Health and Safety Management of Manual Demolition - Term Paper Example

Health and Safety Management of Manual Demolition Name Student Number Institution Course Code Instructor Date of Submission Executive Summary This report evaluates various approaches outlined in health and safety management within workplaces. This will specifically evaluate the aspects of manual demolition by identifying and analysing major hazards pertaining to job tasks and associated risks for each hazard. Further, health and safety precautionary measures that ought to be implemented prior to initiating a manual demolition in order to control or prevent potential risks will be evaluated. Implementation of safe practices in demolition work involves critical measures by the management and contractors. Workers comprise the most at risk subject during the demolition process and thus, effective measures ought to be put in place for critical consideration by the employer. This report evaluates the critical measures, as well as legal aspects surrounding the health and safety management during a demolition process. Increased care strategies ought to be put in place to ensure that demolition works are effective and results in no fatalities. Consequently, reduction of pollution to the workers and the environment by hazardous materials should be minimised considerably. Thereby, contractors and owners of building under demolition or refurbishment employing manual demolition ought to be effective in their practices and follow set standards. Introduction Health and safety management in the twenty first century has gained prominence due to increased construction works, and equally renovations and refurbishing of existing buildings (Greenwood and Wu 2012). Health and safety management are critical measures to be considered during demolition processes for workers and the environmental wellbeing. Demolition involves construction work and practices that are conducted according to the set standards. Demolition works refer to dismantling of a given structure whether whole or partially which has been termed as load bearing of otherwise related to the physical integrity of the given structure (Hughes and Ferret 2008). Nevertheless, the work excludes dismantling of formwork, falsework, scaffolding or other given structures that have been designed or utilised for support purposes, containment or access in the course of construction work or the removal of power, light of poles for telecommunication. For purposes of this study, health and safety management have been outlined as the combination of management organisational arrangements that includes planning and review, as well as given programs initiated for purposes of enhancing health and safety performance (Dewlaney and Hallowell 2012). In the event of any manual demolition, humans are directly involved in the provision of workforce, thus calling for adequate measures to address their health and wellbeing. Thus, the need for effective and well planned practices is imperative to ensure the safety of workers and environmental management. Background Information The past few decades has experienced increased refurbishment activities in the building and construction industry in UK, as well as the greater European region. Although there seems to be a clear distinction between new constructions and refurbishment, statistics indicate the latter to results to greater proportions of injuries and fatalities (Loughborough University 2009). With increased activities in the building and construction industry, demolition by contractors or private developers is paramount. However, procedures and regulations relating to workforce, and health management ought to be adhered to during manual demolition processes. In the process, the strategic measures undertaken in the demolition aims at ensuring the workers health and safety practices are followed to the latter. According to McAleenan and Oloke (2010), successful health and safety management has been prepared as a practical guide that health managers, supervisors, as well as health and safety workers, utilise to raise standards of health and safety for their given organisations. In respect to construction companies, health hazards and risk factors are aspects that are core to the entire practice demanding for effective measures to address safety (Quarmby 2011). It is expected that companies manage health and safety with the same degree of expertise, and similar standards as other key business activities in order to effectively mitigate risks and prevent danger to workers and people in the surrounding. Management of demolition ensures achievement of minimal waste materials and consequently supports the Strategy for Sustainable Construction in the UK (Eatherley and Slater 2009). The demolition process is considered as an independent project involving design, planning and execution phases in order to identify critical health and safety aspects. Generally, all forms of demolition, dismantling and alteration of structures ought to be planned in a careful and orderly manner (Gamnatese, Behm and Rajendran 2008). Further, the process should be carried out by competent practitioners who not only ensures achieving their objective, but also adheres to the needs of health and safety management of all subjects involved in the process. The design phase involves key factors of structural knowledge of the structure, adjacent construction activities, as well as the equipment and selection methods of demolition (Frontline Consultants 2011). The planning phase involves knowledge of the specific site, health and safety risk assessment, coming up with safe sequences of demolition activities, limiting the level of sub-contracting and the pre-qualification and selection of specialists for the work. The evaluation phase involves supervision of workers, method statement control and implementation, safety information and training selection, and finally control of communication in respect to unplanned discoveries (Douglas 2002). Identification and Analysis Major Hazards of Manual Demolition Demolition is documented as the riskiest activity in building and construction (Forsythe 2011). In this context, the essence of realising safe demolition practices is based on the use of efficient risk control, environmental management and cautious