Preventing risks at construction sites

Practical work is done, for example, by means of:

• risk assessments
• planning of measures
• coordination between different work and employers
• joint rules
• follow-ups and checks of specific knowledge or competence in order to carry out certain work
• checks of whether certain machines are inspected
• safety rounds.

Carry out risk assessment

Every employer should, together with their employees, assess the risks that their work can cause at every construction site according to their own systematic work environment management. It is important that one carries out a new risk assessment before every new task or before every new environment where work will be carried out. The employer should also inform the construction site’s building work environment co-ordinator for execution (Bas-U) of the risks that their own work can entail, as well as making sure to inform themselves and their employees about the construction site’s collective risks, and regulations that are described in the work environment plan.

Fix the risks

Risks at the workplace can be prevented by different measures that mean that the work can be safely carried out. Sometimes the possibilities for how the work can be carried out are limited, because so many employers work side by side at the construction site. It is therefore very important that every employer informs the building work environment co-ordinator for execution (Bas-U) about the risks specific to their work, and their need for special preventive measures. It is Bas-U that co-ordinates the performance of the different work and the possibility of it being carried out safely. The employer should therefore turn to Bas-U if there is anything that is unclear.

Resources against risks

The work environment plan

The collective safety planning for all at the construction site is compiled in the work environment plan. The client and their building work environment co-ordinators, Bas-P (the building work environment co-ordinator for planning and design), and Bas-U (the building work environment co-ordinator for execution), should see that the work environment plan is accessible and is up to date for everyone at the construction site.

Work equipment

At the construction site, several different types of technical assistance are used collectively by different employers in order to be able to carry out certain work. There can be cranes, scaffolding, lifts, hoisting equipment, and a number of other technical devices that are jointly used by different employers. It is often the building work environment coordinator for execution, Bas-U, who co-ordinates different possibilities of being able to use collective equipment through their co-ordination work.

Bas-U wants to know that inspections have been carried out of devices that have compulsory inspection requirements, and that their operators also have the knowledge required. Remember that is you the employer who is responsible for inspections, as well as your staff having knowledge about the equipment that is used.

Check that your equipment fulfils current work environment regulations before you begin to use it. 

• The employer is responsible for checking that equipment is inspected and has not had any bad remarks, other it can lead to sanction fees.
• The employer is responsible for the employees having the knowledge that is required. If your employees are lacking certain training or if you as employer have not documented that they have certain training, it can also lead to sanction fees.

Sanction fees

Protect yourself against falls from height (ADI 703), brochure

Who is responsible for what within building and construction? (ADI 704 Eng), brochure

Logistics

There should be electricity, water and heating, both in order to be able to build, and also for the personnel. The personnel should be able to change their clothes and shower, as well as have access to break rooms at all construction sites. There should be office space for all staff management. The construction site must be planned so that material can be transported and stored during the different building phases. Waste from the construction site must be taken care of.

Bas-U (the building work environment co-ordinator for execution) is the one who organises most of the work outlined above.

Knowledge and information

A construction site changes all the time. Staff and employers come and go. These constant changes place great demands on planning and skill among those who work there. Thus, staff with a variety of different competence is necessary.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority has, with the help of the partners within the construction sector, developed regulations and training that there is a demand for employees to have today.

At the construction site, requirement of documented knowledge is common for they who are:

Bas-U (building work environment co-ordinator for execution) and Bas-P (building work environment co-ordinator for planning and projection)

• Crane operators
• Scaffolders
• Excavator operators
• Asbestos decontaminators
• Load couplers
• Lifting device operators
• Forklift truck drivers
• Underwater divers

Building industry cooperation partners

More information about education requirements can be found through the building industry’s co-operation partners.

The Swedish Construction Federation website, opens in new window

The Association of Swedish Earth Moving Contractors (ME) website, opens in new window

The Swedish Federation of Consulting Engineers and Architects website, opens in new window

Swedish Building Workers’ Union website, opens in new window

Seko (Swedish Union for Service and Communications Employees) website, opens in new window

BYN (Byggnadsindustrins Yrkesnämnd) website, opens in new window