Lecture: 5

Health and Safety Practices in

Construction Industry

by
Prof. Dr. Sajjad Mubin
Accidents and Fatalities in Construction Industry of USA
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), USA released their 2020
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and the construction
industry topped the list with 937 worker deaths.
• This is about a 4% increase in occupational fatalities over the 899
reported for 2019. This is the largest number of construction
worker deaths since 2008.
• Despite accounting for the highest total of worker deaths, the
construction industry ranked fourth in highest fatal injury rates
among all industries.
• In USA, the total costs of fatal and non-fatal injuries in
the construction industry were estimated at $11.5 billion in 2002,
15% of the costs for all private direct workers' compensation costs
(medical treatment and indemnity) for construction was four
times higher than for most industries. Now it is around $ 47
billion. 2
Accidents and Fatalities in Construction Industry of USA
• In the construction industry, the four leading causes of
worker deaths not involving highway collisions were falls,
being struck by objects, electrocutions and getting
caught in/between objects.
• OSHA has dubbed these the Fatal Four as they were
responsible for 64.2% of all construction worker deaths in
2020.
• Falls – 364 out of 937 total construction worker deaths in
2015 (38.8%)
• Struck by Object – 90 (9.6%)
• Electrocutions – 81 (8.6%)
• Caught in/between – 67 (7.2%) 3
 Accidents and Fatalities in Construction Industry of UK
• 2.2 million people work in Britain’s construction industry,
making it the country’s biggest industry.
• It is also one of the most dangerous. In the last 25 years,
over 2,800 people have died from injuries they received as
a result of construction work. Many more have been
injured or made ill.
• Between April 2004 and March 2005, 71 workers died and
thousands were injured as a result of construction work.
The main causes of the fatal accidents were:
•
falling through fragile roofs and rooflights
•
falling from ladders, scaffolds and other work places
•
being struck by excavators, lift trucks or dumpers 4
•
being struck by falling loads and equipment
•
being crushed by collapsing structures
 Accidents and Fatalities in Construction Industry of UK
• Of the 30 construction worker deaths counted in the latest
year, 22 were employed and eight self-employed. The rate
of fatal injury per 100,000 construction workers dropped
from 2.12 in 2015/16 to 1.37 in 2016/17. However, this
was still well above the all-industry average for the latest
year of 0.43.

5
Compensation of accidents, injuries and deaths
• Going by the Accident Iceberg Theory, the hidden or indirect costs
of an accident is eight to 33 times more than that of its apparent
or direct costs (Fong, 2003).
• In UK the cost of industrial accidents was estimated to be between
14.5 billion pounds and 18.1 billion pounds (in 95/96 prices) (HSE,
1999). Whereas, in the United States the total accident costs to
the construction industry alone was estimated to be between US$
21 billion and US$ 40 billion (in 1995 price) (Everett and Frank,
1996).
• The recipients for compensation has increased 36 percent from
182,763 person in 1995 to 247,790 person in 2003 in Malaysia and
Govt. has paid about RM 754 million, a staggering 161 percent
increased from RM 289 million in 1995, as compensation for the
industrial accidents.
Frequent causes of accidents in building projects
There are many causes of accidents on a construction site. Many are
often attributed to some form of negligence and may involve unsafe
work areas, misuse of tools and equipment, and failure to use
protective equipment. The following discusses the nine most common
examples of construction site accidents.
1.Unsafe Working Areas - Injuries due to slip and falls are among the
most common on a construction site. Unsafe conditions include
uncovered holes or trenches and exposed stakes and rebars (which
implement hazards to those working or walking above them).
2.Falling Hazards - A common injury that occurs when a worker near an
open-sided floor focusing on his work, steps backwards or to the side
without looking. Another falling hazard occurs on stairwells with no
guardrails. In this kind of accident, workers frequently land on their
heads or shoulders.
 Frequent causes of accidents in building projects
3. Misuse of Stepladders - This is one of the leading causes of injury and
long-term disability in Washington. An injury can occur when a worker
falls from a tipped-over stepladder. Another accident that can occur with
stepladders is when tools are left on the top platform. When someone
moves the ladder, the tools fall on someone's head. Using household
ladders on a construction site can also lead to accidents, as these types
of ladders cannot take the weight and stress of a construction worker
with tools.
4. Roof Construction Falls - The number one cause of death in construction
occurs where no fall protection is provided. Falls can occur when anchors
(designed to provide fall arrest with an attached lifeline) are not properly
attached or more than one lifeline is on a single anchor.
5. Scaffolding Problems - Washington State regulations mandate that a
"competent person" must supervise erecting scaffolds. This is someone
capable of identifying hazards and who has the authority to take prompt
corrective measures. Despite these regulations, scaffolding accidents still
occur through unsafe access to scaffolds and tools and other materials
falling off scaffolding and injuring workers.
 Frequent causes of accidents in building projects
6. Collapsed Excavation Walls and Trenches - Collapsed excavation walls or
trenches kill many workers each year. The weight of soil (2000-3000 pounds per
yard) prevents a trapped worker from breathing, leading to death within
minutes.
7. Power Tool Accidents - These accidents are frequently caused by not using
appropriate eye and ear protection. Nail gun injuries have increased each year
making eye injuries quite common. It's not surprising given that a nail comes
out of the gun with the equivalent force of a .22 caliber bullet. Also, not having
proper guards in place on the power tools can lead to cuts and amputations.
8. Lifting/Body Straining - The number one cause of injuries, disability claims and
medical costs in construction are soft tissue injuries-strains, sprains and chronic
injuries. These are a result of lifting with the back instead of using the legs and
not using panel lifters when carrying sheets of drywall, plywood, or siding.
9. Vehicle Accidents - Forklift accidents are responsible for workers' deaths each
year. A common accident occurs when turning or maneuvering the forklift with
the load raised. Another dangerous construction site vehicle is the dump truck.
A frequent accident involves the dump truck backing up and hitting a
pedestrian.
6. safety Issues at construction sites

