrete blocks, but
perfect for lightweight blocks.
A hammer and bolster are adequate for concrete blocks, but
can chip the edges of the cut. If the cut blocks are to be covered
by another material, this would be acceptable, but if the blocks
have a face finish, then machine cutting would be the better
option, especially if a large number of cuts are required.