It is important for anyone looking for health and safety advice to have access to the most up to date and accurate information. The HSE website is always a good starting point and one that I definitely refer to on many an occasion. Alongside this there are many sources available that offer specialist information on a range of health and safety topics.
One such source is the CIP Construction Health & Safety Manual, which is available in hard copy, CD-ROM and online.
The website, available through paid subscription, offers a wealth of information across the health and safety spectrum. While it takes care not to simply repeat or regurgitate what the guidance or ACoP states, it does offer a user friendly way of understanding what is required to be compliant.
In order to review the manual in the most effective manner, I looked at some of the areas that I was working on for a few of my current sites. The website offers a user friendly and logical contents page, though I found the search bar far easier to use.
More importantly, the website offers the latest updates, e.g. referring to the updated TG20:13 guidance for scaffolding as well as the latest LOLER ACoP. The content is both accurate and an easy read, making this an accessible source of information for everyone regardless of their health and safety experience. Furthermore, the sections are written by industry specialists, i.e. their latest section on work at height has been written by NASC. That for me is an important point because it demonstrates that the manual is not merely a blog or collection of information compiled by enthusiasts, it is in fact carefully put together and maintained by professionals, thus allowing me to use it in confidence.
In sharp contrast, while I find the hard copy very helpful the main downside is how quickly it is out of date. While CIP produces updates every six months, this isn’t always an efficient source of information. Furthermore, since the hard copy contains such a large wealth of information, the sheer size means it is not as handy to use as some other guidance documents. One suggestion would be for them to split the book, as has happened for the CITB SMSTS GE 700 literature.
Similarly, the CD-ROM has lot of information, but while it offers a logical search facility and includes all the information available on the website, I feel it is rather an outdated medium. Like the hard copy, this is also only updated every six months, which means you might not always have the latest information at hand.
In summary, the CD-ROM or, for me at least, the hard copy are useful to have at hand on your shelf for an instant starting point when looking for specific information on health and safety. However, given the wealth of information the manual contains I sincerely believe it is worth investing in the online version to ensure you are looking at the latest information. With updates due for the CDM regulations as well as new safety guidelines for working on railways and the new explosive regulations, it will be a while before these are available in either hard copy or CD-ROM format.
Having used it few times now, I know I will definitely be referring to it in the days and weeks to come and I have already found it to be a great source of information.
Rhaynukaa Soni CMIOSH is SHEQ manager at JP Dunn Construction.
Construction Health & Safety Manual is available from Construction Industry Publications for £195.00. Visit: www.cip-books.com
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