Safety Management Safety is one of the vital issues in the success of the project.

Safety programme ensures the worker to be mentally and physically prepared to execute a job quickly, fearlessly and efficiently. Safety is a way of life. It must be part of every individual at every time during performance of any activity. Working in a fearless protected environment makes the team to be more productive and efficient. Safety is an important parameter to measure a project, as cost of implementation and time of completion of the project. Although every manager, supervisor, worker accept their safety requirement , but it is by-passed by just lip service . Construction is highly accident prone industry. In India, construction industry is labour intensive , with unskilled and untrained worker . Fatal accidents and minor accidents are very frequent. For example, it has been reported that more than two people died in the construction of dam like Bhakhara-Nangal project . In out country, in construction work, a large number of inexperienced laborers are employed. They are unaware of the hazard during their work and generally the companies hardly make an effort to explain this worker's inherent risk involved with the job. Medical check-up of the workers is not carried out before engaging them in the construction work. Also, many accidents occur due to the use of improper tools and equipments. Improper methods and processes are used to cut the time of execution. Such as scaffoldings are not properly made, ladders are not checked properly. Many a time poor quality of safety belts are used, which gets broken during accident. The major causes of accidents in construction industry are due to 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. fall from high elevation . electrocution . being struck by equipment . being caught by equipment . trench excavation , cave-in . drowning ( bridge and offshore construction ) . Overexertion .

It has been found that more than 40-50% of accidents due to fall from height or fall of an object. Salient Points of Safety Management
y

It is the responsibility of the construction manager to create safety programs that will prevent these accidents .
1

y y y

The philosophy of the company must be that all accidents are prevented and the actions expected to accomplish that goal must be clearly stated to the employees. Without a safety plan , a project cannot be described as a successful construction project . The safety should be the highest priority of the company . The company must be committed to the improvement of safety . The safety code of conduct should be communicated to the employees in the company , who should also be made aware of the pros and cons of the accidents. A company with a better culture of safety attracts the right kinds of employees and builds a good , consistent safety record . During the project planning in the beginning of the work , a unique job-specific safety plan must be developed . Task specific hazard should be addressed daily .

Safety Programs Safety program should be developed as a culture of the company . It should be at all times , at all places and all types of work . Every employee of the company should think and work about safety . Supervisors and managers play a very important role in safety management . The workers should feel that the safely constraints are for their betterment . A company can develop it own plan and culture . Some of the major components of a company safety plan should be 1. 2. 3. 4. First aid equipment should be available and known to the employee . Every employee's need requires personal safety equipment . Formal training program for each employee should be mandatory . Procedures for emergency evacuation of injured employees should be clearly explained and employees should be trained for such situations . 5. Safety record and accident report of the company should be honestly examined . 6. Site visit requirement for supervisory personnel plays a very important role in safety management . 7. Training for all supervisors and the managers should be mandatory. Contract Requirement The role of the owner in the safety management is vital . The cost and time is also dependent on the safely management . In India , large infrastructure construction is carried out by the government agencies . Safely should be included in the contracts and pre-qualification . It has been observed that construction is carried out by many small constructors , and they do not follow the safely rules properly . That is why the owner and the government agencies can enforce the safety .Their safety plan should be included in the contract i.e. it
2

is a part of the contract and safety performance should be measured against the owner's plan . Safety guidelines for Personnel Conduct 1. Employees should always wear hard hats , safety shoes , eye protection , ear protection , in noisy areas . 2. Equipment operator should have the license and training with the equipment operation and safety norms . 3. Stay out of dangerous places . 4. One should not work alone on the site , when other employees are not on the site. 5. New employees should make themselves conversant with safety norms from senior persons of the department . Reasons for safety management a. Humanitarian side : Construction industry in any country is comparatively highly accident prone . The number of fatal accidents , as well as injuries in which workers become disabled or reduced in efficiency ,is higher as compared to other industries . The death of a worker , creates a vacuum in the family earning as well as psychological and emotional disruption of the family . The main purpose of improved safely is to minimize human pain and suffering , to the worker's family or to the worker , that results due to accident or work induced illness . Loss of a skilled worker is a damage to the construction industry . Skilled workers are scarce and considerable time as well as money is spent on their training . b. Economics of safety : The premiums for insurance for equipments and manpower depends upon the past safety record of the company . If the accident rate is high , the insurance company has more risk . Thus , there will be higher premiums . If a good safety record is maintained , less premiums has to be paid . Second point is regarding compensation , to the family of the worker or to the worker himself . If the accident rate is higher , the company has to pay more money . In advanced countries , the owner also looks into the contractors insurance costs and safety record . When the indirect as well as the direct costs of accidents and illness are examined , costs associated with insurance premiums and claims settlements are only a small part of the whole . Indirect and impact costs resulting from disrupted production , reduced morale of employee , lower productivity or worker
3

and ripple effects on the interrupted project schedule can be several times the direct costs associated with hospitalization , disability pay , spoiled materials and damaged equipment . An improved safety management plan reduces these direct and indirect costs incurred due to accidents . It has been pointed out that the expenses in improved safety and health is an investment . c. Legal aspect of accident : In India , there is not a no separate law regarding the safety of construction workers . But it falls under the labour laws and criminal laws . After accidents , it is reported to the concerned police station . There are a lot of problems due to investigation , regarding the cause of accident , and the compensation demanded to the contractor , owner and even co-workers . d. Organization problems : Past safety records of the construction company plays a very important role in the employment of workers , getting contracts , pride among peers . It inculcates high productivity , high morale and stronger loyalty of the worker to the organization . e. Health hazards : Health hazards include those activities which cause problems to life , in long such - head radiation , noise , dust , shocks and vibrations , toxic chemical . Implementation Guidelines Company should prepare comprehensive guideline for different personnel and processes. Following guidelines can be prepared. Behavioral approaches to safety and health
y y y y

Guidelines for top managers . Guidelines for superintendents of project . Guidelines for foreman manager . Guidelines for workers .

Physical approaches to safety and health y y y y y y

Education and training in correct methods and procedures . Utilization of safety certified tools in well condition . Use of equipment for personal protection such as hard hats , seat belt , ear plugs , etc . Good house keeping on job sites . Frequent and thorough job site inspections by knowledgeable and objective professionals . Incorporation of safety review .