The safety and health of construction workers continues to be an important concern of the construction industry in Washington. Improving project safety management practices is necessary to reduce the level of risk and improve worker safety and health.
OVERVIEW OF THE 2
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND SAFETY
- NATURE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
- INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION
- Owner
- Architect / Engineer (A/E)
- General Contractor (GC)
- Subcontractor
- Craft workers
- THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE
- Planning Phase
- Design Phase
- Construction Phase
- Turnover Phase
- Operations and Maintenance
- THE PROJECT TEAM (CONTRACTOR HIERARCHY)
- Project Delivery vs. Safety
- SAFETY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
- Construction Safety Management Risks
- Accident Statistics
- Accident Costs
- Accident Causes
- Workplace Safety and Health in Washington and Enforcement 10
- SUMMARY
Design-Bid-Build (DBB) – The DBB is the traditional and most common project delivery method for delivering projects. Design Build (DB) – The DB method, also known as the fast tracking method, overlaps the project design and construction phases.
PROJECT TEAM SELECTION 3
- PURPOSE
- DESIGNER SELECTION
- CONTRACTOR SELECTION
- Assessment Metrics
- Action
- Preferred Contractor List
- Written Workplace Safety and Health Program (WSHP)
- Safety Personnel
The first step in the prequalification process involves determining the metrics that will be used to evaluate contractors' past safety performance. For example, Chapter 5 of the Sample Safety Prequalification Questionnaire lists several questions as a way to determine the quality of the contractor's WSHP.
SAFETY IN CONTRACTS 4
- PURPOSE
- CONTRACTS
- CONTRACT FORMAT
- CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
- Prequalification
- Laws and Regulations
- Project Specific Safety Plan
- Safety Hazard Assessment
- Subcontractor Management
- Safety Staffing
- Safety Meetings
- Site Specific Safety Orientation Training
- Safety Training
- Substance Abuse Program
- Accident Reporting and Investigation
- Emergency Plan
- Pre-Bid and Pre-Construction Meetings
- Special Provisions
- Progressive Disciplinary and Incentive Programs
- Example Contract Requirements
- Construction Safety Professionals
When the Trade Contractor's manpower on the project reaches 100, an additional acceptable safety supervisor must be on site. A written accident investigation report and initial report of injury must be submitted to the project health and safety representative within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident.
PRE-BID AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS 5
PURPOSE
PRE-BID MEETINGS
The project inspector typically holds the pre-construction meetings after the contract is awarded and before the contractor begins work. Note that site safety will typically be one of the many items discussed during the pre-construction meeting***.
PROJECT SAFETY STAFFING 6
- PURPOSE
- PROJECT SAFETY STAFFING
- DESIGNATED SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE
- Quantity
- Site Presence and Coverage
- Qualifications
- Documentation and Approval
- DEDICATED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL
- Responsibilities
- Quantity
- Site Presence and Coverage
- Qualifications
- Experience
- Education
- Certifications
- Specialists
- Documentation and Approval
- COMPETENT PERSON
- FUTURE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY PROFESSIONALS
- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, READINGS, AND REFERENCES
The responsibilities of the project security expert should be explicitly stated during the approval process and communicated to the potential professionals. Depending on the risk level of the project, the qualifications of the dedicated safety expert should be clearly defined in terms of education, appropriate safety experience in the construction industry and/or professional certifications. The opinions and guidance contained in this handbook are those of the author and not necessarily those of Turner Construction Company) Job Description: The Project Safety and Loss Control Coordinator will report to the Business Unit Safety and Loss Control Manager.
Assist in the implementation of the project safety program under the direction of the Project Safety Manager or Superintendent. Assist in conducting site and work area inspections with the Project Safety Manager or Superintendent.
DESIGNING FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKER SAFETY 7
PURPOSE
- Gain support from the project owner
- Develop a formal DfCS process
- Identify the goals of the DfCS process
- Select Designers in part based on experience, knowledge, and willingness to incorporate worker safety and health in the project design
- Include DfCS requirements in the contract with the designer and the Construction Manager /General Contractor (CM/GC)
- Designate a DfCS coordinator to oversee the DfCS process
- Define Roles and Responsibilities of project stakeholders
- Develop a DfCS Review process
- Develop and deliver DfCS process training to all DfCS participants
- Provide DfCS tools and resources for designers, contractors, and owner representatives to identify safety hazards
For the DfCS process to be effective, the roles and responsibilities of all project stakeholders must be clearly defined and executed early in the design process. Create a DfCS review log to be used by the review team to document input from the design review process. Also, provide technology resources, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), to assist in the design review process.
Fall The design provides sufficient anchor points for fall protection during construction. Operation Does the design place electrical panels within view of the equipment they affect?
USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION 8
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
- PURPOSE
- BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) 1
- Capture Pre-existing Site Conditions
- Constructability Reviews
- BIM Enabled Prefabrication
- Designing for Construction Worker Safety (DfCS)
- Construction Site Logistics and Emergency Planning
- Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP)
- Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) & Pre-task Planning (PTP)
- Accident Investigation
- MOBILE APPLICATION SOFTWARE (APPS)
- Safety Support Functions Apps
- Technical Safety Reference Apps
- Workplace Exposure Measurement Apps
- Safety Planning and Audit Apps
- Custom-made Apps
- Safety while using mobile technology on site
- Other Technology Use
- Zonar Electronic Fleet Monitoring System
- Drones
- Personal Active Safety Systems (PASS)
For example, BIM can be used to simulate crane operations in relation to overhead power lines. BIM can be used to evaluate the construction sequence of high-risk tasks such as building steel, installing construction lifts, and building tower cranes. BIM can be used in employee safety training and education, design for safety, safety planning (work hazard analysis and pre-job planning), accident and facility investigation.
NIOSH Pocket Guide from Dangerous Decisions LLC - This app provides instant access to the most current safety guidelines related to hazardous chemicals. Ltd – This app and many similar apps allow users to measure noise levels in the workplace.
PROJECT SAFETY STARTUP GUIDE 9
- PURPOSE
- PROJECT SAFETY START-UP KIT
- SAFETY BULLETIN BOARD
- PREPLANNING FOR EMERGENCY
- SETTING UP OCCUPATIONAL NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL FACILITY/DRUG TESTING FACILITY
- OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Note: Depending on the location of the project, bilingual warning signs may be required to be installed. It is important for the project team to ensure that appropriate and sufficient safety equipment and supplies are available on the project before the need arises. Having a dedicated space available for safety-related activities and the storage of safety equipment and supplies is essential to the successful implementation of the project.
Supervisors have to drive from the project to the clinic to get used to the route. Consult your site-specific safety manual for specific topics to cover when work begins on the project. i.e. fall protection, respiratory protection, PPE, housekeeping, confined spaces, etc.
CONSTRUCTION SITE PUBLIC PROTECTION 10
- PURPOSE
- RESPONSIBILITY AND CONTRACTS
- SAFETY/ EMERGENCY PLANNING
- TRAINING
- PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
- PUBLIC PROTECTION RISKS AND CONTROLS
- Site Security
- Attractive Nuisance
- Traffic Control
- Property Protection
- Other hazards
Hence, proper communication about the project scope and schedule will build good relations with the neighbors. The main purpose of the fence is to avoid unauthorized or inadvertent access to the project site. This practice should be strongly discouraged or should only be allowed after consultation with the project supervisor.
All construction sites are an attractive nuisance that can draw people to a project to explore it. Post signs at the project entrance and gates instructing all visitors to report to the project office.
CONSTRUCTION SITE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM 11
PURPOSE
NEED
WELLNESS PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS
- Obtain project owner support
- Consult legal counsel
- Try to integrate wellness and worker safety
- Develop a policy statement
- Receive a commitment from subcontractors
- Establish a jobsite wellness committee
- Assess the needs and interests of the workers
- Select and implement “simple” wellness initiatives
- Provide incentives
- Maintain a hygienic jobsite
- Involve worker family in wellness & safety program
- Evaluate program effectiveness and document lessons learned
Like workplace safety, the project owner has a significant role in the implementation of a wellness program at the project level. If the owner refuses to financially support a wellness program, the project will still be obligated to implement that program. The project should aim to integrate well-being and safety, as both the program's goals are employee well-being.
