Human Safety Management Practices in Construction Industry

Ripon Kumar Chakrabortty, Md. Mosharraf Hossain*, Md. Saiful Islam, Sonia Akhter and
Md. Asadujjaman
Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology,
Rajshahi-6204, Bangladesh

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Construction industry is considered to be one of the most significant industries in terms of contributing to GDP and
its impact on health and safety of the working population. Construction industry is economically and socially
important. However, the construction industry is also recognized to be the most hazardous sector. In developed
countries, recent advancement has contributed positively to industry productivity, but has created a more challenging
and unsafe working environment. Accidents and associated damages caused to the employees, properties,
equipments and morale have generated negative effects on profitability and productivity. Responding to this
increased safety requirement generated by technology advancement, construction industry in developed countries has
incorporated safety as an integral part in the regulatory framework.

In most developing countries, there is no proper safety management for raising consciousness among stakeholders.
This study investigates safety management system in construction industry, awareness to safety, accident patterns
and requirements for increasing productivity. Construction industry in Bangladesh is more labor intensive than that
in the developed countries. Most large firms do have a safety policy, on paper, but employees in general are not
aware of its existence. Major construction companies have established various safety procedures. However,
maximizing profit is the prime concern. Unsafe conditions exist on many sites and laborers are subjected to
numerous hazards. In most cases employees are required to learn from their own mistakes or experiences. In
addition, lack of medical facilities, shanty housing and substandard sanitation exist at remote projects.

Common problems in construction site are found as accidents due to cave-ins often occur while excavating in deep
trenches, concreting without using gloves and boots, weak scaffolding, absence of personal protection equipments,
long time exposure to extreme temperature, bad house keeping. The top ten safety non-performance practices found
on sites are no ear defender, protective footwear, face mask, safety helmet, gloves, eye protector, missing guardrails
at scaffold platform, uncovered openings, timber with nails and tools or small machineries not stored properly. The
major injuries faced are fall injuries, struck-by injuries, injuries by wastage and raw material, heat stroke, head
injuries, eye injuries and burning.

According to OSHA construction industry has to give emphasis on identifying and involving key members, effective
communication, managing contractors and identifying and quantifying hazards. Three aspects need to be included in
site layout planning as proper temporary facilities, proper safety zones and optimum placement of facilities.
Management should avoid long time worker, child worker, non- hygienic working environment and explosive
chemical. There should be some strategies such as job study/ observation, preventing accumulation of hazardous
material, reducing energy accumulation, separating individuals from energy, raising injury threshold, acclimatization
to working condition change, controlling behavior. Some ergonomic safety principles should be followed such as
safe way of doing job, remove unwanted event, comfort ness of worker, component failure should not cause property
damage, material handling procedure, lighting and safety symbols. There should be smoke detector, heat detector,
flame detector and as well as fixed automatic sprinklers and portable fire extinguishers, fire escape stairs, smoke
proof tower, emergency lighting and exits, fire alarm and smoke venting system.

Key word: Construction industry, Health, Safety.

 1. Introduction:
The number of fatalities at work in the construction sector remains a matter of serious concern for the Government,
employers and employees alike (HSA, 1999). Statistics on fatalities generally places the construction sector as the
second highest industry, only surpassed by the garments sector (in recent years). Among the most common sources of
fatalities in construction, falls from heights is the category that accounts for the highest proportion of deaths. A brief
comment of some statistics will be given below. Some international figures regarding fatality rates will also be
reported in the literature. The chance of an average worker sustaining a fatal work injury is slim – there were just 3.9
fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers in the United States in 2006, according to the most recent figures
from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). There were 5,703 overall work-related
fatalities in 2006.

