Book Review
Hughes, Phil and Ferrett, Ed. Introduction to health and safety in construction. Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005, ISBN 075066343X, £39.99
"There are many books on the market dedicated to health and safety but few that so comprehensively cover the entire spectrum of the construction process from design through to completion." (A quote from the Forward by George Brumwell CBE, General Secretary, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.)
Introduction to health and safety in construction is based on the QCA (Qualification and Curriculum Authority) accredited NEBOSH Certificate in Construction Safety and Health syllabus as revised in August 2003 and, as such, practice NEBOSH questions have been provided at the end of each chapter to enable the reader to gauge their learning progress.
Whilst, as expected, the usual topics affecting site safety are included ie working at height, excavation, demolition, people/traffic, fire and electrical hazards etc, the more fundamentals of safety management have not been excluded.
Every organization should have a health and safety policy (it is a statutory requirement for those organizations having 5 or more employees to have a written health and safety policy), and Chapter 2 provides guidance on what should be included in a health and safety policy.
Chapter 3 builds on the principles of the health and safety policy by providing information and guidance on the importance of organizing for health and safety at all levels of an organization ie Directors, Managers and Employees.
The control of risk is essential to secure and maintain a healthy and safe construction site or workplace; a chapter has been devoted to this important aspect and includes safe systems of work and emergency procedures.
The publication begins with a clear explanation of the UK legal frameworks, including the differences under Scottish law, and then continues in providing the context of the European influence on UK legislation.
The basis of UK health and safety legislation is of course the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; there is an excellent exposition of what is required under the Act as well as how the legislation is enforced by external agencies ie. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC), Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Local Authorities.
It is highly likely that those reading this book will already be aware that construction is a dangerous industry; this point is reinforced by the inclusion of comparative accident statistics from various employment sectors.
Risk assessment is central to current health and safety legislation today and this, together with the principles involved has been clearly explained, including reference to special cases ie young persons, expectant and nursing mothers, workers with a disability and lone workers.
The penultimate chapter provides useful and extensive guidance on the main legislation affecting the NEBOSH (construction) student, ranging from the Health and Safety at Work Act through to The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and the Draft Work at Height Regulations amongst others.
The book concludes with a section on study skills.
The book is arranged in 2-column format, is well illustrated with both line diagrams and colour photographs and is printed on quality paper.
It would perhaps be easy to assume that this book is intended for those who work at site level but this would be incorrect. Sound guidance and advice on the principals of organising a robust health and safety culture within an organisation are also included and should be essential reading for every construction professional.
Whilst intended primarily as a course textbook for the NEBOSH Certificate in Construction Safety and Health, it is also an excellent reference book for those involved with, or having an interest in construction safety.
It is difficult to do justice to the quality of this publication in such a short review and I would strongly recommend that serious consideration be given to including Introduction to health and safety in construction on every design office (and site office) bookshelf; my only disappointment is that I am expected to return it to the Institution library in order that the membership at large can have access.
M J Stokes |
