Safety Golden Rules
The safety of our workforce and contractors is paramount to Doncaster Council. To ensure that you do not put yourself and others at risk we have outlined on this page a series of golden rules that you must follow at all times. Every year about 80% of incidents that take place could be prevented if these rules had been observed!
Before you start any task:
- Have you read the site rules?
- Have you read the risk assessment?
- Have you been trained and authorised?
- Do you have the correct tools, and are they fit for purpose?
- Do you have the correct Personal Protective Equipment?
- All sites to be hard hat sites.
- High Visibility waistcoat to be worn at all times (Long sleeves on 40mph roads and above).
- Suitable trousers or jeans to be worn (no shorts). When using abrasive tools e.g. stone /floor saw fire retardant trousers must be worn. Safety footwear (no rigger type boots).
- Do you know what to do in an emergency?
- If in any doubt stop what you are doing and inform your works Supervisor.
Contracting Sites
Reversing Vehicles
Items of plant
- Is the plant fit for purpose?
- Have you carried out pre-start checks?
- Have you been trained to use the item of plant?
- Always secure plant when not in use.
- Do not exceed the stated vibration limits.
Mobile Plant Safety Zones
- Everyone must maintain a safety zone between themselves and the item of plant.
- All mobile plant drivers must maintain a safety zone between the item of mobile plant that they are driving and any pedestrian.
Overhead Services
Do not work below or adjacent to overhead Services unless:
- You have a site specific Safe System of Work;
- You can maintain at all times the required safe distance from the overhead hazard.
Buried Services
You must not start any excavation work unless:
- A survey for buried services has been carried out (Visual check and C.A.T locating equipment used);
- Relevant plans are obtained of the site if available.
Traffic Management
Is it set up as per Chapter Eight? (if in doubt consult your works supervisor). Once traffic management has been established on an operational site:
- No person or equipment should be outside of the established working zone;
- Never change traffic management unless you are authorised;
- Always check and maintain traffic management layouts on a daily basis.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Always use the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with site rules:
- In designated areas;
- As required by a risk assessment, or site safety instruction;
- As instructed by your supervisor or manager;
- Hard hats must be worn by everyone on all working sites.
Energy and Machinery Isolation
Do not work on equipment unless:
- You have securely isolated the equipment;
- Using a personal lock;
- You have checked that the right piece of equipment has been isolated;
- Any stored energy has been safely released;
- Equipment that could move has been secured;
- Ensure that all guards and safety systems are put back when the work is completed;
- Live working is not permitted on electrical systems.
Confined Spaces
A confined space can be any enclosed area even if it is open to atmosphere. Do not enter a confined space unless:
- You are trained to do so;
- You follow Doncaster Council’s procedure for working in confined spaces;
- You have all the relevant equipment to undertake the task.
Working at Heights
Do not work at any heights where there is a risk of injury from falling unless:
- All other options have been ruled out;
- Risks have been assessed;
- You have a Safe System of Work i.e. MEWP or scaffold.
Never work above 2 metres unless:
- You have fall prevention or protection measures in place;
- You wear a safety harness fastened to a suitable anchor point if the task requires it.
Mechanical Lifting
Do not operate any lifting equipment unless:
- It has been approved for use;
- The lift has been assessed by a Competent person;
- The load has been slung by a Competent person;
- The load is within the capacity of the equipment;
- All safety devices are working.
Do not:
- Move a load above people;
- Position yourself below a suspended load.
Vehicles
Do not operate any vehicle unless:
- The specified daily checks have been completed and it is safe to operate;
- You have been trained and authorised to operate the vehicle;
- People are physically separated from unsecured material and equipment.
Do not:
- Use mobile phones or radios when driving;
- Leave the ignition key in, or leave the vehicle unlocked when unattended;
- Break traffic rules or speed limits;
- Approach a vehicle without making ‘eye contact’ with the operator to establish it is safe to do so;
- Doncaster Council’s Mobile Phone Policy does not allow the use of hands-free mobile phones in vehicles.
Working on or near Water
Do not work where there is a risk of falling into water, unless:
- You can swim and you are wearing a buoyancy aid;
- You have notified your supervisor;
- There is someone who can instigate the emergency procedure should you fall into the water;
- A safe system of work has been established and adhered to.
Further Information
For more information, please ring (01302) 736818.
