1 Problem Areas in Construction Safety CH 4: Problem Areas in Construction Safety Faculty of Applied Engineering and Urban Planning Civil Engineering Department

4 Problem Areas in construction Safety

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CH 4: Problem Areas in Construction Problem Areas in Construction SafetySafety

Faculty of Applied Engineering and Urban Planning

Civil Engineering Department

Lecture 6 - Week 4

2nd Semester 2008/2009

UP Copyrights 2009

Const

ruct

ion S

afe

ty

Managem

ent

Eng: Eyad Haddad


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No worker expects to be No worker expects to be injuredinjured


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IntroductionIntroduction

Construction Industry holds a big Construction Industry holds a big

share of injuries and fatalities among share of injuries and fatalities among

other industries.other industries.

Focusing on the root causes of Focusing on the root causes of

injuries is an important way of injuries is an important way of

improving safety performance.improving safety performance.


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Problem AreasProblem Areas

It is strongly emphasized that Fall It is strongly emphasized that Fall

Prevention steps must be taken.Prevention steps must be taken.

Electrical shock is of importance as Electrical shock is of importance as

wellwell


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Figure 5.1Figure 5.1Distribution of Construction FatalitiesDistribution of Construction Fatalities (1985 – 1989) (1985 – 1989)

10%

33%

17%22%

18%

Other (10%)

Falls (fromelevation) (33%)

Shock (electrical)(17%)

Struck byincidents (22%)

Caughtin/betweenincidents (18%)


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Problem RegulationsProblem Regulations

Table 5.1 shows Ranking of OSHA Table 5.1 shows Ranking of OSHA

Paragraphs with the Largest Number Paragraphs with the Largest Number

of Violations.of Violations.

69% of high penalty citations are 69% of high penalty citations are

attributable to the standards in the attributable to the standards in the

standards list.standards list.


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Standards Standards ( more than 5 high-penalty citations for the three years combined( more than 5 high-penalty citations for the three years combined((

1926.652 Requirements for protective 1926.652 Requirements for protective systems (excavations)systems (excavations)

5A.001 General duty clause of the 5A.001 General duty clause of the OSH Act.OSH Act.

1926.21 Safety training and 1926.21 Safety training and education.education.

1926.551 Specific excavation 1926.551 Specific excavation requirements.requirements.

etc…..etc…..


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……ContinueContinue

OSHA is a Construction Community OSHA is a Construction Community

not a police agencynot a police agency

Number of citations for Number of citations for willful willful

violationsviolations increased dramatically over increased dramatically over

years.years.(222)(222)

The author shows figures and facts…The author shows figures and facts…


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……ContinueContinue Willful violations generally result in Willful violations generally result in

high penalties.high penalties.

Standards associated with more than 5 willful Standards associated with more than 5 willful

citationscitations

1926.652 Requirements for protective systems 1926.652 Requirements for protective systems

(excavations)(excavations)

5A.001 General duty clause of the OSH Act5A.001 General duty clause of the OSH Act

1926.652 Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators1926.652 Material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators


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1926.950 (general requirements for 1926.950 (general requirements for

power transmission and distribution) is power transmission and distribution) is

the only standard listed in high-penalty the only standard listed in high-penalty

violations but not in willful violation.violations but not in willful violation.


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IMIS: Integrated Management IMIS: Integrated Management

Information System, is the database Information System, is the database

where worker fatalities are recorded where worker fatalities are recorded

in OSHAin OSHA

Causes of most construction Causes of most construction

accidents as in accidents as in Figure 5.1Figure 5.1


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Table 5.2Table 5.2

Frequency of Occurrence Frequency of Occurrence (%)(%)

Event TypeEvent Type19819800

19819855

19919900

1985-89 OSHA 1985-89 OSHA StudyStudy

FallsFalls34.834.836.636.639.639.63333

Struck byStruck by18.818.827.927.929.529.52222

Struck againstStruck against2.52.5000000

Caught Caught in/betweenin/between

16.016.013.313.39.39.31818

Electrical ShockElectrical Shock19.719.717.117.116.916.91717

OtherOther8.28.25.15.14.74.71010

Frequency of Occurrence of different Causes of Fatalities


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Types of FallsTypes of Falls Evaluation of specific causes of 508 falls reported 10 Evaluation of specific causes of 508 falls reported 10

types of falls as: types of falls as:

(68% of falls, and first 5 are 45% of the 10)(68% of falls, and first 5 are 45% of the 10)

1.1. Off roofOff roof

2.2. In scaffolding collapseIn scaffolding collapse

3.3. Off scaffoldingOff scaffolding

4.4. In structure collapseIn structure collapse

5.5. Through floor openingThrough floor opening

The other five types are (6. off ladder/ 7. off structure/ 8. through The other five types are (6. off ladder/ 7. off structure/ 8. through

roof opening/ 9. of edge of open floor/ 10. of beam support)roof opening/ 9. of edge of open floor/ 10. of beam support)


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Height of falls was also examined.Height of falls was also examined.

Low Height does not mean Safety!!!Low Height does not mean Safety!!!


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Struck-byStruck-by

After falls, the most common cause of fatalities was After falls, the most common cause of fatalities was

being struck. The specific circumstance of the struck-being struck. The specific circumstance of the struck-

by incidents can be ranked as follows:by incidents can be ranked as follows:

Worker struck by falling objectWorker struck by falling object

Worker run over by heavy equipmentWorker run over by heavy equipment

Worker struck by crane, boom, or loadWorker struck by crane, boom, or load

Worker run over by private vehicleWorker run over by private vehicle

Worker struck in trench cave-inWorker struck in trench cave-in

70% of struck-by fatalities


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Trench cave-inTrench cave-in Worker caught between pieces of Worker caught between pieces of

heavy equipmentheavy equipment Overturning of heavy equipment or Overturning of heavy equipment or

machinerymachinery Worker caught in moving part of Worker caught in moving part of

heavy equipmentheavy equipment

62% of caught in/btw fatalities

Caught in/betweenCaught in/between


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Electrical shockElectrical shock

Direct contact with live wireDirect contact with live wire

Contact with crane boom with power Contact with crane boom with power

lineline

Contact of materials with power lineContact of materials with power line

Contact of ladder with power lineContact of ladder with power line

45% of electrocution fatalities


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OtherOther

Toxic gas or lack of OxygenToxic gas or lack of Oxygen

Poor personal healthPoor personal health

FireFire

DrowningDrowning

73% of other fatalities


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The Focus of OSHA InspectionsThe Focus of OSHA Inspections

The sources or causes of fatalities The sources or causes of fatalities

and serious injuries should be and serious injuries should be

understood by employerunderstood by employer

Employers should be committed to Employers should be committed to

avoiding circumstances that place avoiding circumstances that place

their workers at risktheir workers at risk


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Final comments:Final comments: Detailed analysis of data recorded by OSHA provided Detailed analysis of data recorded by OSHA provided

information about sources of citations and its causes.information about sources of citations and its causes.

Cranes, hoists, and elevators, scaffold design are Cranes, hoists, and elevators, scaffold design are

clearly areas in which employers have been deficient.clearly areas in which employers have been deficient.

Falls are the signal most common cause of fatalities Falls are the signal most common cause of fatalities

according to IMIS data according to IMIS data (Integrate Management Information System).

They are followed by struck-by incidents, caught-in They are followed by struck-by incidents, caught-in

between causes, electrocutions between causes, electrocutions


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Thank youThank you for your for your

SafetySafety

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1 Problem Areas in Construction Safety CH 4: Problem Areas in Construction Safety Faculty of Applied Engineering and Urban Planning Civil Engineering Department