SAFETY ENGINEERING

10 MOST
COMMON
HAZARD IN A
CONSTRUCTION
SITE
EMMANUEL CARLO TALAVERA
SHARLIZE SUMADSAD


NOISE

Noise is a typical construction hazard since

construction is noisy. Long-term hearing impairments,

such as deafness, are caused by loud, repeated, and

excessive noise. Noise may also be a harmful

distraction, since it can take the worker's attention

away from the activity at hand, perhaps resulting in an

accident. It is the contractor's obligation to conduct a

thorough noise risk assessment and, if necessary, supply

proper personal protective equipment (PPE).



MATERIAL HANDLING

Whether by hand or by machine, materials and

equipment are continually lifted and transported about

construction sites. In any case, handling entails some

danger. Where manual handling is required, proper

training must be provided. If an employee is needed to

use lifting equipment, they must be instructed on how

to operate it and must pass a test to ensure that they

are capable of doing so safely.



ELECTRICITY

Electrical live parts can be dangerous if you are exposed

to them. Direct contact with live components can cause

harm, as can indirectly contact a conducting object or

substance. Electric shocks are a common cause of falls

from ladders, scaffolds, and other work platforms. There is

also a growing number of electrocutions involving workers

who are not qualified electricians but who are carrying out

electrical work on construction sites. Always hire workers

who are experienced in this type of field and always turn

off the breaker or use proper materials while working



WORKING AT HEIGHT

All personnel who work at a height must have appropriate

training. Employees should be taught how to operate securely on

scaffolding, ladders, and rooftops, among other items of

equipment and surfaces. A strategy should be created to

guarantee that all work is completed safely. The individual must

have had proper training in working at heights and be aware of

the safety protocols that must be followed.

PRECAUTIONS:

If at all possible, avoid working at a height. For example, if anything can be built on

the ground level, do so.

To lessen the chance of a deadly fall, use equipment with an extra level of safety—for

instance, a scaffold with two guardrails.

Reduce the severity of a fall by providing a safety net, for example.



MOVING OBJECT

A building site constantly changes, and construction

dangers arise as work progresses. On construction

sites, there are many moving objects to be found.

Overhead lifting equipment, supply vehicles, and

diggers are examples that travel about the uneven

ground.

PRECAUTIONS:

Working near a moving item should be avoided.

Be aware of their surroundings, particularly if the object lacks lights or beepers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as a high-visibility jacket, should be worn to

guarantee that they are spotted.



TRENCHES
There is a risk of workers falling into open trenches or being

crushed by materials that haven't been properly shored up

whenever there are open trenches or excavation on a job site.

According to the CDC and NIOSH, there were 97 trenching

fatalities in the construction industry from 2013 to 2017, an

average of 19 per year.

PRECAUTIONS:

Excavations less than 5 feet deep don’t require protective systems as long as the

sides are stable.

Excavations of more than 5 feet need to employ sloping or benching tactics to the

walls.

Consider the kind of support that is best suited for the trench.

Regularly inspect the trench both before and during the work shift.


VIBRATION
Workers who use vibrating equipment, such as jackhammers, are

at risk of developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). This

excruciating disease is caused by repeated contact with

vibrating hand tools. Symptoms can last for a long time, even

after workers stop working.

PRECAUTIONS:

Workers should use appropriate protection when working with vibrating hand tools and

reduce the hours of exposure per day.

Tools should be well maintained to reduce the amount of vibration.

Construction workers should be given appropriate protection when using vibrating

tools, and equipment should be well maintained.



AIRBORNE SUBSTANCE

Asbestos and silica in the air can cause long-term illness or

breathing problems. When performing demolition services or

cutting through materials, workers may be exposed to these

substances. OSHA cited 2,527 respiratory protection violations

in 2021.

PRECAUTIONS:

Workers should use proper facemasks and respirators when working with potentially

hazardous materials, such as asbestos, silica, and lead.

Workers must be medically fitted for respirators and see a doctor once a year for a

checkup when using them long-term.



SCAFFOLDING/LADDERS

The incorrect use of scaffolding and ladders can result in

serious injury or death. Scaffolding may collapse as a result of

structural instability, overloading, planking, or support failure.

PRECAUTIONS:

Regularly inspect ladders and scaffolding for potential damage.

Use the proper ladder for the construction work being done.

Make sure that scaffolding is erected and used correctly.



CAUGHT IN/BETWEEN

When a person becomes caught, squeezed, crushed, pinched, or

compressed between two or more objects or parts of an object,

they are said to be caught in or between hazards. Unguarded

moving machinery, excavation, trenches, moving materials,

vehicles, or equipment can all pose a safety risk.

PRECAUTIONS:

To avoid this safety hazard, only use machinery that is properly guarded, use proper

lockout/tag-out procedures, and de-energize equipment before doing maintenance.

Don’t go between moving materials, practice trench safety, and stay out of the swing

radius of cranes and other equipment.