planning. In the event a building is scheduled for demolition, whether wholly or partially, the owner is supposed to outsource a competent person to conduct an audit and investigate of all the possible hazards and risks (McAleenan and Oloke 2010). The evaluation incorporates risks to the workers, as well as the member of the public plying or living close to the demolition site. Through a competent and expert assessment, advice is given, the necessary steps to be taken and temporary support of adjacent structures and buildings, as well as the best option of demolition process (Quarmby 2011). High risk construction works are encountered in the case of a structure demolition that is load bearing or else linked to the physical integrity. Thus, there is the need for the preparation of a safe work method statement to ensure safety for workers prior to the commencement of the work. A detailed plan for the arrangements of how to conduct the demolition process is necessary at this stage. The plan applies to any form of demolition whether small or large scale due the fact that even when risks may appear relatively small, there are various factors that if not effectively looked into may bring about accidents (Perttula et al. 2003). There exist vast hazards associated with manual demolition works with some being critical for workers health and wellbeing, as well as the environmental aspect. Principal hazards during demolition involve falls from high structures, falling debris, a premature collapse of a structure, manual handling, dust and fumes. Others include the presence of asbestos and other substances categorised as hazardous like PCBs, Lead among others (McAleena and Oloke 2010). Materials like electricity wiring and appliances should be well handled and removed prior to actual demolition to avoid accidents caused by electric shock and fire outbreaks. According to Forsythe (2011), structures earmarked for demolition contains hazardous waste, rubbish for landfill and recyclable materials. The utilisation of best practices in manual demolition, as well as waste management in the demolition planning of the project, ensure optimum minimisation of risks and hazards to the workforce and the environment. The materials emanating from the demolition works ought to be handled with great expertise to ensure recycling of reusable materials and subsequently reduce waste volumes (Evans 2013). On the same note, effective planning ensures the effective reduction in respect of accidents occurrence during demolition, and pollution caused by hazardous substances. In respect to Hinze and Wilson (2000) discussion, the structure under demolition should be maintained in safe and structurally stable conditions to ensure minimal waste and reduce hazardous occurrences. Understanding of Health and Safety Laws and Regulations in Workplace Observation of the legal standards in the construction industry is paramount to ensure compliance with the best level of safety. Demolition being a practice in the construction industry is also guided by legal directives that ensure safe work and management practices (Hughes and Ferret 2008). The Directive 92/57/EEC introduced on 24th June 1992 incorporating the implementation of least safety and health needs pertaining to temporary or mobile construction sites (Langford Rowlinson and Sawacha 2000). All individuals involved in the construction process are expected to be responsible, and come up with a chain of responsibility connecting all parties involved, incorporating the building owners, clients, contractors and sub-contractors. Workers are supposed to be compliant with health and safety legal aspects as entrenched in UK legislations. Prior to the demolition process, health and safety aspects of the process are evaluated and ensured to be compliant with required standards (McAleenan and Oloke 2010). The employer has an obligation of assessing risks and control hazards pertaining to chemical materials within the workplace. Increased injuries and fatalities coupled with costs associated with them resulted in the creation of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). People were not clear on the disparities existing between guidance, regulations and the Approved Codes of Practices (ACOPs), or even how to relate them (Quarmby 2011). Initial legislation came into place in 1974 as the Health and Safety Work Act ensuring that employers offer crucial information, training, supervision and instruction necessary for safety and wellbeing of staff at the workplace (Dewlaney and Hallowell 2012). The evolution of regulation and legislation pertaining to safety and management of workplaces continued. The Management of Health and Safety at work Act 1974 came up followed by subsequent regulations in 1992 (Douglas 2002). Changes occurred in the review of the health and safety regulation in 1994 by the health and safety commission which result in the coming up with health and safety welfare regulations in 1996. Other regulations include the Management of Health and Safety at Work of 1999 referred to as the Management Regulations (McAleenan and Oloke 2010). This regulation critically and explicitly expounded on the requirement of employers in the management of health and safety as entrenched in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Construction Design Management (CDM) came into force in 1994 and reviewed in 2007 (Frontline Consultants 2011). The coming up of CDM regulations in 1994 explicitly elaborated in the requirements pertaining to the individuals directly in line to influence health and safety of the site during the pre-construction or planning stages (Frontline Consultants 2011). Generally, demolition being a practice in the construction sector, it is expected that it follows the set regulations for health and safety. Precautionary Measures prior to Manual Demolition Process to Control or Prevent Potential Risks Buildings and structures under demolition contain materials that are hazardous and thus, can be risky to the workers. Best practices and effective planning are utilised in the manual demolition process to ensure effective and successful process that abides by the health safety and management standards (Quarmby 2011). Careful planning is vital for the effective realisation of safety. Prior to the actual demolition