CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

Measuring and scope of safety safety in construction 

Safety measures 

1. Before you operate a machine, ensure that the dangerous part of the machine has been installed with a guard.

2. avoid going to any area insufficient lighting as there may be some dangerous places which have not been provided with fencing.

3. keep vigilant all the time and watch out for moving cranes, hooks or other lifting equipment. Before you use any electrical installation or tool, check the condition of its electric cables.

4. avoid dragging electric cables on the ground or allowing the cables to come into contact with water. Use electrical tools installed with an earth leakage circuit breaker.

5. use and handle chemicals with care.

Personal safety 

1. Wear protective equipment. Do not drink or drugs while working.

2. pay attention to personal hygiene. Do not play in the workplace.

3. Report to your supervisor immediately if you notice any unsafe condition.

Tidy up construction sites 

1. Keep passage clear all the time.

2. sort out materials and pile them up safely.

3. beware of floor openings and ensure that they are fenced or covered.

4. remove refuse as soon as possible.

5. provide sufficient light.

6. familiarize with the location and the operation of fire fighting equipment.

Scope of safety management in construction

Identification of workplace risk when planning work and implementation of appropriate controls to avoid personal injury and property damage. Monitoring of work to provide early detection and correction of unsafe practices and conditions.

Basic Philosophy

Vision: be a respected, leading regional infrastructure contractor.

mission: to form partnerships resulting in innovative, cost effective, and quality construction, exceeding our customers expectations in a safe environment.

core values: at (company name), we have maintained our reputation as a trusted, high skilled and reliable partner in serving our local communities for more than 30 years. We achieved this by staying true to the core values.

safety: creating a safe and productive work environment is priority. And never compromise safety.

Integrity: doing what they say we'll do every time honestly and reliably is the only way we operate.

Quality: Our team is challenged every day and every shift to do our best according to the required processes, procedures, and costomer requirements.

Teamwork: provide high quality training program, benefits, and growth opportunities so our team can experience long, fulfilling careers is a cornerstone of our success.

Site planning and layout

Site layout planning involves four basic processes:

1. Identifying the site facilities that will be required.

2. Determining the sizes, and other constraints of those facilities.

3. Establishing the inter-relationships between the facilities.

4. Optimizing the layout of the facilities on the site.

Pre work planning 

1) A health & safety plan. An OH&S policy displayed. An accident report book

2) Induction training records. Workplace inspection records

3) Documented safe working procedures or method statements

4) Protective clothing & equipment records

5) Material safety data sheets (MSDS) available. Health & safety system manual

6) Health and safety representatives appointed including management safety representative. Contract specific risk assessment conducted.

7) Emergency procedures and necessary training records for small worksites or construction projects, look for the dangers on site (not as a substitute for a full risk assessment) and take the following preventive actions:

8) Ensure that dangerous substances on site are being properly stored and used

9) Provide and ensure that all persons on site wear proper personal protection equipment

10) Identify ways that a risk can be controlled without using PPE 

11) Ensure that workers are using the right and fit PPE for the job.

12) Check all plant, machinery and equipment are marked and correctly labeled,

13) Fence the site against unauthorized entry

14) Take measures to prevent objects from falling from members of the public (such as persons passing by the site) Provide and keep safe egress and access to the place 

15) Put up appropriate signs including traffic routes, authorized personnel only etc.

16) Keep the site tidy, well lit and well laid out

17) Provide sufficient welfare and first aid facilities

18) Provide adequate fire precautions such as fire extinguishers, escape routes 

19) Ensure that existing power lines (buried or overhead) are identified and associated safe systems of work in place Take necessary precaution

20) Ensure that electrical systems are well maintained in a safe condition 

21) Ensure that vehicles and people are kept apart, especially slewing vehicles, with traffic

22) Ensure that vehicle and plant operators are suitably trained or licensed if required

23) Ensure that hoists and lifting appliances are properly installed

24) Ensure that scaffolds are erected, altered and dismantled by competent people only

25) Take measures to stop workers from falling and ensure fall protection

26) Take all measures to reduce exposure to noise and vibration

27) Ensure that holes are protected, with clear marking and fixed covers to prevent falls.

Site layout plans might include locations for and sizes of:

1) Zones for particular activities.

2) Site offices. Welfare facilities. 

3) Off-loading, temporary storage and storage areas (laydown area)

4) Sub-contractor facilities. Car parking. Emergency routes and muster points.

5) Access, entrances, security and access temporary roads and separate pedestrian routes.

6) Vehicle wheel washing facilities. Waste management and recycling areas.

7) Site hoardings and existing boundaries.

8) Protection for trees, existing buildings, neighboring buildings, and so on.

9) Signage. Temporary services. Temporary works. 

10) Areas for the construction of mock-ups for testing. Fabrication facilities.

Problems caused by poor site layout planning can include:

1) Inappropriate storage which can result in damage to products and materials.

2) Poor siting of plant.

3) Poor siting of welfare facilities.

4) Inadequate space provision.

5) Unsatisfactory access.

6) Security and safety issues. Poor way finding (due to complex layouts or inadequate signage). Demoralized workers, delays and increased costs.

Safe Access

Providing a safe place of work and a safe means of access and egress within all parts with of the workplace.

1) Access to and Egress from the workplace..Routes through working areas 

2) Accessibility of storage areas. Temporary arrangements for access

3) Access to and egress from an individual's workplace

4) Emergency exit routes. Use of access equipment, such as ladders and lofts

5) Limitation of access to hazardous/high security areas

6 ) Access to tower cranes and other mobile structures

 7) External pathways and roadways around the workplace

Safe access provisions required at workplace:

Where practicable, suitable ladders, work platforms and scaffolds meeting the requirements of Ladders, Scaffold and Temporary Work Platforms must be provided for and used by a worker for activities requiring positioning at elevations above a floor or grade.

Potential hazards

1) A restricted, locked or blocked access or egress point could;

2) Prevent workers from existing steel work, buildings, due to a gas release, fire evacuation or other threats to life 

3) Prevent personnel responding to help from entering promptly and safely to an emergency. Creates trip/slip hazards and

4) Causes workers to take unnecessary or unsafe shortcuts to avoid the obstruction

Safe practices

1)Keep all access clear&free of obstructions, cords, leads, hoses & other objects on floor

2)Keep material stored in a stable and organized manner

3)Ensure that access/egress points are well lighted with appropriate exit markings and emergency lighting. Ensure that high standards of housekeeping are maintained

4)Never block access doors, electrical switch gears or emergency response equipment

5)Know where all access/egress points and evacuation routes are

6)Never take shortcuts. Use provided access/egress points to all work areas.

7)Never store flammable liquids or chemicals in or near access/egress routes

8)Extend an access ladder three feet or one meter above the access landing and secure it to prevent movement during use