Health and Safety Management of New Muscat International Airport - Case Study Example

Health and Safety Management of New Muscat International Airport Name Course Name and Code Date Table of Contents Introduction 3 Site Layout Design for Project 3 Materials in Bulks 4 Traffic Management 4 Offices and Welfare Facilities 5 Issues Surrounding Specific 5 Organization Issues 5 Management and Leadership Planning/Commitment 6 Employee Involvement 7 Worksite Analysis 8 Hazard Prevention and Control 10 Safety Health Training 11 Conclusion 13 References 13 Introduction Health and safety management are important in fulfilling the requirements of any project. For example, the New Muscat International Airport is a large project that requires effective health and safety management approach. The construction of the Airport requirements numerous resources and processes, ranging from designing to developing the project. In such scenario, numerous stakeholders are involved, and it is important to guarantee the safety and health requirements of these stakeholders. In developing a health and safety management strategy, numerous processes and procedures should be in place. For example, the risk assessment plan enables identification of risks and contains information on prevention and related mechanisms. The aim of this report is to discuss health and safety management of the New Muscat International Airport. Some of the considerations discussed include the inclusion of employees, the role and responsibility of management, worksite analysis, and training and developing the different stakeholders in championing health and safety management at the project site. Site Layout Design for Project It is important the numerous activities that will take place around the site. The designing process should enable strategic location of numerous facilities incorporating factors affecting the environment and community (Goetsch, 2013). The structures and other facilities should be strategically located. For example, flammable materials and equipment should not be located near fire ignition systems. The design is not supposed to target only the construction process but the effectiveness of the project after construction (Halpin, 2010). Hence, the different components supporting the project are supposed to be located in correct places to improve the efficiency of the project and also to champion health and safety requirements. Materials in Bulks In large projects such as the construction of the airport, heavy equipments and materials are moved around. The design is supposed to create conducive environment in which the heavy machines can turn easily and does not cause congestion within the site (Goetsch, 2013). It is also advisable to store bulky materials away from the site to prevent complications associated with moving around the materials. It is also aimed at preventing accidents and safety concerns because bulk materials can cause more damage compared with less bulky materials (Halpin, 2010). Hence, the bulky and heavy materials and equipments should be stored away from the project site. Traffic Management Ineffective management of traffic is another problem that may raise safety and health problems. The traffic movement should be viewed from different perspectives (Halpin, 2010). The movement of people at the site is one issue and the second aspect is the movement of heavy equipment. The small cars should also be considered in the planning process. A routine or a strategic approach should exist that informs on the movement of tradition on the site. It includes determination on when heavy vehicles enter the project site and also the impact on the public roads (Goetsch, 2013). The entire transportation system is supposed to be analyzed to ensure the entire process of traffic management is effective. Offices and Welfare Facilities The location of offices and other facilities is important. The offices and welfare facilities come in different forms and needs. For example, the administration offices should be strategically placed to ensure easiness of the different stakeholders obtaining services from the facility. Welfare facilities such as lavatories and eating areas should be developed in a manner that encourages safety and health. It should also be linked with the drainage and sewage lines to improve health and safety requirements. Issues Surrounding Specific In the project area, numerous processes take place and numerous byproducts exist (Goetsch, 2013). The byproducts come in different forms including chemical, biological and gases form. It requires engagement with environmental agencies in advising on the appropriate measures to prevent population and environmental degradation. Therefore to champion environmental protection, engagement with different stakeholders is important in creating a framework to encourage sustainable processes. Organization Issues The organization strategies should include variables such as materials, equipment, machines and human resource. The organization structure championing health and safety in ensuring the needs and requirements of these different variables are considered. The different processes analysis is important to ensure the appropriate health and safety measures are assigned (Goetsch, 2013). For example, the health and safety requirements for equipment is different from human; therefore, the health and safety measures should be organized in a conclusive approach. Management and Leadership Planning/Commitment The management of the designers and constructors of Muscat International Airport have to appreciate its collective approach to developing processes and measures to advance safety and health requirements (Rozenfeld et al. 2010). Clear safety and health policy and objectives should be discussed and implemented. Each of the different stakeholders including the employees have to understand the policies and instituted these policies in construction processes (Travaglia, Westbrook, and Braithwaite, 2009). The entire requirements of safety and health should be managed independently from other sectors within the construction company. For example, a designated safety