Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

c) Good order and site security – Regulation 27
➤
Requires that all parts of a construction be kept, 
sfarp, in good order and in a reasonable state of 
cleanliness
➤
Where necessary in the interests of health and safety 
the site’s perimeter should be identifi ed, signed and 
fenced off
➤
No timber or other materials with projecting nails 
or similar sharp objects shall be used or allowed to 
remain if they could be a source of danger.
d) Stability of structures – Regulations 28
All practical steps must be taken to ensure that:
➤
any new or existing structure which may be, or 
become, weak does not collapse accidentally

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Summary of the main legal requirements
333
➤
temporary supporting structures are designed 
installed and maintained so as to withstand all fore-
seeable loads
➤
a structure is not overloaded so as to be a source of 
danger.
e) Demolition or dismantling – Regulation 29
➤
Demolition or dismantling must be planned and car-
ried out so as to prevent danger or reduce it to as 
low a level as is reasonably possible
➤
Arrangements must be recorded before the work 
takes place.
f) Explosives – Regulation 30
➤
Explosives, sfarp, shall be stored, transported and 
used safely and securely
➤
Explosives may only be fi red if suitable and suf-
fi cient steps have been taken to ensure no one is 
exposed to risk of injury.
g) Excavations – Regulation 31
All practicable steps shall be taken to prevent danger to 
people including, where necessary, supports or batter-
ing to ensure that:
➤
excavations do not collapse accidentally
➤
no material from side, roof or adjacent is dislodged 
or falls
➤
a person is prevented from being buried or trapped 
by a fall of material
➤
persons, work equipment or any accumulation of 
material are prevented from falling into the excavation
➤
any part of an excavation or ground adjacent is not 
overloaded by work equipment or material.
No construction work may be carried out in an excav-
ation where any supports or battering have been pro-
vided unless:
➤
it has been inspected by a competent person:
➤
at the start of the shift (only one report required 
every 7 days)
➤
after any event likely to affect the strength or 
stability of the excavation
➤
after any material accidentally falls or is 
dislodged.
➤
the person inspecting is satisfi ed that it is safe.
Where the person who carries out the inspection has 
informed the person on whose behalf the inspection was 
carried out, work must cease until the relevant matters 
have been corrected.