Health, Safety and Environment
Safety management follows a hierarchy of control: eliminate the hazard, substitute, use engineering controls, then administrative controls, with personal protective equipment (PPE) last. Know the difference between a hazard (potential harm) and a risk (likelihood and severity of harm). Risk assessment = identify hazards, evaluate risk, control, record, and review.
Understand site safety essentials: induction and training, safe systems of work, permits to work for high-risk tasks, toolbox talks, and emergency procedures. Key hazards include falls from height, excavation collapse, plant and vehicle movement, manual handling, electricity, and hazardous substances. Know the purpose of method statements and the role of the safety officer and principal contractor in coordinating site safety.
Environmental topics: waste minimisation and the waste hierarchy (prevent, reuse, recycle, recover, dispose), dust and noise control, water pollution prevention, spill response, and protection of protected species and habitats.
Traps: treating PPE as the first control rather than the last; confusing hazard with risk; and forgetting that near-misses should be reported and investigated, not ignored.
Rule of thumb: apply controls from the top of the hierarchy down; only use PPE when higher controls cannot adequately reduce risk.
Worked example: A deep excavation near a public path. Eliminate: reroute the path. Engineering control: shoring and barriers. Administrative: exclusion zone and signage. PPE: boots and helmets. The first effective control is rerouting, not PPE.