Safety measures for zero accident

Mr. H K V Iyer, Construction Safety Consultant

Mr. H K V Iyer, Construction Safety expert, in an exclusive interview with Built Expressions shares his thoughts to ensure zero accidents at the site and to inculcate the safety habits.

In the recent past, need for safety awareness in the construction sector has increased to a greater extent. This can be attributed to the high cost associated with work-related injuries, indirect costs of injuries and litigation. Every year, a considerable amount of time is lost due to work-related health problems and site accidents. In order to reduce the number of accidental deaths and implement the system of construction safety one ought to initiate the training program at the project site to educate the labours.

PPE  Implementation

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be used depending on the work environment, the work conditions, and the process being performed. Each piece of PPE has a specific use and may be made of specialized materials appropriate for one use, but not appropriate for another. It is also important to remember that wearing the right PPE is important. PPE does not reduce the workplace hazard nor does it guarantee permanent or total protection for the wearer. It's mandatory to train the users for proper usage of the PPE. When working with chemicals, PPE needed to be worn by workers to reduce or eliminate the exposure.

Zero Accident

Zero Accident is the aim of many progressive, proactive construction firms. With this approach, the construction industry can make a difference in safety performance and that move the industry toward the goal of zero accidents. Certain elements to be followed in order to make construction site a accident free zone--employ staff to monitor safety, plan pre-project and pre-tasks, orientation and specialised training programmes and accident investigations must be carried out. Of course, a demonstrated management commitment is of paramount importance to obtain safe environment for construction workers.

Construction site involves numerous workers functioning in and out of the structure in a fast paced state. The responsibility of the management comes into the picture to ensure that the work is progressed smoothly and make all prior requirements. Prior training has to be provided to educate the workers on safety factors. The delegation of work is necessary at the site from well qualified people.

Activity Hazard Analysis

Safety and health can add value to works at construction places. We can prevent workplace injuries and illnesses by looking at workplace operations, establishing proper job procedures, and ensuring that all employees are trained properly. One of the best ways to determine and establish proper work procedures is to conduct a job hazard analysis. Conducting a preliminary job review can be a handy. If any hazards exist that pose an immediate danger to an employee's life or health, take immediate action to protect the worker. Any problems that can be corrected easily should be corrected as soon as possible. When beginning a job hazard analysis, watch the employee perform the job and list each step as the worker takes it. Be sure to record enough information to describe each job action without getting overly detailed.

Prevention of accidents can be made through observing the work operations, creating strategies to execute the work, ensuring each worker are performing in a safe environment. For example, excavations are performed by employing machineries, in such scenarios the site area should be barricaded with sign boards, proper designing of machineries, employing trained personnel to handle them etc. These initiatives at the site can bring down the dangerous hazards involved during such works. 

Quality Mechanization

Workers’ shortage is a recurrent problem in construction industry. Mechanization comes as a relief to address the challenge to certain extent, however acquainting workers handling equipments with necessary skills takes a fore front. The machineries are very qualitative and it results in qualitative work too. While employing the machinery one must see it doesn’t harm the other labour around the same area.

Good storage practices

Storage areas should be kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion or pest harbourage. Then precautions should be followed by wearing protective clothing and equipment. This same precaution applies to placing materials in storage or removing them for use or transport. Container labels generally alert you to key hazards. With proper ventilation, storage space should be designed for free mobility of people and materials. Keeping hazardous substances separated from anything that could trigger the hazard – for instance, keeping flammable liquids away from flames or other ignition sources. Availability of emergency equipment must be ensured such as fire extinguishers and spill clean-up materials. Areas of electricity power supply are to be protected with proper insulation of wires, electrical boards, wires should be left loose or unattended etc.

While comparing to the developed Nations, we are still lagging behind in terms of safety enforcement at the construction sites. It can be achieved with appropriate employment of labours, stringent laws, and better standards of safety. Moreover safety can’t implement within short span of time, it requires involvement of more personnel, cooperation of labours, establishments of training school. If all these requirements are stringently followed by our workers we can reach better standards of safety in the future years.

Box Item:

• Personal protection is a must at the site despite of the site conditions and the requirements. Protective gears like hard hats, shoes, gloves etc are to be worn by the worker before entering the site.
• Establishing a training school can add more value to the life of the worker by educating them on the key aspects of safety.
• Appointing a safety officer to supervise on the movements of the workers.
• Construction of a safety wall around the site to avert any kinds of mishaps and theft of materials.
• Presence of developer’s office along with the training school.
• Separate storage places to store all the materials at the site.