Safety at Construction Site

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From the times of the “Stone Age” where homes were primarily meant for shelters, to the times of today where rising structures like "Burj Khalifa" in Dubai are changing the skylines of our cities, Mankind has fathomed manifold in the "Construction" sector. With more and more innovations reforming the techniques and methodologies used in the construction field, it is quiet predictable that although we have honed our skills and stretched our limitations miles beyond from where we first began as cavemen’s we still are susceptible and prone to be bitten by the risks that are involved and skinned in the construction industry.

As the buildings grow higher and stronger, the raw materials involved in it also begin to become more cumbersome and inhuman to be interacting with. Every inch of construction carries with it a proportionate amount of risk due to the nature of equipments or the physical composition of the raw materials. Hence it is important that we lay more importance to the risks that are involved in the construction field and ensure that we take appropriate measures to minimize if not eliminate the effects that could result in any kind of unforeseen casualty due to our negligence.

As we move ahead in times it is very crucial and necessary that we acclimatize our techniques and methodologies employed in the construction practices towards the best interest of our workforce. Even though the construction site varies from one project to another, the risks that escort the different activities are more or less identical in the Construction procedures. In the age old scheme of dealing with abnormalities, constant practice and watchdog approach works best towards the betterment of a process.

Health and safety now stand upright in the fundamental rights of us as human beings, be it any form of work or activity. With the advent of technology and networking dynamics more and more people have become aware and vigilant about their democratic rights as a citizen to their countries, hence majority of the political parties or institutions have been making more space for the health and safety legislations for its citizens as a key point in their portfolios.

Safety Organization and Management

This section refers to the foundations that need to be laid down by the management before executing a project to achieve a safe and healthy site.

Accidents at a construction site are prone to happen due to the nature of raw materials and the equipment involved, a complete elimination of such possible accidents cannot be always practical to think of, but the awareness and precautions can be very instrumental in restricting such incidents at the construction site. More often at the construction site the potential danger zones are often not considered to be dangerous or are not considered worthy of attention, primarily because of the assumption that the workers would be aware of what danger lies ahead of them, on the contrary workers always tend to forget even the minor instructions in spite of their experience . In the heat of the construction pressure most of the workers tend to ignore such dangers in continuation of their work and tend to slip into accidents leading to injuries.

With an intention to prevent these accidents and ill health at the Construction site, Safety management involves planning, identifying problematic areas, coordinating, controlling and directing the various safety related activities.

So safety management means applying safety measures before an accident can happen. Effective safety management has three main objectives:

ü  To make the Environment safer,

ü  To make the Job Safe,

ü  To make workers Safety Conscious.

Safety policies:

 Safe and healthy working conditions do not materialize just with defining safety and health standards on documents. It is very important that there is a senior executive who is responsible to ensure that the standards are implemented and practiced by all the parties involved in the construction.

The safety policy should deal with the following issues:

·         Training at all levels especially key workers such as crane operators whose mistakes can be especially dangerous to other workers is very important

·         Precautionary and safer methods of work for workers carrying out hazardous operations.

·         Clearly define the responsibilities of the workers at the site.

·         Validate the workers capability of operating on the assigned equipment of work.

·         Assign Supervisors to ensure safer working equipments

·         Necessary personal protective equipment is available and used.

Site planning and layout:

A badly planned or untidy site is one of the most common causes for accidents at a construction site resulting in events like mishandling of materials, possibly falling on other workers or even collisions between workers. Space constraints especially in urban work sites, are nearly always the biggest limiting factor and a layout which caters best for the safety and health of workers may appear to be difficult to reconcile with productivity. Proper planning to accommodate the raw materials and mobility of the construction laborers is very important.

Before work begins at the construction site the following need to be acknowledged –

Ø  Access routes for workers at the site should be free from obstruction and from exposure to hazards such as falling materials.

Ø  Routes for vehicular traffic. These should be “one way” as far as practicable. Traffic congestion prejudices the safety of workers.

Ø  Storage areas for materials and equipment to be maintained as close as possible to the appropriate workstation.