coordinator should be in place to advance the requirements of safety and health. The safety coordination understanding of different safety and health requirements is important. The coordinator advice and frequent audit of the safety and health policies and objectives ensures chances of risks are minimized. Moreover, structured approach ensures an appropriate strategic decision on safety and health matters (Giretti et al. 2009). In addition, the responsibility of each of the supervisors, management and employees have to be understood, and each of these stakeholders has to integrate safety and health requirements in advancing the requirements of the project. It may also include safety and health committee, that advice when it comes to safety and health matters. The safety and health committee continuous presence in each phase of the project enables adjustment of processes and approaches to address the changing environmental needs. The management of the project should have defined approach in responding to safety and health issues. It involves understanding the numerous different requirements and needs of safety and health. The management is supposed to create structures and frameworks that enable responding to the issues (Duijm et al., 2008). For example, creating a small medical facility at the site is important since the medical facility will provide first aid services, which are crucial to addressing safety and health issues (Harris and McCaffer, 2013). In addition, the medical facility is positioned towards improving the safety and health requirements through collaboration and cooperation. Therefore, the management of the project plays a crucial role in achieving safety and health objectives and aims. Employee Involvement The creation of safety and health committee is to contribute and participate in the implementation of systems to advance the requirements of safety and health. The committee is made of employee and management representatives (Shapira and Lyachin, 2009). The safety and health committee has to meet twice monthly to review the safety and health obligations at the project site (Eriksson and Westerberg, 2011). The committee is involved throughout the design and implementation of the project, and should have defined objectives and goods, have a formal agenda, include employees in addressing safety and health problems, and address safety and health issues. The employees are expected or required to participate in frequent safety and health inspections that are done daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly with the purpose of identification of unsafe actions, identification of potentially hazardous conditions and initiate corrections (Razak et al. 2010). The collected information would be presented to the safety and health committee to review and present corrective measures in a timely manner. The employee safety inspections would enable preventing complications, which may arise; therefore, it is a preventative strategy. The employee participation and suggestion system are aimed at fulfilling the requirement of an employee in improving their respective workplaces (Podgórski, 2010). The employees are encouraged to make safety and health suggestions in improving safety and health system, prevent an accident and improve the process. The safety and health suggestion will be shared among the different stakeholders including the safety and health committee. The contribution of the employees will come in forms of recommendations, such as training, procedures, and products, which are important in their daily work operations. Employee input is integral because the employees access the working environment and understand threats more compared with the management. Hence, employees play an important role in advancing the safety and health requirements. Worksite Analysis Worksite analysis is important and should be achieved through systematic actions that contribute to the provision of information needed to understand and recognize the potential hazards and hazards at the workplace (CDC, 2008). The management taking worksite analysis actions can differ based on the nature of the project and the site (Halpin, 2010). Some of the worksite analysis that can be done include hazard analysis of changes e.g. new processes, comprehensive hazard surveys e.g. insurance inspections, job safety analysis, incident and accident investigations, ergonomic analysis, illness and injury analysis and employee report of potential hazards or hazards. Therefore, worksite analysis is important in ensuring the conditions and situation at the workplace are understood. The workplaces are areas in which different functions have to be accomplished, and different equipment/strategies are employed in achieving these functions (Cheng et al. 2010). For example, analyzing the significance and impact of new equipment from the perspective of safety and health is important. The hazardous nature of the equipment can be understood in advance and corrective measures or preventive measures instituted. In addition, processes should be reviewed based on the new changes and the expected objectives of the project. Therefore, the processes and equipment should be aligned with safety and health objectives. The job safety analysis and the contribution of an employee in reporting hazards or hazardous situation are important. Identification of the nature of the job and safety and health issues involved enables provision of preventive approaches (Akpan, 2011). For example, safety and health are important if an individual understands consequences of exposure, and understand the mechanism of reporting the problem. Hence, job safety and employee role in addressing safety and health regulations are important. For example, wearing helmets is important in the project environment but in certain conditions, protective eyewear is also important (Shapira and Lyachin, 2009). The appropriate safety and health requirements are achieved through analyzing the different the working conditions and working environment. Accidents and incident investigation are inherent in any project environment (Kines et al. 2010). The occurrence