Importance of Construction Safety Management

Last Updated on February 10, 2022 by Admin

Safety in construction is an essential requirement, but it is often neglected on construction sites. Historically, construction workers suffer more fatal and nonfatal injuries than other industries. Appropriate measures should be taken to improve safety at the site to prevent loss of limbs and life, suffering, and damage from preventable accidents. We have discussed here the safety management in the construction industry.

Most of the accidents in the construction industry are caused by a lack of proper education and training regarding safety measures and because of negligence and ignorance on the part of either the worker or the management or both.

In recent years, the construction industry has taken many steps to ensure safe working conditions and work practices, yet the occupation remains hazardous. Prevention of accidents is a significant aim of construction management, both for human and financial consideration.

The importance of safety management in construction and safety management system in the building is paramount.

Effective safety management in construction projects ensures the proper administration of the safety precautions to be carried out at the construction site.

Health and safety management in construction for construction equipment, machinery, materials, and other hazardous materials make the most favorable working conditions on the construction site.

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Types of Construction Accidents

A construction accident can be rooted in equipment failure, design ignorance, working carelessness, natural disasters, etc. In addition, based on the location, there are tunnel accidents, highway construction accidents, and residential building site accidents, to name but a few. The most common construction accidents include:

Fall from Height.
Crane or Hoist Accidents
Slips and falls from stray tools and materials.
Being struck by falling objects.
Getting caught in or between objects.
Fires and explosions.
Gas leaks
Forklift Accidents
Electrocutions
chemical spills
Trench Collapses.
Defective Tools and machinery.
Defective safety equipment.
Machinery accidents

construction accident Info graphic — **Image Source: https://www.ehstoday.com**

Construction safety management system

Construction and demolition worksites pose unique hazards and risks that endanger worker safety and health. Occupational safety and health management systems help organizations continuously identify and eliminate safety and health risks, reduce incident potential, comply with regulations and implement risk-reducing interventions.

Scope of safety management in Construction

A safety management system provides a systematic way to identify hazards and control risks while maintaining assurance that these risk control are effective; safety management during the construction phase covers:

Identification of workplace risk when planning work and implementation of appropriate controls to avoid personal injury and property damage.
Monitoring of work to provide early detection and correction of unsafe practices and conditions.
Implementation of effective communication across all levels of the organization.
Protecting the adjacent public and private properties.
Providing safety education and incentive programs.
Complying with occupational, health, and safety rules and requirements.

Important Personal protective equipment

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is equipment that will protect the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include safety helmets and hard hats, gloves, eye protection, high visibility clothing, safe footwear, and safety harnesses.

PPE aims to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative control are not feasible or practical to reduce these risks to an acceptable level. PPE is needed when there are hazards present. PPE has the limitation that it does not eliminate the hazard at the source and may result in employees being exposed to the hazard if the equipment fails.

Safety Helmet

Waterproof Safety Boot

Safety Goggles

Ear Muffs

Welding Gloves

Dust Mask

Ear Plugs

Chemical Resistant Gloves

Safety Belts

Reflective Vest

Life Buoy

Safety Risk Assessment process

Even the fastest-growing construction companies still run the risk of a significant accident. Construction accidents don’t just happen on their own, either. It’s usually the result of a series of events that ultimately led to the incident.

When a construction worker is injured in an accident, it affects not just his life and livelihood but also the company’s future. Construction accidents are largely preventable, and companies should take every possible precaution to do their part in training, educating, and protecting their employees.

Following is the safety risk assessment process for proper safety management in the construction industry.

Step 1: Identify Hazards.

Step 2: Assess the Risks

Step 3: Control the Risks

Step 4: Monitor/Review control Measures.