Nesting Birds and Construction Safety
Spring at long last is upon us and as we approach the nesting season, which typically runs from March to July, it’s crucial for construction sites to be aware of the potential risks and legal implications associated with nesting birds. Birds often find construction sites appealing due to their accessibility and availability of nesting spots, such as ledges, chimneys, and cavities in walls and buildings.
Legal Consideration
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the UK, it is illegal to disturb or destroy active nests, which are those containing eggs or young birds. Violations can result in significant fines and project delays. Therefore, bird-proofing measures must be implemented before nesting begins to avoid legal and operational challenges.
Safety Risks
Nesting birds can pose several safety risks:
- Health Hazards: Nesting materials can block chimneys and ventilation systems, leading to health hazards and potential fires.
- Operational Disruptions: The presence of nesting birds can halt construction activities until the nesting season ends, leading to costly delayNesting materials can block chimneys and ventilation systems, leading to health hazards and potential fires.
- Structural Damage: Birds can obstruct gutters and drainage pipes, causing water damage and structural issues.
Mitigation Strategies
To manage these risks effectively, consider the following strategies:
- Bird-Proofing: Install physical barriers like bird netting and vent guards to prevent birds from accessing potential nesting sites.
- Habitat Management: Clear vegetation and remove potential nesting materials from roofs and gutters.
- Deterrents: Use acoustic interventions or visual deterrents to discourage birds from nesting on-site.
- Alternative Nesting Sites: Provide designated safe zones for birds to nest without disrupting construction activities.
By implementing these measures, construction sites can minimize disruptions, ensure compliance with wildlife protection laws, and maintain a safe working environment for both humans and birds.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
What you must do
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended) requires employers to:
Assess the risks that arise from the use of hazardous substances. This will include any arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents or emergencies, such as those resulting from serious spillages. The assessment must also include the health and safety risks arising from storage, handling or disposal of any of the substances.
Prevent, or if this is not reasonably practicable, control exposure to such substances.
Provide staff with information, instruction and training about the risks, steps and precautions the employer has taken to control these risks, eg provision of appropriate rubber gloves or appropriate eye protection.
What you should know
Substances can take many forms and include:
- Chemicals
- Products containing chemicals
- Fumes
- Dusts
- Vapours
- Mists
- Nanotechnology
- Gases and asphyxiating gases
- Biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols, it is classed as a hazardous substance.
- Germs that cause diseases such as leptospirosis or legionnaires disease and germs used in laboratories.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.htm
What do the COSHH Symbols Mean
COSHH is a very important aspect of health and safety in the workplace. It defines what substances are hazardous and gives you a method for reducing their potential threat to employees and others in the workplace you may be responsible for. But what exactly do the COSHH symbols mean?
It must be stated that the names given below for the COSHH symbols do not form the official terminology. This gives some room for interpretation in regards to what COSHH category a substance falls under if it is part of a COSHH category at all.
What are the differences between the COSHH symbols?
Knowing the differences between the relevant COSHH symbols will help your business stay compliant whilst also keeping workers safe. COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and attempts to provide regulatory structure for the control of dangerous substances. Some of the notable COSHH substances include fumes, pesticides, dust, and petrol.
Explosives (Symbol: bomb exploding)
Explosives are defined as chemicals, substances, and any workplace occurrence that may cause an explosion. The symbol represents an exploding bomb. It has a variety of associations with it:
- Mass explosion hazard
- Severe projection hazard
- Fire, blast or projection hazard
- Mass exploding in fire
- Unstable explosion
Flammable (Symbol: open flame)
This symbol refers to any flammable chemicals or other substances that ignite on contact with air, a small ignition source, has a low flash point or can evolve highly flammable gases when in contact with water. The symbol is a large open flame.
- Flammable Gas
- Highly Flammable Gas
- Highly Flammable or flammable aerosol
- Highly flammable or flammable liquid and vapour
- A flammable solid
Oxidising (Symbol; open flame over a circle)
Oxidising covers chemicals that in their preparation, can lead to a dangerous reaction with other chemicals. The symbol for this COSHH hazard is a flame over a circle.
- Acts as an oxidiser, increasing the intensity of the fire
- May act as a strong oxidiser, causing a fire or explosion
- The substance is usually found on bleach
Gases under pressure (Symbol: gas cylinder)
This symbol represents situations where gas is under pressure. It is also an example of a hazard that has recently been incorporated into the COSHH classification system. The symbol represents a gas cylinder.
- Gas contained under pressure which may explode when heated
- Refrigerated gas, may lead to cryogenic injuries
- The symbol is normally found on gas containers
Corrosive (Symbol: corrosion on hands and surface)
The corrosive symbol is used to warn against chemicals that may damage living tissue on contact. The image shows a chemical spill causing the corrosion of a hand a surface material.
- Can cause corrosion on metals
- May cause severe skin and eye damage
- Can be found in ammonia, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaners etc
Toxic (Symbol: skull and crossbones)
The toxic symbol represents chemicals that can cause a lot of damage even in low and very low quantities. The symbol is of a skull and crossbones.
- Can cause fatalities when swallowed, inhaled, and put in contact with skin
- Can be toxic if swallowed, inhaled, or put in contact with skin
Health hazards (Symbol: exclamation mark)
The health hazard symbol is an indication of substances that may cause damage to health. The symbol is also used as an indication to take caution.
- Can cause respiratory irrit
ation - Can lead to dizziness and/or drowsiness
- Can cause allergic reactions
- May lead to serious eye irritation
- Can cause skin irritation
- May be harmful if swallowed
- May cause damage on contact with skin
- Can cause damage when inhaled
- May damage public health by causing damage in the ozone layer
Serious health hazards (Symbol: internal damage)
The symbol represents serious long term threats to health. The picture in the sign shows a person with internal damage)
- Can lead to death if swallowed or inhaled
- Causes damage to organis
- May cause damage to organs
- Can damage fertility of affect pregnancies
- Can lead to/ is suspected of causing cancer
- Can lead to/ is suspected of causing genetic defects
- Can lead to asthsma or breathing difficulties if inhaled
Dangerous for the environment (Symbol: a dead tree and dead fish)
This COSHH symbol represents the risk of substances that may cause serious damage, either immediate or long term to multiple components of an environment. The symbol shows a dead tree alongside a dead fish.
- Highly toxic to marine life with long-lasting effects
- Toxic to marine life with long-lasting effects
- Most commonly found in pesticides, biocides, petrol, turpentine etc.
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