UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

FAKULTI TEKNOLOGI KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

PROJECT TITLE:
CONSTRUCTION WORK (SCAFFOLDING)

COURSE CODE BNJ21102

COURSE NAME OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

FACULTY FTK

SECTION 1
MATRIX
NAME
NO.
NOR IZWAN SHAH BIN VICTOR AN190064

VENICK LENSON AN190057

STUDENT’S NAME
WEE SOON CHAI AN170247

JASON USUNG PETERUS CN190023

INSTRUCTOR’S
PROF. MADYA DR. ABDUL MUTALIB BIN LEMAN
NAME
SUBMITSION DATE 8 DECEMBER 2019

PROJECT
MARK
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Overview

Occupational safety and health (OSH) is concerned with preserving and protecting
human and facility resource in workplace. Occupational Safety and Health Act officially
formed and effective on 28 April 1971. George Guenther was appointed as the agency's first
director. OSH is also a field wherein professional attempt to prevent catastrophic losses. Based
on the Social Security Organization (SOCSO) report in 2000, the accident rate in the
construction industry in Malaysia was 3 times higher in comparison to other workplaces. It is
further strengthened that there are at least 60,000 fatal accidents recorded in the construction
industry annually around the world. It is also found that accident numbers are very high and
frequent. Accidents at the construction site have led to the loss of life, property, workers, money
and time. Scaffolding is an important tool used on construction sites. According to the
Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), an estimate of over 2 million or 65 percent of
construction sites use scaffolding. Based on Blazik, the main role of scaffolding is to support
the building construction work at heights and places with poor access.

Nowadays, accidents involving scaffolding on construction sites has become a hot issue
in most of Malaysia’s local newspapers. Such accidents account for thousands of injuries and
deaths at the construction sites every year. On October 6, 2013, a warehouse door fell onto
scaffolding and causing the death of a worker. On April 10, 2014, a construction scaffold
collapsed between levels 27 and level 22 causing the death of a worker on December 25, 2014.

1.2. Objective

The objectives for this project are:

1. To learn the physical hazards that occur in any accident

2. To identify the unsafe condition which may exist in construction
3. To find out the suitable way and effective control measures avoid any fatal accident.
4. To determine the major fault or critical failures cause by broken scaffolding.
 1.3. Problem Statements

Although regulations in occupational safety and health in Malaysia are quite

comprehensive and reinforced with strict safety inspection and audit by DOSH at regular of
time, the accidents at construction site is still alarming especially in scaffolding. It is very
important to find any loopholes in enforcing the requirements of Safety Acts or any weaknesses
in inspecting and auditing construction sites. The level of compliance of the contractors will be
analyzed to determine the effectiveness in implementing the occupational safety and health
issues in scaffolding at construction sectors. From this project, we have discovered and identify
the problem statements in scaffolding accidents on the construction sites. The problem
statements for this project are:

1. Understanding of the construction site’s management on safety and health.

2. Examine the type of hazard involving scaffolding.
3. Factors that influence the scaffolding accidents on the construction sites.

2. BACKGROUND
2.1. Scaffolding collapses accidents case in Malaysia
From all the data sources such as newspaper, google, DOSH and the literature review
carried out numerous examples of accidents related to scaffoldings can be cited. To
highlight some example, the followings were felt worth quoting.
i. Collapse of scaffolding at a hotel development project at KL Sentral on the 13th
December 1999. Six people were injured. Cause of collapse was scaffolds were
not constructed in accordance with the drawings prepared by the Professional
Engineer. (anjangandak2932, 2015)
ii. Fatal fall of a worker from a mobile scaffold at ‘Dewan PUSPANITA, Lot JKR
5171, Jalan Hose’ on 15 March 1999. Cause of accident was that the scaffold
was not constructed by competent personnels. (anjangandak2932, 2015)
iii. A falsework collapsed during concreting works in construction site in Kuala
Lumpur on 11st January 2007. Two workers at a construction site were killed
while ten others were injured when the scaffolding they were on collapsed from
a height of 25 metres. During the incident, part of the scaffolding on the second
floor gave way together with the granite slab cladding and work platform.
 Cause of accident was that the scaffolding fails to support the load put onto the
working platform, causing it to collapse. (DOSH, n.d.)
iv. A scaffolding collapsed in construction site at Bangi, Selangor on 4th January
2017 during the construction site supervisor was on the site to conduct a routine
check when he suddenly heard a sound of an object falling from high place.
During the incident, a 42-year old Indonesian worker did not make it out in
time and was crushed by the falling scaffolding and his head was hit by a hard
fallen object causing him dead. (Ling Kwan, 2017)
v. A scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Taman Subang Hitech, Subang
Jaya on 22 Jan 2019 afternoon. During incident, a 30-year old Bangladeshi
worker was killed. Cause of the accident was that the victim fell and was
crushed by the metal and cement floor. (Justin Zack, 2019)

