national building code and construction health and safety in nigeria
TRANSCRIPT
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INTRODUCTION
WHAT ARE BUILDING CODES
According to Microsoft learning essentials (Encarta 2008), Building codes, are
municipal and state laws regulating the construction of buildings and prescribing
minimum requirements for fire protection, sanitation, and safety. Such laws are
intended primarily to set standards for new construction but also to prevent the
continued use of buildings deficient in these respects. Often attacked as
confiscatory, these laws have been held by the courts to be within the police power
of the state.
The advent of building codes could be traced as far back as 1790 B.C. when the
code of HAMMURABI came into existence. The code stressed the point of that
the safety of the occupants should be put into consideration during the construction
of such building otherwise, heavy penalties awaits the builder of such a building if
the building eventually collapse.
The code of HAMMURABI states as follows: if a man builds for another and the
building collapse and kills the owner, the builder will be put to death. If the
building kills the son of the owner, the son of the builder will be put to death. If the
building destroys the property of the owner, the builder will replace the damaged
property.
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THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE IN NIGERIA
The National Building Code is a document that was signed into law in 2007 by the
civilian regime of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo after a series of building collapse in
Nigeria especially in Lagos. The government as at that time felt that there was need
to put a stop to the incessant collapse and also, to eventually to put Nigeria into a
more planned status. This reason gave bought about the advent of the National
building code.
GENERAL CONTENT
The National Building Code has 4 Parts and 14 sections
Part 1
This part contains 3 sections and deals with the administration.
Section 1 Citation
Section 2 Definitions
Section 3 Administration by committee
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Part 2
This part deals with the technicality in the building process in the following
sections
Section 4 Building typology
Section 5 The construction process by elemental classification
Section 6 Environmental requirements
Section 7,8,9 The professionals and their responsibilities
Section 10 The building materials and their components
Section 11 Construction
Section 12 Post construction technology requirements
Part 3
This part deals with the enforcement of the code
Section 13 Control of building works.
Part 4
This part contains schedules and references
Section 14 Referenced standards
And on the final note contains the compliance form.
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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION
Health as defined by Longman’s Dictionary of Contemporary English is a state of
being well in body and mind and free from disease while Safety is described by the
same dictionary as a condition of being free from danger, harm or risk. Bokinni
(2006) on the other hand describe Safety as a control of recognized hazards to
attain an acceptable level of risk.
Naturally, the effect of construction on Safety, Health and the surrounding
environment would vary from particular operations starting with extraction of
building materials from quarries and methods by which the extraction is occurring,
transportation, preparation of building materials at site and construction of works
processes.
Health and Safety in Building construction projects should be a major concern for
everybody in the construction industry but it is a pity that it in this part of the world
especially in Nigeria, enough attention is not been given to the issue.
In the Civil and building construction works which involve excavation, and/or
demolition, concrete work, painting, roofing, operation of machines, plant and
equipment, use of hand tools and many other operations call for attention from
relevant authorities, regulatory bodies, societies, scientists, professionals and
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businessmen to establish safety and health management programs and laws
governing construction works activities.
Health and Safety is an inevitable aspect of construction and this is so because the
only time an employee will perform his duties is when the employee is in good
health and is sure of a safety working condition. This boils to the fact that a worker
will perform his duties to the fullest only when he is sure that even when an
accident occurs he will be taken good care of.
One of the most important things that an employer should provide to his employees
is safety even at a low risk site.
At sites where heavy machinery is being used; it is certain that the level is higher
because of the mechanical movement of parts of such machinery and therefore for
the employee that will be monitoring or operating such machinery will be exposed
to accidents. In a case like this, it should be known that the level of safety that will
be provided will be much more than that of a site where ordinary hand tools are
been used.
Based on the above, we now understand that the level of Safety and Health
protection will be higher nowadays because of the rapid mechanization of the
construction industry and the accidents that may occur will definitely be more
fatal.
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ACCIDENTS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE
Accidents are some unpleasant and damaging happenings or occurrence that
happens unexpectedly or by chance or by mistake. (Longman’s Dictionary of
Contemporary English). Encarta Dictionary also state that accidents are mishap
which are unplanned and unfortunate events that result into damage, injury or upset
of some kind.
Accidents on construction sites cannot be over emphasized; it could happen as a
result of a mistake or lack of concentration or even natural disaster.
Accidents can occur even when the job to be done is minimal and could be very
disastrous.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
The rationale behind investigation of accidents is to determine the causes of such
with a view of preventing a reoccurrence, gather data for use in any criminal or
civil proceedings, to enable confirm or refuse of a claim or injuries benefit and
paper notifications to be made to enforcing agency.
During the investigation of an accident the following should be answered:
What caused the accident
Who was involved in the accident
When did it occur
Whether the person involved was wearing protective clothing6
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How it could have been prevented
How it will not re-occur
ACCIDENT REPORTING
Reporting or recording accidents should be a day-to-day thing as the work
progresses. On this note, it makes it important for an accident register book to exist
on site in which all types of minor injuries such as bruises, to major accidents like
imputing disability and fatal be recorded.