One major goal of safety research is to support interventions that can demonstrably improve safety. However,
thorough empirical studies are rare and they normally focus on changing individual behavior. Duff et al. (1993) and
Robertson et al. (1999) carried out a two – phased study on the effectiveness of different intervention strategies.
Specifically, they looked at the effects of feedback, goal setting and training, on safety performance. They found that
the techniques used produced marked improvements in site safety, participative goal-setting being the more effective
of the three. However, a continuous and consistent intervention along the lifecycle of the site was recommended to
achieve the maximum benefit. The results also highlighted the vital role of management commitment in the
effectiveness of the intervention methods used. Lingard and Rowlinson (1998) used a similar design to Duff et al.
(1993) in the Hong Kong construction industry. They reported highly significant improvements in housekeeping with
their intervention. However, in general, the intervention did not result in significant improvements in the areas of
access to heights or bamboo scaffolding. Again, the main reason was the management commitment towards those
two areas of activity. They concluded in relation to that in “behavior-based safety management programs... safe
behavior can only be achieved where a basic safety infrastructure is already in place”. Other variables of interest,
such as attitudes and safety climate, have received little attention in the literature. For example, Langford et al.
(2000) carried out a research on safety attitudes in construction workers. This identified some variables that
influenced the attitude of construction workers towards safe behavior: organizing for safety supervision and
equipment management, industry norms and culture, attitudes to risk taking, and management behavior. However,
there are no data available for the influence of attitudes on behavioral or site performance. In her degree project,
Curran (2000) researched safety attitudes and the safety climate on one construction site. However, the results
cannot be generalized. To our knowledge, this is the only research on safety climate in the construction industry.
For workers in industries like mining, construction and agriculture, the odds weren’t quite as good – agriculture
workers saw 29.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers in 2006, while miners saw 27.8 fatalities per 100,000. Additionally,
construction and extraction occupations and transportation and material moving occupations accounted for nearly
half (48 percent) of all fatal work injuries in 2006.
According to the BLS, the following jobs had the highest fatality rates for 2006:

Fatality
rate (per
Jobs
100,000
workers)
Fishers and related fishing
141.7
workers
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers 87.8
Logging workers 82.1
Structural iron and steel workers 61
Refuse and recyclable material
41.8
collectors
Farmers and ranchers 37.1
Electrical power-line installers
34.9
and repairers
Roofers 33.9
Miscellaneous agricultural
21.7
workers
Source: U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) Fig 1: Fatality rate versus different job types
 Table 1: The top five most threatening industries based on fatality rates, according to the BLS:

Fatality
rate (per
Industries
100,000
workers)
Agriculture, forestry,
29.6
fishing and hunting
Mining 27.8
Transportation and
16.3
warehousing
Construction 10.8
Utilities 6.2
Source: U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) Fig 2: Fatality rate versus different industries

2. Research Methodology
To identify major areas which are mostly vulnerable for accidents and fatalities that have occurred in the construction
industry, data were collected from the Workplace safety report 2006 by Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies
(BILS). The number of injured persons, accident type, and accident description, type of project and injury results
were collected from each accident document. Also, another set of data was collected from U.S. Department of
Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) containing the highest fatality rates for 2006 in USA. To compare injuries
and fatalities that have occurred in the construction industry with those in all other industries, visits were conducted.
Accident results were presented according to economic activity in fiscal year 2006. Finally, to understand the extent
of safety problems and to evaluate the current procedures in controlling safety performance adopted at construction
sites, a number of interviews were conducted with laborers, safety engineers and top managers in government sectors
and private firms. These interviews were guided via a simple questionnaire covering areas such as safety records,
accidents statistics, accident costs and safety policy which are given in the attached appendix.

3. Data collection, Organization & Analysis

3.1 Construction safety performance in Bangladesh:

Construction in developing countries, such as Bangladesh, is more labor intensive than that in the developed areas of
the globe. In Bangladesh, there is a significant difference between large and small contractors. Most large firms do
have a safety policy, on paper, but employees in general are not aware of its existence. Nevertheless, a number of
major constructors exhibit a concern for safety and have established various safety procedures. They also provide
training for workers and maintain safety on the jobsite. For the majority of contractors, however, maximizing profit
is the prime concern. Unsafe conditions exist on many sites, both large and small, and laborers are subjected to
numerous hazards.