2.2. Scaffolding collapsed accidents and falling from height accidents statistic in
Malaysia
Table below are the scaffolding collapsed accidents and the fall from height accidents
statistic that collect by DOSH Malaysia from 2010 to 2019.

Table 1: Working at height statistic from 2010 to 2019

Type of activity Year

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Working at height 5 8 9 5 20 19 10 4 19 5

Table 2: Accident statistic involving height and scaffolding from 2010 to 2019

Accident Year
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
falling from height 5 8 9 5 20 19 10 4 19 5
object falling 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
3. PHYSICAL INJURY

3.1. Introduction to physical injury

Physical Injury is any harm that resulted by the exposure to hazard which are generated
from energy and matter, and the interrelationship between two. Physical aspect to be
considered include all constructed and naturally occurring structural and physical feature
of the workplace and its environs as well as their spatial relationships. Physical aspects
include not only such obvious structures as buildings, sheds, tanks, silos, transmission lines,
containment dikes, reactor vessel, stacks, and roadways, but also such structure as
underground pies and conduits, landforms, groundwater aquifers, unconsolidated soils and
surface water supplies. The consequence of exposure to these hazards can be modified by
worker protection and variety of human factors.

3.2. Construction Work (Scaffolding)

The construction industry has an unenviable record of accidents including many

fatalities. While the type of work carried out does present a high level of hazard, there
seems to have an attitude endemic in the industry that it is all part and parcel of the job.
Some recent major construction projects have disproved that contention and have been
successfully completed without fatality or serious injury.

Whenever construction work is to be undertaken if consideration is given to some of

the hazard faced and the appropriate precautions taken, accidents and damage can be
prevented. This applies whether you are having the work done or a contractor doing the
work. However, once having agreed precautionary measures it is essential that the work is
monitored to ensure the precautions are implemented. The contractor should supply all
plant and materials needed for the contract.

3.3. Hazard of scaffolding in construction work that can cause physical injury
3.3.1. Major hazards
1. Falls
Falls attributed to the lack of guardrails, improper installation of guardrails and
failure to use personal fall arrest systems when required. When work heights
 reach 10’ or more, the OSHA standard requires fall protection must be used.
OSHA’s standards represent the minimum level of protection; many general
contractors require 100% fall protection at 6’ or greater when working on
scaffolds. These contractors are increasing safety margins by exceeding the
minimum requirements of the OSHA standards. An additional reason for falls
from scaffolds is lack of proper access to the scaffold work platform. Whenever
there is 24” vertical change to an upper lower level, the access in the form of a
secured ladder, stair tower and ramp is required. The means of access must be
determined before erection of the scaffold and employees are never allowed to
climb on cross braces for either vertical or horizontal movement.

2. Scaffold collapse
To preventing this particular hazard, the proper erection of scaffold is essential.
A number of factors must be accounted for before erecting the scaffold. The
amount of weight of the scaffold itself, materials, and workers must be
considered. Foundation stability, placement of scaffold planks, distance from
scaffold to the work surface, and tie-in requirements are just a few of other items
that must be considered prior to building a scaffold. The chances of injury and
save money for any task will reduced when a knowledgeable individual can
perform preplanning.

