construction safety management, basics and planning

1 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANAGEMENT, BASICS AND APPLICATION

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Index:

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Principle one: definition of hazard……………………………………………………………………………. 4

Principle two: the standard of care…………………………………………………………………………… 4

Principle three: categories of hazards……………………………………………………………………….. 5

Principle four: the safe design hierarchy…………………………………………………………………… 7

Principle five: Controlling the hazard………………………………………………………………………… 8

Construction safety organizations………………………………………………………………………………9

OSHA Standards for safe construction………………………………………………………………………. 9

Cost of injury…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22

Components of safety plan……………………………………………………………………………………… 25


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List of Figures:

Figure 1: scaffolding………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Figure 2: safety nets………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11

Figure 3: correct use of ladders…………………………………………………………………………………. 13

Figure 4: stairways……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 14

Figure 5: trench support……………………………………………………………………………………………. 15

Figure 6: crane hand signals………………………………………………………………………………………. 18

Figure 7: materials safety data sheet……………………………………………………………………….… 19

Figure 8: forklift sign…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 20

Figure 9: head protection………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21

Figure 10: indirect to direct cost ratio……………………………………………………………………….. 22

Figure 11: steps of making safety plan………………………………………………………………………. 26


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Abstract:

Construction has been plagued with serious injuries and deaths for years. Unfortunately

incidents have contributed to excessive loss of lives and damage to property, casting a

pall over the construction industry.

Past efforts in construction safety have usually focused on identifying hazards after

workers arrive at the site and tailoring worker behavior in an attempt to avoid injury.

Recently new concepts have heralded a change of direction in the industry.

This study gives a brief practical guide to the basics of early hazards identification to

create a safer, more efficient, construction project from planning to completion

You will also find an approach to identifying the cost of injury and impact of injury on

profitability

Introduction:

Construction planners are increasingly looking upstream to remove or control hazards at

their source.

Identifying and combating the source of hazards through the concept of ‘’inherently safe

design’’ increases the safety of a project before the workers arrive at the job site by

preventing hazards before they cause injury.

The idea of inherently safe design is quickly gaining momentum to change the very nature

of the construction industry.


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Principle one: definition of a hazard

A hazard is an unsafe physical condition that is always on one of three modes:

Dormant/ latent (unable to cause harm), armed (can cause harm), active (causing

injury or death)

Principle two: the standard of care

In order to be effective, safety must be converted into a powerful design priority and

overriding planning concern. To avoid the hazard, it must rely primarily on the physical

elimination of each hazard, rather than upon human performance, which is variable and

cannot be programmed.

Performance standard:

“Any hazard that has the potential for serious injury or death is always unreasonable and

always unacceptable if reasonable design features or the use of safety appliances are

available to prevent the hazard”

The key to successful safety engineering is to identify and design out as many hazards as

possible.


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Principle three: categories of hazards

The third step in hazard identification is to determine into which of the seven following

categories the source of hazard can be placed.

Hazard sources:

1- Natural environment:

a) Gravity (falling from elevation, falling objects, impact……..)

b) Slopes (upset, roll over, sliding………)

c) Water (floating, sinking, drowning, tides, floods…….)

d) Atmosphere (humidity, wind, visibility………)

e) Limitations on human performance (fatigue, error, distraction, anthropometric,

ergonomic …….).

2- Structural/ mechanical:

a) Surfaces (lack of traction, instability, protruding obstacles, steps, ladders ……)

b) Lever

c) Rotation (wheels, gears, pulley, screw, friction …….)

d) Compression (shearing, puncture, structural failure, ejected fragments ……..)

e) Causes of vibrations (noise, dislocation, parts failure ……..)

f) Metal fatigue

g) Hydraulic forces (liquid jet, over pressure ……)

h) Confined place

I) Waste disposal

Electrical:


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a) High voltage (shock, burn, death)

b) Spark/ arcs

c) Bad circuits

Chemical:

a) Combustion/ fire

b) Corrosion

c) Toxic substance

Radiant energy:

a) Sound

b) Heat

c) Radio frequency

d) Light (ultraviolet, infrared)

Biological:

a) Allergens (mold, pollen …….)

b) Infectious agents (bacteria, virus, fungi ………)

c) Agents known to cause disease to humans

d) Conditions that produce sustained mental or physical stress in humans

Automated systems/ artificial intelligence:

a) Program error

b) Technical malfunction


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Principle four: the safe design hierarchy to physically control hazards:

The following hierarchy of engineering control has become the accepted sequence for

evaluating design to best prevent hazards:

1- Elimination of the hazard

2- Guarding to prevent the hazard from causing harm

3- Including safety factors to minimize the hazard (decreasing the max allowable load on

the elevator for example than the designed max load by 20%)

4- Including redundancy for a group of parallel safeguards to require them all to be

breached before a harm causing failure mode occurs.

Redundancy: encompasses a series of safe guards, each of which must fail before the

system experience actual failure mode

5- Using reliability to mathematically calculate the qualitative numerical probability of

eliminating or minimizing a harm causing failure mode.

Reliability: numerical confidence rating, such as a failure mode that may fail 1 time in

1000 cycle its reliability rating then is 99.9%, reliability is the judgment to quantify a

system’s ability to succeed and is not a method of control.


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Principle five: control the hazard with the appropriate design improvement or appliance

Creating a matrix:

Use of hazard identification and prevention matrix, shown in below, can be a useful

approach to a design and construction planning guide.

This matrix is an innovative tool for engineers to quickly chart each hazard, define

necessary safety engineering, and arrive at a reliability evaluation. The horizontal

categories at the top list safety controls and provide space to note specific hazards and

prevention measures. The seven vertical categories list likely hazard types, how they can

be made inherently safe can then be listed to the right of each.

The matrix allows the design engineer and construction manager to graphically identify

the hazards and focus on the necessary design features or appliances that prevent the

hazard from becoming armed or active.

Table 1

Eliminate the hazard

Guard the hazard

Provide a safety factor

Provide redundancy

Provide reliability

hazard safety hazard safety hazard safety hazard safety hazard safety

Natural

Structural/ mechanical

Electrical

Chemical

Radiant energy

Biological

Artificial intelligence


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Construction safety organizations:

There’s more than an organization that is concerned with construction safety which

provide codes and standards about safety, the most globally known organizations are the

OSHA (occupational safety & health administration) and the NIOSA (national institute

for occupational safety and health).

This study will be focused on the OSHA standards for safe construction.

The OSHA standards for safe construction:

Scaffolding:

Hazard:

When scaffolds are not erected or used properly, fall hazards can occur. About 2.3 million construction workers frequently work on scaffolds. Protecting these workers from scaffold-related accidents would prevent an estimated 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities each year. Solutions:

Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. It must be erected on solid footing.

Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks or concrete blocks must not be used to support scaffolds or planks.

Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of a competent person.

Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails, midrails and toeboards. Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs or ladders

that are damaged or weakened from any cause must be immediately repaired or replaced.

Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent.


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A "competent person" must inspect the scaffolding and, at designated intervals, reinspect it.

Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity to ensure that all connections are tight and that no damage to the rigging has occurred since its last use.

Synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from heat-producing sources.

Employees must be instructed about the hazards of using diagonal braces as fall protection.

Scaffold can be accessed by using ladders and stairwells. Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from electric power lines at all times.

Figure 1 scaffolding


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Fall Protection:

Hazard:

Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry. A number of factors are often involved in falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse or failure to use fall protection equipment and human error. Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers and restraint systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls. Solutions:

Consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated working surfaces;

Erect guardrail systems with toe boards and warning lines or install control line systems to protect workers near the edges of floors and roofs;

Cover floor holes; and/or Use safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems (body harnesses).

