1 | Abi International Journal Of Modern Science & Engineering

Division – Civil Engineering

ABI International Journal of Modern Science & Engineering

(1)1 January-June 2012. pp. 1-8

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND HEALTH

Dr T.S. Thandavamoorthy1 and S.Saileysh Sivaraja2

1
Professor of Civil Engineering, Adhiparasakthi Engineering College Melaruvathur & Past Vice-
President, ICI. E-Mail:tan_44@yahoo.com
2
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Dr M.G. R. University, Chennai
E-Mail: sivaraja05@gmail.com

Abstract
Construction endangers the health and safety workers if proper gadgets are not used at site during working.
Construction at public places also endangers safety of people in the vicinity even though they are not directly
related to the works. So there are fatalities at many construction sites. Especially with a boom in
infrastructural development the construction activities have picked up tremendously. This brings to the
centre stage the concern for safety and health of all stakeholders as well as the challenges and solutions to
ensure accident free construction at site.

Introduction

The old adage says, “A doctor buries his mistake and an engineer is buried by his mistake”. This was
proved to be correct when we read in the media a couple of months ago the sad demise on the spot of an young
engineer who was supervising the construction of flyover at Kathipara Junction in Guindy standing on a heap of
construction material which slid along and accidentally he fell from the deck and was crushed to death by an
earth moving machinery operating underneath. There can’t be a more fitting incident which emphasizes the
importance of safety measures at construction site. Quite recently on October 18, 2008 one of the spans of a
flyover under construction in Delhi collapsed killing 3 dead and injuring about 20 people (Anon, 2008a). A few
years ago a huge girder of the MRTS project across the IT Corridor road near Tidal Park in Chennai during
hoisting and erection by the workers in the absence of a Supervisor around 10 pm fell down on the lap of a
totally unconnected women travelling in car with her husband. A wrong design and poor quality construction
practices of a residential apartment complex in Chennai promoted by an unscrupulous contractor collapsed a
few years ago killing several workers. Like these, accidents at construction sites are numerous due to unsafe
measures and practices as well as flouting of all safety norms. These incidents clearly establish the fact that both
workers and common people unrelated to construction are involved in construction site accidents. Therefore
ensuring safety and health of the people assumes significance in construction sector.

Construction is the most dangerous land based work sector in Europe. In the European Union, the fatal
accident rate is nearly 13 workers per 100,000 as against 5 per 100,000 for the all sector average. In the U.S.
there were 1,225 fatal occupational injuries in the construction sector in 2001 with an incidence rate of 13.3 per
100,000 employed workers. For the same year the construction industry experienced 481,400 nonfatal injuries
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and illnesses at a rate of 7.9 per 100 full-time workers in the industry. Construction has about 7% of U.S.
workers, but 21% of the fatalities - the largest number of fatalities reported for any industry sector.

Issues in Construction Safety

The problem is not that the hazards and risks are unknown, it is that they are very difficult to control in
a constantly changing work environment. Inspection of the construction sites for the past five years and Base
line study carried by the Contractors Registration Board (CRB) on conditions of Safety and Health in Tanzania
revealed that amongst other short falls noted, the situation, provision and use of safety gear during construction
works was appalling (Mwombeki, 2005). Further, key players that include clients, consultants and contractors
ignore inclusion of safety provision during inception stage through tendering, in which all elements connected to
safety measures are disregarded on the grounds of cutting cost. In the process of carrying out its regulatory
functions, the Board has learnt that majority of local and few foreign contractors are not taking the issue of
Hearth and Safety and provision of PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) seriously. Apart from lack of
provision of PPE it was noted during site inspection by CRB that many local and some foreign contractors do
not provide and /or keep accident register book, safe drinking water, washing place and toilet, proper eating-
place, general site cleanliness and shed in case of bad weather. A worker performing excavation and trenching
operations is protected by U.S. Department of Labor OSHA standards (1995). These standards involve most
safety aspects: knowledge, training, and experience of the people responsible under the codes. Unfortunately,
the codes are often misunderstood or ignored, for example, the requirements for a “competent person.”

Case Studies involving Unsafe Practices

It was an interesting case to note that during prestressing of a concrete beam the wire got snapped and
it flew like a bullet along with the wedges and pierced through the thigh of a Helper standing nearby. The
victim suffered grievously and it took long time for his injury to cure. Subsequently wise counsel prevailed and
during prestressing operation sand bags were heaped behind the bulkhead and no body was allowed to cross that
side at that time.