 No or Less Commitment on Safety

 Regulation Issues
 Working at Height
 PPE
 Training
 Noise pollution
 Environmental pollution
 No labour rights/ safety protection
 No inspection system
Finish Works
Misuse of Strepladers
Plastering & Masonary Works
The air conditioner installer
The Construction site worker
The Electricien
Equipment InstallationTeam
The Power Cable Installers
The maintenance work
SAFETY REGULATIONS, STANDARDS
AND GUIDELINES
BY

DR. SAJJAD MUBIN

HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

1. Factories Act, 1934 (Pakistan)

2. Health and Safety Act for Construction (2019)
3. CDM Regulation (UK)
4. OSHA Standard (USA)
5. ILO Work Safety Guidelines
Factories Act,
1934, Govt. of
Punjab
1. Factories Act, 1934
• There is no independent legislation on occupational 
safety and health issues in Pakistan. The main law, which
governs these issues, is the Chapter 3 of Factories Act, 1934. ...
The Hazardous Occupations Rules, 1963 under the authority of
Factories Act is another relevant legislation.
1. Factories Act, 1934
• Chapter 3 (Health and Safety)
13. Cleanliness.
14. Disposal of wastes and effluents.
15. Ventilation and temperature.
16. Dust and fume.
17. Artificial humidification.
18. Overcrowding.
19. Lighting.
20. Drinking water.
21. Latrines and urinals.
22. Spittoons
23. Precautions against contagious or
infectious disease.
23-A. Compulsory vaccination and
inoculation.
24. Power to make rules for the
provision of canteens.
24-A. Welfare officer.
25. Precautions in case of fire.
26. Fencing of machinery.
27. Work on or near machinery
in motion.
28. Employment of young
persons on dangerous machines.
29. Striking gear and devices for
cutting off power.
30. Self-acting machines.
31. Casing of new machinery.
32. Prohibition of employment
of women and children near
cotton openers.
1. Factories Act, 1934
• Chapter 3 (Health and Safety)
33. Cranes and other lifting
machinery.
33-A. Hoists and lifts.
33-B. Revolving machinery.
33-C. Pressure plant.
33-D. Floors, stairs and means of
access.
33-E. Pits, sumps, opening in floors,
etc.
33-F. Excessive weights.
33-G. Protection of eyes.
33-H. Power to require specifications
of defective parts or tests of stability.
33-I. Safety of building, machinery
and manufacturing process.
33-J. Power to make rules to
supplement this Chapter.
33-K. Precautions against
dangerous fumes.
33-L. Explosive or inflammable
dust, gas, etc.
33.M. Power to exclude children.
33-N. Notice of certain accidents.
33-P. Appeals.
33-Q. Additional power to make
health and safety rules relating to
shelters during rest.
THE PUNJAB OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT,
2019

