The construction industry is getting to grips with The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), which came into force on the 6^th April 2015. The aim is to improve the health and safety record within the construction sector, thus leading to a reduction in the number of accidents, and as a consequence less serious injuries and fatalities.

The regulations have a very wide remit, and the intention is to streamline the construction process between designers, main contractors and sub-contractors, so that there are less ‘grey areas’ of responsibility and clear lines of demarkation, with the promotion of health, safety and welfare. This includes the managing of risk, with emphasis on the co-ordination of work, suitable appropriate training, use of suitable skilled staff and the means of communication.

The remit of these regulations cover the planning, management, monitoring and co-ordination  in construction and building refurbishment of commercial, industrial, retail and domestic projects,  including site preparation and demolition. It includes the following aspects;

Fall from heights, including use of ladders, platforms, scaffolding, towers, and fragile roofs.

The use of support systems to prevent collapse of excavations or building structures.

Exposure to airborne particles and fumes, with inhalation of dust, lime, lead , asbestos or from vehicle diesel exhaust.

Electrical hazards from electrical systems in buildings, overhead or buried power lines.

Slips, trips and falls on uneven surfaces, alterations in levels, trailing wires, obstacles or wet or slippery floor surfaces.

Fire hazards for the safe storage of combustible materials and control of sources of ignition, including fire training on escape routes, assembly or muster points, or the location of fire fighting equipment.

Safe operation of cranes.

Safe operation of mobile plant and vehicles, including excavators, mobile work platforms, dumper trucks and road vehicles.

Site traffic control, and the prevention of entry to unauthorised persons, including the general public, and in particular children. Also, this covers car parking, site speed restrictions, and deliveries.

Housekeeping of materials storage, and management of waste (skips, wheelie bins, chutes).

Control of hazardous substances and dangerous chemicals.

Protection against physical hazards, such as noise, vibration through use of power tools, manual handling and repetitive strain.

Employee welfare, such as toilet, wash, rest facilities, and first aid.

Label Source can assist you in meeting your obligations by supplying health and safety labels and signs to the latest legislation for CDM applications, to highlight operational dangers and hazards, prohibited activities, mandatory actions (including the use of personal protective equipment supplied), and safe operating conditions. These can be used in your induction and training activities for site specific activities, so that all employees are suited to their roles in a safe working environment. Also see our ranges of tapes and barrier mesh for use on building sites and work excavations.

Accidents at work, especially if involving fatalities, continue to be reported widely in local, regional and national media. While those on a larger scale, and sometimes accompanied by a greater level of notoriety, such as the Bangladesh building collapse in April 2013, tend to have intense international coverage and scrutiny.

In a wide range of health and safety legislation and guidelines, a duty of care applies both to employers and employees for the safe operation of workplace equipment. Such equipment, machinery or plant must be maintained and fit for purpose, the working environment should be safe, suitable training should be undertaken, operating procedures should be rigorous and relevant personal protective safety equipment should be provided and used. Accidents tend to occur when one or more of these tend not to be observed.

Our range of health and safety labels can assist in identifying risks and hazards at work and prohibited activities, promote employee welfare, and to indicate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Potential hazards can be clearly identified. These can include electrical, biological, radiation, temperature (high, low or hot surfaces), chemical (such as toxic, corrosive, harmful or irritant), and mechanical (pinch points, moving blades, finger trap, or crush) risks in the workplace.

Mandatory labels emphasise the need to use the protective equipment supplied to prevent injury to eyesight, hearing, face, fingers, hands, body or feet. Also, others cover the need to read the manual or handbook for the equipment or for greasing or lubrication points on equipment.

Prohibition stickers advise of actions which may be dangerous, such as reaching over or into equipment, or from smoking or use of naked flames.

For further information on these safety labelling stickers, our comprehensive product ranges can be located in the following label categories; warning symbol labels; engineering labels; safety labels; laminated safety labels; custom safety labels; and Ansi labels.

People throughout the United States of America are currently observing National Electrical Safety Month, an annual event that aims to raise awarness of electrical hazards and the potentially tragic consequences thereof. National Electrical Safety Month is organised by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), and the initiative has been recognised by, among others, US president Barack Obama. In a message bearing his signature, the president highlights many of the hazards that accompany the use of electricity, going on to state that "it is up to all of us to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our homes, schools, and workplaces from the dangers of electrical hazards."

While National Electrical Safety Month is an American observance, we at Label Source think that the whole world could benefit from marking the date and thinking a little harder about electrical safety. The closest thing we have in the UK seems to be Electrical Fire Safety Week (held each year in November), but this is both shorter and more specifc than the American initiative. Throughout the month of May, we'll be doing all we can to improve everybody's attitude towards electrical safety, and we'd be thrilled if everybody reading this did the same!

Here are just a few of the ways to boost electrical safety in your home and workplace:

• Leave electrical work to qualified professionals
• Abide by the manufacturer's safety instructions when using electrical appliances
• Use the appropriate safety signs and warning labels to identify electrical hazards
• Keep your electrical cables in good condition and label them to prevent accidents 

From now until the end of the month, we'll be using the #ElectricalSafetyMonth hashtag on Twitter and other social networks. Follow @LabelSourceUK now to keep up with our latest posts!

Everyone has the right to a safe working environment. If you are failing to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of your employees, you could well be liable from a legal standpoint, and - more importantly - you may be putting people's lives at risk.

So, is your workplace up to health and safety standards? Here are 3 things to check:

Electrical Safety

Make sure that any electrical hazards in your workplace are properly marked with the appropriate safety signs. You should also label your electrical cables to minimise the risk of an incident. Ensure that all portable electrical appliances have been PAT tested and are safe for use.

Fire Safety

Would you and your staff members be able to safely evacuate the premises in the event of a fire? Are your fire doors clearly labelled and kept shut at all times? Does your building have easily accessible emergency exits, and if so, are they clearly signposted? Will your fire equipment be easy to locate and use in an emergency situation?

Personal Protection

Some workplaces - such as construction sites - require the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). As the site owner, you must provide your workers with the necessary safety equipment (e.g. hard hats, goggles, breathing apparatus); you must also enforce the proper use of these items at all times and provide clear safety signs to inform people of any PPE requirements that apply to them.

You may remember that, two weeks ago, we shared a series of upsetting stories about people who had been injured/mutilated by the machines they worked with. Well, if you want to avoid incidents like that on your premises, our lockout tags are the solution you need.

These highly-visible yellow tags can be attached to machinery and equipment to warn staff that the item in question is being serviced and may not be used until the tag has been removed by authorised personnel. This ensures that:

• Service personnel won't get trapped in moving parts when a machine starts unexpectedly
   
• The risk of electrocution and electric shock is kept to a minimum
   
• No equipment is damaged through improper use

Each of our lockout tags has a hole for easy attachment, and many of the tags give room for a signature and date, allowing authorised personnel to identify themselves when using the tags. Click here to see our full range of safety lockout products