By Gareth McCarthy & Daniel Daly
Our day commenced when we were given all are equipment needed for our tour of a construction site.
Our equipment included visibility vests and hard hats.
We all had our own hard steel capped boots.
We then left the college and toured around town viewing many new buildings and old derelict buildings too.
We got the Luas to Tallaght and made are way to the site.
We met the site manager who gave a very interesting talk on site safety and the progression of safety and hygiene on sites and on every work place in Ireland.
We learned about the following points:
· Health and safety Act
· Introduced in 1995/1996
· General regulations (everywhere)
· The main areas where safety is key are : Scaffolding , Excavation , Electrical Tools and equipment.
· Attitudes improved greatly since 2000
· Safety departments were introduced
· Introduced in every workplace (not only in construction e.g. Tesco)
· Have to have a safety officer for every 20 people.
· He then showed us a drawing of the site and pointed out where we would be viewing.
After are introduction from the site manager .
We split into 2 groups and toured the site while the other group had coffee.
· We were shown all the particular safety signs on a site.
· The insulation that goes into houses.
· The scaffolding around an excavated area.
· The formation and designing of a basement (we did not enter as it was not that safe).
· We then investigated the concrete used to construct the houses.
· We learned that the small little steel linings were added to the concrete as it give the concrete textiles which strengthens the concrete .
· The small linings added to the concrete is labour intensive.
· We then learned about safety (the parts and the importance of it being correctly erected).
· The talk on scaffolding was interesting (how its used, secure footings , correct bracing , adequate ties to secure).
· The following parts were pointed out and there purpose was illustrated (including : toe board ,guard rail , intermediate rail, standard, ledge, transom , façade bracing , sole board , plan bracing , scaffolding board ).
· We learned that correct bracing is essential to ensure the independent stability of the scaffold.
· We then studied the brick work and the dimensions of the bricks used.
· We then discussed the cost of the site and what it will be used for (social and affordable housing ).
· We then discussed the deadline, the delays in building, the ESB electricity works underground.
· We then talked about the finishing of the homes ( which is the most expensive part of the construction).
I found the day trip to the building site very enjoyable and I believe I learned an immense amount from visiting the site.
Here are the photos from the day:
