Health and Safety Strategies in Construction

Health and Safety Strategies in ConstructionINTRODUCTIONGood health and base hit at wager is not unaccompanied important in human shapes, but it is also one of the most effective ways to ensure that the enterprises are successful and sustainable.Simple cost eudaimonia analysis will not be the appropriate way to look towards the issue of health and gumshoe, as it is almost impossible to determine the cost of unquantifiable losings such as suffering, pain ca utilisationd to the affected person and his family, sack in mobility, etc. Good health and safety of their employees is not only the moral stipulation of the enterprises, but it comes along with the effectual bindings as good. Key legislations like Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974, Construction Design and Management (CDM) 1994 and more more like these feed made it almost impossible for the businesses to ignore this area. withal, not to forget, there are mevery financial aspects attached to it. Factors like dis ruption, claims for damages, disadvantage of confidence in commission and loss of goodwill might impact the economy of business substantially, sometimes leading them to the total collapse. Hence, it is very important for any organization to take on the existing policies, to keep track of new updates in rules and regulations and to be innovative in finding out the ways to fell trys.The Manchester pin Hospitals Project has already demonstrated a better-than-average safety record. Build quality and productivity have been excellent. Other projects in the North-West England are recognising the change and pursual the example. But all these positive results should not stop an organization from finding out the new ways to reduce the risk at work.Following actions have already been taken on the construction site by keeping the key legislations for discoverive action in mind, failing to comply with which, the company and management would have been prosecuted. Actions and their respect ive legislations are as given belowDevelopment of Safety Committee HSWA 1974, s.2(4)Stop Work Procedure HSWA 1974, s.2(1)Safety Representatives Training HSWA 1974, s.2(7)few initiatives are mentioned below, which will help in to improve safety, health and benefit on site. It may also help the project to become a theatrical role model, which others would like to follow.Initiatives1) Substance smear at workIt female genitals be described as the overindulgence in and dependence of a drugor other chemical substance leading to effects that are detrimental to the individuals physical and mental health, or the welfareof others.Most of the mass and organizations still think that alcohol or drug dependance is personal matter as long as it takes off the work place. But they fail to recognise the long term effects of this addiction on that person. Typical response from management on such issues would beCollusion Either turn a blind eye towards the problem or reduce the effect of the pr oblem by, for example, transferring the employee.Dismissal Terminate the employee from the organization.But, the two solutions mentioned above can at the most, reduce the effect of the problem or removes effect on the workplace. A more sympathetic and decisive approach would be to motivate employees in the initial stage of their problem. An employer must analyse and investigate the existing as well as the potential problems and consult employees and their representatives. Following remedial measures should be taken to overcome this issue.A written substance abuse policyA supervisory rearing programAn employee education and awareness programAccess to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)A drug testing program, where appropriateBarriersEmployment contracts It is very herculean to change employment contract terms of existing employees without ample consultation and without giving convincing reason for doing so.Confidentiality Employees seeking help for a substance abuse might be reluc tant to approach management in the initial stage, as they will be sceptical about the confidentiality of their matter. Hence it the duty of the employer to respect the privacy of the respective employee.Key Legislation under which initiative should be takenAccording to HSWA 1974 S.1 (1a), it is preliminary duty of the employer to secure health safety and welfare of persons at work.As per HSWA 1974 S.2 (1), full general duties of employer, it requires employer to ensure, so far as is middling practicable, health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.In HSWA 1974 section 7(a), general duties of employees at work, it places every employee at work under an obligation to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected.Also HSWA 1974 section 3(1) and s2 (3) put emphasis on employers for conducting an undertaking for health and safety risks and policy.2) Artificial Optical RadiationAccording to Eurofound (European Foundation for the I mprovement of Living and working(a) Conditions), optical radiation can be defined as any electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range between 100 nm and 1 nm. It is further divided into ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation and infrared radiation.Exposure to UV radiations from sun can lead to cutis damage like sunburn, skin aging, blistering, sun beds and long term photo can sometimes, may lead to skin cancer. As per Health and Safety Executive guidance, people with the pale skin, curiously those with the fair or red hair, are at the maximum risk, whereas, people with black or brown skin are at the lowest risk. But, people of all skin colours are susceptible to overheating and dehydration.As an employer we canInclude sun protection advice on regular health and safety training.Provide appropriate protective equipments to the workers who are exposed to artificial optical radiations.Instruct workers to keep covered up while working in the sun, specially during summer.Encour age workers to take breaks in the shade instead of standing in the sun.Provide site water points and rest area in shade.Schedule work to minimize moving picture.Conduct regular skin check up of the workers who are exposed to sun quite frequently.BarriersWorkers may avoid covering entire consistency with clothes or protective equipments, as they can feel bit restricted in moving the body while working.Negligent attitude of workers can lead them to long term exposure to the optical radiations.Key Legislation under which initiative should be takenAs of now, there is no legal obligation on employers to provide outdoor workers with sun cream or sunglasses, but HSE encourages employers to include sun protection advice in routine health and safety training.But The European Parliament and Council have introduced directive (2006/25/EC) on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from optical radiation. It contains provisions on risk asse ssment, control of exposure, health surveillance and information, instruction and training. Member States have until 27 April 2010 to transpose the Directive and implement its requirements.3) Noise at workLong term exposure to high frequency noise at work can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Sudden hearing loss can be caused immediately by extremely loud, explosive noises. But in most of the cases, hearing loss is a gradual process because of prolong exposure to noise.As per the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers have following dutiesAssess the risk to the employeesTake action to reduce the noise exposure which may produce riskOtherwise provide employees hearing protectionStay within the legal limits of noise exposureProvide employees with information, instruction and trainingBarriersWorkers may feel isolated after wearing noise protective equipment, hence might avoid using it.Workers might find it difficult to use protective equipments along with hard h ats. So if the wide range of equipments is not available, workers will try to avoid using them.Workers may find it difficult to follow instructions given by supervisor while working. It may lead workers to avoid using protective equipments.Key Legislation under which initiative should be takenAccording to HSWA 1974 S.1 (1a), it is preliminary duty of the employer to secure health safety and welfare of persons at work.As per HSWA 1974 S.2 (1), general duties of employer, it requires employer to ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.The Noise Control at Work Regulations 1989 and 2005 requires employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety of employees from exposure to noise at work.ConclusionThe Manchester Joint Hospital Project has already been achieving better-than-average safety record. Many other projects in north-west England have already been kickoff to follow the project. With the implementation of initi atives suggested above, by keeping barriers in mind and trying to emulate them at the time of implementation, this project can achieve new high school in the record books of health and safety and can become a role model, which every other project in the country would like to follow.