Figure 2 safety nets


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Ladders:

Hazard:

Ladders and stairways are another source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls on stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries were serious enough to require time off the job. Solutions:

Use the correct ladder for the task. Have a competent person visually inspect a ladder before use for any

defects such as: Structural damage, split/bent side rails, broken or missing

rungs/steps/cleats and missing or damaged safety devices; Grease, dirt or other contaminants that could cause slips or falls; Paint or stickers (except warning labels) that could hide possible

defects. Make sure that ladders are long enough to safely reach the work area. Mark or tag ("Do Not Use") damaged or defective ladders for repair or

replacement, or destroy them immediately. Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended load or beyond the

manufacturer's rated capacity. Be sure the load rating can support the weight of the user, including

materials and tools. Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and

overhead power lines.


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Figure 3 correct use of ladders


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Stairways

Hazard:

Slips, trips and falls on stairways are a major source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. Solutions:

Stairway treads and walkways must be free of dangerous objects, debris and materials.

Slippery conditions on stairways and walkways must be corrected immediately.

Make sure that treads cover the entire step and landing. Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches must

have at least one handrail.

Figure 4 stairways


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Trenching:

Hazard:

Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year. Trenching deaths rose in 2003. Solutions:

Never enter an unprotected trench. Always use a protective system for trenches feet deep or greater. Employ a registered professional engineer to design a protective system for

trenches 20 feet deep or greater. Protective Systems:

Sloping to protect workers by cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation not steeper than a height/depth ratio of 11 2 :1, according to the sloping requirements for the type of soil.

Shoring to protect workers by installing supports to prevent soil movement for trenches that do not exceed 20 feet in depth.

Shielding to protect workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins.

Always provide a way to exit a trench--such as a ladder, stairway or ramp--no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees in the trench.

Keep spoils at least two feet back from the edge of a trench. Make sure that trenches are inspected by a competent person prior to

entry and after any hazard-increasing event such as a rainstorm, vibrations or excessive surcharge loads.

Figure 5 trench support


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SLOPING:

Maximum allowable slopes for excavations less than 20 ft. (6.09 m) based on soil type and angle to the horizontal are as follows:

Table 2 ALLOWABLE SLOPES

Soil type Height/Depth ratio Slope angle

Stable Rock (granite or sandstone)

Vertical 90º

Type A (clay)

3/4 :1 53º

Type B (gravel, silt)

1:1 45º

Type C (sand)

11/ 2:1 34º

Type A (short-term) (For a maximum excavation depth of 12 ft.)

1/ 2:1 63º


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Cranes:

Hazard:

Significant and serious injuries may occur if cranes are not inspected before use and if they are not used properly. Often these injuries occur when a worker is struck by an overhead load or caught within the crane's swing radius. Many crane fatalities occur when the boom of a crane or its load line contact an overhead power line. Solutions:

Check all crane controls to insure proper operation before use. Inspect wire rope, chains and hook for any damage. Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift. Ensure that the load does not exceed the crane's rated capacity. Raise the load a few inches to verify balance and the effectiveness of the

brake system. Check all rigging prior to use; do not wrap hoist ropes or chains around the

load. Fully extend outriggers. Do not move a load over workers. Barricade accessible areas within the crane's swing radius. Watch for overhead electrical distribution and transmission lines and

maintain a safe working clearance of at least 10 feet from energized electrical lines.


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Figure 6 crane hand signals

Hazard Communication

Hazard:

Failure to recognize the hazards associated with chemicals can cause chemical burns, respiratory problems, fires and explosions.


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Solutions:

Maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical in the facility.

Make this information accessible to employees at all times in a language or formats that are clearly understood by all affected personnel.

Train employees on how to read and use the MSDS. Follow manufacturer's MSDS instructions for handling hazardous chemicals. Train employees about the risks of each hazardous chemical being used. Provide spill clean-up kits in areas where chemicals are stored. Have a written spill control plan. Train employees to clean up spills, protect themselves and properly dispose

of used materials. Provide proper personal protective equipment and enforce its use. Store chemicals safely and securely.

