We interviewed our Safety Technician, Daniel Sá, who explained everything you need to know about the Construction Site Health and Safety Plan.
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What is it?
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Who needs the PSS?
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Who makes it?
What is the Construction Site Health and Safety Plan?
The PSS is the reference document for planning and managing health and safety and is vitally important for defining safety rules to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses on temporary or mobile construction sites.
It is also a dynamic document that is constantly updated in line with the evolution of the work.
There are two types:
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The project PSS defines, at an early stage, the relevant aspects relating to the safety and health of those involved;
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The PSS for the construction phase is a development of the Safety and Health Plan for the project, with more objective and detailed information on the work to be carried out.
Who should draw up the Health and Safety Plan?
It is the responsibility of the owner of the work to ensure that this document is drawn up, as the body ultimately responsible for the site. This document must identify all those involved, describe the site’s constraints, the work, the associated risks and the respective preventive measures, as well as the records of all activity in this area.
Who can be a site safety coordinator?
Due to the lack of regulation in Decree-Law no. 273/2003, of October 29, this activity can be carried out by anyone, so the building owner must define a profile of a competent person and appoint them as Safety Coordinator.
Naturally, the Safety Coordinator must have knowledge of occupational health and safety.
Generally, Safety Technicians take on this role.
Which construction sites should have a Health and Safety Plan and which should only have Safety Procedure Sheets?
The Health and Safety Plan is compulsory for projects involving work involving special risks, or prior notification of the opening of the construction site to the ACT – Authority for Working Conditions.
The latter is compulsory whenever the work is expected to take place for more than 30 days or at some point has the simultaneous presence of more than 20 workers, or when it is expected that the work, not being carried out continuously, will take place for a total period of more than 500 days.
For work that does not have a Health and Safety Plan but involves special risks, the contractor must draw up Safety Procedure Sheets.
What is the difference between a Site Safety Coordinator and a Site Safety Technician?
The Safety Coordinator on site coordinates health and safety activities between all the entities involved and ensures compliance with the rules defined in the Health and Safety Plan or Safety Procedure Sheets.
The Site Safety Technician, in addition to cooperating with the Site Safety Coordinator in defining the guidelines aimed at safeguarding the safety and health of workers, promotes and makes operational the prevention and protection activities against occupational risks defined in the PSS or in the Safety Procedure Sheets, from a field perspective, also reporting to the Site Safety Coordinator.
You can also access to our interview with the Director of the Technical Safety Department, Daniel Sá, by clicking here.
Among SEPRI’s many objectives is the formation of increasingly safe and healthy companies.
SEPRI provides external occupational safety services and is certified for all sectors of activity.
Ask us for a quote: comunicacao@sepri.pt
