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Construction Work Safety in Care Homes Policy

Policy Statement

This policy describes the health and safety measures taken by a care home when it is undergoing construction work, maintenance or refurbishing that inevitably disrupts the home’s daily routines to some extent.

It is in line with all national care standards and regulations and health and safety requirements as described, for example, in HSG220 Health and Safety in Care Homes, published by the Health & Safety Executive.

All care home buildings require routine renewal and repair as part of their everyday maintenance and upkeep. They also occasionally need replacement, rebuilding or expansion as part of the growth, improvement and modernisation of a home. Minor works can be accomplished by staff directly employed by the home, but larger-scale works or specialist jobs will invariably be completed by contractors.

All building works introduce hazards that must be adequately controlled, not only by the home itself but also by the contractors responsible for conducting the work. Contractors have their own duty to ensure the health and safety of their workers as well as all others affected by their work.

{{org_field_name}} recognises its responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain an environment for its staff, residents and visitors which is safe, healthy and compliant with all statutory requirements and codes of practice. This includes staff who are required as part of their duties to work at height, for instance, using a ladder, or who are engaged in maintenance or construction work.

In this respect the home fully complies with:

1. all applicable standards, including registration, inspection and regulation requirements
2. the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which aim to limit accidents and apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury
3. the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which aim to ensure that any construction and building activities are carried out safely.

Background

Every year there are many serious accidents involving people working in the construction and building trades or working at height, many caused by falls from ladders, steps, windows or roofs, while others are struck by objects dropped or falling from above. In a care home environment, the dangers of building or construction work do not only apply to the staff or contractors carrying out the work but also to care home residents or visitors.

Construction Work

The following arrangements should be followed in order to ensure that construction work is carried out on the premises without risks to health and safety and in accordance with statutory requirements.

1. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 will be fully applied by the home — this will involve meeting all duties required by the regulations of the client in a construction project, including the appointment of a suitably experienced, trained and skilled principal designer and principal contractor and the commitment of adequate management resources to support the project from start to finish.
2. Steps will be taken to ensure that those appointed as principal contractor and principal and designer in relation to a project have sufficient information, skills, experience and training and have made adequate provision with regard to health and safety.
3. Adequate information will be provided (and continue to be provided as it becomes available) to the principal designer and principal contractor in relation to the site, premises, work activities and processes where the construction work is carried out — where this information is not readily to hand, steps will be taken to determine the availability of such information by means of a site survey, public utility or local authority.
4. Steps will be taken to ensure that any contractors appointed to carry out construction work are sufficiently trained and supervised and have made adequate provision for health and safety and for the welfare of their contractors.
5. No construction work will commence until an adequate construction phase plan and health and safety plan has been prepared and authorised.
6. Steps will be taken to ensure that the protection of care home residents, staff and visitors are the priority when construction work is being carried out.
7. Steps will be taken to inform employees of the risks involved in the construction work taking place and any preventive or protective measures required.
8. Steps will be taken to co-operate with, co-ordinate action and exchange information with the contractor to ensure that statutory duties are met, that procedures will be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger (eg a fire), and that arrangements for health and safety remain appropriate to the risks involved during commissioning and handover.

Where construction work is taking place on {{org_field_name}} site, {{org_field_name}} manager will:

1. ensure that all construction work is carried out to the highest health and safety standards possible in compliance with all relevant related statutory provisions
2. ensure that all staff, residents and visitors are informed of the dangers associated with construction work
3. have in place a health and safety policy regarding the construction work and ensure that all members of staff are aware of the policy
4. have regular meetings with contractors, to discuss the progress of the works and any health and safety issues identified
5. ensure they agree with the contractor a timescale within which any health and safety matters will be remedied
6. put in place a system for regularly inspecting the site while construction works are being carried out, to make sure there are no dangers to residents, visitors or staff
7. have in place a chain of responsibility for people to report dangers
8. as far as is reasonably practical, segregate the construction work by ensuring that the appropriate fences, barriers and warning signs are used
9. ensure that any staff visiting the construction areas, including themselves, are wearing appropriate protective equipment and clothes, for example, hard hats, reinforced boots and high visibility clothes.

Covid-19 safety arrangements

During the Covid-19 pandemic all entry to {{org_field_name}} site by construction or maintenance contractors will be strictly by appointment only. All works will be subject to risk assessment. Non-essential works will be postponed. Works that may proceed will include:

• works which are essential to the welfare of residents (ie heating boiler or fire alarm repairs or maintenance)
• works which are essential to the integrity, safety or security of the buildings or site
• works which can take place in unoccupied areas of the site
• works which are essential to preventing transmission of the Covid-19 virus
• works which are essential to the provision of care, such as those which enable safe visiting to be carried out.

Construction or maintenance contractors carrying out works on care home premises during the pandemic must observe all required safety precautions. This must include wearing a mask or face covering where required, using hand desanitiser regularly, observing social distancing, following testing and tracing guidance, etc.

Reporting

All accidents or “near miss” incidents involving construction, maintenance or contractor activities should be reported to {{org_field_name}} manager and an appropriate form filled out. Forms will be reviewed by {{org_field_name}} management in collaboration with staff representatives on a regular basis.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}

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