Figure 7 material safety data sheet


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Forklifts:

Hazard:

Approximately 100 employees are fatally injured and approximately 95,000 employees are injured every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of these fatalities. Solutions:

Train and certify all operators to ensure that they operate forklifts safely. Do not allow any employee under 18 years old to operate a forklift. Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires. Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe

operation of the forklift without written approval from the forklift's manufacturer.

Examine forklift truck for defects before using. Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and

stacking loads. Drive safely--never exceed 5 mph and slow down in congested or slippery

surface areas. Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay. Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial

truck. Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service. Operators shall always wear seatbelts. Avoid traveling with elevated loads. Assure that rollover protective structure is in place. Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above

the surrounding noise level.

Figure 8 fork lift caution sign


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Head Protection

Hazard:

Serious head injuries can result from blows to the head. Solution:

Be sure that workers wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to their heads from fixed objects, or accidental head contact with electrical hazards.

Figure 9 head protection


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Cost of injury:

Accidents are more expensive than most people realize, one study estimated that a good

safety and health program can save $4 to $6 for every $1 invested. That's because injuries

and illnesses decline. Workers' compensation costs go down. Medical costs decrease.

There are other, less quantifiable benefits as well-reduced absenteeism, lower turnover,

higher productivity and increased morale.

There are direct and indirect costs related to all accidents.

The direct costs of an injury are the easiest to see and understand. These costs include

emergency room and doctor visits, medical bills, medicines, and rehabilitation.

Indirect costs of an injury are often overlooked, Indirect costs include administrative time

dealing with the injury and medical care, raises in insurance costs, replacing the hours lost of

the injured employee with hiring another employee, loss of reputation and confidence in

employees and clients, unwanted media attention, and more.

Studies show that the ratio of indirect costs to direct costs varies widely, from a high of 20:1

to a low of 1:1. OSHA's approach is shown here and says that the lower the direct costs of an

accident, the higher the ratio of indirect to direct costs.

Figure 10 Osha's ratio of indirect to direct cost


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Estimating the Impact of Accidents on Your Profits and Sales

To calculate the direct cost, enter the following information:

Total value of the insurance claim for an injury or illness

$______________

(Medical costs and indemnity payments)

To calculate the indirect cost of this injury or illness, multiply the direct cost by a

cost multiplier. The cost multiplier that you use will depend on the size of the

direct cost.

If your direct cost is: Use this cost multiplier:

$0 - $2,999 4.5

$3,000 - $4,999 1.6

$5,000 - $9,999 1.2

$10,000 or more 1.1

• Direct Cost x Cost Multiplier = Indirect Cost

$

$

$

Total cost:

• Direct Cost + Indirect Cost = Total Cost

$

$

$


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IMPACT ON YOUR PROFITABILITY:

To calculate an accident's impact on your profitability, you will use your profit

margin to determine the sales your company would need to generate to pay for

this injury or illness.

Divide your total profits by total sales to get your profit margin

Total profits

Total sales =

Profit

Margin

Divide the total cost of an injury or illness by your profit margin to

determine how many sales your companies must generate to pay for the

injury or illness. Keep the profit margin in decimal form

Total Cost of

Injury or Illness

Profit Margin

= Sales Required to Pay for Injury or Illness

$ = $

$

$

=


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Safety plan:

Components of a safety plan:

An effective safety plan must at least contain the following information:

- Address of the construction work site

- Main contractor and all sub contractors full name

- Date you expect to start and the duration of the project

- A description of all risks to be managed by the company/ contractor

- What control measures will put in place to manage these risks?

- How you plan to implement these control measures

- How these control measures will be reviewed and controlled

- Emergency procedure to be undertaken

- How you plan to guarantee the safety of the public

Steps of making effective safety plan:

The chart below shows detailed procedure to be undertaken to make an effective safety

plan


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Figure 11 shows steps of making safety plan


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construction safety management, basics and planning

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