CASE STUDY: SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES ON SITE

I. Introduction

The significance of the construction industry to the economic and social life of the country is

significant. Construction Project Management is a subject for civil engineering students. This

subject provides ample information that concerns the proper way of managing each project

assigned to a respective project manager. A project manager makes sure that everything is

according to plan. Aside from that, they try to avoid delay as much as possible. Safety management

is expected to take account of all risks and accidents that may possibly be expected that put project

employees at risk. Safety is one of the most important priorities on site. Different types of people

work together in completing a certain project. This study aims to give knowledge about the existing

standard for safety set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Past

research in the area show clearly that construction projects create frequent possible threats to the

lives of employees, and serious injuries and mortalities are frequent in the construction industry.

Accordingly, accidents on the construction sites are principally attributable to hazardous human

behavior and unsafe working conditions. The construction industry was considered as a hazardous

occupation due to the high incidence of occupational injuries and fatal accidents.

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CASE STUDY: SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES ON SITE

II. DISCUSSION

Safety is the control of recognized hazards to attain an acceptable level of risk. For many years

safety professional have been aware that the majority of workplace accidents are triggered by

unsafe behaviors, and that their control is one of the keys to successful accident prevention.

However, many organizations, even those companies with low accident rate have been frustrated

by their inability to control unsafe act. For this study, we were expected to assess our observations

on the construction site where we were assigned.

The site that we went to was under the company named B12. It was located at Bacolor, Pampanga.

This is a horizontal project specifically a road project. Upon visiting the site, we were told that the

project was just starting. While observing we’ve noticed the poor implementation of proper

protective equipment. It could be because of poor management or it could have been a result of

disobedience. All Contract documents signed by the Owner and contractor contains various safety

clauses wherein the contractor is obligated to make Provisions for the safety of men and structure

and the consequences for failure to do so. The contractor is already mandated by the law to comply

with state and national regulations.

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III. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

When it comes to safety, the construction industry has a higher fatality rate than the national

average. In an effort to reduce worker injuries and fatalities, OSHA has created a comprehensive

set of safety standards, as well as a construction safety digest, safety training guides, and more.

Safety should be first on every employer’s and employee’s mind. And given that 20.5% of worker

fatalities in 2014 were in construction, it’s imperative that employers make sure the workplace is

safe. To this end, OSHA requires that employers maintain a safe work environment and follow all

related OSHA safety and health standards. Most of the applicable standards can be found in 29

CFR 1926, Safety and Health Regulations for Construction; when there is a workplace hazard not

covered there, it may be covered by the General Industry Standard 29 CFR 1910.

Proper training and education is the first line of protection when it comes to worker safety. OSHA

requires all training to be done in a language and vocabulary that workers understand. This can

mean providing training in several languages. Eliminating or reducing hazards through

engineering controls is the most effective means of preventing workplace injuries and deaths.

Designing equipment, processes, and buildings in a manner that will completely remove hazards.

When it is not possible to eliminate a given hazard, a lesser hazard may replace it. When the hazard

cannot be eliminated or substituted, other methods like guarding, barriers, or ventilation systems

can be used to limit employee exposure to the hazard.

Safe work practices include the rules and work procedures used at a construction site. This includes

following Lockout/Tagout (LO/TO), requiring workers to use the correct PPE and providing safety

oversight for dangerous work, like working in confined spaces. Every worksite has hazards that

must be further reduced by using PPE. Hard hats can protect workers from falling and impact

hazards while respiratory gear can reduce exposure to silica dust, lead, and other harmful

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chemicals. Before work can begin, hazards must be evaluated to determine which PPE is needed.

Workers must then be trained, so they know when to wear PPE as well as how it must be worn.

All PPE must be regularly inspected and properly maintained. Good preventive maintenance plays

a major role in ensuring that equipment does not create hazards when used. Meanwhile, daily walk-

around inspections provide a useful means for employers to spot problems before they become

hazardous. For example, an inspector might find that a trench’s shoring has been damaged and

close the trench to further work until it is fixed. Employers can further reduce workplace injuries

with an injury and illness prevention program.

Workers were trained to recognize and treat health problems like heat stroke, concussions, and

more. Programs include providing first aid training and stocking worksites with basic medical

supplies needed to treat many common workplace injuries. They should also include a means to

quickly contact emergency services when needed. An important part of construction safety is

effective communication. One way employers can improve safety is by using safety signs and

labels to communicate hazards and remind workers to wear PPE.

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IV. DOCUMENTATION

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V. REFERENCES

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d096/c49a7fdc7501ea9ed29d0a28cd02a89c15f6.pdf

https://www.cmaanet.org/about-us/what-construction-management

http://jssm.umt.edu.my/wpcontent/uploads/sites/51/2015/02/8.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0xJ6Kyo

YzY2L1_XhL73BjZGQzQL4nzN8Yh0egfBQLm6_f5SlEmAQ23xvI

https://www.noao.edu/nsf/presentations/FACILITIES/THF14c%20HISLOP%20Key%20

Elements%2090416.pdf

https://www.graphicproducts.com/articles/osha-construction-safety/