Depending on the project size, a workplace wellness committee may be established to lead the wellness efforts. Since most workplaces are required to have a safety committee, the project can only ask the safety committee to oversee the site wellness initiatives.
DEVELOPMENT OF SITE SPECIFIC SAFETY PLAN (SSSP) 12
- PURPOSE
- SSSP REQUIREMENT
- REVIEW AND APPROVAL
- REVISIONS
- PHASED SCOPE
- SSSP PREPARATION AND CONTENT
- Scope of work
- Responsibilities
- Site Logistic Plan
- Safety and Emergency Contacts
- First Aid and Emergency Medical Services
- Owner Requirements or Impacts
- Safety Administration Programs
- Technical Areas
- Work from Scissors Lifts or Boom Lifts Included in Plan?
- Asbestos Abatement Included in Plan?
- Removal of Contaminated Soils considered hazardous waste Included in Plan?
- Use of electrical equipment, including plug and cord tools Included in Plan?
The following content and safety work procedures, as applicable, should be part of the project SSSP. The project must establish a documented safety policy as the core of the project safety program. The SSSP should identify the responsibilities of the project team which should include: project manager, project superintendent, general foreman/foreman, safety department and the craft.
The project's emergency contact information sheet must contain the name of the facility, route map, telephone number and opening hours. Fall Protection - The use of a fall protection monitoring system is not permitted on Exxel Pacific projects.
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS & PRE-TASK PLANNING 13
INTRODUCTION
Example - A JHA would be required for overall concrete pouring on a slab-on-metal deck for a high-rise office building. Example - A PTP will be required to complete a small portion of the concrete pours on a slab-on-metal deck for a portion of the deck on just one floor, to be completed on a specific day. Even though the basic concept is the same, companies have different names for JHAs such as Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Job Task Assignment (JTA) and Total Safety Task Instructions (TSTI).
Although the underlying concept is the same, companies have different names for PTPs, such as Task Hazard Analysis (THA), Task Safety Analysis (TSA), Pre-job Safety Instruction (PSI), Pre-task Briefing (PTB), etc .
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS (JHA) PROGRAM BEST PRACTICES
Probability' is the likelihood of causing an incident, of some loss or accident and identified as frequent, likely, random. "Severity" is the result/degree of whether an incident, near miss, or accident has occurred and is identified as catastrophic, critical, marginal, or negligible. List specific clothing or refer to company quick sheet, SOPs, plan, etc. for specific details).
For example, when developing a JHA for tower crane operations, select an experienced tower crane operator and rigger who can provide valuable input throughout the process. Controls: Similar to the hazard identification phase, it will be beneficial to receive feedback from various stakeholders to identify control measures.
PRE-TASK PLAN (PTP) PROGRAM BEST PRACTICES
Continuous Improvement: After successful development and implementation of the JHAs, to be effective, the JHAs should be periodically reviewed and updated as needed as part of the program's continuous improvement process based on: (1) lessons learned from new accidents and injuries; , which requires revision of the RIA, (2) feedback from workers and supervisors on particular job procedures, hazards, and control measures. Consideration should be given to non-English speaking workers when not only delivering the training but also during the PTP process itself. A copy of the completed PTP should be readily available near the work area where crew members are aware of its location.
All PTPs must be reviewed by the Project Superintendent or designee, and provide feedback on the PTP content. Note: The sample PTPs and JHAs provided in the exhibits are included as an example only, and users should be aware that they may refer to safety regulations depending on the company's regulatory jurisdiction.
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS | JOB # XXXXXX
1 .4 Electrocautery 1 .4 .1 Use of a Safe Ground or Ground Fault Interrupter Program 1 .4 .2 All power tools and cords used in this operation shall be inspected daily prior to use. 1 .6 .2 Demo waste shall be cut into pieces small enough for two people to load into the bin. 1 .7 .15 Ladder rungs shall be fully extended with spreader bars locked in place before being erected 1 .8 Scaffolding 1 .8 .1 No scaffolding shall be raised-.
