High-rise construction site workers aren’t treating evacuation alarms seriously enough and are “risking their lives” by not responding immediately, new research reveals today (Wednesday 4 September). 

Rather than head straight for the emergency exit, a third of workers who took part in evacuation trials spent more than a minute finishing a task, with the longest time to respond to an alarm being almost six minutes.

And once they completed their task, a quarter undertook four or more other activities, such as collecting tools, prior to starting to evacuate – decisions which can waste critical seconds in a real-life emergency.

Researchers from the University of Greenwich, funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), also found that more than two in five needed their supervisors to instruct them to leave the site, while many believed their employers viewed it more important than they did to complete tasks before evacuating.

The research, called Construction site evacuation safety: evacuation strategies for tall construction sites, marks the first time the behaviour and performance of construction workers during an evacuation has been analysed. It comes as there are a huge number of high-rise buildings being constructed, with an estimated 541 planned in London alone in the coming years.

Two London construction sites took part in the research, with the aim of judging workers’ evacuation knowledge and seeing how emergency strategies can be improved by reviewing evacuation response times together with their walking and ascent/descent speeds.

In four full-scale unannounced evacuation trials, involving a total 932 workers, evacuation times from the buildings ranged from nine minutes, 14 seconds to 20 minutes, 47 seconds. These depended on the number of workers involved and what height they were at.

The researchers found that workers located within the formworks of a building respond to an alarm differently to those in the main building. The mean time to respond to an alarm for workers in the main building was 71 seconds while in the formworks it can be as low as 30 seconds. They found that 32 per cent of workers in the main building took more than a minute to “disengage from their pre-alarm activities”. In contrast, the average time for supervisors located in the formworks to disengage was only 5.9 seconds which, according to the report, was “an example of the performance of well-trained and highly-motivated staff”.

Responses to a questionnaire distributed among workers also highlighted some other concerns. While 82 per cent knew that an evacuation alarm meant they had to leave immediately, only 49 per cent said their first action is to do so. Four in five said they were prompted by an alarm, but video evidence taken during trial evacuations at the site suggested 43 per cent required supervisor intervention.

In their report, the researchers speculate that workers may not be reacting quickly enough because they aren’t clear what is meant by ‘evacuate immediately’. They recommend enhanced training and greater enforcement of evacuation policies to remedy this.

Professor Ed Galea, who headed up the research team in the Fire Safety Engineering Group at the University of Greenwich, said:

“In an emergency evacuation situation, each second can make the difference between life and death. A delayed response poses a significant risk to the health and safety of workers who might need to be evacuated due to a fire, or another on-site emergency.

“One unexpected finding was that workers were not impacted by construction height. This means that people on higher floors and those on lower floors had similar response times. A worker on the 30^th floor did not necessary respond to an evacuation alarm any quicker than a worker on the fourth floor.

“This research shows that it is essential to have robust plans in place to ensure the safe and timely evacuation of workers, and it will aid the development of improved procedures and advance the safety of people working on high-rise construction sites.”

Duncan Spencer, Head of Advice and Practice at IOSH, said:

“The outcomes from the research will help to improve the safety of construction workers in emergency evacuation when operating in tall building construction environments, by providing a series of suggested improvements and recommendations to be followed by businesses.

“It is clear that these improvements are needed considering that this is one of the most challenging scenarios particularly given the ever-changing nature of the construction site. Response times are slow in many cases. Workers should be evacuating immediately when they hear an alarm, rather than wasting precious seconds on finishing a task. If they don’t do so, they are risking their lives because every second counts in an emergency.”

The trials took place at 22 and 100 Bishopsgate, both of which are being constructed by Multiplex. The firm has already moved to develop and enhance its safety processes.

Martin Wilshire, Multiplex Health and Safety Director, said:

“The research undertaken by Ed Galea and his team on our high-rise projects has highlighted the importance of challenging established industry ‘norms’ and their origins in creating relevant guidance around safety during tall building construction.

“From our involvement in this work, we have gained a greater understanding of evacuee behaviour and the impact of access constraints such as falsework and surfaces under construction which are unique to our industry. The detail in the research will better inform our approach to risk assessments, particularly in planning for means of escape and improving behaviours in an evacuation scenario.”

IOSH

The UK’s health and safety watchdog has warned Total after workers on one of its North Sea platforms were exposed to a dangerous gas.

The incident took place in the shale shaker area of the Alwyn North platform in June, according to an inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A prohibition notice, which dictates that a specific activity is stopped immediately, was issued to Total.

