ECE DEPARTMENT, NCERC, PAMPADY

MCN 401 Module 3 Notes

Syllabus
Introduction to construction industry and safety issues in construction Safety in various
construction operations – Excavation and filling – Under-water works – Under-pinning &
Shoring – Ladders & Scaffolds – Tunneling – Blasting – Demolition – Confined space –
Temporary Structures. Familiarization with relevant Indian Standards and the National
Building Code provisions on construction safety. Relevance of ergonomics in construction
safety. Ergonomics Hazards - Musculoskeletal Disorders and Cumulative Trauma Disorders.

Major hazards of construction

 Falls
 Electrocution
 Being struck by falling objects
 Trapped during excavation
Fall Protection
 Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry
 Conditions that required use of fall protection
 A fall from as little as 4-6 feet
• Can cause loss of work
• In some cases death
When fall protection is needed?
 Walkways & ramps
 Open sides & edges
 Holes
 Concrete forms & rebar
 Excavations
 Roofs
 Wall openings
 Bricklaying
 Residential Construction
Fall protection and prevention options
 Safety Nets
 Hand Rails
 Safety Harness (PFAS)

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 Equipment guards
 Fall protection systems must be in place before work start
Personal Fall Arrest System, PFAS
 Must be properly trained
 Key requirements
• No free fall more than 6 feet
• Must be inspected prior to use
• Safety line must be able to support 5000 lbs
Guardrails
 Top rail between 39 to 45 inches tall
 Toeboards at least 3 inches tall
• Top rail
• Mid Rail
• Toe board
Safety Nets
 Used to catch falling workers
 Placed not more than 30 FT below work area
 Placed not more than 8-13 ft from edge of working area

Falling Objects
 Hardhats are required
 Use of canopies is authorized
 Barricade the area to prevent unauthorized entry
 A fall of 6 ft or more protection is needed
 Use fall protection on:
 Walkways, ramps, open sides, edges, excavations,

TRENCHING & EXCAVATION HAZARDS

 Risks of excavation
 How to protect employees from cave-ins

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 Factors that pose a hazard to employees working in excavation

 Role of competent person
 Most hazardous construction operation
 Cave-ins are the greatest risk
 Most accidents occurred in
5-15 ft deep

EXCAVATION HAZARDS Employee Protection

 Employees should be protected from caves-in by using a well designed protective
system
 Systems must be able to support expected loads to the system
 A well designed system will have a correct design of sloping and benching systems
 Correct design of support systems
 Handle materials and equipment
 Protect employees from potential cave-ins
 Slope or bench sides of excavation
 Place shields between the side
of the excavation and work area

Factors that pose hazards to employees

 Soil classification
 Depth of cut
 Water content of soil
 Changes due to weather and climate
 Other operations in the vicinity

Hydraulic Jacks
 Easily dropped in place and adjusted
 Trench pins installed in case of hydraulic failure

Egress Systems
 A stairway, ladder, or ramp must be present in excavations that are 4 or more feet
deep, and within 25 feet of the employees
 Must extend 3FT above excavation

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EXCAVATION HAZARDS Competent Person

• Must have had specific training in and be knowledgeable about:
• Soils classification
• The use of protective systems
• The requirements of the standard
• Must be capable of identifying hazards, and authorized to immediately eliminate
hazards
• A competent person must make daily inspections of excavations, areas around them
and protective systems:
• Before work starts and as needed
• After rainstorms, high winds or other occurrence which may increase hazards
• When you can reasonably anticipate an employee will be exposed to hazards.
• The greatest risk in an excavation is a cave-in.
• Employees can be protected through sloping, shielding, and shoring the excavation.
• A competent person is responsible to inspect the excavation.
• Other excavation hazards include water accumulation, oxygen deficiency, toxic
fumes, falls, and mobile equipment

Underpinning

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Basics of Shoring Safety

• Shoring systems are used to support structures to prevent them from collapsing during
construction.