3. Struck by falling materials

Workers on scaffolds are not the only ones exposed to scaffold related hazards.
Due to being struck by materials or tools that have fallen form scaffold
platforms, many individuals have been injured or killed. These people must be
protected from falling objects. OSHA requires that this is done of two ways.
First, install toe boards or netting on work platforms to prevent these items from
falling to the ground or lower level work areas. The other option is to erect
barricades that physically prevent individuals from walking under work
platforms. Caution or Danger tape is often used in an attempt to keep people
away from overhead hazards but is often disregarded or taken down creating
possible struck by hazards. A more robust system such as plastic mesh or
wooden barricades is generally more effective and much easier to maintain.
 4. Electrocution
Preplanning and the competent person to assure there are no electrical hazards
present during scaffold use. Between the scaffold and electrical hazard, a
minimum of 10’ must be maintained. The hazard must be de-energized or
properly insulated by the power company if this distance cannot be maintained.
The coordination the power company and the company erecting cannot be over
stated. Lastly, all employees who work on scaffold must have documented
training. Identification and prevention of fall, falling tools and materials hazard,
and knowledge of electrical hazards must include as the training topics.

3.3.2. Effect that caused by scaffolding work

1. Scaffolding collapsed

2. Fall from the scaffold

3.4. Prevention to the hazard of scaffolding in construction work
1. Hierarchy of control measures
The following hierarchy of controls measure should be considered when planning any
activities which may involve working at height:
• Avoidance where possible, of working at height.
• Working from an existing place of work, or using an existing means of access and
egress.
• Provision of suitable work equipment to prevent a fall occurring.
• Provision of work equipment to minimise the distance and consequence of a fall.
• Instruction and training.

2. A safe place of work

An existing safe place of work should be used, where work at height cannot be avoided.
So, these work places should:
• Should be stable and of sufficient strengthen and rigidity for their purpose.
• Rest on stable and suitably strong surfaces.
• Be of sufficient size to allow safe use for person, plant and material.
• Have suitable means for preventing a fall.
 • Have a surface which has no gap through which a person or material could fall and
cause injury.
• Be constructed, use and maintained to prevent the risk of slipping, tripping or any
person being trapped between them and any adjacent structure.
• Suitable protection must be provided (platforms, covering, crawling and guardrails)

3. Considered the main thing before work at height begins

To ensure the ongoing safety of racking or shelving installation:
• Identify damage and necessary maintenance or repair.
• Employees should be encouraged to report and damage.
• Maximum load notices should be displayed and strictly adhered to.

When carrying our stacking and storing operations, precaution may include:

• Safe stacking on undamaged, suitable pallets.

• Banding (or wrapping) to prevent items from falling.
• Establishing clear height limits for stacks.
• Regular stack inspection.
• Instruction and training for workers who are involved in such operations.
• Procedures for dealing with any items which may be difficult to store.
4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1. Introduction

Scaffolding is a temporary structure in doing activity at high. This structure is a

platform to perform activity at high level. This structure usually bean used in construction
site to perform a high risks activity that involving in working at high. In this activity, Safety
is the most important things that required to perform in this working place. Safety so
important because in this environment, worker was exposed to high risk activity and hazard.
Before performing this activity, Safety officer should inspect the scaffolding structure and
the environment to ensure the surrounding is safe to perform the activity.

4.2. Risk management

Risk is the probability of illness or injury in the surrounding. It is potential realization

of unwanted consequences of an event. Both of the probability of the event occurring and
the magnitude of the consequences are involved in the term of risk. Risk is the Function of
the Hazard involved, the related dose response data, and the magnitude and duration of the
human expose. We used HIRARC form to assemble the risk management.

HIRARC form is Hazard identification, Risk assessment and Risk Control. This form
actually used to inspect the hazard in the workplace. From we identify the probability of
hazard in the work place, we can classify the hazard by likelihood and severity. in the end,
we can control the probability of the hazard and eliminate the hazard in the surrounding.

4.2.1. Hazard Identification

Hazard identification is part of the process used to evaluate if any particular situation,
item, thing, etc. may have the potential to cause harm. The term often used to describe the
full process is risk assessment. Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to
cause harm.
4.2.2. Risk assessment

Risk assessment is the determination of what the problem. Risk management is the
process of deciding what to do about the problem. Risk assessment is made up of four
steps:

I. Dose-response assessment.

The dose-response assessment step of the risk assessment process quantitates the
hazards that were identified in the previous step. It determines the relationship between
dose and incidence of effects in humans.

II. Exposure Assessment.

Exposure Assessment is a determination of how much of the chemical is available to

the individuals in a specific area. In addition, the duration of exposure is also considered.

III. Risk Characterization

Requires an evaluation of the information from the first three steps.