PASSED BY THE PUNJAB ASSEMBLY ON

25TH JAN 2019
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Short Title, Extent & Commencement
2. Definitions
3. Duties of Employers
4. Duties of Employees
5. Duties of Self-employed & Employer to
Persons other than their Employees
6. Duties of Persons in Control of Certain
Premises to Persons Other than their
Employees
7. Duties of Manufacturers Regarding
Articles and Substances
8. Safety & Health
9. Written Statement of Policy
10. Consultation
11. Precautions against Contagious,
Occupational or Infectious Disease at
Workplaces
12. Registration of Workplaces & Approval of
Sites, Buildings & Other Constructions to
Be used as Workplaces
13. Notification & Investigation of Accident,
Dangerous Occurrences & Occupational
Illness
14. Establishment of Occupational Safety &
Health Council
15. Function & Power of The Council
16. Appointment & Qualification of Chief
Inspector & Inspector
17. Assistance by Other Agencies
18. Discloser of Information
19. Offences & Penalties
20. Cognizance of Offence
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
21. Trial of Offence
22. Appeal
23. Indemnity
24. Display at Establishment
25. Limitation of Records
26. Contracting Out
27. Collection of Statistics
28. Transition
29. Power To Make Rules
30. Provisions of this Act To Be Addition To
& Not In Derogation of Certain Laws
31. Limitation
32. Removal of Difficulties
 CONSTRUCTION
(DESIGN AND
MANAGEMENT)
(CDM) REGULATION,
UNITED KINGDOM
2. CONSTRUCTION DESIGN AND
MANAGEMENT (CDM) regulation, 2015

The Construction (Design and Management)

Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) cover the
management of health, safety and welfare
when carrying out construction projects. ...
sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are
managed from start to finish.
Soft Copy of CDM
2. CDM regulation
 Aim to eliminate risk & hazards during construction,
maintenance and demolition through careful
planning , design, construction, maintenance and
demolition .
 Key role under CDM Regulations
 Client’s Responsibilities under CDM Regulation
 Designer’s Responsibilities under CDM Regulation
 Principal Contractor’s Responsibilities under CDM
Regulation
 Health and Safety File required by CDM Regulation
 Training under CDM Regulations
CDM regulation
i. Client’s Responsibilities under CDM Regulation
• The client has to appoint a planning supervisor and name the principal
contractor and designers. (Regulation 6, 8 and 9).
• The Client must provide the planning supervisor with any relevant
information (Regulation 11) and ensure that information in any health and
safety file delivered to is kept available for inspection by person needing to
comply therewith (Regulation 12). T
• he planning supervisor and principal contractor can be the same person, or
the client himself can act as either or both (Regulation 6(6)).
• The planning supervisor has to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
of the intended project (Regulation 7) and ensure that a health and safety
plan is prepared in respect of the project (Regulation 15(1)). He has to
ensure that the designers have the competence and adequacy of resources
of designers and contractors (Regulation 14(c)).
• He ensure that a health and relevant safety information is kept up to date
(Regulation 14(e)). He must ensure that the file is delivered to the client on
completion of the construction (Regulation 14(f)).
CDM regulation
ii. Designer’s Responsibilities under CDM Regulation
• The designers have to ensure that any design includes among the
design considerations adequate regard to the need (i) to avoid
foreseeable risks’ to health and safety; (ii) to combat at source (such)
risks’; (iii) to give priority to measures which will protect all persons
carrying out construction work or cleaning work at any time and all
persons who may be affected by the work of such persons
(Regulation 13(2)(a)).
• Designers must also ensure that the structure or materials (including
articles or substances) which might affect the health or safety of any
person (Regulation 13(2)(b)). The foregoing requirements are to be
met to the extent that it is reasonable to expect the designer to
address them at the time the design is prepared and the extent that
is otherwise reasonably practicable to do so (Regulation 13(3)).
CDM regulation
iii. Principal Contractor’s Responsibilities under CDM
Regulation
• The Principal contractor is required to comply with the health and
safety plan and augment its provisions as necessary during
construction (Regulations 15(4) and 16(1)(e)).
• He has to co-ordinate the activities of all other contractors and sub-
contractors on the site and see that they comply with the health
and safety plan (Regulation 16 and 17).
• He must permit employees and self-employed persons to discuss
and advise him on health or safety matters (Regulation 18).
• All contractors must comply with rules in the health and safety plan,
and client and self-employed persons must be informed of the
contents of the plan or such part of it as is relevant to their work
(Regulation 19).
This material was developed by Compacion Foundation Inc and The Hispanic Contractors Association de Tejas under Susan Harwood Grant Number
SH-20-843-SH0 Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsements by the U.S. Government.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established in
1971. Since then, OSHA and state partners, coupled with the efforts of
employers, safety and health professionals, unions and advocates, have
had a dramatic effect on workplace safety. Fatality and injury rates have
dropped markedly. Although accurate statistics were not kept at the time,
it is estimated that in 1970 around 14,000 workers were killed on the job.
That number fell to approximately 4,340 in 2009. At the same time, U.S.
employment has almost doubled and now includes over 130 million
workers at more than 7.2 million worksites. Since the passage of the OSH
Act, the rate of reported serious workplace injuries and illnesses has
declined from 11 per 100 workers in 1972 to 3.6 per 100 workers in 2009.
OSHA safety and health standards, including those for trenching,
machine guarding, asbestos, benzene, lead, and bloodborne pathogens
have prevented countless work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. This
timeline highlights key milestones in occupational safety and health
history since the creation of OSHA.
Significant hazards and unsafe conditions still exist in U.S.
workplaces; each year more than 3.3 million working men and
women suffer a serious job-related injury or illness. Millions more
are exposed to toxic chemicals that may cause illnesses years
from now. In addition to the direct impact on individual workers,
the negative consequences for America’s economy are
substantial. Latently in 2022, Occupational injuries and illnesses
cost American employers more than $53 billion a year – over $1
billion a week – in workers’ compensation costs alone. Indirect
costs to employers, including lost productivity, employee training
and replacement costs, and time for investigations following
injuries can more than double these costs. Workers and their
families suffer great emotional and psychological costs, in
addition to the loss of wages and the costs of caring for the
injured, which further weakens the economy.
CB103 OSHA Standards
OSHA Standards
OSHA’s Construction, General Industry, Maritime and Agriculture
standards protect workers from a wide range of serious hazards.
Examples of OSHA standards include requirements for employers to:
• provide fall protection;
• prevent trenching cave-ins;
• prevent exposure to some infectious diseases;
• ensure the safety of workers who enter confined spaces;
• prevent exposure to harmful chemicals;
• put guards on dangerous machines;
• provide respirators or other safety equipment; and
• provide training for certain dangerous jobs in a language and
vocabulary workers can understand.
Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the
OSH Act. This clause requires employers to keep their workplaces
free of serious recognized hazards and is generally cited when no
specific OSHA standard applies to the hazard.
 Rights and Responsibilities under OSHA Law
Employer’s responsibility
• Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe workplace.
Employers MUST provide their workers with a workplace that
does not have serious hazards and must follow all OSHA
safety and health standards.
• Employers must find and correct safety and health problems.
• OSHA further requires that employers must first try to
eliminate or reduce hazards by making feasible changes in
working conditions rather than relying on personal protective
equipment such as masks, gloves, or earplugs. Switching to
safer chemicals, enclosing processes to trap harmful fumes, or
using ventilation systems to clean the air are examples of
effective ways to eliminate or reduce risks.
Employer’s responsibility
• Prominently display the official OSHA Job Safety and Health –
It’s the Law poster that describes rights and responsibilities
under the OSH Act. This poster is free and can be downloaded
from www.osha.gov.
• Inform workers about chemical hazards through training, labels,
alarms, color-coded systems, chemical information sheets and
other methods.
• Provide safety training to workers in a language and vocabulary
they can understand.
• Keep accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
• Perform tests in the workplace, such as air sampling, required by
some OSHA standards.
Employer’s responsibility
• Provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to
workers.*
• Provide hearing exams or other medical tests required by OSHA
standards.
• Notify OSHA within 8 hours of a workplace fatality or within 24
hours of any work-related inpatient hospitalization, amputation
or loss of an eye (1-800-321-OSHA [6742]).
• Not retaliate against workers for using their rights under the law,
including their right to report a work-related injury or illness.
• * Employers must pay for most types of required personal protective equipment. Under
OSHA law, workers are entitled to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious
harm.
Workers have the right to:
• File a confidential complaint with OSHA to have their workplace
inspected.
• Receive information and training about hazards, methods to
prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to their
workplace. The training must be done in a language and
vocabulary workers can understand.
• Receive copies of records of work-related injuries and illnesses
that occur in their workplace.
• Receive copies of the results from tests and monitoring done to
find and measure hazards in their workplace.
• Receive copies of their workplace medical records.
 Workers have the right to:

• Participate in an OSHA inspection and speak in private with the

inspector.
• File a complaint with OSHA if they have been retaliated against
by their employer as the result of requesting an inspection or
using any of their other rights under the OSH Act.
• File a complaint if punished or retaliated against for acting as a
“whistleblower” under the 21 additional federal laws for which
OSHA has jurisdiction.
• For more information, visit OSHA’s Workers’ Rights page at
www.osha.gov/workers.
Workers have the right to:
Enforcement plays an important part in OSHA’s efforts to reduce
workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. When OSHA finds
employers who fail to uphold their safety and health
responsibilities, the agency takes strong, decisive actions.
Inspections are initiated without advance notice, conducted
using on-site or telephone and facsimile investigations,
performed by highly trained compliance officers and scheduled
based on the following priorities:
• Imminent danger;
• Catastrophes – fatalities or hospitalizations; ALL ABOUT OSHA 15
• Worker complaints and referrals;
• Targeted inspections – particular hazards, high injury rates; and
• Follow-up inspections.
Enforcement of OSHA Standards
Current workers or their representatives may file a written
complaint and ask OSHA to inspect their workplace if they
believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not
following OSHA standards. Workers and their representatives
have the right to ask for an inspection without OSHA telling
their employer who filed the complaint. It is a violation of the
OSH Act for an employer to fire, demote, transfer or in any way
retaliate against a worker for filing a complaint or using other
OSHA rights.
 Code of Federal Regulations
 CFR
• Codification of rules

• Published in Federal Register

• Divided 50 titles

• Updated once each year

• Titles divided in Chapters

• Chapters divided in Parts

• Parts are organized in

sections
CB103 OSHA Standards
29 CFR 1926
• United State Code Title 29
• Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR)
• Part 1904 Injury Illness
Recordkeeping
• Part 1910 General Industry,
Part 1926 Construction
• 1926 Subpart- A General

• 1926 Subpart- B General Interpretation

• 1926 Subpart- C General Safety and Health

Provisions

• 1926 Subpart- D Occupational Health and

Environment Controls

• 1926 Subpart- E Personal Protective and Life

Saving Equipment
 Subpart of CFR 1926
• 1926 Subpart- F Fire Protection and Prevention

• 1926 Subpart - G Signs, Signals and Barricades

• 1926 Subpart- H Material Handling,

Storage, Use and Disposal

• 1926 Subpart- I Tools- Hand

and Power

• 1926 Subpart - J Welding and

Cutting

CB103 OSHA Standards

 Subpart of CFR 1926
• 1926 Subpart- K Electrical

• 1926 Subpart - L Scaffolds

• 1926 Subpart- M Fall Protection

• 1926Subpart - N Cranes, Derricks, Hoists,

Elevators and Conveyors

• 1926 Subpart- O Motor Vehicles

Mechanized Equipment, and
Marine Operations

CB103 OSHA Standards

 Subpart of CFR 1926
• 1926 Subpart- P Excavation

• 1926 Subpart - Q Concrete and Masonry Construction

• 1926 Subpart- R Steel Erection

• 1926 Subpart- S Under Ground Construction,

Caissons, Cofferdams, and Compressed Air

• 1926 Subpart- T Demolition

CB103 OSHA Standards

 Subpart of CFR 1926
 1926 Subpart- U Blasting and the use of
Explosives
 1926 Subpart - V Power Transmission
and Distribution
 1926 Subpart- W Rollover Protection
Structures; Overhead Protection
 1926 Subpart- X Stairways & Ladders
 1926 Subpart- Y Commercial Diving
Operations
 1926 Subpart- Z Toxic and Hazardous
Substances

CB103 OSHA Standards

Safety and Health in Construction
(ILO)
Thank you