of any accident should be analyzed and determined based on the reasons of occurrence and measures to address the problem (Fernández-Sánchez and Rodríguez-López, 2010). After the occurrence of the problem, the incident investigation should be done to determine the cause of the accident and corrective measures instituted. The causes of the problems should be addressed, and structures and framework improved based on the causes of the current accidents (Bust, Gibb, and Pink, 2008). Therefore, accidents provide a learning opportunity to improve the safety measures of the business and also the project. Hazard Prevention and Control The management of the project and the design period should include job site inspection (Black et al., 2011). The job site inspection enables identification of numerous processes, equipment and causes of incidents. For example, understanding tagout/lockout procedure and confined space entry are some of the components that should be integrated into the safety program, and can be achieved through job site inspection (Fung et al. 2010). In addition, job site inspection enables identification and understanding the changing requirements of the site. In addition, encouraging safety discipline is integral to the completion of the project without major incidents. For example, adhering to procedures, policies, safety and health rules are important in reducing incidents (Dingsdag, Biggs, and Sheahan, 2008). Moreover, use of personal protective equipment should be a must when an employee is within the project site. The safety discipline should be based on the nature of the environment, the project, elements exposed to, and measures to address the problems (Ahadzie, Proverbs, and Olomolaiye, 2008). The success of safety and health should not be seen independently rather an important component in advancing the requirements of the project (Hallowell and Gambatese, 2009). Occurrences of accidents affect the socioeconomic environment and project requirements, and the solution is championing safety disciple. Effective communication is also important because it is possible to communicate on nature of threats and measures implemented to address the problem (Zhang et al. 2013). The information and communication processes should be strategically communicated through the use of different channels. For example, posting on the walls signs is one of the strategies and determining the escape routes through the use of strategy placed signs is another strategy (Goetsch, 2013). Moreover, audio and public communication systems should be in place (Bansal, 2011). Emergency meeting point should be strategically located to enable auditing of the employees during accidents; for example, the occurrence of fire requires auditing all the employees to ensure the employees are safe. It is possible through determining the emergency meeting point where headcount can be conducted, and the safety/health measures addressed (Fewings, 2013). The employees and the entire members contributing to the success of the project have to appreciate the environment condition and the impact of the condition on advancing the requirements of the project. In a project large as the Airport, numerous processes take place requiring different levels of threats and safety requirements (Niu, 2010). The employees should understand the consequences of different exposure, and the consequences of different actions to the entire requirements of the project. For example, the employees have to be informed of excavation and electrical safety. The threats posed by these different situations are different, and continuous information provision and reviews of the processes are important (Hallowell and Gambatese, 2009). A single approach should not be taken by a conclusive approach to safety and health should be encouraged. Safety Health Training The Airport project is important, and the success of the project can be inhibited by accidents and safety/health related matters (Lundgren and McMakin, 2013). The solution is the implementation of safety and healthy training program. The approach is to inform the different stakeholders on the importance of safety and health in the completion of the project (Hallowell and Gambatese, 2009). In addition, the contribution of each of the stakeholders should be discussed and information provided on the manner in which safety and health can be integrated into daily operations (Carbonari, Giretti, and Naticchia, 2011). The training should target all the employees, and further training should be targeted based on job description and analysis. The training should be continuous and the employees/stakeholders informed on corrective measures or measures to address an accident. The accident should not be viewed from the health of an individual but also the integrity of the entire project (Savage and Ford, 2008). The training should focus on different processes and the changing requirements of the project. In addition, the training should include the use of personal protective clothing/equipment, and the general use of the equipment. The training involving storage of flammable and inflammable materials should be addressed. The conclusive approach of training is important to ensure the employees are updated on the requirements of safety. The extent of training is important based on the changing working conditions and the level of the projects (Reissman and Howard, 2008). In addition, external trainers who are unbiased and have the training competencies should be included (Tie-min, 2010). For example, the suppliers of the equipment should train the persons using the equipment (Zhou, Whyte, and Sacks, 2012). The suppliers’ information on safety and health measures based on their respective supplies is also important. Hence, the training is supposed to take different approaches based on the nature of circumstances and situation. Conclusion In conclusion, safety and health management is integral to the success of any project. Completion of the New Muscat International Airport from inception to completion requires effective safety and health requirements. 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