On many sites, no training programs for the staff and workers exist; therefore, no orientation for new staff or workers
is conducted, hazards are not pointed out, and no safety meetings are held. Employees are required to learn from
their own mistakes or experience. In addition, lack of medical facilities, shanty housing, and substandard sanitation
tend to exist on remote projects. Injuries generally are unreported; however, if necessary, a laborer might receive
first aid or preliminary medical care. In most cases, specialized medical treatment or compensation is unavailable.
Workers themselves consider accidents as due to their own negligence, and accept that construction is a dangerous
occupation. Nevertheless, major accidents involving the death of a worker may be reported due to the financial
expenses and litigation that could be involved. Maintenance and inspection schedules often are not followed, and
only after a breakdown is equipment repaired. This approach leads to loss of time, idle workers, and project delays. It
may also cause damage to property. Breakdown of concrete mixers, vibrators, water pumps, and tractors are
common. Electrocution is also a major hazard, due to use of substandard electrical equipment and underground
cables. Workers, especially young ones, take chances, and often do not follow safety norms or use personal
protective equipment. Also laborers and staff are sometimes are under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Unfortunately, crew members are not checked for drugs and alcohol before the start of and doing work.

According to accidents and violence at work in Bangladesh (workplace safety report 2006) (Prepared by-
Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies- BILS)

Table 2: Sector Basis accidents occurred in Bangladesh at reporting year 2006

Killed Injured Raped Total
Garments 141 1578 31 1750
Construction 107 195 -- 302
Domestic 35 31 13 79
Workers
Ship breaking 14 05 -- 19
Transport 30 01 -- 31
Fishermen 509 1541 -- 2050
Migrant Workers 13 -- -- 13
Shop Workers 19 12 -- 31
Port Workers 09 05 -- 14
Stone Collectors 11 30 -- 41
Tea Workers 04 12 -- 16
Electric Workers 09 01 -- 10
Rice Mill 07 31 -- 38
Workers
Cleaners 12 -- -- 12
Others 54 208 4 266
Total 974 3650 48 4672
Fig by
Source: Workplace safety report 2006 3: Total accidents
Bangladesh versusofdifferent
Institute sectors
Labor Studies

3.2 Causes of Accidents:

There are different type reasons for occurring accidents in construction sites. One of the reasons, workers non
performance activity of safety is most important. The top ten safety non-performance practices found on sites are as
follows.

 Ear defenders not worn (while using noisy equipment)

 Protective footwear not worn
 Face masks not worn (in dusty conditions)
 Guardrails are missing on working scaffold platforms
 Safety helmets not worn
 Gloves not worn (while handling materials which have sharp edges, hot or could cause skin problems)
 Openings left uncovered or unguarded
 Goggles or other items of eye protectors not worn (when using motorized cutting equipment, welding and
cartridge operated tools)
 Timbers left lying around, have nails left in
 Tools or small machinery not placed or stored properly.
3.3 Common problems at construction site:

Workers undertake a risk while at work and the following problem areas are common:

 While excavating in deep trenches (with no proper shoring or bracing), accidents due to cave-ins often
occur.
 Concreting is done mainly by laborers, and cements burns due to the unavailability of protective gloves and
boots are common.
 Workers fall from heights due to weak scaffolding and the unavailability of safety belts.
 Workers sustain injuries on the head, fingers, eyes, feet, and face due to absence of personal protection
equipment.
 Workers sustain temperature extremes.
 Workers also face electric shock or electrocution.
 There is improper house keeping

3.4 Major injuries:

Table 3: The major injuries faced by construction firms in Bangladesh on their project sites:

Causes Killed Injured

Landslide/ collapse 69 245
Fire Accidents 85 829
Electrocution 33 11
Road Accidents 82 170
Boiler or cylinder blasts 10 118
Slipping from the roof 16 34
Gas Suffocation 14 --
Rolling with ribbon of machine 3 --
Thunderbolt 12 45
Trawler Capsize 502 1500
Others 15 204
Source: Workplace safety report 2006 by Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies- BILS)

4. Recommendations for maintaining maximum safety workplace

4.1 Defining Temporary Facilities

The temporary facilities are needed to support construction operations and to provide services for the workers on
site. Good facilities can have a positive benefit on health and well being and can help prevent dermatitis. Necessary
temporary facilities and services range from access roads, lay down areas, warehouses, and batch plant, to first aid
office, toilet on site, and labor rest area. Construction workers need adequate toilet and washing facilities, a place to
warm up and eat their food, and somewhere to store their clothing. The size and number of these facilities should
reflect the site size, nature of the work, and numbers of people who will use them. If a large number of people are
working on site or the work being carried out is particularly dirty or involves a health risk (e.g. pouring concrete),
more washing facilities are needed. Important facilities and services are listed below.
4.1.1 Site access
Easy site accessibility will keep the morale of the equipment and vehicle drivers high, minimize the chance of
accidents, and save time in maneuvering to access and leave the project. In large projects, proper planning is required
for the roads leading to the nearest highway, internal roads, and parking lots (if enough space is available).
4.1.2 Site offices
Site offices should be close together, close to the construction space, and in a safe area. Their location should provide
a good view with less noise from construction operations. In addition to the job office, offices should be provided for
the general contractor, sub-contractors, and consultants.
4.1.3 Welfare facilities
Minimum welfare facilities should be provided on construction sites to comply with the construction health and
safety regulations. Welfare facilities may include: toilets, washing, changing, personal storage, and rest areas. Such
facilities (more than one of each type if necessary) should be easily accessible and have adequate heating, lighting,
and ventilation.
4.1.4 First aid
First aid services and provisions for medical care shall be made available.
4.1.5 Housekeeping
During the course of construction, formwork and scrap lumber with protruding nails, and all other debris, shall be
kept cleared from work areas, passageways, stairs, buildings, or other structures. Debris shall be removed at regular
intervals during the course of construction with safe means. Containers shall be provided for the collection and
separation of waste, trash, oil, and other refuse.
4.1.6 Workshops
Workshops are used where materials and equipment are fabricated on site. This includes electrical, mechanical,
carpentry, and paint shops. Also, testing shops used to house the necessary testing equipment and personnel.

4.1.7 Material storage and handling

It is necessary to plan and reserve storage areas for materials so that multiple movement of material is avoided. Lay
down areas, staging areas, and warehouses are used for material storage and they are generally located as close to
work as possible. One third or more of all construction operations can be classified as material handling. The use of
proper equipment for material handling, and advanced planning for minimizing multiple handling will result in direct
cost and time savings.

As described earlier, falls represent the major cause of accidents in construction site (33% of the construction
fatalities). In order to reduce accidents, proper safety zones around construction areas should be provided to prevent
harm from falling objects. Some of the regulations were described by the uniform building code (UBC 1985),
including: at least 10 feet clearance from buildings or structures shall be kept clear from using, driveways between
and around open yard storage shall be at least 15 feet wide and free from accumulation of rubbish, and materials
stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoist way or inside floor opening.
Accordingly, a proper site layout planning model should allow the use of safety zones around construction areas,
hoists, cranes, and lay down (storage) areas.

4.2 Strategies for controlling accidents:

Some strategies are very much important for controlling accidents. They are:
 Job study/Observation.
 Preventing accumulation of hazardous material
 Reducing the amount of energy accumulation
 Preventing or modifying release of energy
 Separating individuals from energy by place & time
 Raising the injury threshold. Example: Joint mobility, muscle-strong etc.
 Acclimatization: Bodies gradual adjustment to a change in climate or working condition.
 Controlling behavior. Example: horse play at abnormal workers, drug , alcohol etc.