Death or dangerous injuries should be reported by the quickest means (usually
telephone) and subsequently confirmed in writing as soon as possible. The report
should state the date and time of the occurrence, full name and occupation of the
injured person, the place of the occurrence and a brief description of the
circumstance.
Below is a format an accident record and information it contains:
Full Name:
Occupation:
Nature of injury/condition:
Place of occurrence:
Date and time:
Brief description of circumstances:
Action taken:7
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ACCIDENT CONTROL
When an accident occur , it only shows that something has gone wrong with one or
more process of the job or some elements of carelessness on the part of the workers
or an employer has created an unsafe condition of work. Therefore an employer or
site supervisor should put in place all necessary prevention or control materials and
take control of contributory causes of the accident. The employer or site supervisor
should also know the physical and mental state of the workers to be sure of the
safety level of the site.
In ascertaining a reasonable safety control level, the site supervisor should put into
consideration the following:
1. Supervisor safety analysis
job hazard analysis
enforcement of safety rules
adequate safety knowledge
promotion of employee participation in safety
development of safety working condition
2. Mental condition of worker
3. Physical condition of worker
Other measures of accident control as explained by Bokinni (2006) are highlighted
below:8
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The work environment
1. All floors should be clean, not slippery and free from debris
2. Stairs, gangways and loading bays should be adequately guarded and maintained
3. Adequate illumination for workspace
4. Holes, edges and opening should be adequately protected.
5. Display of standard warning signs where hazard exists
6. Materials and components should be stacked correctly
7. Projecting objects or obstacles should be adequately protected.
Protective clothing
Provision of protective clothing and equipments are as well important. For safety
purpose, workers on a construction site should be adequately protected using the
following clothing or \ and equipments
safety helmets
safety boots
welding shields
vision goggles
waist safety belts for ladders
Industrial gloves.
green welder’s gauntlet
dust mask 9
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Ear defenders. E.t.c
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION SITES.
Occupational Health is the promotion and maintenance of the higher degree of
physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations.
At the construction workplaces the workers are exposed to hazards of occupational
diseases and injuries and the adverse effects of excessively long hours of work.
Machines, plants and other sophisticated construction equipment posse danger to
the operators, who in most cases do not have prior skills for operating such
machines or plants.
Occupational health services should be concerning with the preventive measures
laid down to guide the employers the workers and their representatives on the
requirements for a safe healthy working environment.
A worker should be assigned duties in relation to his physical and mental health
and skills.
Further, employers should have complete control over their employees and
therefore ensure adherence to safety practices.
The company must comply with all provisions of safety and health regulations that
pertain to the construction works itself.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMMES
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Safety program on a project is set by the prime contractor’s project manager who
maps out a program of safety measures commensurate with the size of the project
and the conditions and hazards peculiar to it. (Mwombeki, 2005).
Programs for construction safety as stated by Mwombeki include:
Adequate first aid facilities and trained personnel and Safety committee
comprising of key personnel –supervisors, safety personnel and company
doctor.
Disaster control programs, which should be maintained by the in-charge who
is a qualified personnel.
Crew leaders who hold brief meetings with workers under their supervisor at
least once a week to discuss the safety operation of their crew and workers,
and specific problems (held after the safety committee meeting)
Safety instructions given to all new workers as part their introduction
Special mass safety meetings called by the project engineer (all workers
attend this meeting)
Safety devices designed to prevent injury and accidents during building and
road construction works.
Management and supervisors visit the workers and inspect the works and
participate in the safety programs periodically.
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Evaluation and review of programs as required by changing conditions to
address new problems that may arise.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
According to Bamishile (2004) the programme’s main objectives are listed as
follows
To secure the health, safety and welfare of all those who work or visit the
work site.
To protect persons other than persons listed above against risk to health and
safety arising out of, or in connection with the activities of persons working
on the site.
To control the admission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive
substance.
To control the keeping and use of explosion or highly flammable or
otherwise dangerous substance.
To control the use on site of substance that may be hazardous to health.
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
This a legislative instrument put in place to ensure that at all times , the safest and
healthiest working conditions is provide at a work site using measures of
international standard.
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It also states the responsibilities at the top management to the general to the
general workforce.
SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS OF THE POLICY.
The management will make known all the risk and health hazard as far as
the construction site is concerned.
The management of the firm will ensure a qualitative training of personnel
as regards safety on site.
The construction manager / safety manager will identify the main hazards on
the construction site and set additional rules and regulation.
In the case of accidents, the procedure laid down for accident reporting will
be followed and the result of accident analysis will be available to
management and the health and safety committee.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
This is a committee that ensures a reduced level of risks to health and safety on site
and it comprises of:
1. SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER - Chairman/ Safety manager.13
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2. PROJECT MANAGER – Secretary
3. PROJECT SUPERVISOR – Member
4. SCAFFOLD SUPERVISOR – Member
HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
In order to promote safety awareness on maintenance site, the operators of the site
at all levels should be trained for the safety and health on site. This training
programme is to be arranged at least once every month and must be compulsory
for all site operators. The issues to be treated are listed below;
Causes of accidents
Cost of accidents
Accident preventions
Health and safety regulations
Duties and responsibilities of participants
Emergency procedures
Machine and equipment testing, inspection and maintenance.
