Construction Safety

Need for Safe Practice

• A disabling injury or fatal accident on the job site has
negative impact on operations at many levels.
• Accidents cost money and affect worker morale.
• Because of the type of work involved in construction, many
dangers exist both for the workers and for the public.
• For this reason, the subject of safety offers one area of
noncontroversial mutual interest between management
and the workforce.
• The necessity of safe operations and of protecting and
conserving lives by preventing accidents is understood by
all
 Need for Safe Practice
• Although the fatality rate in construction has
been reduced within recent years, the
improvement in safety record achieved by the
construction industry still lags seriously behind
that achieved in other hazardous industries.
• The annual number of fatalities in the
construction industry in 2003 exceeded the
number of combat deaths during the first 18
months of armed conflict in Iraq (period 2003–
2004).
• Construction is a dangerous business.
 Need for Safe Practice
• It is the contractor’s responsibility to see that
everything possible is done to provide a safe
working environment for the work force and
the public in general.
• The factors that motivate safe practices at
the job site are generally identified as
follows:
1. Humanitarian concerns.
2. Economic costs and benefits.
3. Legal and regulatory considerations.
 Characteristics of Construction Site

• Construction work is dynamic, diverse, and constantly

changing in nature.
• Constantly changing job site environments and conditions
• Multiple contractors and subcontractors
• High turnover; unskilled laborers
• Constantly changing relationships with other work groups
• Diversity of work activities occurring simultaneously
• Construction workers are at risk of exposure to various
hazards and risks that can result in injury, illness, permanent
disability, or even death.
 WHAT IS SAFETY ?

Safety is the Control of Recognized

Hazards to attain an Acceptable
Level of Risk.
 Related Definitions
• Hazards is an unsafe condition or activity, that if left
uncontrolled can contribute to an accident.
• Risk is the assessment of ’probability of loss’ and ’potential
amount of loss’.
• Incident is an unplanned, undesired event that adversely
affects completion of a task.
• Near Miss describe incidents where no property was
damaged and no personal injury sustained, but where, given a
slight shift in time or position, damage and/or injury easily
could have occurred.
• Accidents is defined as an unexpected and desirable event
resulting in damage or harm.
 Incidents Types & Measurement

• Death • Rate per 100,000 –

• Major injury (broken Number of injuries or
leg, hips, amputation) causes of ill health
• Minor injury (finger per 100,000
cut) employees.
• Occupational • Working days lost –
accidents (MSD, days off work due to
hearing loss) workplace injuries &
• Near misses work-related ill health
 Accident Cost
• Site medical cost (first-aid)
• Transportation cost
• Work disruption – schedule delay
• Damaged work removal
• Damaged work replacement
• Damaged EQP replacement – rental
• Reduced crew => reduced productivity
• Reporting cost (administrative)
• O.H. cost due to work stoppage
• Loss of Goodwill & reputation for unsafe
conditions
CE 321 - Construction Management
 Need for Safe Practice

1. Humanitarian concerns.

2. Economic costs and benefits.

3. Legal and regulatory considerations.

 Humanitarian concerns
The employer responsibilities:
1. To provide a reasonably safe workplace.
2. To provide reasonably safe appliances, tools,
and equipment.
3. To use reasonable care in selecting employees.
4. To enforce reasonable safety rules.
5. To provide reasonable instructions regarding
the dangers of employment.
 Economic Costs and Benefits
1. Direct cost of 2. Direct cost of each
3. Indirect cost
previous accidents accident occurrence
a. Insurance premiums a. Investigation
a. Delay to project
and ratings
b. Loss of skilled
b. Mandatory accident b. Uninsured damages workers
prevention methods

c. Records, safety c. Loss of

personnel equipment
d. Lost
production
Uninsured
Costs
 Job Safety Analysis

A means of systematically identifying

workplace hazards as they may occur so that
proper corrective measures can be specified
to eliminate/control hazards before work
starts.
Hazards
Types of hazards

