- do not leave straps lying around - they represent a trip hazard. Coil up and put to one side
straight away
- invest in steel toecap boots. If you are helping to pour concrete foundations/slab, and are using wellington boots,
then buy steel toecap wellies as well
- ensure you have a first aid kit on-site, and keep it stocked. Dust, fibres and
particles
are a common air-born hazard so, as well as using goggles and masks with grinders etc. ensure the first aid kit
includes eye wash. Also include an antiseptic cream.
- once the first floor is installed, it may be some time before the stairs, bannister rail and
spindles are in place. Make sure you put in temporary, sturdy rails (not
a flimsy one made from roof battens that we have seen on some sites) at the correct height. Set the
temporary rail at between 900mm (840mm in Scotland) and 1000mm, and put in another
rail half way up as there won't be spindles in the temporary setup.
- if you intend buying mains operated power tools then you should be buying 110v tools. If
you get a shock from 110 volts then you will not die! The downside is buying the associated
transformer and lugging it (it is very heavy) around - especially when on scaffolding, but
the reduced risk is worth it.
- if you have a digger on site, the wearing of hi-vis jackets by others makes it
very easy for the digger driver to spot people - otherwise she will spend quite
some time checking before, especially, turning the cab and going backwards.
Recycling
And, with regard to keeping your site tidy, we'll put in a plug for recycling. The amount of recyclable material
generated is enormous (the building industry accounts for 20% of all landfill waste), especially the
packaging for kitchen and sanitary ware. The amount of waste wood is also considerable so it would be
neighbourly to check if there are any elderly people near by who use open fires and wood burning stoves.
