HEALTH ACTIVITY RISK TABLES (HARTs) - USER GUIDE
Introduction
TheHealth Hazard Identifier Table (HHIT) and Health Activity Risk Tables (HARTs) have been produced to aid in a health risk management process.
THEY DO NOT IN THEMSELVES CONSTITUTE OR REPLACE A FULL AND PROPER RISK ASSESSMENT.
A risk assessment will need to be relevant to
- Your work activities in particular
- Your site conditions
- And your workers
However, these HARTs will help take you through an appropriate risk management approach for health issues right from the start of the design of a project (project preparation phase), through the construction phase (project execution) and eventually how to pass information on health risks and the controls put in place onto workers.
A small number of activities have been selected and HARTs produced to give a range of potential solutions to the common health risks that can arise during paving, road and highways work. Remember these tables have been specifically developed for paving, road and highways work. The information they contain therefore focuses on activities and risks particular to construction work in this area. However, the process of identifying risks, designing out or mitigating for risks and controls at a design stage and then eliminating or controlling the risks at the construction phase of a project are relevant to all activities.
Who mayfind these tools helpful?
These tables will be particularly useful to Principal Designers, Project managers, Employers as Principal and Sub contractors, health and safety managers, ……..
The Health Hazard Identifier Table (HHIT)
A range of activities associated with paving, road and highways work have been included in an initial ‘Health Hazard Identifier Table’. The HHIT provides an overview of over 50 activities and an initial ‘ranking’ of the potential health hazards which can be related to these when they are undertaken in a standard or common way. This can provide a ‘heads up’ for focussing attention on which health risks may be most important but will require further investigation to explore if these are relevant for the way your workers will undertake these tasks and if any other health risks may be apparent for your specific situations.
How to use the HART approach
A series of HARTs have been populated for a selection of activities to provide more detail on potential solutions available. Not all solutions are covered and it can be likely that you have ideas or experience of other control options that may be more suitable or relevant to you. They do provide some solutions though that have been shown to work and be accepted as good practice.
As this approach demonstrates, it is best to consider health risks and the potential to eradicate them as early on in a project as possible. Therefore, at project tender and all preliminary phases all parties should be engaged, informed and challenged on their role in health risk management and what can reasonably be achieved.
Once you have identified the activity(ies) most relevant to your work or project you can refer to the HHIT for ideas of the most likely health risks for your workers. Where there are HARTs available for those activities you can then progress through the project management of your construction activities from design considerations (project preparation HART) through to construction phase options to eliminate, control and manage health risks (project execution phase HART).
You should start with the activity on the left of the project preparationHART and work across to the right – considering and checking the health risks, then the options for elimination or control in order from left to right. Then move onto the project execution HART and do the same. This provides a systematic way to progress through a hierarchy of control options.
The columns provide a list of options, not necessarily complete or in any order.
You should select the most appropriate actions or solutions from each column (or add your own) onto the templates provided for each ‘phase’ and use these to communicate decisions made and how health risks have been managed across each phase of the project (ie project preparation and project execution phases).
Worker Template
A worker template will be provided so that information on the health risks associated with each activity and the controls and management systems put in place can be communicated to workers. These templates once completed can act as useful prompts, toolbox talks or site induction tools to promote messages of protecting health from workplace hazards.
Flow chart
The flow chart below provides a useful overview on how to use these HARTs as the construction project progresses and how they can aid communication and engagement.
Compliance
Use of these HARTs cannot guarantee compliance, although they can help to show due consideration of the risks and options for control. This could lead to compliance if used properly and within the caveats given above. However, you should be sure of your role and the legal duties that apply to you.
HART Activities;
Breaking Out & Demolition
Drainage System Installation
Excavating
Painting
Paving, Lifting & Cutting
Piling
Road Markings
Surface Laying - Bitumen
HEALTH ACTIVITY RISK TABLES (HARTs) - USER GUIDE
TENDER STAGE – INCLUDE COSTING AND CONSIDERATION OF HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER TO: ENGAGE, INFORM AND DISCUSS ACTIVITIES AND POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT
DOCUMENT DECISIONS ON TEMPLATE WITH OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION - PASS ONTO CONSTRUCTION PHASE
DOCUMENT DECISIONS ON TEMPLATE FOR PROJECT FILE AND ALLOW ACCESS FOR ALL PARTIES
CONSULT, REVIEW, CHECK, STAY AWARE - UPDATE
HEALTH ACTIVITY RISK TABLES (HARTs) - USER GUIDE
Glossary
Project Preparation Phase
Project Execution Phase
Principal Designer
Activities
HART
HHIT
Health Risk Management
Elimination
Control