| Abstract |
This project looked at designing a supply chain solution to improve the energy efficiency of the vast majority of the 26 million UK homes which will still be in use by 2050.It looked to identify ways in which the refurbishment and retrofitting of existing residential properties can be accelerated by industrialising the processes of design, supply and implementation, while stimulating demand from householders by exploiting additional opportunities that come with extensive building refurbishment.The project developed a top-to-bottom process, using a method of analysing the most cost-effective package of measures suitable for a particular property, through to how these will be installed with the minimum disruption to the householder. This includes identifying the skills required of the people on the ground as well as the optimum material distribution networks to supply them with exactly what is required and when.
The purpose of this work package task has been to investigate three particular concepts;- “To define within the context of the OTEoEH project what an acceptable level of intervention will be for the five main housing types selected for scenario testing.”
- “To undertake a Technology development activity to identify technical opportunities that are capable of reducing identified risks of refurbishment to acceptable levels as defined above.”
- “To include in the series of workshops, special attention to skills, culture and systems and processes issues within the construction industry.”
This paper is deliverable 7.2, and puts the recommendations and regulations into a more concrete form. It examines how the Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations relates to the Health and Safetyat Work act and how they should operate in refurbishment projects involving the polycompetent delivery team. In particular it will highlights the role of the team leader as a “designer”within the regulations. The report also explain how risk assessment and risk management should operate in practice.
The main points are that- Management is not going to have a major impact on health and safety in the retrofit process.
- It is primarily through this competency that risks will be managed.
- For a polycompetent team to be competent, as defined by the CDM Regulations they will need to be trained in:
- The correct behavioural attitudes for an appropriate safety culture
- Generic safety best practice, for example in the use of PPE, manual handling etc
- How to identify risks
- The main significant risks for the works proposed are likely to be:
- Access around the site to carry out the works which will affect the location of working platforms such as ladders, scaffold, cherry pickers, etc
- Properties are likely to remain in occupation throughout the duration of the works which means that work will have to be carried whilst the occupants are carrying out their normal lives. This creates a great deal of health and safety issues
- Possible presence of asbestos in the properties
- Current condition of the property such the existing electrical wiring that may not be safe or meet legal standards or the structure of the property may not be stable.
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