Workers were exposed to hydrogen sulphide gas at detected levels up to 100 parts per million (ppm).

HSE says the gas is toxic at breathable concentrations between 500-1,000ppm, but death is not instantaneous.

At concentrations greater than 1,000ppm, the gas is rapidly lethal.

Energy Voice

A Coventry-based company that manufacturers stands for exhibitions has been fined £161,000 after an employee was knocked unconscious and sustained a broken collar bone during the unsafe lift and move of a park home chassis.

Coventry Magistrates’ Court was told how employees at Sovereign Exhibitions and Events were moving the chassis, a frame that supports a small building such as a mobile home, through a doorway at the firm’s Woodcorner Farm site when the incident happened on 5 July 2018.

The frame was 4.27 m wide but the doorway it was being manoeuvred through was only 3.96 m wide. To angle the chassis through the narrow opening, employees had to tilt the sides of the frame, which was being manoeuvred by two forklift trucks, one at each end. While moving the frame, it slipped from the forks, rebounded off the floor and struck one of the employees on the shoulder. The force lifted him off his feet and flung him backwards 2 m into the building wall.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the lift had not been properly planned, organised or carried out safely. Employees had been left to devise their own method of moving the chassis. The court was told that Sovereign Exhibitions & Events had failed to properly assess the risks and take simple measures to ensure the tasks was carried out safely.

Sovereign Exhibitions & Events of Units 1-3 Arley Industrial Park, Colliers Way, Arley, Coventry, West Midlands pleaded guilty to breaching s 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company must also pay £1,345 costs.

HSE inspector Christopher Maher said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.

“Since the incident, the company has widened the opening to allow for safe movement of the park home chassis.”

IOSH Magazine

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety notice over after a support vessel collided with an offshore platform in the North Sea.

The incident happened on June 6 at the Brae Alpha installation, when the Grampian Explorer ran into the platform causing damage to the ship and the rig.

No one was hurt, although HSE said it caused risk of injury to employees.

At the time Brae Alpha was operated by Marathon Oil, although it has since changed hands to RockRose Energy who completed a deal at the start of July to acquire the US firm’s North Sea assets.

As a result, the notice has been handed to RockRose Energy to make safety improvements.

It states that the vessel entered the platform’s 500 metre safe zone at a speed of up to six knots, which is 12 times the advised speed of 0.5 knots in marine industry guidelines.

The ship also did not adopt a “final set up position” to ensure operations were stable before moving alongside the Brae Alpha to begin work.

The notice states the operator of the platform failed to ensure the vessel was complying with the safety zone manoeuvring procedures.

As the new operator, RockRose has until December 20 to make the necessary changes.

Marathon Oil has been approached for comment.

A spokesman for RockRose Energy said: “RockRose is aware of the safety notice that was issued at the end of June, prior to RockRose taking over operatorship.

“We are working with the HSE to see what lessons can be learned and to ensure we maintain the highest safety standards at all times.”

RockRose recently acquired operatorship of the Brae field, around 170 miles north-east of Aberdeen, in its acquisition of Marathon Oil’s UK business which was completed in July.

However it was revealed last month that Taqa, a partner in the Greater Brae Area with a larger stake, has moved to oust RockRose as operator of the area.

It was appointed as a new operator in a vote with fellow partners, which needs to be approved by the Oil and Gas Authority before it is binding.

Although it won’t have financial consequences, RockRose said it could make future acquisitions “more complex and cumbersome” when trying to satisfy the OGA of its “capability to assume operatorship”.

Energy Voice

A concrete production company has been fined £400,000 after a welder lost four fingers during an unsafe lifting operation.

On 27 September 2016, a welder from Hanson Quarry Products Europe Ltd, suffered injuries to his hand at the company’s Kings Cross site.

The injury was inflicted when a forklift that was being used to lift a large metal gate was attached to the truck by a chain, with an ‘O-ring’ slotted onto the forklift’s truck tines. As the gate was being lifted, it slipped off the tines and fell to the floor, slicing off the welder’s four fingers.

No precautions were taken to prevent it from sliding off.

The HSE’s investigation found that Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited did not properly plan and supervise the lifting operation to ensure it was carried out in a safe manner.

At Southwark Crown Court, Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £11,376.25.

HSE Inspector, Jane Wolfenden, stated that “the use of forklift truck, chain and O-ring was unsafe, putting workers at unnecessary risk. This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply having a competent person plan a safe lifting operation and providing adequate supervision to ensure the lifting operation was carried out safely.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”.