TOOLS USED IN HEALTH AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
Health and safety register
Health and safety briefing sessions
Minutes of meeting of health and safety committee.
Dates and names of participants of health and training programme.14
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SOME SECTIONS OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE RELEVANT
TO HEALTH AND SAFETY
Section 7.43.1 states that “The provisions of this section are intended to maintain
or increase the degree of public safety, health, and general welfare in existing
building while permitting repair, alterations, additions, and/or change of use
without requiring full compliance with sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, except
where compliance with other provisions of this code is specifically required in this
chapter.
Section 7.43.2.2 state that “Where the code enforcement officer determines that an
unsafe condition exists, as provided for in section 2.5, such unsafe condition shall
be in accordance to section 2.5.
Section 7.45.1 states that “The evaluation of the building for fire safety purposes
shall be assessed as follows (a) fire safety (b) means of egress and (c) general
safety as defined in sections 12.3.2.1, 12.3.2.2, and 12. 3.2.3.
Section 7.46.3.1 states that “It shall be unlawful to load any structure, temporary
support, scaffolding sidewalk bridge or sidewalk shed or any other device or
construction equipment during the construction or demolition of any building or
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structure in excess of its safe working capacity as provided in section 8 for
allowable loads and working stresses.
Section 7.46.3.2 states that “Whenever any doubt arises as to the structural quality
or strength of scaffolding plank or other construction equipment, such material
shall be replaced, or the code enforcement officer shall require a strength test to
four times the superimposed live load to which the material or structural member is
to be subjected. The member shall sustain the test load without failure.
Section 7.46.4.1 states that “When inspection of any construction operation reveals
that any unsafe or irregular conditions exists, code enforcement officer shall notify
the owner and direct the owner to take necessary remedial measures to remove the
hazard or violation.
Sections 7.46.4.2 states that “Unless the owner so notified proceeds to comply with
the orders of the code enforcement officer within 7 days, the code enforcement
officer shall have full power to correct the usage condition as provided in sections
2.3.6.2 and 2.6. All expenses incurred in the correction of such unsafe condition
shall be a lien on the property.
Section 7.46.4.3 states that “When the strength and adequacy of any scaffolding or
construction equipment is in doubt, or when any complaint is made, the code
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enforcement officer shall inspect the equipment and shall prohibit its use until
tested as required in section 13.1.6.2 or until all danger is removed.
Section 13.5.1 states that “All building or structures regulated by this code and
other related technical codes which are structurally inadequate or have inadequate
means of egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to
life and property are, for the purpose of this section, unsafe.
Section 13.5.2 states that “(g) building service equipment or installations regulated
by such codes, which constitute a fire, electrical, or health hazard, or unsanitary
condition, or is otherwise dangerous to human life is for the purpose of this
section, unsafe.
(h) any use of buildings, structures unable to sustain the design loads specified in
this code are hereby designated as unsafe building appendages.
(i) all such unsafe buildings, structures or appendages and building services
equipment and installations are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall
be abated by repair, rehabilitation, depletion or removal in accordance with the
procedure set forth in this code.
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These and many more sections in the code have spelt out the minimum level of risk
a worker should be exposed to and it has also stated the minimum requirement for
health and safety on every construction site.
THE RELEVANCE OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE TO HEALTH
AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION
The National Building Code has been of a reasonable advantage to the construction
industry in Nigeria especially in the aspect of health and safety of workers on site.
The provisions of the Code with respect to health and safety has been of
tremendous help in stating the responsibilities of the parties involved In the
construction industry in providing health and safety.
Originally the average Nigerian worker does not know his right as pertain to health
and safety and will see the provision of the same as a favour or privilege instead of
a right. But the code has shown that it is one of the primary duties of the employer
to ensure a good and safe working condition.
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CONCLUSION
In conclusion the National Building Code addressed the issue of health and safety
in the construction industry amongst other issues addressed. The emergence of the
National Building Code will also make construction work to be carried out in the
safest possible working conditions.
The National Building Code, if properly followed and implemented, will prune the
construction industry of all forms of unsafe acts, unsafe working condition, and
unsafe process of construction.
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REFERENCE
Bokinni . S .K. (2006) Building aftercare, Tony terry publisher, Lagos.
Bamishile .A. (2004) Building Production Management, Wemimo Adetayo
Publishers , Lagos
Federal Republic of Nigeria National Building Code (2006) LexisNexis
Butterworks, South Africa.
Bokinni. S. K (1999) Give the art of safety awareness, accident prevention a new
look (unpublished) pg (1,3 ,9)
Bokinni .S. K (2002) Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention (unpublished)
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE -- SECTIONS 105400-105430.
www.hse.com
Hassan et al. Perception Of Building Construction Workers Towards Safety,
Health And Environment, unpublished. www.um.edu.my/hassan.pdf
Health and Safety Executive www.hse.com
Mwombeki F.K. (2005). Occupational Health & Safety Challenge in Construction
Sites in Tanzania, unpublished, www.hse.com
Occupational Health and Safety Policy Administrative Policies Administration and
Governance. www.uottawwa.ca
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