Site Safety
ð / o Wear sun cream of a suitable factor, reapply throughout dayo Drink copious quantities of water – in very hot climates, 4-6 litres per day
o Check water bottles have unbroken seals, and do not share water bottles
o Politely refuse any water offered elsewhere
/ Always wear hard hats when on site at all times, with no exceptions
/ Wear gloves as appropriateo Locally-made bricks can have sharp edges
o Cement will suck moisture from your hands
o Plants can have very sharp thorns
/ Wear ear protection when using the compactor, any power saw, or other equipment that may cause damage to the ears
/ Wear a face mask when:
o Painting lime wash,
o Using chemicals
o Mixing cement
/ Wear eye protection when:
o Using hammers, chisels,
o Using power tools
o Using lime wash, chemicals or mixing or pouring cement
o Working above head height (i.e. your hands are working above your head)
/ Always wear steel toecap safety boots when on site, with no exceptions
/ o Lifting – stand in front of item with your feet slightly apart.
o Bend the knees, keep the back straight
o Lift with the legs, not the back
o When setting down, reverse the procedure
/ Your first aider is:
/ o A messy site is an accident-prone site.
o Keep your area tidy and remove any unwanted materials or tools.
/ No mobile phones on site (except for team/crew leaders)
General safety
o REPORT IMMEDIATELY any accident, near miss, or anything that could lead to an accident to a member of site staff.
o USE the correct tool or equipment for the task you are carrying out. Visually check any tool or equipment before using it; never tamper with it and report any defects found to a member of site staff. Volunteers will be instructed in the use of various site tools and equipment.
o DO NOT throw materials to each other to save time. Always work in a chain.
o DO NOT indulge in horseplay or cause distractions to anyone on the site.
o FOLLOW instructions given by the Habitat For Humanity site staff. if you are unsure, ask a member of the site staff or your Team Leader.
o NO ALCOHOL or drugs are permitted on site at any time. Volunteers who need prescribed drugs (inhalers, etc) should make sure they have a sufficient supply on site.
o IF YOU FEEL UNWELL at any time during the Challenge, please speak to your Team Leader.
o REMEMBER: you are in a new environment, be that your host country or a building site. Don’t take things for granted – always be prepared to question – if it does not feel right, it probably isn’t!
Fall protection
o Cover all holes in the earth or buildings, or build barricades to prevent people from falling.
o Be careful with tools and loose materials, particularly when working on the roof or at height.
o Be sure to block off an area on the ground if you will be throwing materials down from above.
Digging holes
o Volunteers are to dig no deeper that 1 metre.
o Once dug, holes should be marked off with safety tape and filled up as soon as possible.
Transportation
o The wearing of safety belts is required where they are fitted.
o Volunteers should not ride in the back of trucks.
o Volunteers should not push vehicles that may be stuck.
Small Groups
o Volunteers should not work in isolated groups of less than four people, and when working in small groups, one member of the group should be a male volunteer.
Working at height - roofs
o Volunteers should not work at roof height without training.
o Volunteers should never be in a position where there is no scaffolding underneath them. E.g. volunteers should not be laying tiles over eaves without scaffolding below.
o Volunteers are not to work within 5.2 metres of any overhead power lines.
Ladders and scaffolding
o Inspect ladders before use. If unsafe, DO NOT USE!
o Place ladder on a solid footing. Ensure that the ladder is tied it down.
o If the feet of the ladder are not level, dig a small hole. DON’T raise a foot of the ladder on bricks.
o Scaffolding should only be used if it has grab rails and your team leader has approved it for use.
o If it feels unsafe, it is unsafe. DO NOT USE!
o Volunteers should never work underneath scaffolding or pile an excessive weight on scaffolding.
Snakes, scorpions etc
o If you have to move a pile of rocks or other materials on site, hit it or kick it first, so and unwanted creatures can move away.
o If possible, lift items away from you so that anything sheltering underneath has an escape route.
o Avoid long grass or overgrown areas.
o Report any sightings to HFH staff.