General Construction

Work Safety Guides

Chapter 9
 Safety and sanitation of the work area
in any project is the primary concern of
management. This is not only to
safeguard the interest of the workers
but also the general public.
Personal Protection Equipment

A. Shoes and Hardhats

Safety or suitable shoes should be
worn while on duty. When doing
concrete pouring work, masons may
use rubber boots. Similarly, when
working in areas subject to danger
from falling objects, hardhats should
be worn.
Personal Protection Equipment
(cont’)
B. Personnel Protective Equipment
2. Hand, face and eye protection should
be worn on welding jobs.
3. Working leather gloves should be
worn, when handling sheet, piles or
sharp objects.
General Construction
Work Safety Guides
A. Excavation And Shoring
B. Pipe Works
C. Manual Handling
D. Team Lifting and Carrying
E. Mechanical Handling
F. Tools and Safety
G. Equipment Operation
H. Loading and Unloading (company vehicles)
I. Traffic Accidents Involving Company Vehicles
A. Excavation and Shoring

1. The Project Manager shall be responsible

for investigating pre-excavation conditions
in order to evaluate changes that might
occur, or situations that might develop, and
in order to plan the job based on these
findings.
2. Designs of shoring and bracings must be
submitted first to Project Manager’s
office for approval.
Excavation and Shoring
(cont’)
1. All open excavation should be barricaded to
prevent pedestrians or vehicles from falling into
them.
2. Men working in ditches are always in danger of
being struck by objects and knocked into the
ditch. Tools and materials lying near ditches
should be moved back several feet.
3. Unless men working below ground are provided
with overhead protection, materials or tools
should not be passed over their heads.
Excavation and Shoring
(cont’)
1. No shovel, dragline or other digging machines
should be allowed to excavate close to
underground facilities that must be left in place.
2. When hand excavation is being done, workmen
should be warned about driving picks, pavement
breakers or other powered tools through the
envelop of the buried facilities.
3. Pick and shovel men working in excavations should
be kept far apart to prevent injury to one
another.
Excavation and Shoring
(cont’)
1. Materials excavated by machine should be thrown
at least two feet from the edge of the excavation.
2. Excavated materials should be placed at least 18
inches from the walls of the excavation unless toe
boards have been installed to prevent fall back.
3. Keep unauthorized persons, especially children,
out of the construction site; provide line
barricades or post guards.
4. Make sure that nothing is left lying around that
may cause slipping or falling.
Excavation and Shoring
(cont’)
1. When working along public highways or streets,
flagmen should be assigned, especially during
heavy traffic hours.
2. Place pipe slings properly at lifting points before
handling or lowering pipe into trench.
3. Stay clear while pipelines are being tested. A
break might cause injury
4. Loose pipe pieces, fittings, tools and other
objects should be kept out of the trench right-of-
way from the pipes that are being connected.
Excavation and Shoring
(cont’)
1. Loose pipe pieces, fittings, tools and
other objects should be kept out of
the trench right-of-way from the
pipes that are being connected.
2. Wooden planks or steel mating must
provided on all excavation works for
public/residential’s conveniences
B. Pipe Works
Safety requirements during pipe lying, welding, leakage
press, test, fittings, and other civil works.
2. Trenches over 1.20 m. depth should be provided
with ramps or ladders to facilitate entrance and
exit of personnel and equipment.
3. In hand-excavated trenches, the ends of braces to
stringers should be secured to prevent the braces
from being knocked out of place.
4. In handling pipes, appropriate slings shall be utilized
such that the pipe is well-balanced during lifting.
Pipe Works (cont’)
1. When welding the bottom portion of a pipe in
trench to the previously laid pipe, the welder is
required to gauge or grind the root pass before
applying the final passes.
2. When conducting hydrostatic test, all test
instruments should first be calibrated properly.
3. As pressure build-up approaches about 1/3 of
specified test pressure, all persons involved in the
testing should be advice to stay clear of the pipe
and flanges and immediate test area, expecting
those directly operating the pressure pump and
monitoring the gauge.
C. Manual Handling
1. When lifting objects, first make sure that your
posting is secure; assume squatting position with
back erect, and raise the object by straightening
legs.
2. Get a firm grip on the object to be lifted, seeing
to it that the hands as well as the object to be
lifted are free from oil, grease or other slippery
substances.
3. When moving heavy objects, including tanks, pipes
or steel drums in any direction or an incline, ropes
or other tackle to control the motion should be
used.
Manual Handling (cont’)

