OHS Procedures Implemented on a Construction Process - Coursework Example

OHS procedures implemented on a construction process   Name Professor Course Date Table of Contents Introduction 5 Employer’s responsibility 6 The expected responsibilities 6 Responsibility of the workers 6 General responsibilities 7 The responsibilities of the prime contractor 7 Responsibilities 7 The responsibilities of the owner 7 The OHS Policy 8 Regular inspection 8 Provision of written instructions 10 Organizing management meetings 11 Investigations 12 Incidents to be investigated by the employer 12 Taking of records and statistics 13 Taking of statistics 14 Provisions for instruction and supervision of workers 14 Provision of education to committee members 17 Support of the OHS program by the joint committee 17 Worker complaints 17 Recommended inspection workplace checklist 18 Conclusion 18 References 20 Introduction The victoria university has the aim of building a facility that would facilitate student accommodation. The building is to be located at Ballarat Road and Tierman Street. The project is estimated to be accomplished in 10 months’ time. The buildings structure should be such that it can accommodate 508 student beds in the 245 apartments. These apartments will be in distinct occupant studios as well as a multi-occupant. The structure should also comprise of 13 storeys, a resident recreation facility, ancillary retail (113m2), administration facilities and other structures such as recreational courtyards. However, before the construction of any building, it is important to consider some factors. The decision of the methods and procedures to adopt will depend on these factors. This project will use the OHS procedures so as address the various occupational, health and safety issues. The OHS procedures are analyzed before and after the construction. These procedures are necessary for any building construction. For instance, data from researchers by productivity and labour relations in Australia showed that, approximately 5 % of the cancer deaths are usually caused by occupational factors. In Australia’s western part alone, 125 deaths are reported as a result of cancer related to chemical exposures. With these data, it can be evident for how workers should be taken care of using these OHS procedures so as to save on their health status as well as the insurance costs and the overall worker performance. Employer’s responsibility The employers usually play a role in ensuring hazard control for a building is fully met. The employee, in this case, may refer to the entire management of the construction process from the chief executive officer of the smaller bodies such as the supervisor. The expected responsibilities Ensuring that safety and health of the workers is fully taken into consideration. Ensuring that the workers are fully aware of their responsibilities as far as health and safety are concerned. The employer needs also to be aware of the work Safe Bc requirements that applies to the task of supervision and also ensure that they are fully adhered to. So as to see the process successful, the employer should seek consultation with the joint committee member’s safety representatives or the worker health and as well cooperate with others in conducting occupational health and safety issues. Assess the unsafe conditions that are reported to them and take the correct measures. It would also be crucial that the employer avail proper protective equipment and ensure that they are worn accordingly. An inspection of this safety equipment would also be necessary. Responsibility of the workers Measures of safety may be implemented, but this may not fully assure the safety of the workers. The workers should, therefore, play a responsibility of securing their health and safety, as well as fellow workers. The construction process will involve handling of heavy machinery, handling of sharp and heavy equipment and chemicals. These working conditions explain the need for personal safety (BOWER, 2000). General responsibilities Learning and proper adherence to safe work procedures The workers should cooperate with the health and safety representatives or any other related department. This coordination will ensure a safe working environment. Should always be alert and promptly respond to any hazard to either the supervisor or closest administration. All workers should at all time of their working be wearing protective elements. For instance, hand gloves, helmets, overalls, etc. The responsibilities of the prime contractor The building to be constructed, in this case, is a multi-storey building. There might be many employees, and thus a prime contractor should be available. The prime constructor is usually designated by the employer and will also have other supervisors under him. Responsibilities A prime contractor is expected to coordinate employers’ safety and health activities. It may not be only the employers but also the workers or other personnel. Developing a system that will safeguard adherence to the occupational health and safety needs at the construction site is therefore inevitable. The responsibilities of the owner The owner is also expected to play a role in ensuring safe and healthy working. Below are the responsibilities that are expected. The owner should first ensure that the land in a way that will ensure safety and health of people in the workplace or around. The owner should also share any information concerning safety and health to the prime contractor or the employer. The information may then help them address any safety or health related issue. Should be able to respond to OHS requirements and orders Apart from the mentioned, there are other involved parties that might play a role in this health and safety. The suppliers, for instance, should also have responsibilities that will prevent health and safety related issues. With all these issues addressed, still there is a need to use a program to implement them. The OHS program is therefore used evaluate the building (JOHNSTONE, 2003).  The OHS Policy An implementation of OHS policy would be required. The OHS policy usually addresses the following; The commitment of the employer towards the OHS program. The commitment of being able to protect the safety and health of the workers The priorities and the aims of the OHS program The employer’s responsibilities as well as other parties including the workers The OHS policy should thus be simple and easily understandable usually a short consisting of a few paragraphs. The CEO or the senior manager should sign this document on the site. A better way to do this will be giving it to all the new workers and then posted in the worksite (AUSTRALIA., 2002). Regular inspection The building should regularly undergo checking. This is usually done for some reasons; So as to identify any conditions or unsafe acts that might cause risks of injury or any even disease. In order to identify the suitable corrective measures that should be undertaken To avoid unsafe conditions for working from occurring. Below are some inspections that should be conducted during the construction period; Regular and planned inspections of the workplace- This will entail inspection of the building, equipment, tools, work methods and the machinery. Practices that could cause hazards will also be investigated. In order to avoid the development of unsafe conditions, these inspections will have to be scheduled at appropriate intervals say. The intervals between inspections might be dependent on the nature of that specific workplace and the nature of hazards that might develop. Inspection of the equipment- The construction will entail the use of various equipments varying from cranes to the smaller tools. However, it would be necessary to train the workers in how to inspect these machineries and equipment as per the manufacturers’ recommendations. OHS program may, however, have specific requirements. For instance, according to section 13.3, an elevating platform needs to be inspected by the operator before using it on every shift. Special inspections- According to OHS regulations, it is required that a special form of an examination after an accident or a malfunction so as to make sure no work resumes until the conditions are safe enough. Workplace inspection-The inspection team will comprise the worker and the management representatives. The team should be able to identify with the work process and also could include the joint committee members and also the worker, as well as health and safety representatives. In order to ensure thorough inspections, worksite checklists will have to be provided. These lists will allow for recording of results and making the inspection process standardized. The checklist is also aimed at providing guidance to those who are not familiar with the process. All significant findings will then be recorded. A form for recording the identified hazards and the required measures will also be available. This will significantly control the hazards. Providing a copy for each worker, as well as the joint committee, would enhance the efficiency of the process (HERMAN, et.al, 2008). Provision of written instructions Instructions in any field help to offer guidance. In this case, some instructions will be provided concerning health and safety. These guidelines are aimed at training workers as well as establishing a constant level of work performance. It is a requirement according to OHS that a written safe work procedure is provided. In the case of this construction, the following will be included in accordance to the OHS; Personal protective equipment Emergency evacuation Fall protection Lockout These are just but a few, and some other instruction may be passed verbally without the need for writing. Some of the safety issues for some tasks are also addressed during training. Below are some of the factors that will be considered; The requirements of the OHS Regulation. The extent of the hazard Number of the workers doing the task The worker’s experience The level of serveries of the possible injuries in case procedures are not well adhered to The frequency in which the work is done The recommendations for the procedures (written) with respect to an inspection or investigation. The development of the procedures will be done after consulting the joint committee, as well as the workers doing the job. Each employee will then be given a copy or even post them in the respective working sections. A review of these procedures will be done whenever a job changes, workers returns after an extended absence or when there is an introduction of new equipment. Another case where the procedures might be changed is in case recommendations are given by the inspector (LEVY, 2005). Organizing management meetings The already implemented safety activities may need to be reviewed from time to time throughout the construction process. It is, however, necessary to hold management meetings to review the safety and health activities. These meetings will be used for; Reviewing of the policies in place and the procedures Considering reports as well as other provided information by committee Reviewing the feedbacks from the workers Addressing of the questions and concerns that are directly given to the management Reviewing of the reports and other health and safety related information in order to improve on the existing OHS program. The joint committee may give recommendations for action. Action on this recommendation is required and is usually acted on by; Coming up with an action plan for executing these recommendations Giving suggestions to an acceptable alternative. Investigations In consideration of OHS section 3.2(e) a formal OHS program is usually required for providing a prompt investigation of an incident(s) and find out a necessary action so that the same incident does not occur. In this project, we will use the OHS process of investigating the incidents that could cause injuries or diseases. After the investigation, then proper recommendations will be provided. What do we mean by an incident? According to the OHS regulations, an incident is an accident or in other terms, an occurrence that led to or can be able to cause injury or diseases. Some of the incidences may include; Incident where a worker is either injured or killed An accident involving damage to property though no one is not injured A situation where injury and damage dint occur, but it was near happening and could cause severe injuries The incidents that would need to be reported to the WorksaBC In the case of a severe injury to worker or death In the case of a major occurrence such collapse of the building In case of release of a harmful substance Incidents to be investigated by the employer In the case of the incidents mentioned above, the employer will then be required to use the incident investigation reports. Someone who knows the type of work being carried out should therefore, do the investigation process. Both the representatives of the employer, workers, and joint committee member should be involved in the investigation process. According to Occupational Health and Safety Act, after the investigation, a report is then obtained, and it should contain the following; Place, date, and the incident time Names of persons injured and their job titles Information of the witness A summary of the incident A statement describing the events which resulted in the incident. The identification of conditions that are unsafe, procedures or acts that may have contributed to the incidence. The recommended actions that would avoid similar incidence It would also be necessary to include the names of the investigators Taking of records and statistics The section 3.3(f) of the OHS Regulation requires a formal program that would entail record maintenance and statistics. It will also include inspection reports as well as incident inspections. These records should there be made available to the worker health representatives and the committee or any other official such as officer. Below are the records that should be expected; Inspection reports as well as the records of taken corrective measures. Reports on incident investigation and the records of the taken corrective actions. The worker and supervisor training records including the names of attendances, dates as well as the covered topics. The worker orientation records Records of the conducted meetings and the crew talks concerning safety issues. Notes and logs of the safety contacts by the supervisors. Records presenting the use of progressive disciplines in order to instil safety rules as well as the written safe work procedures Reports on the joint committee meetings that show the taken steps in addressing the safety and health issues. Maintenance records and equipment logbooks Subcontractor Pre-qualification documents Medical certificates, first aid records and the hearing tests. Records pertaining sampling and monitoring for the works around injurious substances. Emergency response plan (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2015). Taking of statistics Taking of accident and injury statistics is necessary as it helps in identification of trends and for measuring the efficiency of the safety and health programs and activities. Provisions for instruction and supervision of workers In accordance with section 3.3(g) of the OHS program, employers should ensure the provision of training and instruction to the workers. Supervision of workers ensures that, each and every worker gets adequate instructions and thus conducts their work safely. It usually entails the provision of education and training. The training could involve formal classroom instructions such as discussions and lectures (JOHNSTONE, 2003).  For the sessions that training and education are provided for each worker, appropriate records will be taken. The record should include the date of training/education, and the topics covered. These records should, therefore, be reviewed periodically with the aim of ensuring that all the training requirements are met. Below are what the supervision will specifically entail; Ensuring that each worker acquires proper training Monitoring of the workers after training to make sure that they follow the safe work procedures. For instance, inspections should be done to ensure that workers have protective wearing. Setting up of safe work procedures as well as safety rules. It is also essential to involve in some informal talks with the works discussing some of the arising safety issues. Topic Type of workers The key content Orientation of new workers All workers Identification of locations for first aid devices/equipment and services Safe work procedures Reporting of unsafe conditions, accidents, and injuries The right of refusing unsafe work Location of emergency exits as well as fire assembly points Emergency processes WHMIS Workers who may be or are exposed to hazardous materials Reading and understanding of all labels Location of MSDSs Understanding of the content on the MSDSs Hazards of the used products Control measures of with the necessary protective measures Personal protective equipment (PPE) All How this protective equipment are used and at what time Regular maintenance and inspection Limitation of protection Lockout Workers in the construction area Definition of lockout The various types of lockouts Situations of lockout Review of definite procedures for specific equipment Confined space All the confined places in the construction Understand the hazards that may occur in confined places The procedures for safely working on these confined places in accordance with the space entry program Fall protection The system being used for governing the fall protection Procedures to follow for fall protection Proper adherence to all the fall protection programs Chemical related hazards such as cement and other building chemicals Physical hazards such as heat, noise, radiation, cold, etc. Inside the building and surrounding sites The possible effects on health due to exposure Methods of preventing exposure The common routes of exposure Appropriate use of controls Recognizing of signs and symptoms of being exposed to these hazards. Provision of education to committee members In every meeting, it is usually recommended that an education session is set aside according OHS program. The education usually involves talks by members with a certain expertise. The suppliers of the materials, tools and machinery could be invited to give talks concerning them. The company should sometimes organize seminars on the same. Support of the OHS program by the joint committee The conducted meetings should not only focus on the OHS program since most safety related problems will need to be addressed before the next meeting is conducted. It is however required that the members keep monitoring the on-going health and safety procedures. The hazards should, therefore, be identified, and the necessary recommendations made for the workers as well as the employers. Apart from the meetings below are additional things that will be necessary; Appropriately dealing with safety and health related complaints Provision of advice to the employer concerning programs and assess their effectiveness Carrying out workplace inspection Conducting investigations of incidents or accidents. Worker complaints It should be made clear that in case of any complaints they should report it to the supervisor. In case the workers are not satisfied with how addressed issues are handled, they can address them to the committee member. There are even more considerations that relate to the mentioned that need to be considered, and they include; Monitoring of the HOS program effectiveness. Developing an effective committee Recommended inspection workplace checklist The checklist provides a summary of all the OHS practices and categorizes all the sections of a structure and respective equipment. These categories include; Floors and walkways, fire safety and security, stairs/ladders, walls, entrance and exit, chairs, hazardous materials, etc. Each of these is ranked using questions basing on a yes or no basis. Conclusion This study has examined in detail the safety of the expected building process at the Victoria University. These OHS procedures are aimed at reducing the possibility of accidents that may cause injury of even death to the workers. For instance, proper training should be provided accordingly so as to equip the workers with knowledge in handling the various construction equipment, chemicals, and machinery. The OHS program is followed in this case, and the aim of this program is mainly to make each and every person concerned be aware of their responsibilities as far as safety is concerned. In order to meet all these, the OHS program recommends undertaking of organizational meetings, investigations or even taking of records and statistics. The All these OHS programs should, therefore, be applicable throughout the construction time. A workplace inspection checklist is however provided as a benchmarking tool for all the buildings section. References Australia. (2002). National OHS Strategy 2002-2012. [Canberra], The Commission. Bower, J. (2000). Healthy house building for the new millennium: a design & construction guide. Bloomington, IN, Healthy House Institute. Herman, A. M., & Jeffress, C. N. (2008). Fall protection in construction. [Washington, D.C.], U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=496077. Johnstone, R. (2003). Occupational health and safety, courts and crime: the legal construction of occupational health and safety offenses in Victoria. Sydney, Federation Press. Labour.gov.on.ca,. 'Introduction | A Guide To The Occupational Health And Safety Act Ministry Of Labour.' N.p., 2015. Web. 10 May 2015. Levy, S. M. (2005). Building contractor's checklists and forms. New York, McGraw-Hill. Lingard, H., & Rowlinson, S. M. (2005). Occupational health and safety in construction project management. London, Spon Press. Summerhayes, S. (2010). Design risk management contribution to health and safety. Chichester, U.K., Wiley-Blackwell. Read More

Assess the unsafe conditions that are reported to them and take the correct measures. It would also be crucial that the employer avail proper protective equipment and ensure that they are worn accordingly. An inspection of this safety equipment would also be necessary. Responsibility of the workers Measures of safety may be implemented, but this may not fully assure the safety of the workers. The workers should, therefore, play a responsibility of securing their health and safety, as well as fellow workers.

The construction process will involve handling of heavy machinery, handling of sharp and heavy equipment and chemicals. These working conditions explain the need for personal safety (BOWER, 2000). General responsibilities Learning and proper adherence to safe work procedures The workers should cooperate with the health and safety representatives or any other related department. This coordination will ensure a safe working environment. Should always be alert and promptly respond to any hazard to either the supervisor or closest administration.

All workers should at all time of their working be wearing protective elements. For instance, hand gloves, helmets, overalls, etc. The responsibilities of the prime contractor The building to be constructed, in this case, is a multi-storey building. There might be many employees, and thus a prime contractor should be available. The prime constructor is usually designated by the employer and will also have other supervisors under him. Responsibilities A prime contractor is expected to coordinate employers’ safety and health activities.

It may not be only the employers but also the workers or other personnel. Developing a system that will safeguard adherence to the occupational health and safety needs at the construction site is therefore inevitable. The responsibilities of the owner The owner is also expected to play a role in ensuring safe and healthy working. Below are the responsibilities that are expected. The owner should first ensure that the land in a way that will ensure safety and health of people in the workplace or around.

The owner should also share any information concerning safety and health to the prime contractor or the employer. The information may then help them address any safety or health related issue. Should be able to respond to OHS requirements and orders Apart from the mentioned, there are other involved parties that might play a role in this health and safety. The suppliers, for instance, should also have responsibilities that will prevent health and safety related issues. With all these issues addressed, still there is a need to use a program to implement them.

The OHS program is therefore used evaluate the building (JOHNSTONE, 2003).  The OHS Policy An implementation of OHS policy would be required. The OHS policy usually addresses the following; The commitment of the employer towards the OHS program. The commitment of being able to protect the safety and health of the workers The priorities and the aims of the OHS program The employer’s responsibilities as well as other parties including the workers The OHS policy should thus be simple and easily understandable usually a short consisting of a few paragraphs.

The CEO or the senior manager should sign this document on the site. A better way to do this will be giving it to all the new workers and then posted in the worksite (AUSTRALIA., 2002). Regular inspection The building should regularly undergo checking. This is usually done for some reasons; So as to identify any conditions or unsafe acts that might cause risks of injury or any even disease. In order to identify the suitable corrective measures that should be undertaken To avoid unsafe conditions for working from occurring.

Below are some inspections that should be conducted during the construction period; Regular and planned inspections of the workplace- This will entail inspection of the building, equipment, tools, work methods and the machinery.

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