COASTAL ZONE MAINTENANCE 2015/2018
Common hazards
Hazard
Uneven surfaces/untidy site
Associated Risks
Fall of a person on the same level
Slips trips and falls
Working at height
Fall of a person, object or material
Collision with objects (incl puncture)
Bumps and bruises resulting from collision
with fixed or stationary objects e.g. low beams
or sharp projections
Working below or near cranes, mechanical
equipment such as vehicles, structures,
refurbishment works
Serious injury caused by loss of load from
crane, collision with site vehicles.
Where this could happen
Where there are damaged floors,
ramps/sloping surfaces, stairs/steps, uneven
stairs/steps, escalators, uneven surfaces, wet
grass, algae covered concrete/rocks/mud,
trailing cables. Materials stored in pedestrian
walkways. Poor site housekeeping.
Working at height, erecting, working from and
dismantling access e.g. scaffolding, ladders,
MEWPs, working adjacent to unprotected
edges, work on or adjacent to fragile or
deteriorating surfaces, roof lights and voids,
getting down from plant or machinery. Falls
into open unprotected excavation or cellars.
Material stacks becoming insecure.
Lifting operations - insecure load slipping or
falling, overloading, inappropriate equipment.
Adverse weather.
Restricted working space e.g. low headroom.
Lifting operations - collision with component
being lowered into position, injuries from
being struck by lifting chains, insecure load
slipping or falling, overloading, inappropriate
equipment. Material stacks becoming
insecure. Insecure or inadequate storage
racking. Treading on sharp objects
Demolition - Uncontrolled collapse of
structure, uncontrolled collapse or failure of
support system, premature collapse of
Manual handling
Back strains, cuts, injury to joints due to
excessive load, awkward load, sharp edges,
poor lifting technique
Contact with machinery/hand tools
Parts being ejected from machinery, trapping
crushing, entanglement of hair, failure of
machinery/hand tools due to not using correct
tool or accessory e.g. abrasive wheel or using
it for the wrong purpose, failure of hoses or
coupling, release of hydraulic fluid or
compressed air, failing parts e.g. abrasive
wheels, flying particles or debris, sudden
snatching or unexpected movement of tools.
Fire, shock, burns
Electricity
Vehicular traffic
Collision of persons with passing traffic
and site vehicles, plant or equipment
Collision of passing traffic due to driver
distraction/confusion traffic congestion
and with site vehicles, plant or equipment incl
insecure/unsafe signs. Loss of control or
overturning of vehicles.
structure.
Excavation - sides of excavation collapse,
weakening or collapse of adjacent structures,
falling material, plant or equipment into
excavation.
Scaffold collapse
Excessive twisting, no one in control of group
lifting, distance carried, defects to walking
surface, changes of level, overloading of
wheel barrows or other hand operating lifting
aids
Removal of guarding, [poorly maintained
equipment
Buried services - electricity,
telecommunications, cable tv,
Pylons, poles and overhead cables, electrical
and telecommunications. Refurbishment
works, demolition
Working on or adjacent to the highway,
footway, footpaths, promenade, on site traffic
routes and pedestrian segregated routes.
Asphyxiation/drowning
Dermatitis, poisoning – metals (lead,
mercury), non- metals (arsenic, phosphorus),
gases (carbon monoxide, arsine), organic
compounds inhalation of fumes, irritation of
skin
Drowning. Toxic exhaust gases.
Fire and explosion
Burns, smoke inhalation
Animal/biological
Anthrax, brucellosis, leptospirosis, psittacosis,
viral hepatitis, HIV, aspergillosis (farmers
lung), legioinella, tetanus, bites, stings, and
crushing, etc. from animal attack e.g. dog,
fleas, horse, bull
Unhappy customers/clients, criminals,
patients in hospitals
Contact with chemicals
Violence
Temperature
Heat cataract, heat stroke, hyperthermia
Lighting
Nystagmus, injuries due to not being able to
see task or hazards
Noise induced hearing loss, hearing
impairment, tinnitus, stress, reduced safety
Noise
Concreting, plaster works, painting, lead
works, hot bitumen works
Working near, on or over the sea, rivers,
reservoirs, sumps, tanks, cellars, cesspools or
cesspits, excavations. Buried services – water
and sewerage. Extreme weather.
Buried services – gas and fuel.
Stored cylinders – LPG, acetylene, oxygen
Locked/obstructed exits
Poor fire detection escape routes (in
buildings)
Demolition/ electrical fires
Petrol.
Poor site housekeeping.
Demolition work
Work in or near water
Work on farmland
Trespass by members of the public due to
insecure site boundaries or insufficient site
security.
Poor provision of drinking water/sun screen,
hats, no policy for wearing t-shirts. Too long
in thick protective clothing
Demolition, inappropriate type of PPE
provided, incorrect use of PPE, others
Vibration
Radiation
Dust
Pressure
Physical (this is normally linked with manual
handling generally termed musculoskeletal
disorders or upper limb disorders)
Psychological
level
Vibration induced white finger, uA
Radiation sickness
Silicosis, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis
Decompression sickness
Carpel tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis,
tendonitis, peritendinitis, epicondylitis (tennis
elbow)
Work pressure, bullying, given tasks not
trained or capable of doing
working close to noisy machinery
Poorly maintained equipment, old equipment
not meeting current standards, Hand arm
vibration assessments not completed
Demolition, refurbishments. cabling
Diving operations
Caused by forceful, frequent, twisting and
repetitive movements.
Trainees, young workers