Health Risks 2023
Managing health risks should be no different to managing safety risks but it can be an area which is overlooked, or where the danger is not fully appreciated. Dust, noise and vibration are highlighted within the Highways Sector as 3 key health risks; and supporting the work of the Supply Chain Safety Leadership Group in this area, the Safety Hub are running a campaign to raise awareness and highlight some of the simple steps and controls which can be taken to eliminate what are often deadly or life changing hazards.
Our first topic to focus on is dust – please use the presentation below to engage with workers, supervisors and managers – both design and construction discipline – to promote better assessment.
Managing health risks should be no different to managing safety risks but it can be an area which is overlooked, or where the danger is not fully appreciated. Dust, noise and vibration are highlighted within the Highways Sector as 3 key health risks; and supporting the work of the Supply Chain Safety Leadership Group in this area, the Safety Hub are running a campaign to raise awareness and highlight some of the simple steps and controls which can be taken to eliminate what are often deadly or life changing hazards.
Our first topic to focus on is dust – please use the presentation below to engage with workers, supervisors and managers – both design and construction discipline – to promote better assessment.
| dustv1.0.pptx |
| cis36.pdf |
| dust-control-posters__2_.pdf |
| dust-control-toolbox-talks.pdf |
| indg463.pdf |
Introduction to Month 2 – Noise at Work:
Over a million people are exposed to damaging noise as a result of their work activities. Noise can cause hearing damage that is permanent and disabling. This can be hearing loss that is gradual because of exposure to noise over time, but also damage caused by sudden, extremely loud noises. Hearing damage stops people being able to understand speech, keep up with conversations or use the telephone, and communication problems are not the only problem. People can develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep, reduced concentration levels and poor mental health.
Noise at work is a serious issue and all employers must seek to eliminate this hazard wherever possible. This might seem to be an impossible task but there are practical steps that can be taken – please see the presentation below which contains useful information to start this conversation around elimination and above the line engineering controls.
Over a million people are exposed to damaging noise as a result of their work activities. Noise can cause hearing damage that is permanent and disabling. This can be hearing loss that is gradual because of exposure to noise over time, but also damage caused by sudden, extremely loud noises. Hearing damage stops people being able to understand speech, keep up with conversations or use the telephone, and communication problems are not the only problem. People can develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep, reduced concentration levels and poor mental health.
Noise at work is a serious issue and all employers must seek to eliminate this hazard wherever possible. This might seem to be an impossible task but there are practical steps that can be taken – please see the presentation below which contains useful information to start this conversation around elimination and above the line engineering controls.
| highways_health_and_safety_hub_-_noise_campaign.pptx |