Falling Hazards in the Construction Industry - Book Report/Review Example

 Abstract: The construction industry is a very risky industry, and this is because there are numerous hazards that workers in it, are facing daily. This paper aims at analyzing the hazard of fallings, and it supports its analysis through the use of Fault Tree Diagrams. Fault Tree Analysis is a top-down approach, that is used to analyze the problems that an organization faces, and it uses the Boolean logic for purposes of combining a series of low level events, to analyze a problem or an event. Introduction: The construction industry is one of the industries that normally have a high injury rate, when it is compared to other industries in the world. Furthermore, this industry is known to be having a poor safety record. This is because most companies operating in this industry are not concerned with the welfare of their workers, and hence they do not provide proper materials or equipments that can be used for purposes of protecting their workers, during periods when they are carrying out their duties or work (Winn, Seaman and Baldwin, 2004). In the United Kingdom, the mining and agriculture industry are the only sectors that exceed the construction industry, in regard to injuries suffered by its workers. The last decade saw an increase in the number of construction accidents all over the world. This is despite the introduction and existence of safety programs and procedures in the industry. People working in this industry are vulnerable to a variety of body injury, and this is mainly because of the variety of outdoor operations that they normally engage in. Furthermore, because of an increase in technological innovations, the type of constructions that people engage in are highly complex, and it makes the workers in the industry to be vulnerable to physical and emotional injuries. Choudhry and Fang (2008) explains that to effectively and better understand the reasons of high accidents within the construction industry, there is a need of analyzing the behaviour, culture, and attitudes of the employees under consideration. Take for example, when an employee refuses to wear a head gear, for protective purposes, then chances are high that he may be vulnerable to some head injuries. Some of the reasons that may be advanced for his refusal may emanate from the lack of comfort in using the head gears, or lack of trust in their capability to protect the worker from head or body injury. More than 21% of the occupational fatalities in the United States is always found within the construction industry. This is despite the industry attracting a mere 8% of the total workforce in United States. In the United Kingdom, the rate of injury in the construction industry has increased between 2004, and the year 2007. This period in time, saw the rates of injuries in their construction industry at 16 people, out of every 1000 construction workers. Furthermore, in China, the rates of injury at their construction sites have been very high. Nearly, a third of all injuries or accidents in their industries, emanated from the construction industry. It is important to understand that China is one of the countries in the world, which is experiencing a construction boom, because of its high economic growth rate. Kuwait is also one of the countries that is experiencing a high percentage of construction accidents or fatalities (Dong, Fujimoto, Ringen and Men, 2009). The rate stands at 40% of injuries that are experienced in industries in Kuwait. This is a report, which provides an analysis of the risk perception, of the injuries caused by falls, in the construction industry. This paper analyzes their perceptions, from the views of different actors who are found within the construction industry. Furthermore, this report contains an evaluation of the appropriate tools used for purposes of assessing the risks of the fall, and the identification of the relevant sources of uncertainty. Furthermore, this report would contain a synthesis of evidence, in the example of a briefing note, for a particular stakeholder, who will provide the best policy of preventing injuries that emanates from the falls. Brief Discussion of the Hazard under Consideration: Falls The background of this paper is based on the fact that the most important stakeholders in the construction industry are manual workers, fabricators, contractors, engineers, and the government. Therefore, these stakeholders stand to benefit from having knowledge on the factors responsible for causing falls, in the construction industry. This is because they have the capability of initiating measures and developing policies that can help in the reduction or prevention of falls in the construction industry. For example, the government might introduce laws, aimed at forcing contractors to provide safety equipments and materials to the manual workers. This is for purposes of protecting them from injuries that may emanate from falls. It is important to explain that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety and well being of all workers within the state. Contractors and engineers on the other hand, have a responsibility of providing tools of service or work, which may protect their workers from any fall that they are vulnerable to. Furthermore, it is also better to know their views regarding the causes of falls, so that we may understand the various methods in which these people normally behave (Chau, Gauchard, Dehaene, Benamghar, Touron, Perrin and Mur, 2007). This would help in understanding the reason as to why a certain policy or action is not beneficial in reducing the rates of falls, within the construction industry. Dong, Fujimoto, Ringen and Men (2009) explains that falls are the largest hazards that cause injuries in the construction industry. For example in the United States, the percentage of injuries that were caused by falls was attributed to be 36%. This is a massive number that has forced the Federal Government, under the OSHA laws to initiate a program, aimed at educating contractors on the best methods of preventing injuries caused by falls, in the construction sector. In the United Kingdom, falls are still considered as the largest causes of fatal injuries in its construction sector. For instance, in the year 2007-2008, 34 out of every 72 deaths in the construction industry was attributed to falls. Furthermore, more than 4000 major and minor injuries, such as fractured skulls and broken bones were reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) every year. This is an indication that falls was a major factor that was causing injuries to the workers in the sector. It is important to understand that the Health and Safety Executive is responsible for ensuring the safety of