Safe Pass cheat sheet

The hierarchy of control ranks measures from most to least effective: eliminate the hazard, substitute it, use engineering controls, use administrative controls, then rely on PPE as the last line of defence.

A risk assessment records the hazard, who may be harmed and how, the existing controls, the residual risk rating, and the responsible person and review date.

Common construction health hazards that cause long-latency harm include respirable crystalline silica, asbestos fibres, noise-induced hearing loss, hand-arm vibration syndrome, and dermatitis from wet cement.

A permit-to-work is required for high-risk activities such as confined-space entry, hot work, live electrical work, and excavation entry; work must stop when permit conditions are not met.

Site induction must cover site-specific hazards, emergency arrangements, first-aid locations, traffic routes, and welfare facilities before a worker starts tasks.

Daily pre-task briefing (toolbox talk) confirms the task, the hazards, the controls, and each worker's competence and fitness before work begins.

Housekeeping rules: keep access and escape routes clear, stack materials stable and at safe height, remove waste promptly, and control trailing cables and spills.

Excavations deeper than 1.2 m normally need shoring, benching, or battering, plus a daily inspection by a competent person; services must be located and marked before digging.

PPE is selected from the assessed hazard: hard hat for head impact, safety footwear for penetration and crush, eye protection for flying particles or chemicals, gloves matched to the substance, and hearing protection where noise exceeds the action value.

PPE must be suitable, fit the user, be CE/UKCA marked where applicable, be inspected before use, and be replaced when damaged; shared PPE must be cleaned and stored correctly.

Fall-arrest harnesses require user pre-use checks, periodic detailed inspection by a competent person (commonly every 6 months), and replacement after any fall or impact loading.

Respiratory protective equipment must be face-fit tested for tight-fitting masks, and beards or stubble at the seal area prevent an adequate seal.

Fall protection hierarchy: avoid work at height, prevent falls using guardrails or work platforms, then mitigate fall distance with nets or harness systems.

Ladder rules: use only for short-duration light work, secure against slipping, set at roughly a 75-degree angle (1 out for every 4 up), and maintain three points of contact.

Overhead and underground services: assume lines are live, observe goalposts and height restrictions near power lines, and use a cable avoidance tool plus safe digging near buried services.

Site traffic controls: segregate pedestrians from plant, use banksmen with a clear signalling code, and never walk or stand in a plant operator's blind spots.

Only trained, authorised and competent persons may operate plant; the operator's card or licence must match the specific equipment category.

Pre-use checks on plant cover fluid levels, tyres and tracks, brakes, horn, lights, mirrors, seat belt, and guarding; defects are logged and the machine is tagged out until repaired.

Guards must be fitted and functional on abrasive wheels, bench saws, and rotating machinery; never remove or bypass an interlock.

Abrasive wheel mounting requires a competent person, correct wheel speed rating versus machine speed, undamaged blotter and flanges, and a ring test on vitrified wheels.

Portable electrical tools on site should be 110 V centre-tapped earth or battery powered; 230 V equipment requires a residual current device and regular inspection.

Isolation before maintenance follows lock-out/tag-out: isolate, lock, tag, prove dead, and release stored energy such as pressure or gravity.

Angle grinder and cut-off saw use: fit the correct guard, use the wheel rated for the tool's speed, wear face and hearing protection, and keep sparks away from flammables.

Plant stability rules: never exceed the rated load chart, keep the load within the safe working radius, use outriggers fully extended on firm ground, and stop if the load indicator alarms.

Report every incident, near miss and dangerous occurrence, not only injuries; near-miss data is used to correct controls before harm occurs.

Recordable injury categories under reporting law typically include fatalities, specified injuries (such as fractures other than fingers and toes, amputations, and loss of sight), and over-seven-day incapacitation.

Reportable dangerous occurrences include scaffold collapse, plant contact with overhead lines, and failure of lifting equipment or pressure systems.

First aid: know the location of the first-aid kit, the appointed first aiders, and the emergency number before starting work; check the scene is safe before helping.

Emergency evacuation: on hearing the alarm, stop work, make equipment safe if it takes seconds, follow marked escape routes to the assembly point, and report to the roll-call.

Fire response uses the PASS sequence on an extinguisher: pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, sweep side to side; only tackle small fires with a clear escape route.

An accident scene should be preserved and photographed where possible, and witness details recorded, so the cause can be investigated without destroying evidence.

Recorded accident details: who was injured, time and place, task being done, plant or substance involved, injury type, treatment given, and immediate cause.