Introduction of main problem:

A project work for 3 k.m. long tunnel has been undertaken at a remote site
which takes 2 days of travel to reach nearest town. Supervisors, Technicians and
skilled workers are engaged in dangerous and hazardous work. Absenteeism due to
sickness, quarrels, drinking is adding to less output of work and chances of accident
on site are increasing. There is need to tackle this problem to increase the output of
the work.

Reasons of various problems:

The construction industry is one of the worlds major industries. Its

achievement in rebuilding areas devastated by both natural and man-made
disasters and in providing power, services and communications to meet the rising
needs and expectations of people throughout the world has conferred great benefits
on the human race. However there has been price to pay for this continuous growth
and activity. It is difficult to obtain accurate statistics in an industry in which many
accidents go undetected and unreported.

There are a number of managerial shortcomings in the construction industry

which cause operational problems on site. These include:

- A lack of effective co-ordination between client and contractor

- Improperly planned safety measures leading to site accidents and labour
dissatisfaction.
- The lack of effective motivation mechanisms, so that good performance
was rarely rewarded appropriately.
- The lack of modern management systems, capable of taking into account
the prevailing local conditions, for the planning and execution of projects.

Needs and their fulfillment on site:

All of us who are working in construction are concerned that our work should
be safe and that conditions on the construction site should not cause damage to our
life and health and our professional skills. There should be safety management
which involves the functions of planning, identifying problem areas, coordinating ,
controlling and directing the safety activities at the work site , all aimed at the
prevention of accidents and ill health. On a construction site there are many
incidents than injuries. A dangerous act can be performed hundreds of times
before it results in an injury and management is to eliminate these potential
dangers. Management cannot wait for human or material damage before doing
anything. For effective safety management there should be three main objectives

- To make the environment safe

- To make the job safe
- To make workers safety conscious.
 Employees need to have a written safety policy for their enterprise setting
out the safety and health standards .Safe methods or systems of work for hazardous
operations should be there.

Training should be conducted at all levels including managers, supervisors and

workers for site safety procedures. Safety and health duties should be specifically
assigned to certain persons. Some examples of duties are

- Construction and installation of safety signs

- Testing of lifting machinery such as cranes and goods hoists and lifting
gear such as ropes and shackles.
- Inspection and cleaning of welfare facilities such as toilets, clothing
accommodation and canteens.
- Emergency and evacuation plans
- Site layout should be such that it facilitate safe movement of workers and
vehicles and do not cause accidents.

Work in the construction industry is arduous, it involves much manual or physical

activity. It is also hazardous and dirty. Good welfare facilities not only improve
workers welfare but also enhance efficiency.

Welfare facilities such as the provision of drinking-water, washing, sanitary

and changing accommodation, rest rooms and shelter facilities for preparing and
eating meals, temporary housing, assistance in transport from place of residence to
the work site and back, all help to reduce fatigue and improve workers health. The
facilities mat be provided and maintained by one contractor for all workers or by
individual contractors. National laws usually prescribe the type, number and
standard of sanitary facilities which should be provided but as a general guide the
following should be regarded as a practical minimum

1. Site tidiness:
A major contribution to safe working conditions on site can be made by
attention to tidiness. There are many accidents due to tripping, slipping or
falling over materials and equipment which have been left lying around
and stepping on nails which have been left projecting from timber. Below
are the steps
- Clean up as you go do not leave scrap for the next person to clean
- Clean up spilled oil and grease
- Deposit waste material at a recognized disposal point.

2. Sanitary facilities: A sufficient number of water flush type lavatories for men
and a sufficient number of separate water flush type lavatories for women
- It should be constructed for easy maintenance and cleaned out atleast
daily.
3. Washing facilities: Work in construction industry is often dusty and dirty, it
may also involve handling chemicals and other dangerous substances, so you
need to wash your hands and bodies regularly to prevent chemicals
contaminating food so being eaten during snacks or meals, being absorbed
through the skin or being carried home.

4. Facilities for supplying food and drink and eating meals: Facilities for
supplying food at construction work sites can be particularly important when
sites are located in remote areas. Remoteness together with inadequate
temporary housing which lacks cooking facilities may give rise to
considerable problems to workers. To meet the needs of proper meals, a
choice of facilities should be made available

- Facilities to boil water and heat food

- A canteen supplying cooked meals or serving packed meals, snacks and
beverages.
- There should be accommodation with tables and seats protected from the
weather where one can eat in comfort, food brought from home or bought
from vendors. It should be situated away from workstations to minimize
contact with dirt, dust or dangerous substances.