During testing of a 6 m long and 1 m deep prestressed concrete beam, at 60 t load the beam suddenly fell on the
back of a daily wage worker who was marking cracks and his bones were fractured. He was braced and was at
bed rest for 3 months. A Scientist was also hurt as the beam fell on his ankle. Here the usual practice of tying
the beam during testing was flouted because of overconfidence in the design of the beam. What was ignored
was that the beam was not cast dead straight and it was curved in plan leading to lateral eccentricity of
prestressing force which caused overturning of the beam.

Reassessment of a 13 storey tower for seismic forces as per the latest IS code has disclosed that the
reinforcement provided was less than the minimum prescribed in the code. This deficiency in design put the
occupant under serious risk.

In another case, in the preparation of artificial sea water a number of chemicals were used. Not knowing that
some of the chemicals were serious health hazard, a Helper mixed it water with his hand without using any
gloves. He carried out this work passionately. However, he fell sick and was hospitalized for multiple
complications of diseases and eventually he died prematurely at young age.

One Research Fellow meddled with the huge nut of a 60 mm MS bolt. He lifted it up from its hole and tried to
insert it again. It got stuck and was not able to be lowered in the hole. He was holding the bolt with his thumb
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Division – Civil Engineering

and first finger of his right hand. Unexpectedly the heavy bolt fell on his skin all of a sudden between the thumb
and first finger and the muscle was chopped off. He ignored the advice given to him to hold the bolt by EOT
crane.

Dangers Faced by Construction Workers

The leading safety hazards on site are: falls from height, motor vehicle crashes, electrocution,
machines, and being struck by falling objects. Some of the main health hazards on site are asbestos, solvents,
noise, and manual handling activities. Substandard materials, inadequacy in design, violation of codal
provisions, etc., can also contribute largely to safety hazards.

Non-workers and Hazards Faced by Them

Many construction sites cannot completely exclude non-workers. Road construction sites must often
allow traffic to pass through. This places non-workers at some degree of risk. Road construction sites are
blocked-off and traffic is redirected. The sites and vehicles are protected by signs and barricades. However,
sometimes even these signs and barricades can be a hazard to vehicle traffic. For example, improperly designed
barricades can cause cars that strike them to roll over or even be thrown into the air. Even a simple safety sign
can penetrate the windshield or roof of a car if hit from certain angles.

Safety and Health (S&H)

Safety in the context of civil engineering is the discipline of preserving the health of those who build,
operate, maintain, and demolish engineering works and of others affected by those works. Safety is defined as
the freedom from the danger of risks (Davies and Tomasin, 1996). Accidents that occur during construction and
demolition activities result in injury, mostly but not invariably, to employees on site. Accidents can occur even
before works begin, during survey and investigatory phases of a project, and they can also occur after the works
have been completed, because of faulty design or construction, causing death or injury to those engaged on
maintenance work and to members of the public (Anon., 2008b).

Importance of S&H in Civil Engineering Construction

In the civil and building construction works which involve excavation, and/or demolition, concrete
work, painting, roofing, operation of machines, plant and equipment, use of hand tools and many other
operations call for attention from relevant authorities, regulatory bodies, societies, scientists, professionals and
businessmen to establish safety and health management programs and laws governing construction works
activities (Mwombeki, 2005).

International Labour Organisation (ILO) and its Findings in the field of safety in construction are:

1. The accident rate in construction is four to five times higher than that of the manufacturing sector on the
global scale. There is an increase in the number of work related diseases associated with construction all over
the world.

2. After the initial employment, there is a dramatic increase in accident frequency over the following six to eight
months. This shows that more workers meet with accidents during the first year of their employment.
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3. A study conducted in four industrialized countries - Canada, Japan, UK and US - showed that danger in the
construction industry was more than four times than those in the manufacturing industry.

4. Another study of seven industrialized countries indicated that the average number of such occurrences per
1,00,000 workers was 12 per year, with some countries reporting 35 instances per 1,00,000 workers annually.

Indian Scenario

However, compared to other countries, there is precious little authentic data in respect of the accident
rates, causes or preventive measures taken by the Indian construction industry. No agency till date has been
assigned the responsibility to compile such records, and no voluntary efforts have been made in this regard.
However, as per one report at an all India level, 165 per 1,000 workers get injured during construction activities.
This is very high compared to the rates in the developed countries and even certain developing countries.