1 .8 .3 Guards and toe boards shall be installed on all open sides and ends of platforms more than 4' above the ground or floor. Exhibit 13-5: Sample pre-job safety instructions form (used with permission from PCL Construction Services, Inc.).
SAFETY TRAINING 14
INTRODUCTION
IDENTIFICATION OF TRAINING NEEDS
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS IN CONTRACTS
TRAINING DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY BEST PRACTICES
Adults learn best by doing – Adults need to “try out” and practice what they learn. They will remember more information if they use and practice their knowledge and skills in the classroom. Adults need to know where they are going. Students need “roadmaps” with clear objectives.
Adults learn best when new information is reinforced and repeated - Adults need to hear concepts more than once. Adults learn best when information is presented in a variety of ways – They will learn best when an instructor uses a variety of teaching techniques.
TRAINING MATRIX
IMPLEMENT IDENTIFIED TRAINING
- New Employee Orientation (NEO)
- Safety Leadership Committee
- Special Craft Training Programs
- Management Training
Management Participation in NEOs – The NEO is the first opportunity to demonstrate to the employee that the project is committed to the safety and well-being of employees. Therefore, the project manager or the owner's representative should be present at the RVA for a few minutes to personally welcome the workers to the site and explain their safety policy. Use of NEO Checklists – The project should use a NEO Checklist as a tool to ensure that all site specific safety policies have been presented to the employee.
The NEO checklist must be archived as part of the project safety records (see Exhibit 14-2 for a sample checklist). This meeting should be held by the project superintendent, preferably on the Monday morning before work begins.
SALARIED EMPLOYEES TRAINING
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries provides a variety of training materials – http://www .lni .wa .gov/Safety/TrainingPrevention/Materials/default .asp.
OSHA 10
It must be built under the supervision of a competent person who has the necessary certificates (without 100% protection against falls during installation). The scaffold must be inspected and marked/dated as safe by a competent subcontractor before each shift. Guardrails must be provided on openings in the floor and on open sides or personal fall protection must be used.
ALL HAZARDOUS AND/OR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE TURNER PERSONNEL ON SITE WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE INCIDENT IF FEASIBLE. The bottom of the trench box should be no more than 2 feet from the bottom of the trench.
WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM 15
- INTRODUCTION
- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) RECOMMENDATIONS
- BEST PRACTICES
- Why should your company care about workplace substance abuse? What are the effects of sub- stance abuse on the construction worker safety and health performance?
- What is your company’s policy or position on workplace drug and alcohol use?
- What are the prohibited substances, articles and conduct not tolerated by the company? What are their cut-off levels?
- Which employees will be tested?
- Who covers the cost of testing?
- When (what circumstances) will the tests be conducted?
- What is the policy for employees who refuse to submit to the test?
- What are the testing procedures and protocols?
- Who is allowed to access the results of a drug and alcohol test? How will the company ensure con- fidentiality of the test results?
- How will the company select a licensed/certified laboratory? Does the lab meet all applicable state and federal licensing requirements? Does the lab have properly written testing protocol
- Is there any Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) available to the workers?
- How will the workers and their supervisors be trained on the company’s substance abuse pro- gram? What are the topics that these training should cover?
- If your company provides a general contracting service, will the company accept drug and alco- hol testing conducted by your subcontractors or unions through their substance abuse program?
- PROJECT LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS
Best practice is to obtain employee consent and make it clear that drug and alcohol testing is a condition of employment at the company or workplace. The policy should state employees' responsibilities to seek treatment through the company's EAP program, if one exists. For example, some unions have their own drug and alcohol testing program and issue proof of testing in the form of cards.
Include project requirements for drug and alcohol testing in the contracts so that all contractors are aware of the requirements. Note: This Drug and Alcohol Abuse Plan is included as an example only, and users should be aware that the Plan may refer to laws and regulations depending on the company's jurisdictions.
