Civil Engineer s Role regarding Health and Safety

Before Construction

Designs for safety

Chooses a code of conduct for design and adheres to it. Identifies possible calamities and designs against them. In addition he makes research on safer ways of designing.

Proper material selection

Materials should not be harmful to the health of people and the public. They should not be of any disastrous effect to the environment both during production and usage. He also finds suppliers of quality materials that are up to standard.

Risk assessment
This is the process of identifying hazards, severity of their effects and suggesting possible measures to overcome them. Hazards vary depending on the kind of work. Examples of hazards include; falling from heights while working, outbreak of fire etc.

Site inspection/investigation before construction.

This may be by eye, laboratory investigations on soil samples in order to know the feasibility of construction at the selected site. He must make sure that where the construction is to take place does not contradictory to the statutory laws. The proposed structure must be able to stand there for a long period of time.

Training
It is the role of the civil engineers to get trained regarding health and safety before the commencing of work. They train the workers and make them alert of all health and safety amenities on site. Through briefing or even intensive training. He gathers all workers and makes sure that each of them has adequate knowledge on the type of work he is meant to do.