Keep your back straight Keep your arms as close to the body as possible Place hands under the load and pull the load close to your body Grip firmly using the whole hand and not just the finger tips Use your legs to lift the load and not your back Lifting Correctly

Remember when lowering the load you must bend the knees and not the back

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (NI) 1999 (PUWER) The PUWER regulations cover all working equipment such as tools (e.g. chisels) and machinery (e.g. circular saws)

PUWER Employers must make sure that any tools and equipment they provide are:- Suitable for the job being done Well maintained by competent people Fitted with warning devices if appropriate Able to be stopped in an emergency To have suitable lighting Employers must make sure that everyone is properly trained and instructed before using any equipment

The Electricity at Work Regulations (NI) 1991 These Regulations cover any work that involves the use of electricity or electrical equipment. Your employer has a duty to make sure that you are safe when in contact with or near electrical systems. Electricity is very dangerous. It is invisible and can easily kill or start fires. You must never carry out work on live electrical cables or machinery.

Electricity In the construction industry about seven people are killed each year by electrocution and many more are seriously injured. It‘s very important that you make sure any electrical equipment (including powered hand tools) are safe to work with.

Electricity To do this you must adopt the following safety procedures:- Do not plug in before checking The rule - ‘Don’t plug in until you have checked the tool’. If you plug the power tool in and there is a fault with it, you could be seriously injured or killed! Check body of power tool Check that the body of the tool is clean from excessive dirt or grease. This dirt could make the tool more difficult to hold and control. It could also hide other defects.

Electricity Check for cracks in the body Check for loose fittings and missing bits of the tool. Check to see if there is an up-to-date Portable Appliance Test (PAT) label on the tool. This will show it has passed an electrical safety test, which has been carried out by a competent person. Check cable on power tool The cable often lies on the ground in dirt and water and can easily be damaged by treading or driving over it. Check the cable for cuts, abrasions, burns, bare wires and frayed ends.

Electricity Check plug of power tool Check the plug to make sure it is not dirty, wet or covered in grease. Check the pins are in place and not loose or misshapen. Also check the casing of the socket to make sure the spring-loaded cover is not cracked. Check voltage of power tool If the plug and cable are coloured yellow the power tool will operate at 110 volts. There may also be labels on the power tool showing 110 volts. To work on building sites, all power tools should be at this reduced voltage or use battery operated tools. Plug in power tool Once you have made all the checks, you can plug in the power tool and start work. If you are not sure about the checks you have just made, do not plug in the tool. Ask advice from your supervisor. There is no set procedure for checking power tools before use, but it is good practice to have your own routine.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (NI) 2006 While working in the construction industry, it is likely that you will spend time working in a noisy environment. Loud noise can annoy people and stop you concentrating. It distracts you and may make you unsafe. More importantly, it can damage your hearing. People who are exposed to high noise levels, even for a short time, may experience temporary hearing loss (and a ‘buzzing’ in their ears). If they are exposed to noise for a long time, they can suffer serious, permanent hearing loss.

Noise at Work Damage to hearing can be caused by: The volume of noise - measured in decibels (dB) The length of time you are exposed to the noise (a day, a week or longer) A useful ‘rule of thumb’ is: If you have to raise your voice to speak to someone who is 2 metres away, noise levels are about 80dB; If you have to shout to speak to someone who is 1 metre away, noise levels are about 85dB. Your hearing must be protected when working in an environment above these levels. You must wear hearing protection above 85dB

Hearing protection Hearing protection is used to prevent damage to the ears caused by noise. There are a number of types of hearing protection available. The two most common types are Ear Plugs and Ear Defenders

Ear Plugs Ear plugs – are small plugs that are inserted into the ear and used when the noise is not too loud. These are for personal use only and you must be careful to make sure that they are clean before being inserted into the ear.

Ear Defenders Ear defenders –cover the entire ear, they are connected to a band that clamps the cup over the ear. They are used when there is loud noise and they must be cleaned regularly. Remember that ear protection cannot repair damage that has already been caused

The Work at Height Regulations (NI) 2007 Construction workers often work high up off the ground, e.g. on scaffolding, a ladder, or the roof of a building. Unfortunately falls from height is one of the biggest causes of death in the industry. There is also the danger of falling objects such as tools and materials which can injure people below. These Regulations make sure that your employer does all that they can to reduce the risk of injury or death from working at height.

Working at Height If you can fall off a chair and be injured, then this is classed as ‘working at height’ If there is a risk of injury from the height your employer has a duty to:- Avoid Prevent Mitigate Avoid work at height where possible e.g. build a gable ladder on the ground instead of on the roof.

Working at Height Use equipment that will prevent falls The following precautions could help prevent someone falling:- –Working from scaffold which is provided with handrails, guard rails and toe boards (instead of ladders) –Using mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPS)

Working at Height Mitigate - Minimise the distance a person could fall and what could happen if they did fall. This could be done by the use of:- A suspension harness which secures a person to a safe point and restricts the distance they could fall, or by using nets or airbags to catch a person if they did fall.

Working at Height Employers must check that employees are happy and competent to work at height. They are to provide information, training and supervision. Only people who have completed recognised training are allowed to work with scaffold, it is against the law and extremely dangerous for anyone else to do so.