University of the Assumption

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Architecture
Unisite Subdivision, Del Pilar, City of San Fernando, Pampanga

College of Engineering and Architecture

ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT

CEA_ Construction Management: Function of

a Basic Human Resource of a Basic Manager
First Semester AY 2024-2025
Ar. Rhoel Pineda
Instructor

Name of Student: Jeremiah S. Chan

Student Number: 2020000958

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 Hazard Assessment in Construction

A hazard assessment aims to identify dangerous factors in construction projects.

Before discussing how and when a risk assessment is performed, it helps to define

what a risk is. A risk is a chance that a hazard will cause someone injury, illness,

harm or other damage.

Usually, hazard assessment is a three-part process that involves:

 Identifying hazards

 Analyzing and evaluating risk

 Controlling the risk

While one of the goals of a hazard assessment is the prevention of injuries, there are

additional reasons to perform an assessment. A risk assessment allows you to:

 Determine who is at risk, such as employees or site visitors

 Raise awareness of the risk and any hazards

 Determine if existing measures are adequate for controlling the risk or if you

need to take further action

 Decide if you need a particular control program for a hazard

 Fulfill any legal requirements, if applicable

When performing a risk assessment, it’s likely you’ll need to answer a series of

questions. Finding an answer to your questions can help determine the best way to

control specific liabilities and minimize hazards. A few of the things to ask as you

perform the risk assessment are:

 What could happen?

 What circumstances need to exist for the hazard to be present?

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  What are the consequences of doing nothing to correct the hazard?

 What is the likelihood of the consequences occurring?

 What can you do to control the risk?

 Are you effectively controlling the risk, or do you need to take further action?

“Safety. Quality. Performance.” – Houck

Construction Project Hazard Assessment Checklist: How to Perform a Hazard

Assessment

Ideally, the person who performs a risk assessment at a construction site will be

familiar with the project, with construction in general and who has a good idea of the

issues at hand. The risk assessment process typically involves four steps.

1. Identify Hazards

You want to classify any hazards that might be present on the job site or that might

arise during a project. One way to go about identifying hazards and the risks

connected to them is to think of specific tasks that will be part of the project. From

there, you can assess any dangers that could come up and what the risks connected

to them might be. When looking for these liabilities, remember to:

 Keep the big picture in mind.

 Refer to accident reports from past projects for an idea of hazards that were a

concern previously.

 Account for anyone who might be present at the construction site, including

visitors such as clients and delivery drivers.

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  Take unusual conditions, such as a severe storm or power outage, under

consideration.

 Examine equipment to see if altering it could change its safety features.

 Consider different groups of employees, as risk level can vary based on

experience or overall health.

2. Assess the Risk the Hazards Present

The next step is to determine the severity of the risk a hazard creates. You want to

evaluate not only how likely a particular hazard is to cause harm, but how bad the

harm could be. When analyzing risk, consider dangers that are present under

normal, day-to-day circumstances, as well as during unusual periods, such as when

there’s severe weather, an emergency or a power outage.

To get a sense of the potential risk presented, review any information available, such

as the operator’s manual for equipment, safety data sheets, inspection reports, test

results, accident reports and studies from reputable third parties.

When ranking risks, you can evaluate the severity of the risk as well as the

probability of it. For example, the severity ranking of a risk can range from low to

high. A low risk might be one that results in a minor injury, such as a cut or bruise. A

high risk might be one that causes a fracture, fatality or the loss of a significant

amount of blood.

A highly probable risk might be one that is likely to occur at least once a year, while a

less probable risk is one that is likely to occur just once during a lifetime.

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 3. Identify Actions You Can Take to Minimize or Reduce Hazards

There are several actions you can take to minimize the risk particular hazards

present. One option is to eliminate the risk by removing the danger. For example,

you can send employees home if wet weather makes the construction site slippery,

increasing the chance of falls.

Another option is to introduce controls that will either eliminate a hazard or reduce it

enough that it no longer presents a significant risk. For example, if one piece of

equipment is particularly hazardous, you might replace it with a safer one, such as a

newer, more reliable model.

4. Confirm You Have Corrected the Hazard

The final step in risk assessment is to verify your team has corrected the hazard,

either by eliminating or minimizing it. After that, it’s essential to continue to monitor

the situation to ensure any risks remain minimized and to confirm additional ones

haven’t come up.

Common Risk Factors in Construction Projects

Although it’s common to associate risks and hazards with issues that cause physical

harm, the scope is somewhat broader than that. During a construction project, risks

can also include any problems that cause the project to go over budget or that

interfere with the ability to complete the project on schedule. Common risk factors

any manager should be aware of include the following.

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  Occupational risks – equipment, layouts, or work that causes a risk of injury.

 Project risks – issues that could impact your ability to complete the project

successfully and on time.

 Contractual risks – problems arising with missed deadlines and maintaining a

positive contractual relationship with clients and partner organizations.

 Financial risks – issues whereby the construction works may run over budget.

 Natural risks – things like weather and environmental factors that could affect

your ability to continue working.

Four Safety Precautions During Maintenance Work

Risk assessment isn’t only vital during construction projects to create a building. It’s

also essential for any maintenance of an established building.

 Encourage communication

 Choose appropriate controls

 Have a plan for non-routine operations

 Check in regularly

The goal of any building or construction manager should be to protect the

employees and craftspeople who are working on a construction site or

performing a maintenance project. Performing a risk assessment before any

project begins is one way to lower the risk of injury. Risk assessment can also

protect the project itself by making sure it stays on deadline and on budget.

