Builders Jamaica December - March 2022

CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTORS
Running A Small Construction Site
A Checklist of Things to Consider
40
Managing a construction site, even a small one, is a
complex job. It involves directing, regulating, and
supervising the building project from start to finish
and requires skills such as planning, coordination, and
multitasking. You also need to be knowledgeable in the
area of occupational health and safety to help ensure the
wellbeing of the people working on or visiting your site. There
are always plenty of moving parts and important things to
keep in mind. The following checklist is a good place to start.
Information and training
• Be sure to work with trained, competent people.
• Ensure all workers are made aware of the risks
associated with the job and how to mitigate them before
work begins on your site. Induction sessions allow you
to inform workers of the health and safety rules and
requirements, and any potential hazards.
Excavations
• If your construction project begins with an excavation,
find out if it is likely to affect the stability of neighbouring
structures or services and take the necessary precautions.
• You should also know the stability of the ground to
help prevent collapses. If that information isn’t known,
ensure that a support system is safely put in place for the
excavation to prevent collapse, or that the ground has
been sloped or battered back to a safe angle.
• Ensure there are barriers or other protection and signage
to prevent people and vehicles falling in.
• Ensure proper inspections are done.
Tools and machinery
• Ensure you have the right tools or machinery for the job.
• Ensure tools and machinery are in good repair and all
safety devices are operating correctly.
• Put measures in place to properly guard dangerous parts,
such as gears, chain drives, and projecting engine shafts
and ensure that the guards are secured and in good repair.
Traffic, vehicles, and the plant
• Conduct pre-start checks and address any issues that are
identified.
• Ensure vehicles are in proper working condition and that
log books and maintenance records are up to date.
• Only assign vehicle operation to people who are trained
to do so and enforce following manufacturer's instructions.
• Provide barriers to separate vehicles and pedestrians as
much as possible and display warning signs.
• Ensure loads are properly secured before transporting
them............
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Provide suitable equipment to protect the head, eyes,
hands, and feet of your workers.
• Train workers in the safe use, care, and storage of their
PPE.
• Enforce the correct wearing of PPE by workers and
relevant visitors on the site.
• Provide suitable hearing protection for workers and
enforce it is properly worn in noisy areas.
Amenities and facilities
• Provide access to clean drinking water.
• Provide suitable toilets and handwashing stations.
• Provide wet-weather gear for those who have to work in
rainy conditions.
• Provide a suitable space where workers can have meals
and take shelter.
Access on site
• Ensure that everyone can get to their place of work safely
and work there safely.
• Ensure access routes are cleared and properly signposted.
• Provide suitable edge protection and ensure that holes
are protected with clearly marked and fixed covers to