Construction sites welfare facilities

The health and safety regulations make the main contractor responsible for the health, safety and welfare of all workers on the construction site. The main contractor must put in place a health and safety policy for each construction site and provide guardrails, working platforms, lighting, toilets, hand-washing facilities, first aid and site accommodation. There is also a duty to wear head protection on-site, including electricians. 

HSE have produced two useful information leaflets on the provision of welfare facilities at fixed construction sites (CIS No 18 (revi)) and transient construction sites (CIS No 46). 

Explain, with reference to practical examples, the legal requirements relating to the provision of welfare and first-aid facilities on construction sites. 

Outline the requirements of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 relating to sanitary and washing facilities on construction sites. 

PCs to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase in liaison with contractors prepare, develop and implement a written plan (the initial plan to be completed before the construction phase begins) make sure suitable welfare facilities are provided from the start and maintained throughout the construction phase check the competence of all their appointees provide site inductions consult with the workers liaise with the co-ordinator on ongoing design issues and secure the site... 

Preparation for construction operations should be based upon an overall project risk assessment, which identifies the major hazards likely to be encountered during the work (see the previous chapter). Physical features of the area will normally dictate the layout of the site, including temporary roads, storage areas and the siting of facilities including offices and welfare facilities. 

Cradle to end of construction In addition to cradle to site, this includes all of the emissions associated with the constmction process. For geotextiles, this may inelude items such as preparation of the subgrade by rollers, excavators used to lift rolls of material, excavation and filling. Items such as the provision of cabins and welfare facilities should also be considered because these have associated EC for the eonstruction phase. 

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