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• Shoring is most commonly used during the earliest phases of construction; when walls
or structures are undergoing reinforcement, during excavation, or when a nearby
structure needs to be demolished (to prevent the shored building from crumbling
along with it).
• Shoring systems usually support either buildings or trenches. For buildings, a shoring
system such as piles and lagging support the surrounding loads until the underground
levels of the building are completed and can bear the weight of the rest of the
building.
• For trenches, the shoring system steadies the trench walls to prevent cave-ins and
keep workers safe.

Scaffolding
The scaffolding is a temporary structure (usually of timber or steel) having platform raised
for the workers as the building increases in height. An ordinary scaffolding consist of
standards, ledgers, putlogs, transoms, braces, bridle, guard rail, tee board. Depending on the
work conditions, different types of scaffolding are used.
We have mentioned below the list of most common types of scaffolding used in the
construction of any structure.

Types of Scaffolding
1. Single Brick-Layers Scaffolding.
This is the most common type of scaffolding and is widely used in the construction of brick
work. This type of scaffolding is, sometimes known as putlog scaffolding. Its is mostly used
for brick masonry construction. This types of scaffolding consist of various scaffolding parts
such as :
Scaffold : A temporary structure consisting of standards, putlogs, ledgers which are generally
made up of bamboo, timber or metal to provide a working platforms for workmen and
materials in the course of construction, maintenance, repairs and demolition, and also to
support or allow hoisting and lowering of workmen, their tools and materials.
2. Double or Mason’s Scaffolding.
This scaffolding is stronger than single scaffolding type and is used in the construction of stone
work. This type of scaffolding is sometimes known as independent scaffolding. As seen in the
above picture there are 2 rows of standards used in the construction of this scaffolding. One row is
placed just next to wall and other row is placed 1.2 to 1.5 meter from the wall.

3. Cantilever or Needle Scaffolding.

This type of scaffolding is used under the following circumstances :

 When the ground is weak to support the standards.

 When the construction for the upper parts of a multi- storyed building is to be carried
out.
 When the ordinary scaffolding will obstruct the traffic on road such as for a building
on the side of a busy street.

4. Suspended Scaffolding.
This is a light weight scaffolding used for repair works such as painting, pointing, white washing,
distempering etc of the exterior surface of the building. The working platform is suspended from

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the roof by means of wire ropes, chains etc. The platform can be raised or lowered at any desired
level.

5. Trestle Scaffolding.
This type of scaffolding is used for painting and small repair works inside the room upto a height
of 5 metres.

6. Steel Scaffolding.
It is similar to timber scaffolding except that wooden members are replaced by steel tubes and
rope lashings are replaced by couplets or fittings. Such a scaffolding type can be easily erected
and dismantled. It is strong and more durable, but the initial cost is high.

7. Patented Scaffolding.

Now-a-days, the various patented scaffolding types are made of steel with special types of
couplings and frames are available. Usually, the working platform is supported on a bracket
which can be adjusted to any suitable height. Moreover the bottom of the standards are fixed
with wheels so that it can be moved from one place to other within no time.

General Safety Requirements While Working on

Scaffolding
 Scaffolding shall be provided for all work that cannot be safely performed from the
ground or from solid construction.
 Every part of scaffolding including their supports shall be of good condition, suitable
and sound material and having adequate strength for the purpose for which it is used.
 It shall be properly maintained.
 Construction and dismantling of every scaffolding parts shall be under the supervision
of a competent authority.
 Boards and planks used shall be of uniform thickness, closely laid, and securely
fastened in place.
 The erection, alterations and removal should be done only under the supervision of
men who are thoroughly experienced in this work.
 Every scaffolding shall be securely supported or suspended and it should be
sufficiently and properly strutted or braced to ensure stability whenever necessary.
 Every platform, gangway, run or stairs shall be kept free from any unnecessary
obstruction, material, rubbish and projecting rails.
 Each supporting member used in the construction of runways, platforms, ramps and
scaffolds shall be securely fastened and braced. The supporting member shall be kept
on a firm, rigid, smooth foundation of a nature that will prevent lateral displacement.
 All fasteners and anchorages shall be inspected by a competent person.
 Where planks are butt-jointed, two parallel putlogs shall be used and it should not be
more than 100 mm apart, giving each plank sufficient support.
 Nails shall be inserted to the holding piece to a depth of at least 12 times the diameter
of the nail.

Ladders

• Ladders can pose serious potential for a fall if used improperly or in an unsafe
manner.

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• OSHA estimates that, for general industry companies, falls from ladders
account for 20% of fatal and lost workday injuries.

Safe use of ladders

Folding Ladder

• Folding or A-frame ladders should be fully extended and the arms locked into place.
• Be careful of pinch points which are any places where parts come together and
present a possibility for injury.
• Never use a step ladder as an extension ladder

Extension Ladder

• Extension ladders need to have non-slip bases or spikes.

• The proper use of straight or extension ladders requires the user to place the ladder in
such a manner as to prevent the ladder from sliding/falling.
• The ladder base should be 1 foot out for every 4 feet up; it should extend 3 feet above
the roofline.

Working safely from ladders

• Never step above the labeled maximum height on your ladder.

• The “belt buckle rule”; keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all
times.
• Always face the ladder and use the 3 point rule when climbing or descending.
• The base of a ladder must rest on a firm, level footing.
• If working on uneven levels, use an extension to level out your ladder.
• Ladders must be tied, blocked, or otherwise secured to prevent them from slipping.
• Avoid setting up a ladder in a doorway or other high traffic areas.
• Additionally stabilizers can be used to secure them while working
• Do not leave a ladder unattended.
• Never try to combine or tie ladders together or stack them on anything other than the
ground.
• Ensure all ladder locks are engaged before using.
• Never climb an extension ladder while hand-carrying tools or material

TUNNELLING

HAZARDS IN TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND WORKS

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GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN TUNNELLING

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BLASTING

Blasting is a process of reduction of rocks or hard soil into fragments with the help of
explosives. The blasting operation involves drilling of holes, installation of a detonator and
charge, detonating the charge, and removal of debris.

Safety Precautions before Blasting

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Demolition or Dismantling

• Demolition or dismantling refers to breaking up of buildings , structures either fully or

partially.
• Precautions during demolition has three goals:

1. specifically aimed at safeguarding the personnel on the site.

2. safeguarding of persons not connected with demolition including the general public
and
3. the protection of the property likely to be effected by demolition operation.

• The causes of accidents to workers involved with demolition are fall from heights,
falling materials, inadequate access, over-fragile materials etc. Premature collapses

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due to incorrect dismantling, over loading or excessive pre- weakening feature

particularly during demolition.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

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Common confined space hazards

Before you conduct any work in Confined Spaces

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Confined Space Safety Precautions

• Where possible, avoid entry to confined spaces. Establish if the work is really
necessary or if it can be done in another way that avoids the need to enter.
• If entry to a confined space is unavoidable then you must follow a safe system of
work. Have emergency procedures in place before work starts. The results of
your risk assessment will help you identify the risks and necessary precautions.

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Ergonomics

“The scientific discipline concerned with understanding of interactions among humans

and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles,

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methods and data to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system
performance”

Ergonomics means
“fitting the job to the worker,” including:

• Work stations
• Tools
• Equipment

Why is ergonomics important?

• Overexertion leading cause of injuries

– Most costly
– Recurring/Persistent pain may develop in future
• Bodily reaction is another leading cause of injuries in workplace
• Repetitive motion also within top 10 most common workplace injuries

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Musculoskeletal Disorder

• Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are injuries and disorders that affect the
human body’s movement or musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, tendons,
ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, etc.).

Common musculoskeletal disorders include:

 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : A numbness and tingling in the hand and arm caused by a
pinched nerve in the wrist.
 Tendonitis : inflammation or irritation of a tendon
 Muscle / Tendon strain
 Ligament Sprain
 Tension Neck Syndrome
 Thoracic Outlet Compression : a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels
or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic
outlet) are compressed
 Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
 Epicondylitis
 Radial Tunnel Syndrome
 Digital Neuritis
 Trigger Finger / Thumb
 DeQuervain’s Syndrome

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 Mechanical Back Syndrome

 Degenerative Disc Disease
 Ruptured / Herniated Disc,
 and many more.

The Cause of Musculoskeletal Disorders – Exposure to Risk Factor

• These risk factors can be broken up into two categories:

1. work-related (ergonomic) risk factors

2. individual-related risk factors

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