Construction Safety Management Prepared by: Ahmad Jamshid Sadid https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ahmad_Jamshid_Sadid

Safety in Civil Engineering Works Many industrial accidents occur every year and workers lose their lives in this world. Like other industries, in civil engineering construction industry also accidents occur during the execution of work due to various reasons.

Accident Accident is an unintentional or unexpected happening. An industrial accident may be defined as an event, detrimental to the health of man, suddenly occurring and originating from external sources, and which is associated with the performance of a paid job accompanied by an injury, followed by disability or even death. Hazards is an unsafe condition or activity, that if left uncontrolled can contribute to an accident.

Classification of Accidents in Construction Industry Person falling Uncontrollable contact between men and equipment or men and materials such as cranes, materials of storage etc. Failure of temporary structures such as scaffolds, ramps etc. Unsafe practices of individual workers, hazards resulting from carelessness. Inherent engineering hazards such as use of explosives, presence of injurious gases, toxic dust etc. Failure of excavation, faulty implementation of design, carelessness in supervision.

Normally, 88% injuries are due to personal unsafe act. 10% injuries are due to dangerous physical and mechanical conditions. 2% injuries are due to unavoidable resons.

Causes of construction accidents 2005

Types of hazards Chemical Physical Biological Ergonomic

Examples of chemical hazards found in construction work: Chemicals can exist in the form of dusts, fumes, fibers (solids) liquids, mists gases, vapors Examples of chemical hazards found in construction work: welding fumes spray paints cutting oil mists xylene vapor solvents asbestos lead silica cadmium carbon monoxide

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 structures

Ergonomic Hazards Ergonomic hazards can cause painful and disabling injuries. The following situation may causes these injuries: heavy, frequent, or awkward lifting repetitive tasks awkward grips using excessive force using wrong tools for the job or using tools improperly using improperly maintained tools hand-intensive work

Personal protective clothing and eqiupment (PPE) Eye protection Respiratory protection Ear protection Face protection Head protection Hand protection Foot protection Body protection Fall protection

Economic Aspect of Accident An accident can be very costly to the injured employee. It may bring losses in the form of sacrifice of human life, loss of materials or equipment, injuries to workers, damages to other properties. It results, thus, in increase in the cost of construction and decreases the profit of the contractor.

Definite Costs Associated with Accidents Direct costs of an accident Payment to the worker for the temporary or permanent injury or to his family in case of death. Compensated wages loss of the injured employee. Cost of medical care and hospitalization. Overhead costs

Indirect Cost of an Accident Cost of damages to equipment and material. Cost of loss in production because of accident. Cost of time lost. Cost of replacing injured employee. Influence of accident on the moral of the employee. The survey has as indicated that the indirect costs are four times the direct costs.

Accident Prevention 1. Prevent injuries and premature death of employee. 2. Reduce operating and production costs. 3. High up the moral of employees. 4. Above all as a true humanitarian concern.

Accident prevention does not secure by itself Accident prevention does not secure by itself. There should be consistent implementation of safety measures and safety program emphasizing the need of: Safe work place layout and working conditions. 2. Safe material handling. 3. Personal protective device. 4. Safety activities in the organization.

Example of an accident analysis Accident: Falling off a stepladder The unsafe act: Climbing a defective ladder The unsafe condition: A defective ladder The correction: Replace the ladder Questions: Why was the defective ladder not found during normal inspection? Why did the supervisor allow its use? Didn’t the injured employee know it should not be used? Was the employee properly trained? Was the employee reminded not to use the ladder? Did the supervisor examine the job first? Answers: An improved inspection procedure Improved training A better definition of responsibilities Pre-job planning by supervisors