Dire Dawa University-DDU Department of Construction Technology and Management-COTM

CHAPTER FIVE: HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

5.1 Safe practices in construction
Because of the nature of work, construction is one of the industries with a high degree of
accidents and many dangers exist both for the workers and the public. It has been found that
most serious construction accidents involve operation of construction equipment, excavation
cave-ins and embankment failures, falling from height, collapse of temporary structures and
formwork, or failure of structure under construction. Other types of accidents are slips, getting
hit by machines, electric shock and the like.
Everyone is distressed when a fellow employee is disabled or killed. So the humanitarian basis
for safety is apparent. However many managers do not fully appreciate the financial
consequences of accidents. Worker's compensation insurance premiums are based on the firm's
accident rates. Public liability, property damage and equipment insurance rates are also affected
by accident rates. It has been shown that a contracting firm can lose its competitive bidding
position simply because of high insurance premiums resulting from poor safety records. In
addition to the visible costs of accidents represented by insurance and worker's compensation
payments, there are other costs that are difficult to estimate, such as monetary value of lost
project time for accident investigation and repair, time required to replace critical materials and
equipment and to train replacement workers, as well as the effect on those portions of the project
not directly involved in the accident. Therefore, it is of great importance to all concerned with
the job to ensure that appropriate job safety program is instituted. Although the owner of the
construction firm or the contracting firm executives are legally responsible if an accident occurs,
the project manager is generally responsible for establishing and supervising the safety program.
Construction accidents result from an unsafe act or an unsafe condition. Company policy should
aim at preventing these through education, training, persuasion and constant vigilance.
Management should hold frequent conferences with the project manager and with insurance
company to review the safety record of the firm and to obtain advice for improving this safety
record.
5.2 Safety Programs
All construction companies need a carefully planned safety program that is specifically tailored
to the construction operations of the company to comply with safety laws and regulations (we do
not have it here in Ethiopia).

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Dire Dawa University-DDU Department of Construction Technology and Management-COTM

Safety programs in different companies cover different areas and hazards, but there are some
common areas they all cover
1. A formal safety training program for all new employees.
2. Periodic refresher training for each worker
3. A formal supervisory safety training program for all supervisors
4. A program of regular site visits safety personnel to review and and control job
hazards
5. Provision of adequate personal protective equipment, first aid equipment and
trained safety personnel
6. An established procedure for the emergency evacuation of injured workers
7. Provisions for maintaining safety records and reporting accidents in
compliance with safety regulations, if any
Safety Rules of Personal Conduct
Most new construction company employees can expect to be assigned to a field position as a
project engineer. In such an assignment, the new employee will work in the field every day.
Some personal rules of safety are critical.
Construction employees who work in the trades-receive safety training. They know what is safe
and what is not safe. Generally, they do not violate safety policies and procedures. New
employees should adhere to the same policies and procedures. Pay attention. Learn quickly. No
one expects new employees to be completely savvy in the ways work is performed in the field,
but everyone expects new employees to use their judgment. Consider adopting the following
rules of personal conduct. Think about the list, and alter it as new personal safety lessons are
learned.
 Wear the basic safety gear. This includes hard hats, safety shoes, eye protection and ear
protection in noisy areas. Everyone else wears this equipment. Do not be an exception. For
example, never go onto a construction project while wearing sneakers, not even for just a
minute. Everyone will notice and it sends the wrong message. Even new employees can keep
a pair of safety shoes in the car where they are available when needed.
 Do not operate equipment. Operators have been thoroughly trained, and they have years of
experience. They also have a license. Unless you have a license, stay off the equipment.
Operating a road grader or a front loader may be great fun, but it is not in your job
description. It is in someone else’s job description, and they are better at it than you.

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Dire Dawa University-DDU Department of Construction Technology and Management-COTM

 Learn the rules that apply to your work. For example, highway projects have very strict rules
regarding signage, and variations are not allowed. Work in elevated places has very strict
requirements for safety harnesses. Falls claim more lives in construction than any other
single cause. Excavations are very dangerous workplaces. Proper shoring is always required.
Electric equipment requires grounding. Learn the safety rules that apply to your work.
 Stay out of dangerous places and confined spaces where you do not belong. Examples would
be on high steel, in deep trenches, under heavy equipment, or close to electrical work.
Unnecessary exposure to risk is should be avoided. There are times when project engineers
need to get up onto the high steel or down into a deep trench. In those cases, go ahead. Just
do not make a habit of going there for no reason.
 Never place yourself in danger when there is no one else on the site. Do not work alone.
 Ask questions. Your company will have a safety manual, and some very experienced
superintendents and project managers to work with. Take advantage of their knowledge.
 Do not assume situations are safe. Know what you are doing.
 Get out of the way. Employees may not tell you when you are in their way, because they may
want to be polite. Be aware of what the crew is doing and know when your presence
interferes with their efficient, safe work. Crews need to be able to work without having to
protect an observer.
 Take charge of unsafe conditions if you are in a position to take charge. If someone else has
that responsibility, report the dangerous situation to that person and determine if you should
take any action. “Not my job” is not an acceptable excuse for walking away from unsafe
work conditions. Surveyors and laborers have been known to stop work to get an unsafe
condition corrected. Certainly college graduate project engineers can do the same.
 Trust your instincts. If you think a situation is unsafe, the chances are very high that it is
unsafe.
 Attend an Occupational safety and health administration training course.
 Be a good safety example. Do the right things. Do things right the first time.
 Understand that accidents are usually the result of an absence of safety. Accidents do not
have to happen.
 No accident is always preferable to an accident.
 Never stop learning about safety.

Human Resource Management [COTM 5201]Lecture Note Compiled By: Solomon A. Page 54