I. Reference
Buniya, M. K., Othman, I., Durdyev, S., Sunindijo, R. Y., Ismail, S., &
Kineber, A. F. (2021). Safety program elements in the construction industry:
the case of Iraq. International Journal of Environmental Research and
Public Health, 18(2), 411. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020411
II. Article Summary
Although it is essential to economic growth, the construction industry
also faces serious safety issues. In this article, the significance of safety
initiatives within the construction industry is examined, with comparisons
between industrialized and developing nations. Additionally, it illuminates
the unique situation of Iraq, where a rapidly expanding industrial sector is
accompanied by grave safety issues.
The main goal of safety programs in the construction industry is to prevent
accidents and injuries. To this end, they monitor and regulate workplace
conditions and behaviors. In the end, these programs reduce accidents,
fatalities, and related costs by thoroughly evaluating the workplace,
facilities, processes, and people. Effective safety initiatives not only improve
worker safety but also lower absenteeism, boost productivity, and boost
employee morale.
Developed nations have strong safety laws and regulations in place, as well
as efficient enforcement systems and extensive safety training programs. In
wealthy countries, these methods have considerably improved safety
program implementation. Contrarily, many developing nations struggle with
insufficient safety laws and weak enforcement, which frequently causes
safety issues on construction sites.
Iraq's building sector has grown remarkably, thanks in large part to strong
government support. But in 2018, it saw a concerning accident rate,
accounting for 38% of all industrial accidents. Surprisingly little research has
been done on safety in the Iraqi construction sector. This study tries to
pinpoint the crucial components of an Iraq-specific safety program to fill this
gap. The results of this study can educate top management and other
industry participants in Iraqi construction, empowering them to adopt
efficient safety programs and thereby improve safety performance.
The worldwide construction industry still struggles with unacceptable
high injury rates despite ongoing efforts to improve safety. For
instance, in the United States, the construction industry was
responsible for 28% of all work-related fatalities in 2018. Similar to
this, the UK saw three times higher-than-average fatality rate in the
construction sector in 2019. With 38% of all accidents occurring in
the construction sector, Iraq also faces a sizable difficulty. Even with
the use of cutting-edge building techniques and technology like
building information modeling and off-site production, there is still a
pressing need to improve safety performance, especially in
underdeveloped nations where there aren't enough laws and
enforcement to ensure it.
III. Critical Evaluation
Current Issues and Problems
The world's construction industry is struggling with consistently
high accident rates that are regarded to be too high. This issue
crosses international boundaries and has an impact on both
industrialized and developing nations. With startling figures from
many regions highlighting this issue, work fatalities, particularly in the
construction sector, stand out as being excessively high.
Construction accounts for a startling 28% of work-related fatalities in
the United States, putting a stark spotlight on the seriousness of
safety hazards in this sector. In the UK, where the building industry
also has a disconcertingly high fatality rate, the situation is not
noticeably different.
Iraq and other developing nations are battling their own set of
problems about safety performance in the building industry. Despite
having a booming economy and government support, a sizable share
of industrial accidents in Iraq still involves the construction sector.
The absence of sufficient safety standards and their
implementation in many developing nations, including Iraq, is one of
the main
causes of this appalling safety record. In these areas, safety concerns are
exacerbated by out-of-date safety standards and a lack of efficient
enforcement methods.
The lack of studies on safety in emerging countries like Iraq's building
industry is a serious issue that the essay raises. The improvement of safety
performance in these areas is significantly hampered by this research gap.
Implementing a safety program is a difficult task that needs a country-
specific diagnostic that takes operational and cultural variables into account.
There is a need for specialized safety initiatives, since what works well in
one nation may not be readily transferable to another.
The article highlights the significance of important components in the
context of safety programs, including management commitment, employee
involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety
and health training. These components are thought to be necessary for
comprehensively addressing safety-related issues. Safety issues are said to
be exacerbated by low levels of safety awareness among stakeholders
and employees.
Many difficulties developing nations must overcome to solve construction
safety issues. Their capacity to fulfill modern safety standards and compete
in the global construction market is hampered by outdated safety
legislation, ineffective enforcement, and low safety awareness. The
article emphasizes how intertwined the various safety components are,
emphasizing that management commitment and employee involvement are
key building blocks for successful worksite analysis, hazard prevention and
control, and safety training.
Successful Operating Procedures
An efficient safety program in the construction sector depends on
several key components that come together to foster a safer workplace.