SHP

SPA has introduced a new course specifically made for those employees and contractors who work within the vehicle mis-fuelling industry. Vehicle mis-fuelling is where a driver may put petrol into their diesel vehicle or vice versa. There are approximately 150,000 mis-fuels every year within the UK.

Currently those involved in the activity could hold a current SPA Petrol Retail card to work on a Forecourt. Over 60% of mis-fuel activity happens away from the forecourt environment and so the existing petrol retail course doesn’t quite meet the requirements of the sector. SPA have been working alongside a working group – Roadside Fuel Recovery Standards (RFRS) http://rfrs.org.uk/ that has been set up to look at the requirements of those working within the mis-fuelling industry.  The RFRS group is made up from mobile fuel remediation companies, equipment manufacturers and mixed fuel disposal organisations who have all brought their expertise into the new course. The group is looking to include the activity of mis-fuelling into a national standard for the breakdown & recovery industry which is known as PAS43. Part of the PAS43 standard will include safety training for those working within the industry.

Due to the specialised nature of this industry the new course will be 3 days in duration

Day 1: SPA Core Day

Day 2: Mis-fuellers Course which includes some elements of the existing petrol retail course

Day 3: Breakdown & Recovery standards and ADR / Hazardous Goods awareness

New people coming into the industry may now consider the new 3 day course to prove safety competency as a vehicle mis-fueller. Those who already hold an SPA petrol retail passport can now take a refresher course which is made from days 2&3.

Due to the very specific requirements of the industry SPA require training providers who have a good understanding of the industry including breakdown, recovery and fuel handling environments. There are 2 external SPA training providers at launch;

City Fuel Services 0161 641 2918

NE Risk  07772 033523

The new SPA Vehicle Mis-fuellers course is launched on 1^st September 2016.

SPA will also be at the RFRS stand at the Tow Show – 6-7^th September which is held at the Telford International Centre.

Further details of the vehicle mis-fueller passport scheme can be found here

Safety Pass Alliance have joined forces with the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) to offer a comprehensive online training programme for all  forecourt operators and their employees.

The e-learning package, developed in association with SPA and PRA’s technical team which   gives employees a greater understanding of the level of  risk while working on a forecourt and how to ensure the safety of themselves and the public.

The training package comprises three modules:

Module 1: An induction for all new employees covering safe site operation, legal responsibilities, flammable products, hazard zones, forecourt ignition sources, site security, forecourt incidents, spills & leaks, fire and emergencies

Module 2: This covers daily operations it includes security, forecourt equipment, incident reporting, mis-fuelling, weather, and managing visitors and contractors

Module 3: Covering the safe unloading of tankers, this module include safe storage, preparing for a tanker, ullage, preparing documentation, unloading fuel, driver-assisted, actions by the driver, vapour recovery, emergencies and documentation

The training, which offers a consistent approach for all staff, even on multi-site estates, takes 2.5 hours for each employee to complete on a PC, laptop or tablet and can be easily monitored by managers. Each module has a printable certificate on successful completion

“Working with the SPA, the PRA’s technical officers have drawn on their many decades of experience and consulted with members of the Technical Committee to ensure that this new e-learning package captures everything that is necessary to enable employers to be confident that they have provided their staff with sufficient training to carry out their roles in a safe and competent manner,” says the PRA’s technical director Phil Monger.

“The SPA and PRA have worked within and beyond the guidelines for Petroleum Forecourt Operators Training issued by the Petrol Retailers National Steering Group, and are confident that it fits exactly what is required in the complex field of petrol forecourt safety and retailing compliance.”

The course will be open to both PRA and non PRA Members who can purchase the learning from SPA or directly through Paypal on the SPA e learning website.

Pricing per user (all 3 modules);

Non PRA Members – £54.95 incl VAT

PRA Members – £44.95 incl VAT

Dealer Groups can contact SPA directly for term & conditions sales@safetypassports.co.uk 01926 817450

Safety Pass Alliance is working with UKWA and are proposing to encourage temporary workers to carry a Safety Passport card that proves they have been appropriately trained and met required standards for the industry. UKWA are keen to hear your thoughts – would you support a Safety Passport?www.ukwa.org.uk/files/2914/5639/8438/NEWSrack_feb_2016.pdf

SPA are pleased to announce their new course – SPA Core Construction Day.

This course is aimed at those individuals who wish to apply for a green CSCS labourers card. Since October 2014, anyone wishing to take the CSCS online test must first take a one day level 1 course – Health & Safety in a Construction Environment. The new SPA course is equivalent to a level 1 QCF course and recognised by CSCS.

For further details please visit our webpage Core Construction Day