Ø  The location of medical and welfare facilities at closer proximity are essential.

 

Site Tidiness

Construction workers can efficiently contribute to the safe working conditions on site by paying minimum attention to tidiness. By maintaining discipline at the site a lot of accidents like tripping, slipping or falling over materials and equipment which have been left lying around, and stepping on nails which have been left projecting from timber.

Construction Acts and Regulations

With the changing times and in compliance with the modern building standards, more thought of and relevant construction legislation have been put to adherence throughout the UK. To improve the building standards, legislative directives have been altered or introduced wherever necessary so as to cater to the various types of construction from domestic to industrial sectors in the construction industry.

Building Act 1984:

In relation to the construction of buildings throughout the UK, the most feasible security for people in terms of health and safety has been provided under this legislation. It enhances and improves the role of local authorities in relation to building regulations at par with the national standards.

Construction Products Regulation 1991:

This Regulation has been introduced to ensure the uniformity in building standards of all public and private construction works in U.K.  This legislation legally enforced the requirement for all permanently constructed buildings in the UK to comply with the CEN or European Standards Organization, as well as the standards which were set out by the Construction Products Directive or CPD. Failure of which is regarded as an offence and may well result in legal action.

Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004:

Introduced in progression to the Buildings act of 1984, this act is created to provide a suitable purpose to the building requirements of present day. It lays more emphasis on the modern construction industry. Concentrating more on the legal requirements for

Ø  Sustaining the environment

Ø  Waste prevention

Ø  Conserving fuel and power

 It strictly states that the construction companies must report their progress on the above matters including the information on energy expenditure and any factors which are liable to contribute to climate change.

Activities and its related legislative initiatives to consider at Construction site