workers in the United Kingdom, and reduction of hazards that these workers normally face (Cellier, Eyrolle and Bertrand, 1995). There are different types of falls that construction workers are vulnerable to. This includes vulnerability from falls, which emanates from falling materials, falling or tripping from roof tops, or tripping over materials, etc. It is important to explain that there is a distinction between a high fall, and a low fall. A high fall will occur when an individual who is working on high areas manages to fall down, or hence sustain body injuries. For example, when an individual who is working on a rooftop falls down, then it can be considered as a high fall. On the other hand, a low fall, involves a situation whereby an individual falls down, from a low altitude or height. This may include tripping, or loss of balance. It is important to explain that some of these falls are easy to prevent. For example, falls emanating from tripping over a material is easy to prevent. This is because all that the contractor needs to undertake is to ensure that the materials being used are well kept, and they have designated places that they can be found. Through this action, then chances are high that the contractors or engineers will prevent falls that emanate from such activities. Therefore, it is only a matter of negligence that may cause injury from such kind of falls. In fact Bormann, Clevenger, Lopez and Gilkey (2013) explains that all falls that occur within the construction industry are preventable. With proper policies, then chances are high that the stakeholders within this industry will manage to reduce the rates of falls that occur within it. Risk Perception of Different Actors: The Government: The British government believes that falls are the largest causes of fatal injuries amongst the construction workers. For instance, the government gives a statistics of the year 2007 to 2008. During this period in time, 34 out of every 72 deaths in the construction industry, was caused by the falls hazard. Furthermore, the government reports that more than 4000 major injuries, emanating from falls, are reported annually by workers in the construction industry. The government further reports that more than half of these injuries emanate from falls, such as tripping over materials, falling from roof tops, and falling across the walkways. This is a very high number of casualties; hence the government believes that there is a need of initiating measures and policies aimed at reducing the fall incidences amongst the construction workers in the United Kingdom. This, the government explains that it is easy to prevent (Arboleda and Abraham, 2004). The government maintains that one of the major reasons that lead to injuries which have emanated from falls, is negligence on the part of the employee, the contractor, and the employer. For instance, a worker may experience some falls, when the pathways is not clear. This might be negligence on the part of the workers, and this is because of their failure to clear the paths, and keep the working materials to their respective places. Furthermore, the supervisor might be negligent, because of his failure to identify these problems, and initiate measures or policies aimed at forcing his workers to clear the pathway. To correct this aspect of negligence, the government believes that there is a need of initiating tough laws, that will punish negligent workers, employers, and contractors who are working in the construction industry (Boffey, 2014). The government believes that when there is a punitive measure, then chances are high that it would act as a deterrent factor, and hence workers and contractors will become more careful while working at their construction sites (Caponecchia and Sheils, 2011). Furthermore, the government believes that another better method of preventing falls, is initiating a proper plan of the work under consideration, and reviewing the progress of the work, as it continues. While planning for the work, the government believes that the contractor should involve its employees, and they should identify the challenges that they may get while working, and how to overcome the challenges under consideration. Through this action, the government believes that the contractor would manage to reduce the various accidents that emanate from falls. Furthermore, the government believes that proper working conditions are essential for the prevention of most hazards that occur in the construction industry. This is more effective in the prevention of the fall hazard. Tools such as boots, gloves, belts, head gears would help in the prevention of injuries emanating from falls (Niosh Alert 1992). Therefore, the government believes that it is the responsibility of the contractor and employer of construction workers to provide their employees with the necessary tools and facilities that can help them work efficiently, and effectively. For purposes of reducing the number of deaths and injuries from fall, the government has mandated the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into coming up with policies aimed at reducing these accidents, or falls. It is therefore a priority for the HSE to introduce measures and policies aimed at reducing the injuries caused by falls. In short therefore, the government believes that the following strategies are the most efficient in the prevention of falls within the construction industry, Planning and organizing work in a proper manner. Making sure that people working within the construction industry, are working at an appropriate height. Selecting and using the right equipment. Clearing obstructions from the walkways on the site. The following Fault Tree Diagram provides an analysis of the perception of the government, in regard to the risks and causes of the falling hazards. The Government Risk Perceptions 1 2 Num,ber 1 and 2 are the causes of the hazard of falling, in regard to the view of the government. The major cause is negligence, and the other cause is poor working conditions. It is important to understand that the numbers are grouped in the order of seniority, i.e. the major causes of the hazards. Perceptions of the worker and the Contractor: The major actors in respect to the hazard of falling accidents include the workers themselves. The perception of risks by workers is always mitigated through a variety of factors, and these factors range from age, health status of a worker, altitude training, etc. In regard to falling hazards, workers have a perception that it is the responsibility of the contractor and the engineer to provide adequate tools that can be used for purposes of protecting themselves, and making sure that the work which they are engaged in, is adequately done, or carried out (McDonald and Hrymak, 2002). Workers therefore believe that, with the cooperation of contractors, and the provision of tools needed for work, chances are high that they may be able to prevent hazards that arise out of falls. Furthermore, workers believe that it is the responsibility of the contractor to plan for the work, and implement the plan under consideration. However, while planning for the construction work, workers believe that they should be involved in each and every process. This is mainly because they are the people who will have the responsibility of implementing the work plan that has been developed by the contractors. Workers also believe that negligence is also another cause of the injuries sustained because of falling (Rivara and Thompson, 2000). Negligence may be on two parts, negligence from the workers, and negligence from the contractor or the engineer. In the case of the worker, negligence would occur if the worker under consideration fails to observe safety measures recommended by the government or the contractor. On the part of the contractor, negligence would occur if he or she fails to provide the necessary tools that can be used for purposes of preventing a fall. Based on this fact, workers believe that the best method of preventing negligence is enacting tough laws that would regulate the behavior of workers, and that of their contractors, at the construction site. Contractors on the other hand have the responsibility of providing an environment whereby a worker can efficiently and effectively carry out their mandate, or duty. One of the major perceptions that contractors have, regarding the falling hazards, is that they are dangerous, and they can cause death. Furthermore, contractors believe that the major cause of the falling hazards is negligence (Gavious,Mizrahi, Shani and Minchuk, 2009). Workers are sometimes negligent, and they fail to observe proper security measures, resulting to injuries from falling objects. Contractors believe that to minimize these losses, workers have to be more careful, and professional in their duty. Based on these perceptions, it is possible to denote that contractors blame their workers, as the major reason for causing injuries, which emanate because of falling hazards. Worker and Contractors Contractor Worker 1 2 3 4 Number 1, 2 are the factors which a contractor identifies, as being responsible for the cause of the falling hazards. Number stands for negligence. This is the major cause that a contractor identifies as leading to the emanation of the hazard of falling. Number 2 stands for lack of proper tools thatr can be used for purposes of carrying out construction work. Number 3 and four are the perceptions that workers have towards the major cause of the hazard of falling. Number 3 is the major cause, which is negligence, while number four stands for poor work conditions. Evaluation of the Tools Used in this Assessment and Identification of sources of Uncertainity: The tools used in assessing the risks associated with this industry is the Fault Tree Analysis. Gavious,Mizrahi, Shani and Minchuk (2009) explains that the fault tree analysis is a top down deductive analysis of failure, whereby undesired state of the system of an organization is analyzed. This is through the use of the Boolean logic, which is a combination of a series of lo level events. The use of this tool of analysis is more common in the field of safety engineering. Furthermore, this type of analysis has the capability of identifying the best methods that can be used for purposes of reducing risks, and the rates of accidents within the construction industry. The Fruit Tree Analysis normally comprises of diagrams, which explain how risks emanates, and how it is possible to prevent the risks under consideration. From this assessment, we are able to find that the major sources that led to the development of the risks of fallings, are negligence and poor working conditions. However, the major source of uncertainity regarding the use of this system, is on its capability to develop a solution to the problems of study. However, because of its identification and analysis of the problem, the Fault Tree diagram can provide a solution to the problems facing the construction industry. Briefing Note: For purposes of formulating the best policy, that would reduce the risks associated with the hazard of falling, there is a need of solving the problems of negligence that would emanate from the contractors and the workers of the construction industry. For example, the government should introduce laws that make it mandatory for contractors to provide tools of trade for the construction workers. This includes gloves, boots, head gear, and any other relevant materials that can be used for purposes of ensuring that the work being carried out is effective and efficient. Furthermore, there must be legislations aimed at ensuring that workers are able to comply with the best practices of the industry. For example, for any person to qualify as a construction worker there is a need of ensuring that they attend mandatory classes regarding on how they need to keep themselves safe, and secure. These classes would impart skills on these workers, and chances are high that there would be a reduction of injuries caused by the falling hazards. Furthermore, the government should not allow any contractor to hire workers who have not attended these mandatory training sessions. Furthermore, there is a need of establishing measures and policies aimed at forcing contractors to set up their work places, for purposes of preventing employees from falling off. On this basis, the government should ensure that employers must, Fill in, every holes that a worker may accidentally walk into it. They should provide a guard rail or a toe-board, around any elevated open sided platform. Provide other means of protection, while employees are working. Conclusion: In conclusion, falling hazards are the most major hazards that normally face the construction industry. These hazards comprises of the largest percentage of body injuries that construction workers normally incur. For purposes of limiting or reducing the rates of these hazards, there is a need of all the stakeholders of the construction industry to work together. For example, the government should initiate laws aimed at forcing contractors and workers to observe proper security measures, that can help in minimizing the various risks associated with falling hazards. On the other hand, workers and contractors should follow the best practices that can help in minimizing these accidents. Through this collaboration, chances are high that there will be a reduction of accidents associated with falling hazards. 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