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Hazard Assessment in Construction Example

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 Job Hazard Analysis in Construction

A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is an analysis of the hazards and risk associated which

focus on identifying and controlling hazards. Utilizing the JHA will provide a process

for analyzing the work activities that will identify the tools, materials and equipment

needed to develop work methods and procedures for accomplishing the task. The

process will identify existing and potential hazards and assessing the risk and

identify methods to eliminate or protect against the hazard.

Why Is JHA Important in the Construction Industry?

JHAs provide general contractors with the confidence prior to work starting that

subcontractors have a detailed plan in place that identifies potential hazards and

controls. Trade partners are experts in their craft and often best placed to provide

detailed knowledge around risks and resources, training, tools, and protections

required to safely complete their work and prevent injuries.

How to Conduct a JHA

To conduct a JHA, general contractors should ensure subcontractors follow a

systematic process. JHA expectations should be included in pre-work safety

orientations and even in contractual agreements. OSHA’s JHA template is a good

place to start in setting up a standard procedure. Here are the steps involved in

completing JHAs:

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1. Choose the job or task to be analyzed:

 Consider selecting jobs or tasks that have a high risk of injury or illness, or

those with a history of accidents or incidents. JHAs are also helpful before a

new scope of work begins or a new piece of major equipment arrives onsite.

 Take into account the level of complexity and the number of steps involved in

the job or task.

2. Break the job or task down into steps:

 Break down the job or task into individual steps or tasks to ensure that all

hazards are identified.

 Record each step or task on the JHA form or template.

3. Identify potential hazards:

 Identify potential hazards associated with each step or task by considering

past accidents, incidents, or near misses.

 Consider potential hazards related to the equipment, tools, materials, and

environment. Use not only the experience of your team to determine hazards

but also read product information and safety data sheets (SDS).

4. Determine the severity and likelihood of each hazard:

 Evaluate the severity and likelihood of each hazard to determine the overall

risk level.

 Use a risk matrix or other risk assessment tool to help prioritize hazards

based on severity and likelihood.

5. Identify controls for each hazard:

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  Identify controls for each hazard that will eliminate or reduce the risk level to

an acceptable level.

 Consider using the hierarchy of controls, which prioritizes elimination or

substitution, followed by engineering, administrative, and personal protective

equipment controls.

6. Submit for approval before starting work:

 A representative from the general contractor reviews the JHA and provides

comments or accepts the subcontractor’s proposals to ensure it is site-specific

and supports your safety standards.

7. Implement controls:

 Use the JHA as the source of truth for work method and implement the

identified controls for each hazard, making sure they are effective and

feasible.

 Ensure that workers are trained on the proper use of controls and that the

controls are maintained and inspected regularly.

8. Review and update the JHA:

 Regularly review and update the JHA to ensure that it remains current and

effective. Consider reviewing the JHA whenever there are changes to the job

or task, equipment, or work environment, or when incidents or accidents

occur, and make sure that workers are aware of the changes.

JHA Example

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Below is an example of templates you may insert into your site-specific JHA for a

project to construct a new entrance into an existing building:

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 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND JOB HAZARD

ANALYSIS (JHA)

Hazard Assessment

Scope: Broad and comprehensive, covering all potential hazards in a workplace or

project.

Focus: Identifies and evaluates hazards across the entire work environment.

Process:

 Identify Hazards: Recognize potential sources of harm.

 Evaluate Risks: Assess the likelihood and severity of harm.

 Implement Controls: Develop measures to eliminate or reduce risks.

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Outcome: A general safety plan that addresses multiple hazards and risks.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Scope: Specific and detailed, focusing on individual job tasks.

Focus: Breaks down each job task to identify hazards associated with each step.

Process:

 Select Jobs for Analysis: Prioritize jobs with high injury rates or severe

potential consequences.

 Break Down the Job: Divide the job into individual tasks or steps.

 Identify Hazards: Analyze each step to identify potential hazards.

 Determine Controls: Recommend measures to eliminate or reduce hazards

for each task.

Outcome: A detailed safety plan for specific job tasks, ensuring each step is

performed safely.

Key Differences

Breadth vs. Depth: Hazard Assessment is broader, covering the entire work

environment, while JHA is more detailed, focusing on specific tasks.

Application: Hazard Assessment is used for overall safety planning, whereas JHA is

used for task-specific safety measures.

Detail Level: Hazard Assessment provides a general overview, while JHA offers a

step-by-step analysis.

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REFERENCES:

Risk Assessment For Construction Site -

https://www.scribd.com/document/473553631/Risk-Assessment-for-Construction-

Site

What Are Risk Assessments and Factors in Construction?

-https://www.houcks.com/blog/risk-assessments-factors-construction/

What is a risk assessment in construction? - https://www.clearway.co.uk/news/what-

is-a-risk-assessment-in-construction/#:~:text=Construction%20risk%20assessments

%20are%20all,unique%20set%20of%20potential%20hazards.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) -

https://ehs.ncsu.edu/occupational-safety/job-hazard-analysis-jha/

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A Comprehensive Guide to Job Hazard Analysis’ in Construction: Tips and Tools for

Success - https://www.hammertech.com/onedegree/jha-guide-and-template

Construction Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

-https://www.hammertech.com/onedegree/jha-guide-and-template

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