1 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects Author
Professor Ken Agyekum-Kwatiah
Project
The Docklands Shopping Centre (London)
Date published
2nd February 2018
Available at
University of East London
Via Linkedin
ICEPE-UK
ResearchGate
Issuu
http://professorken.wixsite.com/professorken-uk/useful-links-downloads
Content Introduction Working at height Electrocution Moving objects Trips, Slips and Falls Air pollution - Dust Asbestos materials Loud Noise Collapse of structures, excavations, etc. The value of good housekeeping Conclusion Reference
2 2 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 11 12
2 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Introduction According to BERR1 (2011), compliance with health and safety regulations boots economic performance. However, findings by the FSB 2 (2011) suggests that, health and safety compliance cost for many construction organizations is rising due to high cost of insurance and other economic factors combined with ignorance, complacency and other bad workplace cultures. Consequently, the construction industry is plagued with several health and safety problems associated with accidents including some fatalities. Also, occupational hazards associated with Material & Manual handling/lifting, Asbestos and Noise remain a concern.
Working at height The risks associated with height working are often exacerbated by access and mobility restrictions. Common causes are falls from ladders and through fragile roofs. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR, see Figure x) require the duty holders to ensure:
1
All work at height is properly planned and well organised;
Take account of weather conditions that can affect health and safety;
Adequate training for height workers and hat they are competent;
Safe height working environment; appropriately inspected equipment;
Well controlled fragile surfaces risks; and
Previously, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulation Reform, now, the Department for Business, Transport and Skills (DBTS) 2 Federation of Small Businesses
3 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects

Well controlled falling objects risks (HSE, 2005).
There are many cases that require common sense and preventative practice (e.g. pre-work risk assessment). Height working should be avoided if at all possible, and if necessary, the right equipment must be used to minimize the distance and consequences of a fall ( HSE, 2014) (figure X).
4 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Electrocution Construction site electrocutions amongst unqualified electrician workers (e.g. plumbers) as well as those working near overhead power lines, and refurbishing buildings, are common. Work should be carried out on live systems in exceptional circumstances only, and only by competent authorised persons. PPE3 (e.g. Safety glasses or a face shield, Insulating gloves, and a helmet) should be used as a further precaution alongside other control measures (e.g. good working practice). One must not rely solely on PPE for protection. Rather, priority must be given to good practice (Petty, 2016).
3
Personal Protect Equipment
5 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Moving objects Construction environment can be hectic with moving object (Figure 6): Constantly moving vehicles and trades people; supply vehicles and damper trucks moving in and out, overhead lifting equipment shifting heavy loads; etc., leading to high risk circulation conflict environment (Alcumus, 2014)
6 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Trips, Slips and Falls Slips, trips, and falls is a constant daily occurrence particularly as construction sites would have holes in the ground, buildings are at different stages of completion, scaffolding, stored materials and equipment, etc.. Prevention require effective site management that takes into consideration safe movement in respect of uneven surfaces, obstacles, trailing cables, wet/slippery surfaces and alterations in levels. For instance, good housekeeping (tidy work/storage areas), planning deliveries to reduce the amount of site materials, having designated areas for waste collection and clarifying waste removal responsibilities can help (HSE, 2018). See Figure 8 and 9).
7 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Air pollution - Dust Construction sites activities generate plenty of dust (often invisible, fine, toxic mixture of hazardous materials and fibbers) (See Figure 10). Work-related respiratory disease (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and silicosis) are caused or worsened by breathing in hazardous substances (LHC, 2018). Beyond issuing PPE, employers have a responsibility to ensure protective equipment is actually used. Workers need to know about dangerous substances and how to respond to their presence.
Asbestos materials An estimated 500,000 public buildings in the UK are believed to harbour harmful asbestos materials. They are harmless in undisturbed state (Alcumus
8 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
4
, 2014). Asbestos fibers cause fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis) which can lead to reduced
respiratory function and death. Long-term inhalation also increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (CCOHS 5, 2017). If found on site or identified by the EIR, only professionally trained personnel must deal with it (Figure 11). Good housekeeping notice must be displayed accordingly (Figure 12).
Loud Noise
4
With head quarters in Cardiff, Alcumus Group is an accreditation body offering all types of risk management solutions including asbestos surveying 5 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
9 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Regular, permanently hearing damage can result from frequent exposure to loud noise. Exposure to unexpected, extremely loud noise can cause instant damage some people develop tinnitus6. Other occupational health risks include: Contact dermatitis 7 (skin inflammation); Hand-arm vibration (HAV)8 ; stress9; and Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) an injury which affects the muscles, joints, tendons or spinal discs (LHC, 2018). Both material & manual handling must be aligned with adequate training to confirm competency. Records of all training must be kept up to date and maintained for verification (HSE, 2006).
Collapse of structures, excavations, etc. The collapse of excavations, trenches, roofs, scaffoldings, etc. are a regular construction site feature with fatal consequences. all high risk construction work involving the formwork erection, concrete pouring and formwork stripping processes must receive special considerations in a Safe work method statements (SWMS) as part of the Project Execution Plan (PEP).
6
Ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears. arise from contact with a range of site materials 8 transmitted through operating of hand-held power tools or holding materials being processed by a machine 9 HSE defines stress as ‘an adverse reaction to excessive pressure' 7
10 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
The value of good housekeeping The importance of good housekeeping for dealing with site health and safety cannot be emphasized enough. The CDM Regulations 2015 obliges people involved in construction work to protect from harming themselves and anyone else the work affects. Amongst other thigs, it aims to improve health and safety by encouraging sensibly planning of work to allow risk management from start to finish; Maintain the right information about risks and how they are managed; Communicate this information efficiently to those who need to know; and Consult and engage with workers about risks and on how they are being managed (UKGBL 10 2012).
10
UK Government Business Link
11 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
Conclusion Traditionally, construction project risk is marginalized or addressed reactively. Managing the risk involves identifying, assessing, planning, monitoring and controlling. Risk management process (Figure 17 above) has already been covered in Part B (ii). The practice must be built into the work culture where everyone is involved and everyone is playing an active role towards a safe work environment
12 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
13 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
14 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects
15 | Principal Health and Safety Factors to be Considered during the Construction Phase of Building Projects