Built Expressions Bangalore :: INDIAN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR REVIVES SAFETY NORMS FOR WORKERS

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Indian construction sector revives safety norms for workers

In an exclusive interview with BE, Dr.Rudiger Krech, director, department of ethics and social determinants of health, World Health Organisation and top management from B L Kashyap share the concerns of the construction workers and potential steps to be taken for the welfare of the labourers.

Despite the economic slowdown the construction industry is witnessing a promising growth. This industry has been attracting a massive investment in both public and private enterprises. A huge amount of investments have been surging in with the construction of roads, ports, power plants, telecommunication sector, commercial spaces and urban infrastructural developments. Use of new technology and deployment of project management strategies have made it possible for this industry to undertake mega projects in spite of facing a number of challenges. This has paved the way for construction demands growing substantially and of those demands, getting and retaining the manpower (skilled and unskilled) is the utmost priority. Even though it is the second largest industry contributing to the GDP of India, it records the maximum number of accidents and injuries than any other industrial activity. In addition to the cost of human injury and death, the accidents are unduly expensive in terms of damage to property and the delays in completion of projects.

Offer healthy practices to retain labourers

Construction has a number of characteristics making it inherently hazardous. Large forces are involved in many operations. The jobsite is continually changing as construction proceeds. Workers do not have fixed worksites and must move around a structure under construction. The tenure of a worker on a site is short, so the worker's familiarity and the employer-employee relationship are less settled than in manufacturing settings. Despite these peculiarities and as a result of exactly these special problems, improving worksite safety is a very important project management concern.

Educating workers and managers in proper procedures and hazards can have a direct impact on jobsite safety. The realization of the large costs involved in construction injuries and illnesses provides a considerable motivation for awareness and education. Regular safety inspections and safety meetings have become standard practices on most job sites.

As per the latest statistics released by CIDC, about 31 million people are employed in the construction sector in which close to 73 percent are unskilled labourers. There are various things which could potentially cause a construction accident. Sometimes, machinery and tools can malfunction, leading to injuries. Based on the various tasks being performed at the site, there can also be the chance of exposure to toxic chemicals, dangerous debris, falling objects, or hazardous materials. There may also be accidents that occur due to negligence, like when tools are not properly put away or supports aren’t safely secured. Sometimes, accidents can happen as a result of misjudgments. Construction sites often times have many areas that are inherently unsafe, including holes in floors, partially constructed building components, or areas including dangerous exposed surfaces. Chemical accidents, gas explosions, and electrical accidents all can happen on construction sites. While it’s not hard to observe how these situations can be dangerous for those who are on the job at a construction site, sometimes accidents will even involve folks who are simply walking close to the site. Chemicals, dust, malfunctioning tools, and falling objects can all be the cause of unsafe conditions at or near a construction site.

With so many risks on the job, it is no surprise that construction workers are more prone to serious injuries and in some cases, fatalities, than other industries. As a result, employers must continually strive for workplace safety compliance and most importantly, their employees’ health and vitality.

In this scenario, retaining the workforce is an imperative factor. One of the factors that can influence the retention is by motivating the labourers at the construction sites. Offering a healthy and safe work environment is a major boosting factor apart from remuneration is the need of the hour. With the industrial progress, it becomes imperative that safety and health at the construction sites be given its due importance. It can be noted that it is only recently that there has been a shift in approach to the problems of occupational health and safety. Instead of investigating accidents after they have occurred, taking a high toll of human life, it is now felt that preventing the occurrence of industrial disasters and occupational diseases is a much better idea. In India, occupational accidents, traditional physical ad ergonomic hazards and occupational diseases are important factors influencing the health of the industrial workers. Diseases relating to respiratory tracts, nervous system and sense organs are rampant among construction workers.

The condition of occupational health and safety in the unorganised sector is grimmer as compared to that in the organized sector. Due to economic constraints, developing countries like India are sometimes compelled to use cheaper equipment and processes which do not meet minimum safety requirements. Technology and chemicals banned in the developed, exporting countries are exported to countries where stringent safety and health regulations either do not exist or are not enforced. The transfer of unshielded dangerous machinery and hazardous chemicals and substances has had an adverse effect on occupational diseases and accidents among workers in the recipient countries.

Safety training to avoid injuries

Compared to India, overseas countries have definite infrastructure to monitor and coordinate health and safety activities. Poverty along with illiteracy and powerlessness can influence injuries at construction sites. Yet leading construction companies, builders and developers are waking up to the fact that taking care of labourers is directly proportional to the project time constraints. “Labourers are the need of the business today, availability of workers is a scarcity in the country. Offering them a health and safety environment can be a major retention strategy,” says Naveel Singla, executive director, B L Kashyap & Sons Ltd. Being one of the pioneers focusing on health and safety aspects of construction workers, B L Kashyap has brought a stable of health benefits of labourers. Benefits such as health screening of employees, hygienic workplace, and employee welfare and health promotion for construction workers are given. "Once the construction worker is on the site, he is given a basic health check-up with more emphasis on respiratory function as it may interfere with physical job. People who handle equipments are checked for eye sight before putting them on the job,” adds Singla. Even before assigning workers on the actual job, the necessary training on the work and handling equipments may avoid injuries to a greater extent. "Identification of hazard and associated risk in construction processes from design stage to construction stage is an integral part of our safety norms for workers in our company. We offer job specific training to workers to avoid injury or accident," says Mr. Prakash Pathak, general manager-Health, Safety & Environment, B L Kashyap & Sons Ltd.

With a sophisticated training on safety measures one would become aware of 'know-how' of the equipments by way of which a worker is moved to next stratum of handling machines. Once a worker proceeds from unskilled to semi-skilled level, it can fetch him a more money. This in turn is a motivational element for the workers, according to Singla. Exposure to a loud noise on continuous basis may lead to ear disabilities. Working areas with higher noise level should be maintained as restricted areas and companies must ensure that noise levels are as per defined by the government.

Healthy practices at sites still a void

It is a welcoming sign by the construction firms to consider offer health and safety practices at the sites. Even several state governments are insisting on to follow protective norms. “I'm glad to see that a major thrust on the health development is given by the Indian government. The health financing has improved compared to a decade ago. The government has taken a positive approach by including one percent cess in the infrastructure budget. However, going forward, construction workers should be given universal health coverage and free insurance system,” says Dr.Rudiger Krech, director, department of ethics and social determinants of health, World Health Organisation. Mere the presence of directives and facilities may not help the cause however; there is an utmost need to make aware of the benefits to workers. Dr.Krech, who was in India recently visited a construction site, further adds, “There are enough good directives and norms for the construction workers set by the Indian government. Unfortunately, the implementation of those directives is very low--many of the construction sites do not even follow certain basic standards of safety norms such as wearing protective belts, boots and helmets. In order to improve the scenario, both the government and construction companies must build up coherence,”

Coherence for the adoptability safety norms

Over the last 10 years, the focus on health and hygiene of construction workers has changed. With the fatter projects and crunching timelines, builders cannot afford to delay the project lead time. Sufficient facilities focusing on health and hygiene would give construction workers a sense of security and concern which in turn become motivational aspect. This becomes a room to retain labourers after all; manpower is the crux of the construction industry. Reiterating on the aspect, Mr. Singla adds, "The attrition level is high in construction industry. We can hold them back by way of offering them a decent place to stay, basic health needs on a daily basis, proper resting place at project site. If such amenities are provided, I think we can retain people."

Health and safety of the construction labourers is an important aspect of meeting project deadlines and quality work. It is a decisive factor and can ensure an accident-free working environment. Builders and construction companies must attach the same importance towards achieving high safety norms as they do to the other key objectives of their business activities. A specific budget of the total project cost must be allocated towards the health and safety practices as it can yield valuable returns to a company by improving workers morale, reducing absenteeism and enhancing productivity, minimising potential of work-related injuries and illnesses.

Vinutha V

The interview was carried out on the sidelines of

EOM

Box: A good health and safety practices at construction site can lead to:

Personal hygiene

Environmental hygiene

Reduce risk factors

Prevent disease and premature death

More productivity of the workers

Source: B L Kashyap & Sons Ltd.

BOX: Nine neglected construction safety concerns

1 Scaffolding