Occupational Health and Safety in the Construction of VU Student Accommodation Building - Literature review Example

Author’s name Instructors’ name Course Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Overview of the basic requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety 4 Steps taken to ensure OHS of workers at the VU Student Accommodation Building Site 6 Conclusion 9 References 10 Abstract The following assessment paper seeks to analyze the Occupational Health and Safety measures taken by the management in the construction of the VU student accommodation building. The paper starts with the introductory part on basic aspects of health and safety issues in construction. It also includes the importance of prioritizing health and safety of workers at the site. The next section briefly outlines some of the basic requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety in construction. This is followed by measures taken to ensure safety of workers in the construction of the VU student accommodation building. A concluding paragraph has been provided to wind up the paper as well as mentioning what need to be done going forward. Occupational Health and Safety in the Construction of VU Student Accommodation Building Introduction According to Healey and Walker (2013), it is critical for any construction process to take in mind the Occupational Health and Safety measures to ensure that all hazardous risks are minimized as possible. It is as well common for injuries to occur at a construction site. Therefore, the main objective should be to reduce such risks by following the health and safety standards set under a given jurisdiction. The aim of this paper is to analyze some of the measures taken to ensure that health and safety of workers at the construction site of the Victoria University student accommodation building has been taken into consideration. This assessment will thus be based on the occupational health and safety matters in the project. This will involve discussion of some of the requirement of various stakeholders and what has been done on the same. Overview of the basic requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety It is worthy to understand that both the developer and the contractor have the rights and responsibilities on Occupational Health and Safety of workers a construction project. It must also be known that these two parties are employers in that the developer needs to ensure that he has a competent contractor while the contractor needs to have a skilled working team to deliver on the project. Based on the above overview, the developer or the employer has the responsibility of ensuring that workers and contractors have a safe environment to work from. These include maintaining and providing safe plant and systems for work, such as equipment and machinery. It also involves ensuring safe entry points, as well as good control of work pace and frequency. Further, it is the responsibility of a developer to ensure that arrangement on the safe handling, use, storage and transport of materials is guaranteed. This is especially critical when dealing with harmful substances such as dangerous goods or chemicals. The site should be in a safe condition in that emergency equipment is on stand by and that the workplace is always generally tidy. Contractors and workers need to be provided with basic facilities such as enough toilets, clean drinking water as well as having hygienic eating areas. These group of stakeholders need to have adequate information, training and instructions, as well as supervision in working in a healthy and safe manner. In addition, it is important to ensure that workers’ health is adequately monitored by regularly conducting some tests such on hearing for those workers exposed to high levels of noise. Other tests include blood tests for workers exposed to some toxic substances such as lead as well as monitoring levels of fatigue, which might affect the quality, and speed of work. Furthermore, it is critical to keep records of employees’ health, which should be referred to incase of any need. Such information could include asbestos assessments, biological monitoring, as well as records on first aid services and any other relevant medical information. According to the Government Institutes Research Group (2007), the quality of work delivered depends on the level of competency of workers. This also applies on the team that advises on the health and safety issues. It should comprise of people with relevant skills and qualification. These measures cannot however be implemented without ensuring that there is proper and continuous consultation with employees especially on matters that affect their health, welfare and safety. If health and safety representatives (HSR) represent employees, then they need to participate in such consultations. If there are matters to do with health and safety, a senior management representative should deal with such issues at a workplace. In addition, it is crucial for the employees at a workplace to be communicated at appropriate timing and language, concerning workplace safety and health arrangements , as well as persons that they need to contact in case of an inquiry or complaint. It is as well critical t ensure that when hiring workers, they are informed of what is expected of them and the nature of work and risks involved in the project. Mcnevin (2005) observes that this should be done in writing for future reference on safety and health issues at the workplace. Other requirements include insurance claims and procedures to be followed for any complaints or compensation for injuries. Steps taken to ensure OHS of workers at the VU Student Accommodation Building Site Based on the above requirements, this section seeks to provide measures taken to offer safe and healthy environment for all stakeholders in the construction of this building. As noted earlier, injuries from accidents do occur at any construction site. The prime obligation is to prevent as well as investigate any accident at a construction site. There has been notable measure at this site such as continuous and regular inspection of various job sites, including materials and equipment. This has been involving competent inspectors to ensure efficiency (Government Institutes Research Group 2007). An interview from one of the workers revealed that any machinery, material or tool and equipment that do not fit for use in the project is identified and prohibited. In some instances such are marked to minimize risks that workers might be putting themselves in. Some are as well removed the site to avoid being used. It was as well apparent that only qualified personnel were allowed to operate equipment or machines in the site. Disciplinary measures could be taken for any worker who breaches such requirement, including being expelled from work. In order to prevent occurrence of accidents, workers are supervised in all operations. Supervisors are advised to ensure that the safety and health of workers is prioritized. They are expected to report any health issue to senior management or health and safety committee. In showing the seriousness of safety and health measures put in place, there has been the preparation of hazard communication program. Although this has not been such effective, the aim is to ensure that proper assessment of chemicals that workers are exposed to is done and measures taken on the same. According to Sweet and Schneier (2013), ‘hazardous chemical is any chemical that poses either physical or health hazard to a worker’. Some of the health hazards notable in the site include sensitizer, irritants such as paints, as well flammables and unstable or reactive agents such as lead. Employees at the site have however been informed in advance of the hazardous chemicals that they might be exposed to at any particular operation. They are as well informed of the precautionary measures that they need to take, such as covering their body parts that might be exposed to such toxic substances. A close observation showed that all chemical used in the site are clearly labeled, marked or tagged for identification, which is advisable (Mcnevin 2005). This includes indicating appropriate hazard warnings. Employees are also provided with material safety data sheets (MSDS) that provide information on the methods they need to use when handling such chemicals. According to Sweet and Schneier (2013), electric and electrical equipment and materials are commonly used in a construction the site. This poses a great risk to workers especially those without prior knowledge and skills on how to handle the same. In order to ensure that workers are protected from such healthy risks, the management has ensured that unauthorized workers are not allowed to perform any activity that involves high voltage lines as well as accessing such installations. This has been ensured by marking these installations and giving warnings. Accidental contacts are minimized by visibly grounding such lines or equipment. Further, insulating barriers and guards are used for the same purpose. In addition, both equipment and insulated lines are cleared engineered and designed to allow only incidental contacts by an authorized agent. Mcnevin (2005) contends that falling during construction can occur if proper measures are not taken into consideration. This can be of high risk to workers depending on the operation that an employee is involved. The employees at the site have been insured with protective gears such as helmets. The management has ensured that protection systems are installed, offered and implemented. Empty holes have been covered to prevent accidents from occurring when workers are walking or working. This includes wall openings that pose a high risk from falling objects for workers. At the same time, balconies, established floors and walkways in the building have been installed with metal and wooden fixes to minimize falling. Workers have as well been trained to ensure their safety in such conditions. In doddered to ensure more protection from falling onto or into dangerous equipment, employees have been provided with guardrail systems, erecting toe boards, screens or erecting canopy structures, as well as barricading some areas for specials activities. Sweet and Schneier (2013), notes that noise is one of the health risks to construction workers. This has also been witnessed at the VU students accommodating construction site. Some of the effects include hearing problems. According to The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, one should ensure that there is prevention or reduction of risks from noise exposure at a construction site. Much embassy should however be put on the high risk areas where a lot of noise is exposed to workers. Some of the measures taken to reduce amount of noise include the use of alternative measures such as block splitters instead of cut-off saws. In addition, instead of using pile driving, workers use boring including crushing and bursting instead of pneumatic drilling. Further, those equipment and machines, which are not in use, are shut down to minimize noise production. Sound barriers are also used such as cabins to prevent noise from travelling. Hearing protection gears have as well been provided while workers are rotated to minimize continued exposure. This has also been done to vibration, which is a health hazard (Mcnevin 2005). Moving equipment is closely examined including lifts to ensure they do not cause any safety risks to workers. Conclusion The above observation points some indications of measures that have been taken to ensure the safety of workers at the construction site. It is evident that the management has taken upon itself to prioritize issue of occupational hazards in this project. The aim of this work was to assess the level of OHS standards at the site. This objective has been met but there are some sections of the same, which need to be assessed further. This includes the continuous training of employees on health and safety issues. Although this could minimize the risks involved in construction, it has not been regularly carried out. References Healey, B. J., & Walker, K. T. (2013). Introduction to occupational health in public health practice. San Francisco, Calif, Jossey-Bass. Government Institutes Research Group. (2007). Occupational safety and health simplified for the construction industry. Lanham, Md, Government Institutes. Jensen, R. C. (2012). Risk Reduction Methods for Occupational Safety and Health. Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons. Mcnevin, G. (2005). Building & construction: Australia. Ultimo, N.S.W., Career FAQs. Sweet, J., & Schneier, M. M. (2013). Legal aspects of architecture, engineering and the construction process. Stamford, Conn, Cengage Learning. Read More