These components work together and serve as the basis of a successful
safety program. There are several crucial procedures in this article and their
importance in dealing with safety concerns and difficulties in the
construction industry that were listed.
One of them would be that any successful safety program must have
the support of management. It entails the commitment and active
participation of top-level management in safety measures.
Management's dedication to safety creates a favorable atmosphere
throughout the entire firm. They set a good example for the rest of
the workforce by promoting safety through their leadership and
backing. Safety is prioritized in a culture that is created through
management commitment.
Equally important to promoting a safety culture in construction is
employee involvement. A safer workplace is one where employees
are encouraged to report dangers and actively participate in safety
procedures. Employees frequently participate in daily operations and
can offer insightful information about potential dangers and safety
enhancements. Their participation gives them the ability to assume
responsibility for both their own and their coworkers' safety.
A method that the article identified is Worksite analysis, which is the
assessment of the workplace to identify any current or potential
safety risks. To locate risks and potential hazards, routine worksite
analysis is crucial. This proactive strategy effectively reduces safety
concerns. Organizations can be ahead of potential risks and respond
quickly to corrections by routinely assessing the workplace. Worksite
analysis and hazard prevention and control go hand in hand. A
hazard prevention and control strategy must be in place after
hazards are discovered through worksite investigation. This system
comprises tactics and guidelines for preventing mishaps and injuries,
especially those brought on by recognized risks. To effectively
minimize hazards, it may require engineering controls, administrative
controls, and personal protective equipment.
Enhancing employee safety awareness, knowledge, and abilities
is a key function of safety and health training. Employees' knowledge
of safety policies, methods, and best practices is ensured via
ongoing safety and health training. Training programs help create
safer working conditions by giving employees the skills needed to spot
and fix safety
problems. Employees who receive proper training are better equipped to
handle situations and make wise choices that put safety first.
An efficient safety program in the construction sector is built on these
effective operational methods and components, which are interconnected.
Collectively, they help to raise production, decrease accidents, improve
worker morale, and improve safety performance. These procedures are
especially important for resolving the safety difficulties and challenges that
the construction industry, in both developed and developing nations, has
recognized.
IV. Reflection
The article makes a strong case for improving construction safety and
ends with a strong call to action. Construction safety is a universal
requirement, not just a local issue. The issues and solutions raised have
significant consequences for the construction sector, demonstrating that
maintaining safety on job sites is not only required by law but also by
moral obligation. The need for international cooperation is one of my most
important learnings. Across all industries and boundaries, there exist
safety problems. International progress toward safer construction sites can
be accelerated by the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and
effective safety solutions. Industry leaders, decision-makers, and
organizations must communicate and work together on a global level to
raise safety standards.
Regulatory improvements are the first step toward enhancing construction
safety in developing nations like Iraq. The first step is to strengthen safety
regulations and improve the means by which they are enforced. These
nations can learn from the successes of wealthy nations that have put
strong safety laws into place. It is possible to move more quickly toward
safer construction methods by studying these models.
Training programs for safety and health should be funded, as they
should be mandatory. Continuous training is an investment in the
human capital of experts and workers in the construction industry.
They gain the information and abilities necessary to maneuver
through the dynamic and frequently dangerous construction
conditions. Worker safety awareness is directly correlated with safer
work practices.
We didn't anticipate that the cultural component would play a role. A
basic prerequisite is cultural change. Safety should be a key value
engrained in the ethos of the construction industry, not an
afterthought. The top levels of management must lead this culture
change by being steadfastly committed to safety standards. It should
then infiltrate the entire organization and become engrained in every
building project, regardless of where it is. It is crucial to acknowledge
the necessity for context-specific safety procedures. Operational and
cultural elements that vary by location have an impact on
construction safety. Safety initiatives should therefore be tailored to
the local environment. Steps toward safer construction techniques
include research and the application of best practices.
The article concludes by serving as a reminder that everyone has a
role to play in ensuring construction site safety. It crosses boundaries
and calls for a coordinated effort from all parties involved. The
welfare of its employees and the communities it serves must be
given first priority by the construction sector. Construction sites could
become beacons of safety and wellbeing in the future if industry
leaders took cues from effective safety practices, encouraged
collaboration, implemented regulatory reforms, spent money on
training, and adopted a culture of safety. This path starts with
awareness, dedication, and a shared commitment to creating a safer
world one building project at a time.