4.3 Ergonomics for accident control:

 There are some ergonomic safety principles:
 Safe way of doing thing
 Remove unforeseen or unwanted event
 Comfortable position of worker
 Failure of a product should not cause property damage
 Worker should be taught about how to the use of handling devise
 Proper lighting
 Use of safety symbols such as red light for danger, green light for safe.
4.4 Fire protection & Control in plants and factories:
The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101-1981) gives the following criteria for the fire escape stair design:
 Fire escape stairs ideally extend to the street or ground level. When sidewalks would be obstructed by
permanent stairs, swinging stair section (designed to the swing down with the weight of a person) may be
sued for the lowest flight of the fire escape stair.
 Smoke proof tower are safest from of stairs enclosure recommended by the Life Safety Code. Access to the
stair tower is only by balconies open to the outside air, vented shafts, so that smoke and fire will not readily
spread into the tower even if the doors are accidently left open.
 Well-designed emergency lightings provide the necessary illumination automatically. The necessary exit
floor illumination will be automatically maintained in the event of failure of the normal lighting of the
building.
 These must have exits wide enough to handle occupants from upper floors as well as occupants from the
various public section of the building. Two exits are the minimum required for hotel occupants.
 If there is only one means of agree, caution must be taken to ensure that occupants cannot be trapped by the
construction or design of a tower. Fire alarm system must be needed.
 These present special life safety risks because of the difficulty of venting combustion products. They must
have complete automatic sprinkler protection and automatic smoke venting system. Outside access panels
are required for windowless buildings.
 For avoiding fire and controlling fire immediately following notice board must be placed inside the industry
or at every production floor.
 When placing portable fire extinguishers, select locations that will:
 provide uniform distribution
 Provide easy access and be relatively free from temporary blockage
 Be near normal paths of travel
 Be near exits and entrances
 Be free from the potential of physical damage
 Be readily available.

CONCLUSION
In terms of occupational safety and health, there are volumes of materials, information and aids available to anyone.
There are now more safety practitioners, advisors and consultants. The fast face at which Malaysia is advancing
technologically means that information and guidance on any safety and health issues can easily be accessed. Even
the government is trying their level best to curb the astounding accident statistics and every effort is being made to
make the work site more conducive. Unfortunately the work sites are far from perfect and are still unsatisfactory.
This is mainly due to the attitude of those involved in the industry, in short apathy. This greatest fallacy of all is the
old cliché: “nothing serious has so far happened, so perhaps we have got it under control. there is really no need to
do anything more about it, and anyway, nasty things always happen to other people. they will not happen to us”. The
only tool to fight apathy is education. This issue has rightfully been codified in the OSH Act 1994,15 (s)(c) which
requires the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision. A proper safety system should identify
the four fundamental issues of involving key members, effective communication, managing contractors and risk
identification. This will in turn ensure the construction site is a safer and comfortable place to work.
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 Appendix (Set of Questionnaire)

Fig4: Report of Injury or dangerous occurrences

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Date of injury injury accident number

Nature of injury Department

Name of injured worker Occupation

1. How many other workers lost time as watching, talking or helping

2. How much time did they lose?

3. How much time did injured worker lose on the day of injury for which he was paid?

4. If operation was stopped, how much overtime was needed to make up lost production?

5. How much supervisor’s time was used assisting, reporting & adjust workloads?

Medical cost to the organization (not covered by insurance) Tk.

Cost of time by other clerical work involved in processing accident paperwork Tk.

Cost of replacement & repair damaged equipment Tk.

Lost production costs (overtime & extra supervision) Tk.

Cost of supervisor’s time connected with the accident Tk.

Other costs Tk.

Total uninsured costs Tk.

Signature Date

Fig 5: Accident cost report