Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.

1) What are some health and safety issues for construction workers?
1) Pain or injury from physical overexertion, repetitive manual tasks, or working in awkward positions.
2) Exposure to moulds, fungi and bird or rodent droppings.
3) Exposure to lead, wood dust, asbestos, paints, solvents, and other toxic chemicals or materials.
4) Working in extreme temperatures and UV radiation.
5) Working with hand tools, powered tools and heavy powered equipment.
6) Excess vibration in the hands, arms or body from powered tools or equipment.
7) Confined spaces.
8) Noise.
9) Working at heights.
10) Electrical hazards.
11) Hazardous energy control including lockout/tag out.
12) Working with cranes, hoists, and other material handling equipment.
13) Slips, trips and falls.
14) Respiratory hazards from wood dust.
15) Explosion and fire hazards from combustible dusts.
16) Stress.
17) Shift work or extended work days.
18) Working alone.
19) Struck by mobile equipment.
20) Maintaining good housekeeping.

2) What are some preventive measures for construction workers?

1) Scan the workplace for existing and potential hazards before work begins and take appropriate
controls. Be aware that conditions can change constantly.
2) Inspect all equipment and machinery for any defects before work begins.
3) Keep tools and equipment in good working order.
4) Use correct personal protective equipment and apparel, including safety footwear.
5) Keep all work areas clear of clutter and equipment.
6) Avoid awkward body positions or take frequent breaks.
7) Learn safe lifting techniques.
8) Have training before beginning any task, especially high risk activities such as working at heights,
hazardous energy control (lockout/tag out), or confined space entry.
9) Follow a recommended shiftwork pattern, and be aware of the associated hazards.
10) Be aware of seasonal hazards from working in extreme temperatures.
11) Know how to get help in an emergency for working alone situations.
12) Be aware of the emergency response plans before work begins

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Construction workers safety - Hazards & Solutions

1) Scaffolding
2) Fall protection (scope, application, definitions)
3) Excavations (general requirements)
4) Ladders
5) Head protection
6) Excavations (requirements for protective systems)
7) Hazard communication
8) Fall protection (training requirements)
9) Construction (general safety and health provisions)
10) Electrical (wiring methods, design and protection)

Scaffolding
Hazard: When scaffolds are not erected or used properly, fall hazards can occur. About 2.3 million
construction workers frequently work on scaffolds. Protecting these workers from scaffold-related accidents
would prevent an estimated 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities each year.

Solutions:

Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended
load without settling or displacement. It must be erected on solid footing.

Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks or concrete blocks must not be used to support
scaffolds or planks.

Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of a competent
person.

Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails, midrails and toeboards.

Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs or ladders that are damaged or weakened
from any cause must be immediately repaired or replaced.

Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent.

A "competent person" must inspect the scaffolding and, at designated intervals, reinspect it.

Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any
occurrence that could affect structural integrity to ensure that all connections are tight and that no damage
to the rigging has occurred since its last use.

Synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from heat-producing sources.

Employees must be instructed about the hazards of using diagonal braces as fall protection.

Scaffold can be accessed by using ladders and stairwells.

Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from electric power lines at all times

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Fall Protection
Hazard: Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction
industry. A number of factors are often involved in falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse or
failure to use fall protection equipment and human error. Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall
arrest systems, safety nets, covers and restraint systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls.

Solutions:

Consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated working surfaces;

Erect guardrail systems with toeboards and warning lines or install control line systems to protect workers
near the edges of floors and roofs;

Cover floor holes; and/or

Use safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems (body harnesses).

Ladders
Hazard: Ladders and stairways are another source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers.
OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls on stairways
and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries were serious enough to require time off the
job.

Solutions:

Use the correct ladder for the task.

Have a competent person visually inspect a ladder before use for any defects such as:

Structural damage, split/bent side rails, broken or missing rungs/steps/cleats and missing or damaged safety
devices;

Grease, dirt or other contaminants that could cause slips or falls;

Paint or stickers (except warning labels) that could hide possible defects

.Make sure that ladders are long enough to safely reach the work area.

Mark or tag ("Do Not Use") damaged or defective ladders for repair or replacement, or destroy them
immediately.

Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended load or beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity.

Be sure the load rating can support the weight of the user, including materials and tools.

Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and overhead power lines.

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Stairways
Hazard: Slips, trips and falls on stairways are a major source of injuries and fatalities among construction
workers.

Solutions:

Stairway treads and walkways must be free of dangerous objects, debris and materials.

Slippery conditions on stairways and walkways must be corrected immediately.

Make sure that treads cover the entire step and landing.

Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches must have at least one handrail

Trenching
Hazard: Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year. Trenching deaths
rose in 2003.

Solutions:

Never enter an unprotected trench.

Always use a protective system for trenches feet deep or greater.

Employ a registered professional engineer to design a protective system for trenches 20 feet deep or
greater.

Protective Systems:

Sloping to protect workers by cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation not
steeper than a height/depth ratio of 11 2 :1, according to the sloping requirements for the type of soil.

