Current Work in the Hub We have named our best practice guidance series 'Raising The Bar' to reflect the objectives of the Hub Health Safety and Environmental action group. The expectation is for projects to review their procedures against the guidance and use it to raise safety standards. Following publication projects will have 6 months to implement the advice and the Highways Agency independent health and safety auditor will be looking for evidence of this during site inspections. The next tranche of 'Raising The Bar' guidance have been published and are available on the HA website ; http://www.highways.gov.uk/our-road-network/safety/major-projects-delivery-hub-health-safety-action-group/ The areas covered are; B1 Version 2 Plant and Equipment This guidance has been extended to cover crawler cranes, lorry loader cranes, mobile elevated working platforms, mixer trucks and telehandlers. They cover minimum/desirable requirements, risks/controls and visual plant safe zones. B5 Behavioural Based Safety This guidance is based on the HA standard and details minimum/desirable requirements for implementing an effective behavioural based safety approach. Useful examples of best practice are included to aid implementation.

Major Projects Delivery Hub – Safety, Health and Environmental Briefing – December 2012.

B6 Caravans and Temporary Accommodation Covers the requirements for all types of temporary sleeping accommodation, either on the infrastructure or within project/remote compounds. B7 Overhead Protection of Structures This guidance addresses how overhead structures and services should be protected. The aim is to provide a higher visual standard than is currently adopted.

We welcome feedback and any questions you may have, please contact us at: DeliveryHubInbox@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Management to Work Day Eleven members of the BB3MM management team went to work for the day, laying drainage, excavating trial holes, installing ducts, building communications chambers and constructing temporary works. The exercise provided opportunity for the operatives to talk to managers on a one to one basis and at the same time gave managers a far better insight into the practicalities and difficulties of working in the verges of a live motorway whilst also allowing them to actively participate in start of shift briefings and Point of Work Risk Assessments.

Would you enter the 600mm clearance zone? Winter Engagement

One site has utilised a damaged car donated from a local repair shop to raise awareness on winter driving.

Messages included to check the route, the weather forecast and to ensure adequate stopping distances are maintained.

The yellow vehicle above was observed passing close to the temporary barrier, a few days later a HGV overturned close by. Nobody is to enter and no materials are to be stored in the 600mm zone and all should be aware that the temporary barrier can move than 600mm, it is not a fixed protective barrier.

Use of Cut Off Saws There have been several incidents reported recently from outside of the Highways Agency concerning cut off saws. One concerned fuel leaking onto the clothing of an operative and then igniting. Another concerned an operative cutting a cylindrical rebar cage. The saw kicked back cutting the operators face from his chin to his neck.

Foreman issued Prohibition Notice A HSE Inspector noticed operatives dry cutting kerbs resulting in dust. It was observed that the site Foreman was aware of the activity and had not fulfilled his responsibilities to manage the works.

Risk Assessments and Method Statements need to ensure that the appropriate tool is selected for each task and users are competent to use the tool. There is no industry wide accreditation for use of these tools, only for changing the blade, therefore supervisors placing their team to work must ensure that operatives have the knowledge, ability, training and experience required for the tool that is to be used.

He was personally issued with a Prohibition Notice and will receive an invoice from the HSE in accordance with Fee for Intervention legislation. No enforcement action was taken against the contractor concerned.