The reason why no agency has made any efforts in this direction is the lack of specific legislation on safety in
the construction industry till as recent as 1996. Before the passing of the Building and Other Construction
Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (BOCW Act), construction safety
fell within the mandate of Industrial Disputes Act, Central Labour Act and other related legislations. Central
Rules and the State Rules need to be made and the enforcing agencies need to be notified. However, till now
apart from the Centre only two states, namely Delhi and Kerala, have set up the necessary State Rules.

Manual Tasks

Manual tasks are a big part of construction work and include activities such as driving heavy
machinery, pushing a wheelbarrow, holding a plasterboard sheet while it is attached to the ceiling or using hand
tools.

Manual tasks cover any activity where you are required to grasp, manipulate, strike, throw, carry, move (lift,
lower, push, pull), hold or restrain an object or body part.

Hazardous Substances and Sun Exposure

People who work in the sun for all or part of the day have a high risk of developing skin cancer. Many of the
substances used on a construction site are potentially hazardous. Different hazardous substances have different
health effects and safe use requirements. Hazardous substances of particular concern in the building and
construction include:

• Silica dust
• asbestos
• Lacquers, polyurethanes, enamels and solvents used in spray painting.

Emergencies in Confined Spaces

In some construction workplaces there will be areas which are very high risk environments such as silos, vats,
pipelines, trenches, pits and crawl spaces.
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Working in confined spaces can be extremely dangerous. Part 15 of the Workplace Health and Safety
Regulation 2008 must be followed.

Emergencies happen on construction sites. Fire, explosion, structural collapse, gas leaks, as well as serious
injury or death can occur.

Details about emergency procedures must be outlined in the principal contractor’s construction safety plan and
during site-specific inductions.

Vibration

Vibration is a serious health risk for workers in the construction sector. The two main types are hand-
arm and whole-body vibration. The former can cause neurological and motor disorders in the hands and fingers,
as well as circulatory disorders in the fingers and disorders of the musculoskeletal system; the latter can lead to
lower back pain, and disorders of the sensory functions or fine-motor co-ordination. Using the right equipment
and making changes to the workplace, however, can reduce vibration considerably and safeguard the health of
workers. This E-Fact also includes details of the legislation covering vibration in the workplace (Anon., 2007).

Noise

In the demolition and construction industry a number of activities are notoriously noisy, for example,
rock breaking during demolition work or the operation of a jack hammer. The use of vibrating wacker plates,
electric tools, explosive powered nail guns and vibrators during concrete pours, all cause specific noise
problems for the operators and workers in the vicinity in relation to maintaining their hearing ability.

In the demolition and construction industry, a large variety of power tools, equipment and plant is used on a
daily basis. Rock breakers, jack hammers and similar types of equipment on demolition sites cause noise levels
ranging between 100 - 120dB at the operators’ ears. Because of their impulsive nature and the way our ears
operate, the noises from these rock breakers and jackhammers are potentially more hazardous to our hearing
than excessive noise from operating machines or power tools for example.

Explosive powered nail guns on construction sites may cause peak noise levels well in excess of 140dB at
operator ear level.

Electric saws, routers and planers can cause noise levels ranging between 90-100dB at the operator ear level.

Typically a large number of power tools are used for short periods at a time, for example to cut a piece of wood.
However, these activities occur many times per day and accumulate to a significant exposure during the day.

Almost all trades on demolition and construction sites are exposed to excessive noise on a daily basis, with form
workers, dogmen, concreters, line hands, steel fixers and carpenters having the highest exposures.

The noise levels they are exposed to are comparable to those in a nightclub or hotel where loud music is
produced.
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Typical Noise Sources

Some typical noise sources in the demolition industry at operator ear level include:

Rock breaker at 3 metres on concrete 90 - 92dB, on steel beam 98 – 101dB, Drott operating at 4 metres 93 - 94dB,
Jack hammer 100 - 110dB, Rotary screw compressor 88 - 90dB.

Some typical noise sources in the construction industry at operator ear level include:

Angle grinder 95 - 105dB, Back hoe 84 - 89dB, Explosive operated nail gun 125 - 147dB, Wacker plate
compactor 94 - 97dB.

A further risk to hearing is caused by combinations of noise sources in the ambient noise levels on construction
sites.

