The aim of the Construction Industry's Plant Safety Group is to bring about a continuous reduction in the rate of injuries and ill-health caused through the operation and installation of plant in the construction industry by the development and production of specific guidance documents.
The Group is managed and administered by CPA with the HSE being key participants. Industry organisations that contribute include Build UK, CECA, HBF, CEA, TWF, SAFED, FPS and others, and certification bodies such as CPCS, ALLMI, IPAF and NPORS. There is also a seperate group focussed on MEWP safety, led jointly by IPAF and CPA.
The following safe use guidance documents can be downloaded free of charge (note - scroll to the right to see the full range of publications)
Reducing Trapping/Crushing Injuries to People in MEWPs
This guidance, updated in January 2023, is intended to help to reduce risks of trapping and crus... read more
Reducing Trapping/Crushing Injuries to People in MEWPs
This guidance, updated in January 2023, is intended to help to reduce risks of trapping and crushing injuries to people working in platforms and has been produced in two parts. Part 1 is aimed at planners, managers, and trainers and provides information on hazards, risk assessment, controls and responsibilities. Part 2 is aimed at those using and supervising MEWPs, as well as for training bodies, and responsible for rescuing anyone trapped on a MEWP platform and also designed to be used in briefings or toolbox talks for supervisors and MEWP operators.
Safe Use of Dumpers Supplement Rotating Seat Dumpers Protocol
A number of manufacturers are now supplying a variant of forward tipping dumper but where the op... read more
Safe Use of Dumpers Supplement Rotating Seat Dumpers Protocol
A number of manufacturers are now supplying a variant of forward tipping dumper but where the operator’s seating position can be rotated through 180 degrees, allowing the operator to travel the machine either facing the skip or with the skip behind them.
To provide industry and users with clear guidance as to which position the operator should be when carrying out dumper activities using rotating seat types, the Construction Industry’s Plant Safety Group has produced an operational protocol:
Guidance on considerations and measures to tackle dumper safety and operational issues.
The safe use guidance is designed to help those involved with planning and carrying out dumper activities achieve a better awareness of the particular risks involved and the measures that can be put in place to mitigate those risks and is aimed at forward tipping types as they are commonly used on most construction sites to predominately transport earths and materials.
The guidance is aimed at clients, contractors, users, owners, operators, manufacturers, training bodies and those that maintain forward tipping dumpers.
Guidance on planning and executing lifting operations using excavators.
This guidance was produced due to the prolific use of excavators used for lifting operations in construction and sets out the precautions and procedures that should be taken into account when planning and carrying out lifting operations with 360-degree as well as 180-degree excavators/backhoe loaders.
The precautions and procedures specified in the publication identify how lifting operations should be done safely and in accordance with the requisite legal duties laid out in a seventy-two page document.
A core message that the document conveys is that excavators are primarily designed for excavating and handling loose material rather than lifting suspended loads. Therefore, an excavator should not be the first or only choice for lifting, even if it is already on site.
Guidance on factors to take into account for people in MEWPs trapped at height.
When MEWPs are used there is always an inherent risk of people becoming stranded at height due to a machine malfunctioning, breaking down or other influences. Although measures can be put into place to reduce the risk, it is still important that organisations have plans in place should a rescue from a MEWP ever become necessary.
This publication gives guidance to the organisation that has control of the planning, management and use of the MEWP on-site, and covers factors such as the Health and Safety legislative requirements, responsibility for rescue, means of rescue, the use of the Emergency Services and rescues using another MEWP.
Guidance on the issues, factors and consequences of unintentional movement of plant.
This publication highlights the issues around the movement of plant and the consequences when inadvertent operation of a control such as a switch, lever or pedal occurs, causing unintended machine movement which can potentially cause serious injuries and fatalities.
The publication, provides guidance on control measures that can help prevent this from happening, including how to manage the exposure to the consequential risks of unintended movement that involves planning, machine selection, segregation, training etc. as well as case studies of actual incidents.
The guidance further illustrates how incidents have occurred and how they could have been prevented.
Guidance on inspections, maintenance and examinations of MEWPs.
This safety guidance outlines the importance of keeping all MEWPs in safe working condition throughout their working life to ensure continued safe and efficient operation. It identifies three key elements - Inspection, Maintenance and Thorough Examination - and details why each of these elements should be given equal emphasis to ensure optimum safety when operating MEWPs.
Guidance on creating a safety alert around MEWP operations using a common process.
A Safety Alert Protocol has been developed by the MEWPS section of the group and describes a voluntary standard for safety alerts issued by contractors and others who have incidents they believe may be related to the design, manufacture, maintenance or use of MEWPs.
It is intended to guide the author of a safety alert so that the alert is seen as authoritative and helpful for those that receive it. A standard format is included for the layout and content of safety alerts.