1. When handling pipes make sure they

are securely tied and balanced to
avoid slippage.
2. Wear the prescribed asbestos hand
gloves when handling hot objects or
materials.
D. Team Lifting and Carrying
1. When two or more men must carry a single object,
they should adjust the load so that it rides level.
2. When two men carry long sections of pipe or
lumber, they should carry equal parts of leads;
they should carry the lead on the same shoulders
and walk in step.
3. When a group of men carry along sections, or
heavy objects like beam or pipe, the foremen shall
direct the work and special tools should be used
whenever possible (clamps, tongs, etc.)
E. Mechanical Handling
1. In lifting heavy loads, wire ropes with
slings are preferable to chains.
2. Provide suitable guard pads at around
sharp corner of steel before lifting.
3. Inspect all cables, seeing to it that there
are no broken stands; kinking and
unraveling of the cable should be avoided.
4. Chains should be checked for cracks or
flaws.
5. Check for elongation and rearing out of
chain links.
Mechanical Handling (cont’)
1. Hooks that are straightened or deformed
or defective should not be used.
2. The hook’s working capacity should not be
exceeded.
3. Pulleys should be regularly inspected,
particularly their pins, and kept well
maintained.
4. Maintain proper alignment of sheaves and
drums to avoid wear and tear of their sides
as well as of the cable.
F. Tools and Safety
1. Select the right tool required for the job
and use it properly.
2. Never use a hand tool on or very close to
any moving part of a machine.
3. Exercise care when handling or
transporting tools, particularly sharp or
pointed ones, to prevent damage to other
properties and injuries to persons.
4. Only the right pneumatic tool which is in
good condition should be used for the job.
Tools and Safety (cont’)
1. Grip the hand firmly with both hands on it. When
using heavy pneumatic tools (such as jack hammer,
clay digger, ect.) in a horizontal position, the tool
should be supported by vertically suspended
ropes.
2. When laying the pneumatic tool down, always place
it in a position that cannot cause harm in case the
tool is accidentally started.
3. If the tool is detached from the air hose under
pressure, turn off the air by closing control value,
never by kinking the hose.
G. Equipment Operation
1. Only duly authorized employees shall
operate heavy equipment.
2. Operators shall be responsible for the
proper maintenance and cleanliness of the
heavy equipment assigned to them, and
make reports of any defects or unusual
condition found therein.
3. The operator shall not allow unauthorized
personnel to operate the equipment
assigned to him nor allow such person to
ride on the equipment while it is in motion.
Equipment Operation (cont’)
1. No operator shall travel his equipment with
a suspended load except when authorized
by the Equipment Superintendent or his
representative.
2. All booms should be lowered after each
work shift, except when, otherwise,
authorized by the Equipment
Superintendent or his representatives.
3. No operators will be allowed to handle any
piece of power equipment when he is under
the influence of liquor.
Equipment Operation (cont’)
1. The operator shall determine safe
clearance on overhead obstructions and
building openings, and shall only proceed
when he is satisfied that clearances meet
the requirement.
2. A load should be picked up only when it is
directly under the hoist. Everyone should
stay from under raised loads.
3. Slow down on wet and slippery surfaces.
4. Never drive high-lift trucks with the
platform elevated.
H. Loading and Unloading
(Company Vehicles)
1. The foremen or lead man is responsible for the
loading and unloading from a vehicle of materials,
equipment, tools, personnel, etc., except when the
driver, by policy, is designated for that purposes.
2. Overloading of vehicles should not be allowed.
3. Any projection of the load beyond the truck body
line should be properly provided with warning
visible flags or lights.
4. Secure tail gates and all detachable equipment in
the vehicles before travelling.
Loading and Unloading (Company
Vehicles) (cont’)
1. Loads should be handled from street side
of the vehicles.
2. Trailers should be provided with
conspicuous stop and tail lights.
3. unless necessary, do not board or alight
from vehicle on the traffic side of the
road.
4. No employees shall drive a company or
private vehicle inside or outside company
premises while under the influence of
liquor, narcotics, or when not physically fit.
I. Traffic Accidents
Involving Company Vehicles
1. In case of traffic accidents involving
company vehicles should be complied with
immediately actions.
2. In case where there are injured persons:
a.) attempt to obtain the nearest medical
assistance ( clinic, hospitals) and police
help.
4. If possible, get the names and addresses
of the injured persons and make a note of
the nature of the injuries.
Traffic Accidents Involving
Company Vehicles (cont’)
1. Write down essential information about
the other car and its driver.
2. Cooperate with police fully, but request
courteously for the policeman’s name and
badge number.
3. Do not involved in a discussion with the
other driver.
4. In case of an ordinary vehicle breakdown,
call the Main Office for prompt assistance
giving details of your vehicles’ location.