Shoring to protect workers by installing supports to prevent soil movement for trenches that do not exceed
20 feet in depth.

Shielding to protect workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins.

Always provide a way to exit a trench--such as a ladder, stairway or ramp--no more than 25 feet of lateral
travel for employees in the trench.

Keep spoils at least two feet back from the edge of a trench.

Make sure that trenches are inspected by a competent person prior to entry and after any hazard-increasing
event such as a rainstorm, vibrations or excessive surcharge loads.

SLOPING. Maximum allowable slopes for excavations less than 20 ft. (6.09 m) based on soil type and angle to
the horizontal are as follows:

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

ALLOWABLE SLOPES
Soil type Height/Depth ratio Slope angle

Stable Rock

(granite or sandstone) Vertical 90º

Type A (clay) 3/4 :1 53º

Type B (gravel, silt) 1:1 45º

Type C (sand) 11/ 2:1 34º

Type A (short-term) (For a maximum excavation depth of 12 ft.) 1/ 2:1 63º

Cranes
Hazard: Significant and serious injuries may occur if cranes are not inspected before use and if they are not
used properly. Often these injuries occur when a worker is struck by an overhead load or caught within the
crane's swing radius. Many crane fatalities occur when the boom of a crane or its load line contact an
overhead power line.

Solutions:

Check all crane controls to insure proper operation before use.

Inspect wire rope, chains and hook for any damage.

Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift.

Ensure that the load does not exceed the crane's rated capacity.

Raise the load a few inches to verify balance and the effectiveness of the brake system.

Check all rigging prior to use; do not wrap hoist ropes or chains around the load.

Fully extend outriggers.

Do not move a load over workers.

Barricade accessible areas within the crane's swing radius.

Watch for overhead electrical distribution and transmission lines and maintain a safe working clearance of at
least 10 feet from energized electrical lines

Hazard Communication
Hazard: Failure to recognize the hazards associated with chemicals can cause chemical burns, respiratory
problems, fires and explosions.

Solutions:
SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper
Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical in the facility.

Make this information accessible to employees at all times in a language or formats that are clearly
understood by all affected personnel.

Train employees on how to read and use the MSDS.

Follow manufacturer's MSDS instructions for handling hazardous chemicals.

Train employees about the risks of each hazardous chemical being used.

Provide spill clean-up kits in areas where chemicals are stored.

Have a written spill control plan.

Train employees to clean up spills, protect themselves and properly dispose of used materials.

Provide proper personal protective equipment and enforce its use.

Store chemicals safely and securely.

Forklifts
Hazard: Approximately 100 employees are fatally injured and approximately 95,000 employees are injured
every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of
these fatalities.

Solutions:

Train and certify all operators to ensure that they operate forklifts safely.

Do not allow any employee under 18 years old to operate a forklift.

Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires.

Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift without
written approval from the forklift's manufacturer.

Examine forklift truck for defects before using.

Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down and stacking loads.

Drive safely--never exceed 5 mph and slow down in congested or slippery surface areas.

Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.

Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial truck.

Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service.

Operators shall always wear seatbelts.

Avoid traveling with elevated loads.

Assure that rollover protective structure is in place.

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper
Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level

Head Protection
Hazard: Serious head injuries can result from blows to the head.

Solution:

Be sure that workers wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to their
heads from fixed objects, or accidental head contact with electrical hazards.

Safety Checklists
The following checklists may help you take steps to avoid hazards that cause injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
As always, be cautious and seek help if you are concerned about a potential hazard.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Eye and Face Protection

Safety glasses or face shields are worn anytime work operations can cause foreign objects getting into the
eye such as during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful
chemicals or when exposed to flying particles).

Eye and face protectors are selected based on anticipated hazards.

Safety glasses or face shields are worn when exposed to any electrical hazards including work on energized
electrical systems.

Foot Protection
Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles.

Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling
objects.

Hand Protection
Gloves should fit snugly.

Workers wear the right gloves for the job (for example, heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work, welding
gloves for welding, insulated gloves and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards).

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Head Protection
Workers shall wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to their heads
from fixed objects, or of accidental head contact with electrical hazards.

Hard hats are routinely inspected for dents, cracks or deterioration.

Hard hats are replaced after a heavy blow or electrical shock.

Hard hats are maintained in good condition.

Scaffolding
Scaffolds should be set on sound footing.

Damaged parts that affect the strength of the scaffold are taken out of service.

Scaffolds are not altered.

All scaffolds should be fully planked.

Scaffolds are not moved horizontally while workers are on them unless they are designed to be mobile and
workers have been trained in the proper procedures.

Employees are not permitted to work on scaffolds when covered with snow, ice, or other slippery materials.

Scaffolds are not erected or moved within 10 feet of power lines.

Employees are not permitted to work on scaffolds in bad weather or high winds unless a competent person
has determined that it is safe to do so.

Ladders, boxes, barrels, buckets or other makeshift platforms are not used to raise work height.

Extra material is not allowed to build up on scaffold platforms.

Scaffolds should not be loaded with more weight than they were designed to support.