process, thorough survey work should be conducted on the site, building and the surrounding to assess the risk factors and presence of hazards aspects (Perttula et al. 2003). This is vital for effective mitigation measures to put in place to avoid fatalities, and in the process ensure they are minimised considerably. The existence of hazardous materials requiring specialists handling like asbestos should be assessed to avoid risky practices during the actual demolition process (Loughborough University 2009). General hazards for identification prior to demolition work involve risk of falling where large sites are placed for demolition. Others include unstable structures whether partially or wholly due to natural forces, on-going demolition or other external activities results to risky demolition process (Langford, Rowlinson and Sawacha 2000). The presence of tension within the structures being demolished may build up pressure resulting in unexpected collapse which may lead to injuries or fatalities of the workers. Hazardous substances presence in a demolition prompts effective planning measures for removal and release. The presence of hazardous materials in a demolition process is dangerous as such substances can be inhaled by workers, ingested or come into contact with the body causing harm (HSE, 2010). Upon assessment and recognition of the presence of hazardous substances like asbestos and PCBs, specialists advice is necessary prior to the actual demolition process. This will enhance the release process by incorporating strategic and expert measures in the process. A critical point in the management of hazardous substances in the demolition process also incorporate safe disposal (Quarmby 2011). These hazardous materials ought to be disposed of in processes considered safe, and that conforms to the set legislative requirements. Presence of hazardous materials like asbestos, wood preservatives, PCBs or other trapped materials under the site for demolition makes the demolition process tricky calling for effective strategies for removal and disposal (Perttula et al. 2003). Demolition work may result in dust and thus, evaluation is done on the effective ways to realise workers safety by use of protective gears like masks, and subsequently minimise blowing dusts to the surrounding. This can be achieved through the use of cover nets around the building sited for demolition to effectively slow down rising dust. Other hazards that should be assessed involve looking into the aspect of causing greater noises within the surrounding (Langford, Rowlinson and Sawacha 2000). Noise results to environmental pollution which is a health hazard to the surrounding and equally affects the community. The reason behind prior assessment of hazardous materials in the demolition site is due to the fact that workers engaged in the demolition process may be exposed to various hazards that may result in serious accidents. Further, the workers can be exposed to dangerous agents and conditions that may be exposed from the debris in the course of demolition resting to long-term health defects (Hinze and Wilson 2000). After identification of the hazards, the next step involves work analyses and determination of the specific persons to be exposed to the hazards and the extent. Consequently, this goes hand in hand with effective measures being taken to safeguard the workers being exposed by employing protective gears and strategies (Gamnatese, Behm and Rajendran 2008). Following set standards and measures of hazards exposure is necessary for contractors and sub-contractors. In order to achieve the most effective measures practices like avoidance and substitution are initially utilised in the selection process following a hierarchy prior to selecting the least effective methods like use of protective gears (Evans 2013). Statistics on Accidents and Injuries Related to Manual Demolition. The UK construction industry stands out as one of the largest employers but accounts for high rates of accidents occurring at work (HSE, 2010). The UK HSE indicates that accidents due to demolition arising from refurbishment activities account for 40.6% of construction fatalities (HSE 2010). Refurbishment involves demolition and dismantling followed by renovation and restoration works. Timely and efficient decision making within a structural framework of risk management ensures a key reduction of accidents and fatalities during work duties (Eatherley and Slater 2009). In respect to demolition, sustainable strategies are ensured to cover every sector of the industry and subsequently result in effective waste management. Sustainable demolition practices are critical aspects of the UK government and other non-governmental policies touching on wasting reduction, improving recycling and reclamation of waste building materials (Evans 2013). Amid decreased accidents rates in the UK construction industry, demolition activities are on the rise with a 46% overall decent from 1996 to 2009 (Quarmby, 2011). In conclusion, demolition and dismantling processes in the UK has been improved tremendously to ensure utilisation of safe and effective practices. The rise in construction works prompts the need for critical observance of safety and management measures during the entire process. Increased refurbishment which also incorporates demolition works has increasingly resulted to increased debris material and the resultant need for effective health and safety measures. The minimisation of hazardous materials is the core target of the regulation and safety measures targeted in the UK during demolition process. Further, minimisation or avoidance of risky practices is core to the overall process of demolition. The above report critically presents a thorough outline of the health and safety management practices in the building and construction sector in respect to manual demolition. Increased improvements in the demolition processes are imperative in the overall realisation of reduced accidents at workplace, as well as minimal or no pollution of the environment from hazardous debris. Reference List Abdullah, A. and Anumba, C.J., 2002. Decision Criteria for the Selection of Demolition Technique, Loughborough University, UK. Dewlaney, K.S. and Hallowell, M., 2012. 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