| Working at height: fall from open floor edges and the leading edge while installing joists, partitions and linings | The 2 operatives, who could suffer fatal or life-changing injuries from a fall; others on the site if the person falling strikes them | Principal Contractor edge protection, site scaffold and stairs, permit to work, CSCS carded operatives | 3×5=15 | Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, avoid work at height where possible: pre-cut and pre-assemble at ground level. Inspect edge protection before each shift and do not start if it is missing or damaged. Work only from a protected deck, behind guardrails, laying boards progressively as joists are fixed. Do not remove or alter edge protection without agreement under the permit, and reinstate it straight away. Stop-work rule at the leading edge where protection is not in place. Briefing on rescue arrangements before work starts. Suitable footwear and a hard hat are the last line of defence. | Medium |
| Falls through floor openings, stairwell voids and gaps between unfixed joists before decking is laid | The 2 operatives; anyone below hit by the person or by falling materials | Site induction, edge protection by Principal Contractor | 3×5=15 | Do not walk on unfixed joists. Fix joists and lay a working deck progressively. Cover or guard all openings with secured, marked covers or guardrails before moving on. Agree with the Site Manager who is responsible for opening covers and check at the start of each shift. Hard hat and non-slip footwear as backup. | Medium |
| Falling materials, tools and offcuts from the deck or leading edge | Anyone below, including other trades, site staff and visitors; head and impact injuries | Edge protection with toe boards, site rules on hard hats | 3×4=12 | Keep an exclusion zone below the work, agreed with the Site Manager, and no other trades below while joists and partitions are installed. Keep materials back from edges and stacked stably. Tool lanyards or a tool belt for hand tools. Remove offcuts regularly. Hard hats (BS EN 397) worn by all as the last line of defence. | Medium |
| Instability or collapse of joists, unbraced stud partitions and stored timber | The 2 operatives and anyone nearby; crush injuries and falls | Competent carpenters; work to drawings | 3×4=12 | Fix joists and hangers fully before loading and build the deck progressively. Brace each partition section temporarily as it is erected and do not leave it unbraced. Limit stacked timber to what the deck can carry and keep it away from edges. Check structure is stable before the next stage. Safety footwear (BS EN ISO 20345) as backup. | Medium |
| Manual handling of floor joists, long lengths of studwork, door linings and sheet material | The 2 operatives; back, shoulder and hand injuries, and trips while carrying | Competent carpenters, 2 operatives available | 4×3=12 | Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, reduce handling: have timber delivered close to the point of use, and use mechanical aid where the Principal Contractor provides it. Cut timber to smaller sections where the design allows. Two-person lifts for long or heavy lengths, with a clear route and a plan before lifting. Rotate tasks and take breaks. Gloves for grip and splinters as backup. | Low |
| Cuts and contact injuries from the cordless circular saw and mitre saw | The operator and anyone nearby; severe cuts, amputations, kickback injuries | Operatives trained on abrasive wheels, guards fitted on tools | 3×4=12 | Under PUWER 1998, use only tools with working guards, in good condition, with the correct blade for the material. Cut at a stable bench rather than on joists wherever possible and clamp the work. Remove the battery when changing blades. Keep others clear of the cutting area. Cut-resistant gloves are not worn when operating saws with a rotating blade because of entanglement risk. Eye protection (BS EN 166) as backup. | Medium |
| Nail gun injuries: accidental discharge, ricochet, nails through timber, and fuel cell leaks | The operator and people nearby; puncture wounds to hands, feet and eyes | Operatives trained on the nail gun; tool manufacturer's guard | 3×4=12 | Under PUWER 1998, use the sequential trip setting where it is available, keep fingers away from the trigger when not firing, and disconnect the power source when clearing a jam. Never point at anyone or fire near the edge or at an unsupported workpiece. Keep fuel cells in the agreed store and away from heat. Hold work firmly and keep others clear. Eye protection (BS EN 166) and safety footwear as backup. | Medium |
| Wood dust from sawing softwood joists, CLS studwork and door linings | The 2 operatives and others nearby; eye, nose and throat irritation, dermatitis and asthma | Cutting outdoors or in a ventilated area where possible | 4×3=12 | Under COSHH 2002, cut timber to length off site or at the supplier where possible. Use the mitre saw and circular saw with on-tool extraction connected to an M-class vacuum, and cut in a well-ventilated area. Clean up with a vacuum, never dry sweeping or compressed air. Limit the number of people nearby. Disposable respirators (FFP3 or as set by the risk assessment) and eye protection as backup. | Medium |
| Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust | The operatives doing the work and anyone nearby breathing the dust; long-term lung disease including silicosis and lung cancer | None specific; work limited to fixings only | 3×4=12 | Under COSHH 2002 and HSE guidance CIS36 Construction dust, plan the work to cut down on drilling and fixing into masonry, block and concrete. Use on-tool extraction (M-class or H-class vacuum) or water suppression on every drill, chaser and saw used on these materials. Keep others away and clean up with an H-class or M-class vacuum, never dry sweeping or compressed air. Then use RPE with an assigned protection factor of at least 20 (FFP3 disposable or equivalent), face-fit tested and worn clean shaven. The workplace exposure limit for RCS is 0.1 mg/m3 (8-hour TWA) in HSE EH40/2005. | Medium |
| Noise from saws, nail gun and drills, plus other trades working nearby | The 2 operatives and nearby workers; hearing damage and tinnitus | Cordless tools, which are quieter than petrol equivalents | 4×2=8 | Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, choose the quietest suitable tools and keep them maintained. Cut away from other trades and at times agreed with the Site Manager. Limit time on noisy tasks, and rotate if needed. Hearing protection (BS EN 352) to be worn where noise is high, with the type chosen to suit the task. | Low |
| Hand-arm vibration from drill/driver, circular saw and nail gun | The 2 operatives; hand-arm vibration syndrome and white finger from repeated use | Cordless tools used for short periods | 3×2=6 | Under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, select lower-vibration tools, keep blades and bits sharp, and share heavy-use tasks between both operatives. Take breaks from continuous use. Report numbness or tingling to the Lead Carpenter. Gloves to keep hands warm as backup. | Low |
| Slips, trips and falls on the same level from offcuts, packaging, nails, cables and uneven decking | The 2 operatives and other trades; sprains, fractures and puncture wounds | Site housekeeping rules | 4×3=12 | Keep walkways, stairs and decks clear, and collect offcuts and packaging at the end of each task. Use cordless tools to avoid trailing leads. Remove or bend over protruding nails. Good lighting. Safety footwear with penetration-resistant midsole (BS EN ISO 20345) as backup. | Low |
| Other trades, deliveries and plant moving around the plot and plot access | The 2 operatives, other trades, site staff and visitors; struck by vehicle or hit by falling materials | Principal Contractor site rules, induction, marshalled deliveries | 3×4=12 | Coordinate daily with the Site Manager on other trades working on the plot and deliveries. Keep an exclusion zone around the working area and sign it. Keep to designated pedestrian routes and keep clear of plant. Where a crane or telehandler lifts timber, the lifting is the Principal Contractor's responsibility under LOLER 1998. High-visibility clothing and safety footwear as backup. | Low |
| Work from stepladders, trestles or low-level platforms when fitting door linings above reach | The 2 operatives; falls from low height, particularly near openings | Competent carpenters | 3×4=12 | Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, use a podium or low-level platform in preference to a stepladder wherever possible. Check equipment before use, set it on firm, level decking away from edges and openings, and do not overreach. Keep three points of contact if a stepladder is used for short, light tasks. Safety footwear with good grip as backup. | Medium |
| Electric shock or fire from battery chargers and cordless tool batteries | The 2 operatives and others on site; electric shock, burns and fire | Cordless tools reduce cable use | 2×3=6 | Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, use only the manufacturer's chargers and batteries, with in-date PAT or inspection labels, and charge them in the agreed area away from combustible material, never overnight unattended. Inspect equipment for damage before use. Do not use damaged batteries or chargers. Fire extinguisher location confirmed at induction. | Low |
| Adverse weather: wind, rain and cold affecting the open frame, wet timber and exposed decks | The 2 operatives; slips, falls from wind and cold-related illness | Drying room and welfare cabins provided by the Principal Contractor | 3×3=9 | Check the forecast at the start of each shift and do not work at the leading edge or lift sheet material in high wind. Cover timber and decking to keep it dry and remove standing water. Plan breaks to warm up and dry out. Appropriate waterproof and thermal clothing as backup. | Low |
| Skin and eye contact with adhesives and the fumes from them | The operatives using the adhesives; skin irritation, dermatitis, eye damage and respiratory irritation | Used in small quantities | 2×2=4 | Under COSHH 2002, choose water-based or low-solvent adhesives where they are suitable and confirm the product's Safety Data Sheet before use. Use small quantities and keep containers closed, with the area ventilated. No eating or drinking where adhesives are used. Gloves and eye protection to the specification in the Safety Data Sheet as backup. | Low |