Safety Final Paper - Report Example

INTRODUCTION Health and safety issues have emerged as important and essential aspects of the construction industry. The construction site is a typical place where health and safety issues could emerge with a high degree of certainty. Hence, it is imperative upon the management of construction sites to set up systems and structures that will enable them to deal with health and safety matters as and how it relates to the website. This report will focus on health and safety management in construction and how it can be managed and dealt with. To this end, the report will analyze important elements and aspects of the construction site and how job hazard analysis can be evaluated and contained in a significant way and manner. To this end, the following objectives will be explored: 1. A critical review of the concept of Health and Safety and its relevance and significance to the construction industry; 2. An evaluation of the imperative OSHA regulation that relates to Health and Safety in the workplace and job site; 3. An analysis of the impact and implication of Health and Safety to an average construction site in Florida; 4. Identification of practical solutions to Health and Safety needs on a construction site in Florida including amongst other things: job hazard analysis, potential hazards, and strategy for dealing with hazards on the job. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Safety and health programs are important and significant in dealing with issues in the work place. This is because most workplaces and areas of human congregation and activities are arranged in such a way that there is a lot of activities that go on which could lead to accidents and other situations that could prove injurious and/or fatal in some cases. Safety matters relate more to the prevention of injuries which come with tortuous claims and other legal matters and issues. Health matters relate to various things that can cause human ailments or prevent the human body from functioning appropriately. Therefore, the need for health and safety rules to be adhered to is essential and important for ensuring that workers remain safe at their workplace. In most construction sites, health and safety programs are seen in the negative light. Some people view it as excessive paperwork whilst others view it as a detriment to productivity (Reese & Addison, 2012). Others even view it as a bureaucratic process that enables management to feel powerful and control things and affairs within the organization (Reese & Addison, 2012). There are three main reasons that are put forward to describe and explain the need for health and safety rules and policies (Reese & Addison, 2012). First of all, health and safety regulations are seen as a humanitarian process that enables managers of workplaces to deal with issues and problems in order to show sensitivity to people who work on the site or who use the site. This presents the organization as a humane entity. Secondly, health and safety policies in the workplace can be linked to the observance of a legal obligation to protect workers and prevent injury and ailments to people who use one’s premises. This is because in the American legal tradition, a person might be held responsible for injuries that occur on his or her premises where the injury was foreseeable and the individual took no steps to deal with them. Additionally, employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees as they work on their premises. Thirdly, a firm might need to maintain a health and safety policy on the workplace because of economic reasons. This includes the need for a firm to protect its economic needs and expectations and maintain an uninterrupted earning system and procedure as it works and carries out its activities. This is because in cases where there are injuries or health issues, an employer or business might lose important revenue due to the loss of a worker and in some cases, it will lead to lawsuits that can be extremely damaging. In order to set up a health and safety system, there is the need for management commitment on their health and safety policy and this will set out the policy statement which includes goals and other important and significant elements and factors (Reese C. D., 2013). And this is done by a thorough identification of hazards and an evaluation of these hazards. Once this is done, there is the need for a technical procedure and process for dealing with these issues and problems and the appropriate training and processes to ensure that the staff members are of a level that can enable them to meet their needs and objectives (Reese C. D., 2013). The management also has a duty to set up a process for health and safety visiting and inspection and this will enable them to ensure that the policy and plans they put in place are observed throughout the organization (Reese C. D., 2013). There must also be a procedure for enforcement of these different needs and expectations for health and safety responsibility as well as an explicit statement by management for dealing with issues and matters relating to health and safety (Reese C. D., 2013). Management commitment is important and significant because it leads to the creation of a fundamental process and procedure for dealing with issues related with health and safety (Reese C. D., Industrial Health and Safety for Goods and Material Science, 2010). This provides a clear and unambiguous view that is presented to the management of an organization and enables them to get answers and find solutions to problems related to health and safety. Therefore, management will need to come up with the following: 1. An official policy relating to health and safety 2. Set goals for health and safety 3. Define responsibilities for dealing with important issues and pointers in health and safety 4. Set accountability procedures and roles for health and safety 5. Define rules and types of construction (Reese & Addison, Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health, 2012). This indicates that there