Electrical Safety
Work on new and existing energized (hot) electrical circuits is prohibited until all power is shut off and
grounds are attached.

An effective Lockout/Tagout system is in place.

Frayed, damaged or worn electrical cords or cables are promptly replaced.

All extension cords have grounding prongs.

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Protect flexible cords and cables from damage. Sharp corners and projections should be avoided.

Use extension cord sets used with portable electric tools and appliances that are the three-wire type and
designed for hard or extra-hard service. (Look for some of the following letters imprinted on the casing: S,
ST, SO, STO.)

All electrical tools and equipment are maintained in safe condition and checked regularly for defects and
taken out of service if a defect is found.

Do not bypass any protective system or device designed to protect employees from contact with electrical
energy.

Overhead electrical power lines are located and identified.

Ensure that ladders, scaffolds, equipment or materials never come within 10 feet of electrical power lines.

All electrical tools must be properly grounded unless they are of the double insulated type.

Multiple plug adapters are prohibited.

Floor and Wall Openings

Floor openings (12 inches or more) are guarded by a secured cover, a guardrail or equivalent on all sides
(except at entrances to stairways).

Toeboards are installed around the edges of permanent floor openings (where persons may pass below the
opening).

Elevated Surfaces
Signs are posted, when appropriate, showing the elevated surface load capacity.

Surfaces elevated more than 48 inches above the floor or ground have standard guardrails.

All elevated surfaces (beneath which people or machinery could be exposed to falling objects) have standard
4-inch toeboards.

A permanent means of entry and exit with handrails is provided to elevated storage and work surfaces.

Material is piled, stacked or racked in a way that prevents it from tipping, falling, collapsing, rolling or
spreading.

Hazard Communication
A list of hazardous substances used in the workplace is maintained and readily available at the worksite.

There is a written hazard communication program addressing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), labeling
and employee training.

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Each container of a hazardous substance (vats, bottles, storage tanks) is labeled with product identity and a
hazard warning(s) (communicating the specific health hazards and physical hazards).

Material Safety Data Sheets are readily available at all times for each hazardous substance used.

There is an effective employee training program for hazardous substances.

Crane Safety

Cranes and derricks are restricted from operating within 10 feet of any electrical power line.

The upper rotating structure supporting the boom and materials being handled is provided with an electrical
ground while working near energized transmitter towers.

Rated load capacities, operating speed and instructions are posted and visible to the operator.

Cranes are equipped with a load chart.

The operator understands and uses the load chart.

The operator can determine the angle and length of the crane boom at all times.

Crane machinery and other rigging equipment is inspected daily prior to use to make sure that it is in good
condition.

Accessible areas within the crane's swing radius are barricaded.

Tag lines are used to prevent dangerous swing or spin of materials when raised or lowered by a crane or
derrick.

Illustrations of hand signals to crane and derrick operators are posted on the job site.
SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper
Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

The signal person uses correct signals for the crane operator to follow.

Crane outriggers are extended when required.

Crane platforms and walkways have antiskid surfaces.

Broken, worn or damaged wire rope is removed from service.

Guardrails, hand holds and steps are provided for safe and easy access to and from all areas of the crane.

Load testing reports/certifications are available.

Tower crane mast bolts are properly torqued to the manufacturer's specifications.

Overload limits are tested and correctly set.

The maximum acceptable load and the last test results are posted on the crane.

Initial and annual inspections of all hoisting and rigging equipment are performed and reports are
maintained.

Only properly trained and qualified operators are allowed to work with hoisting and rigging equipment.

Forklifts
Forklift truck operators are competent to operate these vehicles safely as demonstrated by their successful
completion of training and evaluation.

No employee under 18 years old is allowed to operate a forklift.

Forklifts are inspected daily for proper condition of brakes, horns, steering, forks and tires.

Powered industrial trucks (forklifts) meet the design and construction requirements established in American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II ANSI B56.1-1969.

Written approval from the truck manufacturer is obtained for any modification or additions which affect
capacity and safe operation of the vehicle.

Capacity, operation and maintenance instruction plates, tags or decals are changed to indicate any
modifications or additions to the vehicle.

Battery charging is conducted in areas specifically designated for that purpose.

Material handling equipment is provided for handling batteries, including conveyors, overhead hoists or
equivalent devices.

Reinstalled batteries are properly positioned and secured in the truck.

Smoking is prohibited in battery charging areas.

Precautions are taken to prevent open flames, sparks or electric arcs in battery charging areas.

Refresher training is provided and an evaluation is conducted whenever a forklift operator has been
observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner and when an operator is assigned to drive a different
type of truck.

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

Specification, Quantity and costing for buildings 15ENG4.6

Load and forks are fully lowered, controls neutralized, power shut off and brakes set when a powered
industrial truck is left unattended.

There is sufficient headroom for the forklift and operator under overhead installations, lights, pipes,
sprinkler systems, etc.

Overhead guards are in place to protect the operator against falling objects.

Trucks are operated at a safe speed.

All loads are kept stable, safely arranged and fit within the rated capacity of the truck.

Unsafe and defective trucks are removed from service.

SQC notes Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper