Construction Health and Safety Induction

Introduction

The construction industry experiences a high number of accidents, mainly because it is labour-intensive, employs a large number of unskilled workers, is characterized by hazardous work activities, is affected by the demands of heavy-duty plant and equipment and is impacted by the constantly changing environment of a typical construction site.

Induction is the practice of providing work-related health and safety information to all parties exposed to construction work, such as new and existing employees as well as visitors to the site, before engaging in the work. It helps them to settle and become familiar with the working environment.

Induction involves familiarizing construction site workers with the site-specific health and safety hazards that are likely to be encountered while working on the site, so that they may conduct themselves in a manner that does not endanger themselves or others.

Benefits of construction health and safety induction

• Construction health and safety induction is a necessary and important intervention that has several benefits, which include the following:
• Demonstrates the involvement and commitment of management to construction health and safety.
• Construction workers understand their health and safety obligations and responsibilities on the project.
• Communicating the results of risk analyses that were undertaken to identify health and safety risks on the construction site.
• Improvement of construction health and safety culture at all levels of construction activities on site.
• Provide an understanding of the importance of construction health and safety on the project.

Effective guidelines for a health and safety induction

The following tips and methods can be used to ensure that a more effective health and safety induction is conducted:

• Set enough time aside to conduct the induction. It can either be done on a one-on-one basis or in a group.
• Ensure that an adequate location is chosen, away from any noise or distraction.
• Do not rush the induction, but set an even pace.
• Ensure that eye contact is made and that everyone can hear the person presenting the induction.
• Ensure that attention is captured early and participants remain engaged.
• Keep literacy in mind and ensure that workers understand the content and what is required. Be confident, but avoid confrontation.
• Keep it simple to ensure that the message is understood.
• Explain the work requirements of employees and safety requirements.
• Emphasize prevention and provide examples.
• Keep a record of the content and the attendees.

Importance of construction site-specific induction

Conducting site-specific induction provides the construction worker with the necessary knowledge of health and safety issues and safe work practices relating to his or her specific work or trade.

This type of induction is done to cover specific site activities that are high risk, such as working at heights, scaffolding or temporary works to name a few. It may also be required when new plant and equipment are brought to the site and workers need to be informed of the risks they will be exposed to.  

The following needs to be addressed in site-specific induction:

• Identifying the construction activities that are regarded as high-risk work.
•  Specifying risks related to the identified high-risk construction activities and the risk to the health and safety of everyone involved in the project.
• Describing the interventions and measures to be implemented    

Health and safety induction content

When compiling your induction programme always ensure that you keep it site-specific rather than generic. By keeping it site-specific you ensure that workers are informed of the site-specific hazards, risks and site rules. This will include procedures for reporting incidents and injuries.

Therefore, the induction programme should include the following:

• Management commitment to and involvement in health and safety on site.
•  Information about the construction project, specifically the nature of work and project hazards. The duty of care. Health and Safety Structures, such as health and safety representatives and committees.
• First Aiders and the locations of first aid boxes.
• Work methods and construction activities.
• Safety signage and meaning.
• Site emergency protocols and procedures.
• Housekeeping requirements.
• Availability of welfare facilities to be used.
• Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Reporting of near misses and accidents.
• Proper use and care of personal protective equipment.

Including these aspects of construction health and safety in your induction programme will help reduce the risk of accidents on your project and protect not only the workers but also those around them.

Neil Enslin

Head: Occupational Health and Safety

Source

Occupational Health and Safety Act

Construction Regulations

MBSA Construction Manual