5. Drinking water: Drinking water is essential for workers in the construction

industry irrespective of the type of work they do. You loose several litres of
water a day while at work and without replacement you gradually dehydrate.

Water containers hung close to the work place in a shaded place free from
dust and with plenty of air in circulation. Cool water helps avoid heat
exhaustion

6. Rest breaks: Construction workers begin work early. They start their day alert
and productive but their activity level decreases as the day passes. Short
breaks taken frequently are much better than frequent long breaks.
Productivity improves with frequent rest breaks.

National law may prescribe the length of a working day which includes a
period or periods of breaks. At least one ten minute break in the morning and
one in the afternoon in addition to a longer break for lunch are essential.

7. Child care facilities: Working mothers employed at construction sites often

need help with the special problems of caring for their children while they are
at work.

A clean and well ventilated room preferably with access to an enclosed

space is the main facility needed. It is essential for someone to care for the
children while their mothers are at work, prepare their meals and feed them
 regularly. It may be possible for mothers themselves to take turns to look
after the children.

Each year there are tragic deaths of children on construction sites.

Children should never be allowed to wander into or play on sites. There are
excavations to fall into, scaffolding to fall from, hazardous equipment, loose
and dangerous building materials and chemicals lying about.

8. First aid Equipment and training: Construction sites are dangerous places and
first aid and rescue equipments should always be available. There should be
atleast a stocked first aid box and a stretcher and blanket the stretcher
should be of type which can be raised and lowered to and from upper floors.
On large sites and always where there are more than 200 people employed ,
there should be a properly equipped first aid room or hut.

9. Fire precautions: Fires on construction sites arise from the misuse of

compressed gases and highly inflammable liquids, from the ignition of waste
material, wood, shavings and cellular plastic materials. Every individual on
site should be aware of the fire risk and should know the precautions to
prevent a fire and the action to be taken if fire does breaks out. Everyone on
site should be trained to
- Know of two unobstructed ways off the site if there is a fire or other
emergency
- Know how to raise the alarm.
- Know where firefighting appliances are kept.
- Be able to use the firefighting appliances and
- Be able to select the correct type of portable fire extinguisher for specific
types of fire.

Understanding hygiene and motivation factors and suggested methods:

A study concluded that a workers behavior and sentiment were

notably related and that money was less influential in determining worker
output than group standards, sentiments and security. Production was
increased as a result of changes in social relations, motivation and
supervision of workers rather than just financial rewards and technology-led
innovation. The worker was no longer considered as being motivated only by
financial rewards but also by a series of social and human factors.

Another major study of factors affecting satisfaction and dissatisfaction

with work was undertaken by Herzberg and his colleagues. In the past, it had
always been assumed that the factors causing job satisfaction would, by their
absence, lead to job dissatisfaction. When social and personal needs of
workers were fulfilled, job satisfaction would result and when these are not
met, then dissatisfaction would rise. Thus, Herzbergs results suggest that
 different relationships exist between job satisfaction and dissatisfaction since
each situation is caused by an entirely different set of factors. The major
factors of satisfaction called motivating factors include:

- Achievement
- Recognition
- Work itself
- Responsibility
- Advancement

The set of factors causing dissatisfaction at work and called hygiene factors
are:

- Working conditions
- Company policy and administration
- Interpersonal relations
- Supervision
- Salary

Dissatisfaction is reduced by factors such as improving wages, by more

considerate supervision, and by better physical conditions of work.
However, reducing dissatisfaction in these ways will not produce positive
satisfaction needed for continuous learning and innovation. The Human
Relations School rejected the scientific management structure
(specialization, division of work, many levels of hierarchy and formal
control) and its strong dependence on technology-led innovation. It
proposed a more democratic, less authoritarian and less hierarchical
structure where employees are seen as playing a more important role in
production. So, there is a need for effective relationship between and
organization and its individuals in order to promote motivation and self-
actualisation.

Recommendations to management:

The management should consider the points mentioned below to tackle

the problem and increase the output of the work.

- Provide for better direction and control through helping subordinates,

understand and agree with organizational purposes.
- Help people to realize that mistakes should be regarded as educational so
that future errors can be avoided.
- Match individual goals with organization purposes in so far as this is
possible.
- Develop teamwork so that everyones efforts are synchronized.
- Provide opportunities for participation and involvement so that people will
support what they helped to create.
- Serve as an advisor, coach and helper to subordinates as needed
 - Create conditions so that people will have mutual trust, support and
respect.
- Foster open communication among individuals as needed.
- Encourage experimentation and innovation.

Bibliography:

People and organization management in construction By Shamil Naoum

Organization behavior By O Jeff Harris
Organization and management of construction: Shaping theory and
practice By David Langford, Arkady Retik