Engineering and Construction Health and Safety Management - Case Study Example

Engineering and Construction Health and Safety Management) Presented By To Contents Acronyms 3 Chapter 1: Introduction 5 1.1 Overview 5 1.2 Objectives and Aims 6 2.0 Literature review 6 2.1 Initial Status Review concept 7 2.2 Involved tools 8 2.3 Benefits vs. costs 10 2.4 Alternative Approaches Considered 10 3.0 Methodology 11 4.0 ISR findings 11 4. 1Policy Review 12 4. 2 Requirements of OHSAS 18001 And Associated Legislation that Affect Balfour and Beatty 13 4.3 Project plan for OHSAS1 18001 certification 14 5.0 Conclusion 14 References 16 Acronyms IRS- Initial review Status H & S- Health and safety measures UK- United Kingdom Abstract This paper is a case study that evaluates the health and safety measures (H& S) of UK based company in the construction industry. Health and safety measures generally affect the success of any organization in this industry. Not only is it morally and ethically right for a company to provide a safe working environment for its workers, but it is also an important requirement for business growth and sustainability in the modern world. Application of H& S measures in the workplace helps in ensuring that the employees are safeguarded from natural hazards together with incidences that may arise at the workplace that could put their health at risk. This is considering the fact that construction jobs have the highest risk of injury in the workplace which creates the need for extra precautions and measures to be undertaken to ensure safety. Moreover, safety and health measures are not only a part of a company’s social responsibility but are also a legal requirement. The case study will explore the H & S measures undertaken by Balfour and Beatty. Balfour Beatty is one of the leading construction companies in the UK. It is a multinational business which offers a large number of services which include, construction services, infrastructure investments and support services. It customers are mainly based in UK, US, South Africa, Australia, Canada and Middle east. The method of collecting data for the case study that will be used is content analysis where several written sources about the health and safety measures of Balfour Beatty by carrying out an initial Status Review (ISR) and recommendations on how to improve the H& S measures within the company. Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Overview Construction workers face the highest risk of injury and even death in the workplace compared to workers in other industries. In UK, there is a noteworthy number of people who have lost their lives from accidents and incidents involving construction works. This necessitates the need for strict health and safety measures to be put in place by the construction companies to ensure the safety of employees. Additionally, it is crucial for all the leaders of the organisation to consider the materials that are used in construction of the buildings since this has an ultimate effect on the protection of the people. For example, walls that are built with substandard materials may not be trusted since they can crush. Similarly, the floors of the factory should be standard and ought to be constructed through the required practices. Therefore, this paper will focus on the appropriate health and safety strategies that a firm in the construction industry need to use as well as highlight on the OHSAS 18001 certification in concern to protection of employees at the workplace. Balfour Beatty, which is a leading construction company in the UK is considered as the case study. Balfour Beatty has a zero harm policy. This policy is aimed at ensuring that the number of fatalities of its employees is reduced to nil, total elimination of permanently disabling injuries and completely eliminating injuries and accidents. This is achieved through ensuring that all business units eradicate fatal risks, hazards, source of harm to the public and through working with customers and making safety personal (Workplace Law Group, 2011: 190). In this paper, the concept of initial status review (ISR) is explained, methods of conducting ISR on Balfour Beatty are explored and the best method chosen to conduct ISR in this firm, recommendations are made based on the ISR and a business plan for Balfour Beatty outlined to meet the recommendations. 1.2 Objectives and Aims Review the current H& S measures of Balfour and Beatty and current health management system Evaluate the requirements of OHSAS 18001 and associated legislation that affects Balfour and Beatty Investigate the possible methods of carrying out the initial status review Give recommendations for change of the company health and safety statement 2.0 Literature review All firms are required to establish a safety management system to protect the workers against possible hazards that may occur, and this is aimed at reduction of the costs incurred in compensation and treatment. Additionally, it is important to consider the approach since it helps the firm to have a sable number of workers all the time. In many cases, employees that are involved in accidents may take longer time to heal, and this can disrupt the continuity of a business, especially when the individual is influential to the firm. For example, an injury that affects the overall supervisor in a company may as well affect the contribution of the other workers since they do not have a motivational leader to guide them through their work. Principally, the relevant staff in the office ought to examine, evaluate and asses the present situation so that they can design the perfect system that will safe guard all the workers at all time irrespective of the situation. 2.1 Initial Status Review concept The safety management system involves critical aspects that should be implemented to ensure the workers and the management are safeguarded against any injuries. Principally, the firm decided to formulate an internally selected team that will work on the institutionalization of safety procedures, processes, strategies and plans to protect the entire workforce. First, there is a need to define the structures that ought to be put in place to satisfy the required standards. For example, the management needs the safety management unit that is led by the safety management officer. Additionally, the leadership needs to institute a committee that evaluate and assesses the critical situations in the firm. Secondly, the personnel need to define procedures and processes that ought to be used to enhance security. For example, the Balfour Beatty Construction management ought to define the process that is used to change particular aspects that affect the safety of the factory. In many cases, the processes define the plan that should be used to change the various systems, and this could be effective if is done in accordance with the specification of the OHSAS 18001 (Workplace Law Group, 2011: 193). Thirdly, the firm needs to define the resources that ought to be used in the process so that the plan is executed in accordance with the aims and objectives of the firm. Illustratively, all the works need to act in accordance with the stated regulations, and this is not an option. In many cases, it has been noted that injuries at the workplace arise due to neglect of some directives. Thus, it is important for the concerned parties to ensure all workers adhere to the regulations, and punishment ought to be accorded to the people that flout the rules. In essence the safety management officer should be involved in the daily routine at the workstation so that all the workers obey the rules of the system. 2.2 Involved tools For a firm to effectively enhance safety at the workplace, a number of tools ought to be used so that the consistency of injuries is reduced to minimal levels. Since this is a construction firm, the staff ought to be categorical about their involvement at the workplace since the susceptibility is high (Backman 2008:14). For example, the people work with heavy machinery that lifts materials and other equipments at the construction site. Thus, the people are vulnerable at all times due to falling objects. However, this can be annihilated through the various tools and procedures. Firstly, there is a need to discuss the safety problems and health issues that may arise at the workstation. In many cases, the involved individuals have to define the various hazards that can be realised at the station, and they will discuss on how to avert them. For example, tools and equipments often fall from high levels in the air and may land on the head of workers (Smith 2014: 78). In fact, this is a common situation that may not be averted through the safety guidelines. However, the workers are instructed to wear safety gear including helmets that provide protection against head injuries. Basically, this is a standard procedure that may not be overlooked at any point. Secondly, the safety management team has to inspect the premises and places of work on a frequent basis to ascertain the level of vulnerability. In such a case, the group defines the probability that a worker can be hurt while at the work station. According, they have to consider slippery floors, insufficient light in rooms and movable equipments that may cause harm. Through such a procedure the involved parties are in a position to define the corrective measures in the meanest time possible. Eventually, the problem is solved before any person is injured. Thirdly, the organisation has to review the healthy and safety documentation to define its relevance at the workplace. Primarily, most of the statements that are cited in the documents highlight the various procedures that have been used in the past to enhance safety at the workplace (Backman, 2008:234). However, the environment has changed because there has been procurement of innovative machinery and equipment. In fact, the new machinery poses new risks to the staff due to the distinct functionality as opposed to the previous resources. Thus, reflection on the various materials about the safety of the workers gives a focused view on the workers health as they will be given creative ways to use to protect their lives. Additionally, a number of researches have been consulted over time to identify the new approaches that can be used by workers to enhance their safety. For example, technologically improved review processes are used to define the susceptibility at the workplace, and the machineries are used to protect further damages. Through such approaches, the workers are at a better place to enhance their safety, and this leads to minimal injuries while working for the construction company. Lastly, the engaged parties have to write periodic reports in concern to the safety at the workplace (Smith 2014:15). After the reports have been written, the involved workers have to define an action plan to exterminate any risks that are involved at the workplace. For example, there is a need to define new strategies that are to be used by the workers to ensure their lives are not at any risk. In such cases, the workers ought to be involved in periodic meetings to strategise on the best avenues that can be used to protect their health. Evidently, the action plan should define the responsibilities and duties of each person in the firm in connection to safety. With involvement of all the parties, the situation will be solved in the meanest time. More so, the firm will reduce the costs that are incurred in concern to treatment of workers after a calamity has happened at the station. 2.3 Benefits vs. costs There are several benefits associated with carrying out an Initial Status Review of Balfour and Beatty. To start with, ensuring the safety of employees in the workplace is one of the social responsibilities of a company. Fulfilling this social responsibility has good long-term effects on the company. This is because in the current business environment, the public and employees are aware of how companies should treat them. A company without ethics will spoil its public image and will not be sustainable. Moreover, the employees are the key resource that any company can have (Workplace Law Group, 2011: 198). It is thus necessary to come up with measures to keep the workforce protected and avoid any potential damage. However, the costs of implementing health measures can also be high as different structures that ensure safety have to be put in place. However, the benefits of these measures outweigh the cost since the company avoids penalties, fines and compensation that would occur if the safety measures were not implemented. 2.4 Alternative Approaches Considered In conducting the ISR, the company could carry out a survey that would involve interviewing all the employees employed by Balfour Beatty on the health hazards they face and the measures that the organization has taken to overcome these hazards. This method would be effective as up to date data on the current status would be obtained. However, it would be very expensive since the company is large and has a large workforce. Employees may also tend to exaggerate on the nature of hazards. Alternatively the company could hire an expert from outside the company to make recommendations on the health and safety measures. This method is also expensive since hiring experts would require huge amounts of the money. The last alternative which is used in this study is to use all the existing secondary data on the health and safety measures that the company has undertaken. It would also involve going through all incidences of accidents that employees of the company may have experienced. This method is cheap, takes a short time since all data is available in recorded form and gives all the needed information. 3.0 Methodology As has been stated above, the method of research for this study would be content analysis where all the records about the company health and safety measures are explored. This involves going through all the company data on the implementation of the zero harm policy across all the company businesses. Balfour Betty Zero Harm policy is based on the company’s global safety principles. To know they effectiveness of the H & S measures of this company, the global safety principles are actually compared with the actual implementation. 4.0 ISR findings From the research, it was observed that Balfour Beatty, it was observed that the company has 10 global safety principles under its zero harm policy. These principles include working on heights where an employee is not allowed to work at heights without putting safety measures in place. Another principle is on the equipment limits where the employees are advised not to exceed the limits of equipment. Another principle is on access to restricted areas where employees should only access such areas when they are well protected. Working on water requires one to wear a buoyancy vest and have a partner who can come to the worker’s rescue. Another principle prohibits working under unsupported ground. Moreover, employees are using any handset such as mobile phone when driving. Regarding proximity to mobile equipments, employees are advised to maintain a 3m distance from the moving equipment. Employees are also required to have protective arrangement such as shields and exclusion zone to protect the public or other workers. Energy source must be verified before working on electrical, pressure and mechanical system. Lastly, workers should never work alone so that there is someone to rescue them in case of any incidences (Workplace Law Group, 2011: 128). From the research, it was discovered that although the zero harm policy itself is solid, its implementation has taken a long time since it takes an individual worker to comply to these requirements. Although the company has the lowest frequency of accidents in the industry, there are still several accidents and incidents in Balfour Beatty company that results in injuries and even death. This has led to the company losing some of its employees and incurring huge costs in fines and compensation of the affected employees. 4. 1Policy Review In for the zero harm campaign to work, there are several things that need to be done to improve the existing policy. One of the things that the company could consider is consulting the individual employees when developing the H& S policy instead of imposing the rules on them. This is because health and safety is a personal issue and employees have been known to follow policies if they are directly involved in formulating them. Consultation and proper communication can work very well in ensuring that the safety measures are followed. This goes together with developing the right culture for implementation of the strategy (Stranks, 2010: 56). People are naturally resistant to change. The management of the organization should come up with ways that will speed up the creation of a safety oriented organizational culture. The management should be consistent in the implementation of the safety measures that they put in place. Lastly, after the employees have been involved in the development of the safety measures, the management should invest in proper supervision to ensure that all the measures are strictly followed. 4. 2 Requirements of OHSAS 18001 And Associated Legislation that Affect Balfour and Beatty Some of the requirement of OHSAS1 that affects this company includes operational control where an organization should identify the areas that are marked as hazardous and develop ways of mitigating the risks associated with the hazards. The company is also required to clearly communicate to the employees all the hazards related to their jobs and the safety measures that they should take. It should also establish and implement emergency response procedures. Most importantly, the company should come up with a procedure for monitoring the implementation of the health and safety measures and come up with better measures if the existing ones are not working (Stranks, 2010: 89). The company should also keep and maintain clear records on the H& S measures formulation and implementations. These records should be easily retrievable. Lastly, the management should constantly review the implementation of these measures to ensure that the company is still on course in achievement of its H &S goals. 4.3 Project plan for OHSAS1 18001 certification For the company to achieve the OHSAS1 18001 certification, it has to meet various aspects that are stated in accordance to the regulations. First, there is a need to develop the operations and safety policy that defines the processes, procedures and strategies that are used by the firm to achieve secure standards. Secondly, the firm will have to institute controls in concern to the hazards that have been identified as well as the risks that have been assessed. Thirdly, the firm has to certify the legal objectives as well and the resources, roles, responsibilities and duties of all the workers (Smith 2014:19). Through thus approach, the firm will identify the various people that can execute the tasks accordingly. Fourthly, the firm needs to ascertain the competence, training and awareness programs to speak on the safety procedure and standards. Fifthly, the firm will require documentation in concern to the preparedness and response of the teams. Notwithstanding, the firm will provide measurements and monitoring processes that are used to ascertain compliance so that the firm is guaranteed the OHSAS1 18001 certification. 5.0 Conclusion From the research conducted on the health and safety measures carried out by Balfour and Beatty, it was observed that the company has come up with a sound policy: the Zero Harm policy. The number of accidents in the company has greatly reduced and is lower than that of other companies in the same industry. However, the company is still far from achieving its goals of zero harm. From the research, it was observed that the success of this policy could be improved by meeting the requirements of OHSAS1 18001 such as consulting the staff of the formulation and implementation of the safety measures and involvement of management in monitoring the implementation of the measures. Creating a culture that appreciates safety and better health would also go a long way in achieving the goal of zero harm. References Backman, B.F. (2008) Composite structures: safety management, Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Smith, G.W. (2014) Contractor safety management, Boca Raton : CRC Press. Stranks, J.W. (2010) Health & safety at work: an essential guide for managers, London: Kogan Page. Workplace Law Group. (2011). Health and safety, premises and environment handbook 2012. London, Kogan Page. http://www.123library.org/book_details/?id=99049. Read More