Guidance on planning, preparation and carrying out of safe operations using telehandlers.
This document highlights good practice on the management and supervision of the use of telehandlers on construction sites including planning, selection, training of personnel, provision of information, familiarisation, safe use, maintenance, inspection and thorough examination.
In managing the use of telehandlers for lifting operations, adequate attention must be paid to all aspects of the process and if any one aspect is ignored, the probability of an incident will increase significantly, putting both the operator and people in the vicinity at risk.
Lifting and Travelling with Suspended Loads using Telehandlers
Guidance on factors to take into account when planning and executing suspended load operations.
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Lifting and Travelling with Suspended Loads using Telehandlers
Guidance on factors to take into account when planning and executing suspended load operations.
The guidance on suspended loads supplements the main safe use guidance by giving clarification and additional requirements for good practice when telehandlers are carrying out lifting activities with suspended (slung) loads, including pick-and-carry duties.
Guidance on factors around medical fitness requirements for plant operators.
Persons who operate construction plant need to be physically and mentally capable of operating plant in a safe and efficient manner and employers have a duty to ensure that their employees have the required level of fitness.
This document provides guidance to employers on how to carry out these duties and contains guidance on indicative levels of fitness, choosing an occupational health service provider, and managing issues around fitness for task. It includes Data Protection Act 2018 requirements and those involving employers’ duties for the collection and use of employees’ health information.
Guidance on determining training and competence requirements for plant operators.
The duty to ensure that plant operators are competent rests with their employer and involve training, development of experience, assessment, mentoring and continuous development.
This document is intended to provide good practice guidance on the management of the competence of plant operators, clarifying methods for employers to manage, develop and record employees competences and enabling them to meet their duties under both PUWER and CDM.
Guidance on factors and considerations when determining ground conditions for plant operations.
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Ground Conditions for Construction Plant
Guidance on factors and considerations when determining ground conditions for plant operations.
Failure of the ground on which construction plant stands and moves is a frequent cause of incidents and near misses on sites, together with a significant number of serious injuries and fatalities.
This document deals with ground bearing pressure issues and loadings from mobile plant, with guidance on assessment and engineering of the ground’s capability to withstand loadings. The guidance further addresses coordination of duties, with reference to CDM and to Temporary Works issues
Ground Conditions for Construction Plant - A Brief Guide
Guidance in a short-form version that supplements the ground conditions full guidance document.
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Ground Conditions for Construction Plant - A Brief Guide
Guidance in a short-form version that supplements the ground conditions full guidance document.
This four page short form version of the guidance contains the key points concerning ground conditions and is intended for use by drivers, operators and others who do not require the full depth of detail that is in the main guidance document.
Safe Use of Quick Hitches on Excavators - Best Practice Guidance
Guidance on the factors of incorrect fitment of attachments using a quick-hitch coupler.
Because of continued fatalities, serious injuries and near hits involving the unsafe use of quick hitches, this guidance on the safe use of quick hitches was produced and clarifies issues concerning safe use of quick hitches, recognising that employers have their own safe systems of work for the use of quick hitches.
It is recommended that all employers use the guidance as a check list to review their own procedures.
New/Revised CIPSG Publications available for Public Comment
Good Practice Guide on the Use of Human Form Recognition Systems
The Construction Industry Plant Safety Group (CIPSG) have devised a good practice guide around the use of human form recognition systems (HFRS). Issues around the fitment, use and data collection of HFRS were first raised by both CPA Members and contractors, from which it was agreed that industry-wide guidance should be devised in order to provide consistency and clarity on the application and management of these systems. To ensure cross-sector support, it was agreed to undertake this project through the CIPSG to allow greater ownership of the issue across the sector.
A working group consisting of plant hirers, contractors and HFRS suppliers was formed and looked into the topics such as fitment specifications, what the systems do and how information is reported and interrogated. All agreed that the main function of these systems is to enhance safety but was noted that with different systems entering the market, that specifiers and operators of plant would need further information on the function and uses of the various systems on the market.
The working group provided the content to a number of topics including regulative/standards, types and fitment, responsibilities and management on site, education and behaviours and the data monitoring. The publications are now at a point to undertake a public consultation exercise to provide any feedback on the content of the draft document before final launch, and comments from CPA Members are welcomed accordingly.
Safe Use of Telehandlers and Lifting Operations Excavators Review
The Plant Safety Group are further reviewing their current publications of Safe Use of Telehandlers, last published in March 2015 and their Lifting Operations with Excavators, last published in October 2018 and welcome comments on the currency and accuracy of the existing content, along with additional subjects that should be added to the updated versions.
The closing dates for returned comments for both publications is 30th April 2025.