Activity	Description	Legislative Guidelines(As reproduced from the Construction Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM)
Traffic management	Traffic management at the construction site involves the management of pedestrians, vehicles and equipment location at the construction site. Heavy or small vehicles moving the construction related raw materials or equipments pose danger to the moving pedestrians if not managed properly. Hence it is important to ensure that all the traffic at the construction site is planned and managed in the most efficient and safest way possible for the people involved in the construction work, or visiting the site.	ü  Organize the construction site in a manner so that vehicles and pedestrians using site routes can move around easily and safely. ü  The pathways used at the site must be appropriate for the persons or vehicles using them, in apt positions considering the number and size. ü  Ensure that all the drivers and pedestrians recognize and are aware of the routes and traffic rules on site.
Protecting the public	Precautionary measures have to be guaranteed for the public on site so as to prevent the access by any unauthorized people. Failure of which can involve equipment theft in case of strangers and other accidents too. Even unaccompanied toddlers at the construction site can result in accidents involving the child. Such unforeseen events can be avoided by ensuring the basic safety practices.	ü  Carry out the construction activities without putting members of the public at risk. ü  Define construction boundaries physically with use of suitable fencing. It helps a great deal if the type of fencing reflects the nature of the site and its surroundings. ü   Must ensure objects do not fall outside the site boundary. On scaffolds you can achieve this using toe-boards, brick guards and netting. You may also need fans and/or covered walkways.
Materials storage and waste management	Guidance on storing materials safely to prevent risk and make sure that waste is removed and disposed of safely is a very important practice not just in terms of safety but also space management and environmental reasons. Proper storage and disposal of construction materials and hazardous wastes from the construction site restricts the release of pollutants to storm drains and watercourses. Supervising the hazardous waste management certainly reduce the potential risks in the project.	ü  Must keep every part of the construction site in an acceptable and recommended. ü  All flammable waste materials must be cleared away regularly to reduce fire hazards. ü  Waste disposal must be a priority task to ensure a clean and safe work environment.
Welfare	Construction workers need adequate toilet and washing facilities, a place to warm up and eat their food and somewhere to store clothing. However, these basic requirements are often neglected.	ü  Drinking water must be provided readily accessible at suitable places. ü  Clients and contractors have responsibilities regarding welfare facilities on construction projects. ü  Toilets should be suitable and sufficient, ventilated, lit and kept in a clean and orderly condition. ü  General washing facilities must be suitable and sufficient, kept clean and orderly and with basins or sinks.
Administration	Site Administration involves a lot of high level activities which are important for the proper execution of a construction project. It also involves the paperwork one requires to manage the site legally and safely. Site administration is concerned with overseeing the activities of site on the whole including the specific individual activities.	ü  Employers are required to make an assessment of the health and safety risks to which employees and others are exposed on construction sites. ü  Excavations, scaffolds, ladders and fall arrest systems etc must all be inspected at specified times with reports prepared and retained. ü  The arrangements for carrying out demolition or dismantling must be recorded in writing before the work begins.  ü  The coordinator must prepare a file containing information relating to the project which is likely to be needed for safety during any subsequent construction work.
Safe places of work	The construction site must be planned in such a manner so as to ensure ample space for work to be carried out.	ü  As reasonable and practical as possible there should be suitable and sufficient safe access to and egress from every place of work. ü  Work place must be made and kept safe for, and without risks to health to, any person at work there.
Stability of structures	Constructed structures at the site must stable for use while construction is carried out. any new or existing structure or any part of such structure which may become unstable or in a temporary state of weakness or instability due to the carrying out of construction work does not collapse	ü  Any buttress, temporary support or temporary structure must be of such design and so installed and maintained as to withstand any foreseeable loads which may be imposed on it, and must only be used for the purposes for which it is so designed, installed and maintained. ü  No part of a structure shall be so loaded as to render it unsafe to any person.
Demolition or dismantling	The demolition or dismantling of a structure, or part of a structure	ü  Demolitions shall be planned and carried out in such a manner as to prevent danger or, where it is not practicable to prevent it, to reduce danger to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. ü  The arrangements for carrying out such demolition or dismantling shall be recorded in writing before the demolition or dismantling work begins.
Explosives	Explosives required in case of demolition or other purpose relating to construction	ü  So far as is reasonably practicable, explosives shall be stored, transported and used safely and securely. ü  An explosive charge shall be used or fired only if suitable and sufficient steps have been taken to ensure that no person is exposed to risk of injury from the explosion or from projected or flying material caused thereby.
Excavations	Most construction work involves some form of excavation for foundations, sewers and underground services. Excavation or trenching work can be highly dangerous and even some of the most experienced workers have been caught by the sudden and unexpected collapse of the unsupported sides of a trench.	ü  Ensure that any excavation or part of an excavation does not collapse. ü  No material from a side or roof of, or adjacent to, any excavation is dislodged or falls. ü  No person is buried or trapped in an excavation by material which is dislodged or falls
Prevention of risk from fire	Fires on construction sites arise from the misuse of compressed gases and highly flammable liquids, from the ignition of waste material, wood shavings and cellular plastic materials, and from the failure to recognize that adhesives and some floor and wall coatings are highly flammable.	ü  Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of injury to any person during the carrying out of construction work arising from fire or explosion. ü  Construction site well equipped with fire-fighting equipment. ü  Fire detection and alarm systems.
Temperature and weather protection	Although it is not a concern that has a quick or one stop solution to it. But if possible to provide a resolution, it should be to ensure the proper working conditions.	ü  Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that during working hours the temperature at any place of work indoors is reasonable having regard to the purpose for which that place is used. ü  Every place of work outdoors shall, where necessary to ensure the health and safety of persons at work there, be so arranged that, so far as is reasonably practicable and having regard to the purpose for which that place is used and any protective clothing or work equipment provided for the use of any person at work there, it provides protection from adverse weather.
Lighting	Every place of work and approach thereto and every traffic route shall be provided with suitable and sufficient lighting, which shall be, so far as is reasonably practicable, by natural light.	ü  The colour of any artificial lighting provided shall not adversely affect or change the perception of any sign or signal provided for the purposes of health and safety.

Hurdles hindering the espousal of Health and Safety Regulations

With all said and done, Construction activities as practically are is not a stray pencil mark on a piece of paper that can be erased with a stroke of an eraser.