4.2.3. Risk Management methodology

I. Hazard identification

For the hazard identification, we can conclude that construction site has a lot of hazard
that can harm and injury. Base on this step, we identify the possibility harm and injury
that can happen in the workplace. Scaffolding activity involving person to work at high
place that surrounded by hazard.

II. Dose-response assessment

After identified the hazards, we can calculate the risk per hazard. This calculation can
be a qualitative or quantitative. It is proposed that the occupational risk assessment is
calculated qualitative, but without excluding other forms of similar competence.
According to the Risk Assessment methodology, each activity is broken down to a task,
it considers the hazards associated with each task and assesses the risk by assessing the
likelihood (In table 1) of an event of a particular severity (table 2) to occur and
multiplies this likelihood with the corresponding severity.

Table 1: Rating likelihood

Likelihood Example Rating
Most likely The most likely result of hazard/event being realized 5
Possible Has a good chance of occurring and is not unusual 4
Conceivable Might be occur something in future 3
Remote Has not been known to occur after many years 2
Inconceivable Is practically impossible and has never occurred 1

Table 2: Rating Severity

Severity Example Rating

Catastrophic Numerous fatalities, irrecoverable property damage 5
and productivity
Fatal Approximately one single fatality major property 4
damage if hazard is realized
Serious Non-fatal injury, permanent disability 3
Minor Disability, but not permanent injury 2
Negligible Minor abrasions, bruises, cut, first aid type injury 1
Risk= likelihood × Severity

III. Exposure assessment

Table 3: Rating Risk summary

Assessment Risk Rating
A HIGH risk requires immediate action to control the hazard High 15 - 25
as detailed in the hierarchy of control. Actions taken must be
documented on the risk assessment form including date for
completion
A MEDIUM risk requires a planned approach to controlling Mediu 5 - 12
the hazard and applies temporary measure if required. m
Actions taken must be documented on the risk assessment
form including date for completion.
A risk identified as LOW may be considered as acceptable Low 1-4
and further reduction may not be necessary. However, if the
risk can be resolved quickly and efficiently, control measures
should be implemented and recorded.
IV. Risk characterization
Table 4: Rating risk assessment
severity
Risk = Likelihood X Severity Negligible Minor Serious Fatal Catastrophi
c
1 2 3 4 5
Inconceivable 1 1 2 3 4 5
Remote 2 2 4 6 8 10
likelihood Conceivable 3 3 6 9 12 15
Possible 4 4 8 12 16 20
Most likely 5 5 10 15 20 25

• Scaffolding requirement
I. Before assembling
o Ensure the Scaffolding supplier provide the information for safety
instruction design and erection.
o Verify the Scaffold is selected appropriate for the specific work
performance.
o Ensure that the scaffold is accompanied by all the necessary quality
certificates, manuals providing information about
assembly/dismantling.
o Check and ensure that the required quantities of elements are available
on site to erect a complete scaffold and all are good condition.
o If it is a standard (approved type} scaffold, follow the instructions of
the manufacture to erect.
o Ensure the stability of the scaffold.
o Ensure the safety access to the scaffold.
o Check and verify the safety of scaffolding before use.
II. Assembling
o The person assembled scaffolding required training and experience.
o Personal Protection Equipment required.
o Stationary scaffolds are secure from horizontal shifting.
o The scaffolding is not using before assembly complete.
III. Work on the Scaffold
o Any other equipment using during the work construction (electric
generators) must located at a plate which not interfere with the stability
of the scaffold.
o Worker use all the time Personal Protection equipment.
o Scaffold not be used for storing material and equipment.
o Safe access and egress available on scaffold.
o No activity was performed with adverse weather condition.
IV. Dismantling
o No work performed on the scaffold.
 o Trainer worker are required for this job.
o Dismantling of the scaffolding according to the supplier and
manufacture instruction.

4.2.4. Risk control

Risk control is the elimination or inactivation of hazard in a manner such that

the hazard does not pose a risk to workers. Hazards should be controlled at their source
where the problem is created. After we identify the hazard, we will manage the hazard
in the risk assessment and try to find a method to eliminate the hazard from the
workplace.

4.3. Sample report

Bangladeshi worker killed in construction accident

SUBANG JAYA (22 January 2019): A Bangladeshi worker was killed when scaffolding
collapsed at a construction site in Taman Subang Hitech.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations management chief Alimaddia Bukri
confirmed the incident.