Noise Control Measures

As with all risk exposures in the workplace, risk management must be applied through a hierarchy of
control measures, i.e., elimination, substitution, engineering and/or administrative controls, and as a last resort,
(or as an interim measure), reliance on protective equipment.

Noise on construction or demolition sites should, wherever possible, be controlled through engineering and/or
administrative noise control measures.

Examples of controls for demolition work include:

• Efficient silencers or exhausts fitted on jack hammers, excavators, back hoes, dumpers etc. In extreme
noise sensitive areas so called ‘critical residential type mufflers’ can be fitted as a replacement of
existing exhausts. Noise reduction of about 15db can be achieved this way
• Hiring compressors with acoustical grade casings
• Keeping enclosure panels on compressors closed.

Examples of controls for construction work include:

• Maintaining pneumatic tools in optimum condition and keep air lines leaking
• Fitting silencers or mufflers
• Keeping power saw blades sharp
• Using vibration damped blades
• Clamping material to be cut
• Using partial acoustic enclosures, which can easily be moved around the site.

Where noise control cannot be achieved through these measures an employer should provide suitable personal
hearing protectors as well as proper instruction in their use so that exposed workers can perform their work in a
manner which is safe and without risks to their health and safety.
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Division – Civil Engineering

Unprotected exposure to excessive noise for as little as two minutes a day can cause permanent hearing damage.
Permanent hearing damage is just that, permanent. There is no cure.

Solutions to Construction S&H

It should be realized that implementation of safety and occupational health in construction works is not
only for compliance purposes. Provision of S&H policies/programs such as workers welfare arrangements, clear
and agreeable compensation plans, good working tools, conducive working environment and use of safety gear,
has positive result in the productivity for the company, hence increase profit. It should be the endeavour of the
Law Enforcing Authorities to inspect construction sites regularly to check inter alia provision of PPE and
Occupational Health programs. Also there must be a crack down program whereby the registered contractors
will be reviewed from time to time by inspecting the sites followed by visiting the offices to ascertain on the
staff employed, plants and equipment and maintenance of office premises as one of registration criteria as some
registered contractors after registration they do not keep key staff and others do not even maintain their offices,
plant and equipment as prerequisites for being a registered contractor. Two key observations from the initial
review of records relating to the excavation and trenching safety, point to the need for a competent person at the
work site and effective worker training prior to the commencement of construction operations.

Gambatese et al., (2008) have recommended designing for construction safety (DfCS). It is a process of
addressing construction safety and health in the design of a project. It recognizes construction site safety as a
design criterion and part of constructability.

Concluding remark

Civil engineering construction is arduous and manual intensive. It involves not only workers but also
others not related to construction. The construction procedures have to be of such a nature that they should not
endanger the safety of human lives. Materials and equipments used in construction also affect the health of
workers. Therefore safety and health occupies prime of the place in construction. With the boom in
infrastructural development and construction of multiple housing units the challenges posed to safety and health
in construction are many. In spite of this fact the agencies involved in construction like clients, contractors,
engineers, professionals do not bestow enough attention in the enforcement of the S&H policies in construction.
So the Law Enforcement Authorities have an important role to play in inspecting the construction sites to see
that all parties engaged in construction meticulously implement the S&H standards and procedures. In the latest
development DfCS has been recommended as a solution technique for the problems associated with S&H in
construction sector.

References

Anon., (2007), “E-fact 19 - Prevention of vibration risks in the construction sector,” European Agency for
Safety and Health at Work, 19.11.2007.

Anon., (2008a), “Two killed as under-construction bridge collapses in Delhi,” The Hindu, October 19.

Anon., (2008b), “Construction site safety,” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm,

Davies, V.J. and Tomasin, K., (1996), “Construction safety handbook,” Thomas Telford, 2nd Edition.
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Gambetese, J., Toole, M., and Giles, B., (2008), “The Future of Design for Construction Safety,” Proc., 18th
Annual Construction Safety Conference, Rosemont, Illinois, USA, February 12.

Mwombeki, F.K., (2005) “Occupational Health & Safety Challenges in Construction Sites in Tanzania,” Proc.,
4th Triennial International Conference: Rethinking and Revitalizing Construction Safety, Health, Environment
and Quality, Port Elizabeth – South Africa, May 17-20, pp. 778 -789.

U. S. Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1995), “Construction Industry-
OSHA Safety and Health Standards,” 29 CFR 1926/191, Revised July 1, 1995. Washington, D.C.