• Mechanical • Physical
• Ergonomic • Biological
• Chemical • Other Health
Hazards
 Mechanical Hazards
• Falls (from
heights)/Slip/Trip;
• Trench collapse;
• Scaffold collapse;
• Electric shock and arc
flash/arc blast; and
• Caught in between
Mechanical Hazards
 Mechanical Hazards
• Falls (from
heights)/Slip/Trip;
• Trench collapse;
• Scaffold collapse;
• Electric shock and arc
flash/arc blast; and
• Caught in between
Trench
Collapse
 Mechanical Hazards
• Falls (from
heights)/Slip/Trip;
• Trench collapse;
• Scaffold collapse;
• Electric shock and arc
flash/arc blast; and
• Caught in between
Scaffold collapse
 Mechanical Hazards
• Falls (from
heights)/Slip/Trip;
• Trench collapse;
• Scaffold collapse;
• Electric shock and arc
flash/arc blast; and
• Caught in between
 Ergonomic Hazards
Ergonomic hazards can cause painful and disabling injuries such
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) . This following situation may
causes these injuries:
• heavy, frequent, or awkward lifting
• repetitive tasks
• awkward grips, postures
• using excessive force, overexertion
• using wrong tools for the job
or using tools improperly
• using improperly maintained tools
• hand-intensive work
 Chemical Hazards
Chemicals can exist in the form of

• dusts, fumes, fibers (solids)

• liquids, mists
• gases, vapors

• asbestos • welding fumes

Examples of
chemical • lead • spray paints
hazards • silica • oil mists
found in
• carbon • solvents
construction
monoxide
work:
 Physical Hazards
Physical hazards are different types of energy which
may be hazardous to workers.

• Noise

• Vibration

• Temperature extremes

• Radiation
 Biological Hazards

Exposure may occur during demolition, renovation,

sewer work, work on air handling systems, or other
construction work from contact with contaminated or
disease-carrying
• soil
• water
• insects (mosquitoes, ticks)
• bird, bat droppings
• animals
 Other Health Hazards

• Living conditions and welfare facilities

– Temporary accomodation
– Food
– Drinking water
– Sanitary conveniences
– Facility for clothing
• Work related mental stresses
– Alcoholism and drug addiction
 Special Hazards
• Explosives
Ø Explosions result in large amounts of
gas, heat, noise, light and over-
pressure.
• Electrical Contact
Ø Inadequate insulation, broken electrical
lines or equipment, lightning strike,
static discharge etc.
• Chemical Reactions
Ø Chemical reactions can be violent, can
cause explosions, dispersion of
materials and emission of heat.
 Fatal Four

Falls
Electrocutions
Struck by Object
Caught-in/between
Source: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoi_revised12.pdf
HAZARD CONTROL
Risk Significance
PPE
 Situation Hazzard Control
Gloves, Protective Clothing,
Electricity Shock, Burns, Death
Lockout/Tagout
Repetitive injuries, Back Pain,
Ergonomics Shoulder & Knee Pads, Gloves
Vibration
Fire (open flames, combustible
Uncontrolled Fire Proper Storage, Good Ventilation
liquids)
Hazardous substances (Asbestos, Specialty Contractors, Containment,
Lung Cancer, Silicosis
Silica) Respiratory Protection
Heat Stress Dizzy, Difficulty Breathing Water, Shade, Rest
High Visibility Clothing, Barriers, Traffic
Heavy equipment and trucks Tipping, Load Drop, Accidents
Rules & Controls
Keep Work Area Slip-Free, Non-slip
Ice, snow and mud Slip, Fall
Shoes
Secured, 4:1, Extended 1m above level, 3-
Ladders Fall
point Contact
ROPS, Weight Control, Safety Factor, Air
Lifting equipment Tipping, Load Drop
Speed Watch
Littered workplace (debris,
Fire, Slips, Nails, Fall Keep Work Area Clean
liquids)
Noise Hearing Loss Ear Plugs
Openings, holes and platform
Fall, Dropped Materials Hand Rails, Edge Guard/Plate
edges
Rigging, ropes and chains Load Drop, Cable Whip Weight Control, Air Speed Watch
Firm Footing, Guardrails, X-braced, Full
Scaffolding Fall, Collapse
Platform, Harness
Trenches and other excavations Fall, Cave-in Shoring, Battered/Benched Excavation
Welding and cutting Fumes, Fire, Sparks damage Head Protection, Mask, Gloves
SAFETY PROGRAM
 Safety Program

• Safety must be planned

• Management Commitment
• Safety program by Home Office
• Safety Awareness
• Safety Training
• Safety Measure: Man-Hours
between accidents

CE 321 - Construction Management

 Cost / Benefit
Cost:
• Safety Program is viewed as an expense
• Safety benefits is not tangible
• Impact on revenue is not seen
Benefits:
• Lower/no increase in insurance rates
• Reduced probability of work disruption or project delays
• Reduced probability of lower productivity due to crew
composition reduction
• Boosts moral & command loyalty
• Goodwill – reputation of contractor for safety

CE 321 - Construction Management

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