“Work to remove the rubble was started by the developer, They fine the victim at 5.42PM
and the victim was not responsive. They identify the victim was Kassim (30)”.

Victim was walking on the first floor. Suddenly the metal staging holding the floor
collapsed. The victim was fell and crusted by the metal and the cement floor.
 4.4. HIRARC FORM

HIRARC

Faculty/Department/Unit/Lab/Workshop: Wee Soon Chai

Identifying hazards in Conducted by: Jason Usung Peterus

Process/Location/Block:
construction site.
(Name, Venick Lenson
designation) Nor Ikwan Shah Bin Victor
Approved by: Prof. Madya Dr. Abdul
(Name, designation) Mutalib Bin Leman Date: 22 JAN 2019

Date 22 January 2019 Review Date: 22 JAN 2019

Hazard Identification Risk Analysis Risk Control

Existing
Work Which can Severit Recommended Control PIC
No. Hazard Risk control Likelihood Risk
Activity cause/effect y Measures (Due date/status)
(If any)
Weather protection
Adverse Work at Wee Soon Chai
Working in Cause sick 3 to be taken into
1. weather substable 3 1 (22 Jan 2019 /
raining day. and ill (Low) account when
conditions weather Completed)
selecting.
 Maximum weight of
Can cause
Eistimite the scaffolding is agreed Wee Soon Chai
Working at Overloading scaffolding 20
2. weight of 4 5 upon prior to set-up (22 Jan 2019 /
hight of scaffold brock (High)
scaffold of scaffold Completed)
down.
Scaffolding is inspected
during construction and
Can cause Inspect once complete by an
Jason
Working at Fall from serious scaffolding 25 individual with a
3. 5 5 (22 Jan 2019 /
hight level. height injury and follow the (High) scaffolding licence Completed)
died. requirement

Use Personal Protective

Can causes Equipment (PPE) such Jason
Using heavy Falls of Using a 25
4. serious 5 5 as appropriate gloves, (22 Jan 2019 /
tool materials proper PPE (High)
injury head protection and Completed)
safety footwear.
Died or Scaffolding to be
Scaffolding Venick
Working at Structural serious 25 erected and dismantled
5. need 5 5 (22 Jan 2019 /
hight level. failure injury (High) by a contractor with a
inspection Completed)
scaffolding licence
5. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, although DOSH covers all types of fatal accidents including those who
are from local or foreign worker but still the accidents in construction sector especially
scaffolding is occurred. This is because the worker, company or employer didn’t taking serious
about hazard that might be occur and the causes of scaffolding accidents are mainly scaffold
collapsed, fall from height and strike by heavy objects. Scaffolding accidents on the
construction site can be avoid and minimized if the following recommendations to be
implement. Below are the recommendations that employers and federal or state OSHA
organizations should consider:

i. Government agencies involved in the enforcement of occupational safety and health

should increase the safety program to parties who are involved in the construction
industry.
ii. The contractors are also needed to attend special courses related to the safety and health
legislation, especially related to scaffolding. This enables them to predict and identify
the causes of accident on the construction site.
iii. The safety management needs to obtain information from their employees who are
directly involved in the site because they know the extent of the danger that might be
faced by them while performing any work while using a scaffolding at a construction
site.
iv. All workers from various occupational levels should be involved in making the
workplace a safe place by following the occupational safety and health policy.
Therefore, consultation, cooperation and participation of workers and employers should
take place in order to improve the level of safety and health on the construction site

6. REFERENCES

anjangandak2932. (2015, August 24). Prevention of Collapse of Scaffolding. Retrieved from

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/document/275838485/D-Internet-Myiemorgmy-
Iemms-Assets-Doc-Alldoc-Document-6849-Prevention-of-Collapse-of-Scaffolding
DOSH. (n.d.). Scaffolding Collapse. Retrieved from DOSH:
http://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/52-accident-cases/2007/166-scaffolding-collapse
Justin Zack. (2019, January 22). Bangladeshi worker killed in construction accident .
Retrieved from Star Online:
 https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/22/bangladeshi-worker-killed-in-
construction-accident/
Ling Kwan. (2017, January 5). Scaffolding On Construction Site Collapse In Bangi, One
Person Reported Crushed To Death. Retrieved from World Of Buzz:
https://www.worldofbuzz.com/scaffolding-construction-site-collapse-bangi-one-
person-reported-crushed-death/