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Module 3 of 8 · 15 min

Preventive techniques: collective protection, personal protective equipment and signage

Free construction site safety (20 hours) course: read the module, review with the questions and move on to the next one. At the end, a test and a PDF certificate.

Module 3 of 8 · Course contents

This is the first block of the common part of the 20 hours (annex XII, section 2.II.A): collective protection means, personal protective equipment and signage.

The order the law imposes (Law 31/1995, article 15.1)

First avoid the risks; those that cannot be avoided, assess them and combat them at source; replace what is dangerous with what involves little or no danger; and put collective protection before individual protection (letter h). The employer must anticipate the worker's non-reckless distractions or carelessness (article 15.4).

Collective protection on site (Royal Decree 1627/1997, annex IV, part C)

  • Falls from height (point 3): platforms, scaffolds, walkways, changes of level, openings and gaps with a risk of falling more than 2 metres are protected with guardrails or an equivalent collective system. Guardrails are strong, at least 90 centimetres high and have a toe board, handrail and intermediate rail.
  • Work at height is done, in principle, with equipment designed for it or with collective protection (guardrails, platforms, safety nets). Only if that is not possible, with safe means of access and a belt or harness with anchorage.
  • The stability of supports and the condition of protection are checked before use, periodically and after any change or period out of use.
  • Falling objects (point 2): collective protection whenever technically possible; covered passages or access barred to dangerous areas; stockpiles, equipment and tools placed so that they cannot collapse or tip over.

Personal protective equipment (Law 31/1995, article 17.2)

The employer must provide suitable PPE and ensure it is actually used when risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by collective or organisational means. PPE is the last step, not the first.

Signage

Emergency routes and exits and fire-fighting equipment are signposted under Royal Decree 485/1997 (annex IV, part A, points 4 and 5), and the site accesses and perimeter must be signposted and clearly visible (part A, point 19.a).

In practiceOn a floor slab 4 metres up, the right thing is the 90 cm guardrail with toe board and intermediate rail, or the net. Giving everyone a harness and removing the guardrail «to pass materials» reverses the order of the law: collective before individual.

Source: VI Convenio colectivo general del sector de la construcción (BOE-A-2017-10951; construction sector general collective agreement, consolidated text, in Spanish), annex XII, section 2.II.A.1 · Ley 31/1995, de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales (Occupational Risk Prevention Act, consolidated text, in Spanish), articles 15 and 17 · Real Decreto 1627/1997, disposiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud en las obras de construcción (construction sites, consolidated text, in Spanish), annex IV, part C, points 2 and 3

Quick review

Check that you've understood. These are questions from the final test: tap an answer to see whether it's right and why.

Which principle requires choosing the guardrail before the harness?

From what fall height do the site regulations require gaps and changes of level to be protected with guardrails?

What minimum height and what elements must a site guardrail have?

Module practice test

5 new questions, different from the final test. Tap an answer to see whether it is right, why, and which rule it comes from.

1. What must the effectiveness of preventive measures anticipate, according to the Prevention Act?

2. What three elements must a site guardrail have besides being strong?

3. When can work at height be done with a harness instead of collective protection?

4. When must the stability of supports and the condition of protection be checked?

5. How must stockpiles, equipment and tools be placed to protect against falling objects?

Course contents