Health and Safety Plan for Construction Project - Case Study Example

Health and safety plan for construction project By Location Project and key s PROJECT: PROJECT NUMBER: CONTRACT START DATE: CONTRACT DURATION: SUMMARY OF WORKS The works will take place at: Insert site address The works include: The project involves the construction of a new multi-storey car park. The structure will be located on a green field on the northwest of Bradford near the University of Bradford. Key contact details CLIENT Name: Address: Phone: Email: ARCHITECT Name: Address: Phone: Email: QUANTITY SURVEYORS Name: Address: Phone: Email: PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR Name: Address: Phone: Email: SAFETY ADVISER Name: Address: Phone: Email: Table of Contents 1.0 Management structure and responsibilities 4 1.1 Insurance 5 1.2 competency 5 1.3 Risk assessment 5 1.4 Welfare facilities 6 1.5 Training 6 1.6 Safety rules and regulations 7 1.7 First aid kits 7 1.8 Risk occurrence report 8 2.0 Setting standards 8 3.0 Communication 8 3.1 Having a regular liaison between the heads of the project 9 4.0 Production and approval of method statements 10 5.0 Fire and evacuation procedures 11 6.0 Site rules 11 7.0 Safety during the use of the facility 12 8.0 APPENDICES 13 References 14 1.0 Management structure and responsibilities There are responsibilities to be allocated to the different personnel in the site management team. The team includes seniors such as the site manager, health and safety advisor, the site foreman, and the client. The management team will ensure the safety of the people who are affected directly or indirectly by the construction activities. The possible victims include the workers during construction, people near the site, and the employees and users after completion of the project. The management team will have various responsibilities to ensure the safety of the people. 1.1 Insurance Taking the employers liability insurance and displaying the certificate in a location where every employee can easily see. Undertaking this action that every employer and the healthy and safety department is aware of the cover and can take necessary action in case and accident occurs. 1.2 competency The management team would be responsible in careful consideration of the competency of the personnel selected in the maintenance of the health and safe of the people. Several factors such as communication ability and experience play a vital role in the selection of the health and safety management team. Qualification documents and available facilities are crucial in the consideration of the team 1.3 Risk assessment The team would also ensure risk assessment or rather determine the possible risks that are likely to be faced by the people on the site. The assessment is done by professionals who follow certain criteria considering the site of construction, skills of workers involved and the facilities. The action helps in prior preparation for the possible risks and taking measures to avoid the risks as much as possible. The risks in this area are high considering the people around are mostly unskilled and thus can be easily exposed to danger. The use of precast concrete helps in the reducing the exposure to risks of the people due to factors such as time constraint and space availability for the construction process. The risk of a individual being hurt is also reduced by the provision of the safety facilities in terms if helmets and reflector jackets. Risk Assessment contractor number and title RA number Element of work Risk assessment author Date Approved by Hazard persons in danger Risk rating Control measures Final severity likelihood rating 1.4 Welfare facilities The health and safety team also ensures the provision of the welfare facilities considering such a project will take time before completion. The welfare facilities include thins such as wash basins, toilets, and clean water for drinking. Most of the times skilled and unskilled workers on the site tend to have their lunch on site. Lack of proper sanitation system can lead to contamination of food and thus lead to sickness. The thoughts about safety of the workers are on the forefront of the mind of the company. Safety helmets and reflector jackets will be provided to the workers for the purpose of easy visibility by those operating the machines around the place. The helmets are a crucial part of the safety as they ensure that falling objects such as hammers does not lead to fatal injuries. 1.5 Training The team shall organize for a compulsory health and safety training for all the individuals involved in the development of the project. Safety begins with oneself undertaking measure to protect self, fellow workmate, and the other individuals using facilities near the site. The training would involve emphasizing on the importance of wearing the safety gear at all times as long as one is on the construction site. 1.6 Safety rules and regulations The team will also be responsible of displaying the safety rules and regulations and where they apply. The information can be conveyed by displaying a large visible board at a strategic point or issuance of leaflets with the relevant information to the people. The preferable method, in this case, is the large visible board as some workers have a tendency of ignoring the leaflets and thus not getting the intended message. 1.7 First aid kits The team would be responsible for the location of the first aid kits around the facility. Ensuring the accessibility of the kits in conjunction with the training will aid in the quick response in case of injuries at the place. Training will help in ensuring that the first aid can be delivered by most if not all of the individuals around the site of construction. 1.8 Risk occurrence report The team would organize for a system to report cases of injuries and danger in the workplace. Undertaking this action would ensure that immediate action can be taken which will prevent any damage or further damage in case it has happened. Hazard Occurrence of hazard Persons injured Measures taken 2.0 Setting standards The intention of the project is to complete the stated tasks with no reports of injuries. Setting of standards and rules to be observed enable the people in the workplace to relate in a professional manner and thus avoid risks and injuries that could be brought by the games or anger issues among employs. An organization for a toolbox talk is vital in this scenario with measures put in place to ensure attendance and observance of the discussed concept by the workers. 3.0 Communication Communication is a very important tool in any project. Achievement of high standards throughout the project requires effective communication between the various departments in the construction of the project. It is clear that the contractor has a major role to play in this by ensuring smooth flow of information and provision of safety facilities for the people exposed to dangers due to the construction of the facility. Safety through communication can be achieved through undertaking the following steps. 3.1 Having a regular liaison between the heads of the project Regular meetings by the architect, client, and the contractor would aid in creating proper updates on issues regarding safety and health of the people involved. The occurrence of any particular changes shall be communicated to the people. Such meeting would ensure that the welfare of the workers in terms of complaints and injuries that have happened are put into consideration. Also, at this juncture is where the language barrier can be handled. Workers who are not well conversant with English shall be considered with proper interpretation done to ensure everybody is at par with the health and safety regulations. The contractor also organises for communication with the public who are likely to use facilities around this area and are therefore exposed to the risks. The pictures of the site clearly show the presence of a busy road nearby used by the public transport buses. It is crucial to communicate to the people around on matters concerning safety. Driving near the project is at a low speed as there are workers and other objects that can be on the way that may lead to the occurrence of an accident. Installation of visible signposts that indicate the presence of a construction site and thus the public should be careful. Workforce consultation is paramount in this case. At the risk assessment level, there is a possibility that all risks might not be analyzed which will lead to more chances of occurrence. Frequent communication with the workers would ensure that the problem is reported and the necessary adjustments can be made to reduce the risk of occurrence of an injury. Undertaking design changes during the construction phase requires efficient communication. During construction, some changes might occur which can lead to the development of new forms of risks that was not considered during the risk assessment stage. An example of this is the introduction of a void in a place where it has not initially existed hence workers may not be familiar with the changes. Site security assessment is another crucial aspect in attaining health and safety in a construction project. Some of the equipment used in the construction are expensive and thus requires a high level of security. Hiring professionals who will be on the lookout is paramount in the quest to establish safety. Also, the security selected control the people going in and out of the site thus ensuring members of the public are not exposed to danger without necessary safety equipment. 4.0 Production and approval of method statements The use of specific construction techniques poses variable dangers to the people around the site. The use of precast concrete poses specific type of danger to the people. The suppliers are expected to produce a risk assessment report which is presented to the management with the necessary precautions that need to be taken when employing the technology. The assessment includes the transportation of the made concrete and the safety of other road users. Also, the installation process of precast concrete requires lifting of the beams, columns and the slabs in considering this is a multi-storey car park. Moreover, report on the tested strengths of the precast element is crucial in the assessment report. It ensures that the structure is safe to support the static and dynamic loads. The structure should be safe during construction for the safety of the workers and also safe after construction for wellbeing of users and the operators. The foreman in the site reviews all the procedures and techniques of installation of the precast elements and briefs the concerned personnel prior to activity. The step ensures that the concerned parties have the necessary knowledge of performing the task thus minimize chances of faults or occurrence of a risk. 5.0 Fire and evacuation procedures The use of machines that use power poses a danger of fire. It is vital to organize for the exit plans by ensuring clear visible signs indicating the procedure and direction to follow in case of fire. The site should have a number of fire extinguishers that are strategically located around the site for easy access and control of fire. Briefing of the workers is crucial at this stage thus ensuring that they are well conversant with what to do in case of fire. Location of the fire assembly point is crucial for the confirmation of the safety of every individual and note whoever is caught in the fire and needs rescue. The evacuation way should be kept clear at all time thus avoiding cases of some people being trapped in the structure in case of occurrence of a fire. 6.0 Site rules The workers will be briefed of the site rules and regulation with a clear indication of the punishment upon failure to observe the stated rules and regulations. The workers shall be briefed on the risk assessment report which indicates the possible risks likely to affect the workers. Briefing enables the workforce to have prior knowledge of what might befall them and thus undertake the first step of personal safety. 7.0 Safety during the use of the facility An efficient flow system is crucial for the safety of the facility during use. Clear heights and control system is necessary for the quest to reduce conflict between cars that will be using the facility. The strength of the precast connection should be able to hold the structure together for as long as it is being used with the ability to withstand the design loads and forces. The structure will be developed in such a way that the contra-flow line or rather paths will be avoided in the attempt to reduce confusion that might cause accidents in the in the structure. Furthermore, the safety and efficient use of the disables will be provided. The parking lots will have a portion specifically set aside for the disabled. The personnel working at the site would ensure issuance of placards that should be hanged on the vehicle for easy identification of the disabled vehicles. The presence of the ramp would ensure that the individuals who find difficulty in using the stares or using wheelchair will be have equal and safe access of the structure. The available personnel would ensure that the disabled are not violated and the provision of any assistance that may be needed by the physically challenged. 8.0 APPENDICES Appendix A - Site induction Appendix B - Method statements Appendix C - Toolbox talks Appendix D - Health and safety file References Lambeck, R. and Eschemuller, J. (2009). Urban construction project management. New York: McGraw-Hill. Lester, A. and Lester, A. (2007). Project management, planning and control. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann. Ottosson, H. (2012). Practical project management for building and construction. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Hughes, P. and Ferrett, E. (2011) Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction: The handbook for construction professionals and students on NEBOSH and other construction Courses. 3rd edn. United Kingdom Read More