is a clear commitment for health and safety in a given premises or place. There is also a process and procedure for dealing with issues in a proactive manner and in a way that is encapsulated in management’s processes and procedures (Reese C. D., 2013). There must also be specific programs and processes that will be put forward as a proposition for dealing with health and safety matters and issues (Reese C. D., Industrial Health and Safety for Goods and Material Science, 2010). Such a program must be clearly defined and sated and it must also be revised annually and periodically to ensure that it defines new scopes and processes for health and safety in a way and manner that deals with issues as they come up and evolve. There must also be the commitment of resources that is commensurate with the program and project that is put forward by the management. This involves the process and procedure for the observation of rules and regulations (Reese C. D., 2013). Finally, there must be a disciplinary scope for dealing with violations and disregard for health and safety rules and regulations (Civitello, 2012). Typically, there must be three stages in providing disciplinary action. The first warning is just a documentation of a violation and it could be merely verbal (Civitello, 2012). The second warning involves a written letter that is presented to the manager responsible. Finally, a third warning often comes with disciplinary action which is commensurate with the extent of the violation or failure. OSHA REGULATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY The Occupational Safety Health Administration is an agency of the US Department of Labor. It was established under the Occupational and Health Act of 1970 and came to force in 1971 (Reese C. D., 2013). It is meant to assure safe and healthful working conditions. The OSHA regulations also provide standards on which enforcements can be made to ensure health and safety in the work place. These standards provide a basis for various criminal and civil procedures where necessary. The OSHA framework provides the basis for firms to set their own health and safety regulations and also deal with different needs and expectations in the workplace to ensure that people are safe. This enables the workplace to conform to a set of universally recognized standards and rules that can be applied and utilized to enable premises to be protected and saved from various negative situations and circumstances (Civitello, 2012). The standards are meant to limit the chances of exposure and reduce risks in an average construction site. It promotes employee rights and employee access to information about their health and safety. It also makes it imperative for employers to provide protective equipment and clothing to protect employees and ensure that there is a good and safe premises. Some states have their own set of rules that replaces the OSHA. However, the 1971 rules have been modified over the years and new regulations, like the Hygiene & Rules on Safety 2001 came about as a result of the Congressional Review Act (Reese & Addison, Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health, 2012). The Occupational Health and Safety Agency sends Health and Safety officers to the work sites to inspect sites. Inspection of sites is done randomly due to the lack of resources of the Agency. The agency often inspects sites that are high-risk and also follows up with reports. In states where the OSHA is not in vogue, alternative state authorities play the role of the OSHA. The OSHA provides specific rules that seek to codify the rules and regulations of the workplace. However, there are some basic principles and rules that run through the construction industry and this will be done through various rules and regulations. HEALTH AND SAFETY ON AN AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION SITE IN FLORIDA Florida State adopted its own rules and regulations for workplace safety which is not in sync with the OSHA and this means firms in the state are not required to comply with the OSHA (Hill & Solt, 2012). This implies that most firms have to use the principles of best practice and try their best to comply with state laws that are equivalent to the rules and regulations of the state towards protecting people’s rights and needs. Responsibility for Health and Safety As a standard procedure, responsibility for health and safety in the workplace reverts to the owners of the site. This is because the owner of the site or the sponsor of the project has full responsibility for everything that pertains to the site and the project. Hence, they have the legal and moral duty to ensure that the site is safe and everyone on the site is sufficiently protected from injuries and damages. However, the delegation of the project to construction firms comes with the delegation for ensuring that the site is safe in all ways and manners. This is often given to the site manager or project manager who in turn delegates the responsibility to ensure health and safety to a member of the project team. Usually, the environment manager has the responsibility for conforming to the rules of health and safety in a construction site (Stephenson & Blackburn, 2012). This is mainly because the environmental manager’s obligations overlap with environmental regulations and health and safety requirements. Therefore, the core responsibility revolves around the environmental manager on the project and in smaller sites it could be delegated to the project manager. This requires an almost certain need for the conduct of an environmental audit to identify the main issues and problems that can pose a risk to various workers and users of the workplace site. Environmental Audit and Risk Analysis The aim of the environmental audit is to identify and analyze risks relating to health and safety on a given site. This will involve the critical review of the site and the job hazard analysis in order to identify the main problems and issues that are relevant to the site. To this end, there are numerous needs and expectations that must be taken into account to identify the relevant issues and matters. These include the following: 1. Layout of the Site: This must be done with the consideration of preventing congestion and arranging the premises in order to put the space into effective and efficient use and also enhance communication and supervision (Heraglu, 2013). This is because there must be a focus on providing a safe and pleasant environment for personnel and this comes with the layout and an identification of the relevant risks and issues with it; 2. Storage and Disposals: This involves the identification of the main waste processes and the waste systems that will exist on the site and how the waste will be transported and disposed off (Wagner, 2012). This must be mapped out and the risks with it must be documented; 3. Risk and Emergency Procedures: This means that there is the need for the site manager to identify the main risk and issues that pertains to the specific site. This must be done through the critical review of the site and its specific pointers and issues of risks that could come up and the emergency procedures that can be used to deal with issues on the site can be identified and utilized; 4. Notification and Record Keeping: There must be a system and a procedure for notifying the site agents and units of issues and matters that might come up and how these matters and situations can be dealt with. Also, issues that require close monitoring and evaluation must be documented and given the proper and appropriate attention. This must be done through the proper presentation of ideas and issues that may come up and how this can be dealt with in order to provide results and solutions to matters and issues; 5. Contingency Planning & Preparedness: The site manager has a responsibility to draw a contingency plan and identify ways and means of dealing with issues that come up with the project. This will involve the identification of steps and these steps must be put together to provide important information and guidance for each of the units; 6. Signage & Communication: Where information is put together and a plan is drawn, there is the need for a communication plan to be drawn. This must be complemented by appropriate signs and other things on the construction site to ensure that the different players and stakeholders can deal with their problems and issues in order to find solutions to matters that will come up in the site; 7. Training and Implementation: Where the pointers above are identified, there could be a compilation of a report that will outline the strategy for dealing with health and safety matters at the workplace. This must be done in a way and manner to ensure that the workers can be trained and important information can be presented where necessary for efficient action to be taken. ECHO AVENTURA ESTATE CONSTRUCTION SITE: HEALTH AND SAFETY Echo Aventura is a construction project in Aventura, Florida. It is a creation of 190 residential units including 18 penthouses. The size is an average of 2,500 square feet and it is meant to provide housing for different people and different consumers. The project commenced in 2013 and it is expected to be completed in 2015. As of now, the project is in the middle of its progress and the site is still being worked upon and will be completed in the next year. When completed, the site of Echo Aventura is meant to look like image presented in Appendix 1 below. Job Hazard Analysis Job Step/Situation Potential Hazard Action Layout of Site Poor layout will affect the movement of materials, communication and effective work. This could affect the quality of the project and increase the general propensity for injuries. Draw a proper layout for the site and this will involve the creation of temporary infrastructure and this will be in the form of roads, storage facilities and the creation of emergency safety units and components Keeping proper storage facilities and the resulting risks There could be the leakage or explosive of chemicals that will be needed at various stages of this project. This could result in injuries and major problems to employees. Create a storage facility and demarcate it and indicate various components and units that will be used for potentially dangerous and hazardous products that must be used in the process Timely reporting of issues and problems of interest Where issues that can potentially pose a health or safety risk are identified, they must be reported and documented in order to avert potentially dangerous crises or situations. There is the need to create an emergency unit and component that will be integrated into the communication process. This should be channeled to one central unit that will handle complaints and issues of this magnitude or nature for prompt action to be taken Emergency evacuation needs and expectations In cases where there is a major hazard, there is the need for the formulation and the presentation of a point where workers on the site must report to. This must be a fairly protected and fortified place where people could be sheltered and protected from issues and problems like explosions and other matters There must be the creation of a central convergence point and this must be part of the emergency plans for the site. This must be integrated into the communication plans and systems of Echo Aventura construction site as this will enable workers to get quick solutions to issues and problems where emergencies occur Communication Plans In cases where issues need quick and prompt information sharing, there must be a system or procedure through which all workers of the site can be contacted for prompt action. This will require a megaphone or microphone system that will enable all members of the site to be given important information as and when the time comes for such instructions to be shared. Objects dropping from high rise buildings and risks to foot There is the risk that objects could drop from some high-rise sections and units of the building. Workers must be given protective clothing. Anyone who enters the premises of the construction site needs to be given protective clothing Awareness of general risks and issues at trouble spots in the site. Workers on the site can potentially stumble into major risk situations and this could lead to problems and issues that could cause injuries due to ignorance. There is the need for different users of the construction site to be given detailed and specific information about the risks and issues and the corrective action that must be taken where people encounter such situations. For long-term staff members, there must be some kind of training for them. Risk of transfer of various communicable diseases There is the chance that communicable diseases and other issues relating to the use of sewerage facilities on the site can come with major consequences and issues. There is the need for major arrangements to be made to handle sewerage and also report outbreaks of potential health issues. Hygiene standards must be checked regularly. HEALTH AND SAFETY STRATEGY The strategy of Echo Aventura’s construction site must be one that makes the best use of important elements and components of the firm and its components. Layout The layout of the site must be carefully considered and critiqued. This must include the setting up of the place in a way and manner that ensures that there will be the proper allocation and allotment of places for the site. This will involve setting up a point for transportation and storage amongst other issues. This will culminate in the design of a new layout for the firm. There must be the creation of a temporary road within the community and the creation of various storage facilities. Risks Identification Where the new layout is created, there must be an identification of risks and issues in the different components and units of the construction site. This involves the documentation of issues and matters that might lead to problems and matters of are significant. The next step will be about the formulation of the impact of these risks and a documentation of how to deal with them. The main risks include hazard materials, hygiene issues with sewerage and dropping items as well as the quality of equipment to be used. Install risk control infrastructure Where risks are identified, there must be health and safety infrastructure that must be installed and put together. This is because these things and issues must be dealt with in a way and manner that will enable all the members of the site to deal with issues. Hence, there is the need to install all infrastructure and signs amongst other things. The risk control infrastructure must include storage facilities, first aid units and several others. Risk control Centers Risk control units must be set up in different parts and components of the construction site. This involves the presentation of places and points where risks and issues relating to health can be given satisfactory support. This includes first aid units and other communication points where issues and matters can be dealt with in-depth. Policy: Protective Clothing, Sensitization Finally, there must be an adaptation of policy frameworks for dealing with issues and matters. This includes the formulation of a policy on protective clothing. Also, there must be various signs and communication pointers in the site that will guide and direct various people in the community. Implementation of Strategy & Monitoring The strategy must be presented to the site manager and it must be presented to the project manager. From there, it must be given approval for the authorization of funds and this must be presented for authorization. The health and safety team must be set up to monitor issues and matters. This must lead to a proactive system for analyzing problems and dealing with these problems and issues. Bibliography Civitello, A. M. (2012). Construction Safety & Loss Control Program. Surrey: ME Sharpe. Heraglu, S. S. (2013). Facilities Design. London: iUniverse. Hill, R., & Solt, G. (2012). Emerging Markets: Financial Fundamentals for Engineers. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. Reese, C. D. (2010). Industrial Health and Safety for Goods and Material Science. New York: CRC. Reese, C. D. (2013). Occupational Health and Safety management. New York: CRC Press. Reese, C. D., & Addison, J. V. (2012). Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health. New York: CRC Press. Stephenson, R. L., & Blackburn, J. B. (2012). THe INdustrial Waste Water Systems Handbook. New York: CRC Press. Wagner, T. (2012). The Complete Guide to Harzadous Waste Regulation. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley a& Sons. APPENDIX 1: ECHO AVENTURA ESTATE APPENDIX 2: PRODUCTS AND PRICES Item Description Price (US$) Layout Design This will involve the architectural design of the site. This will be done after a reconnaissance trip to the site $15,000 Transportation Facilities There must be a road that will be created throughout the area $200,000 Storage Facilities Three major storage facilities and sites must be set up $65,000 First Aid Unit On-Site A first aid unit with different products for treating emergencies must be set up $45,000 Protective Clothing A set of protective clothing must be set up and modified each quarter. This will include a set of helmets, protective clothing and boots for each staff member and each visitor to the site $120,000 Risk Control Centers These centers must be fixed with basic facilities and processes for dealing with issues and documenting matters for further action. $55,000 Signage There must be signs throughout the premises showing important issues and matters $15,000 Sewerage control Sewerage control facilities and units must be present onsite $30,000 Security Security personnel and units to monitor issues and risks relating to site safety. $45,000 Monitoring Team The monitoring team must be part of the health and safety unit and this must be done in such a way that there can be a proactive control of issues and matters as they occur and unfold in the premises. $80,000 TOTAL $670,000 Read More