Role of Construction Safety Programs in Mitigating the Injuries and Deaths - Research Paper Example

Construction Safety This research paper is based on the construction industry which has registered many injuries and deaths which emanate from hazards within construction sites. The paper gives a comprehensive background to the problem being discusses. More specifically three main hazards within the construction business are described and illustrated. This is followed by the explanation and discussion of the role of construction safety programs in mitigating the injuries and deaths which result from hazards and risks within construction sites and industry in general. Background and Introduction Construction has been described as one of the most dangerous sectors within the US (Hallowell and John 1316). Every year, many injuries and deaths are recorded as they emanate from construction work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one out of five deaths related to work activities occur within the construction sector (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1). This demonstrates the need to research on the hazards within construction activities and the measures of construction safety programs in mitigation of these hazards as a basis for recommendations on improving safety for construction workers. Construction safety programs play a role in enhancing the health and safety of all construction workers who participate in construction, maintenance and repair of property (Zou 12). These programs are necessitated by the exposure of construction workers to hazards such as electrocution, falls, being stuck by or caught in between construction material, confinement, noise and dust. Economic conditions in construction and reduction of the amount of time spent at the construction site by construction workers is attributed to the 16% and 19% decline in fatal construction injuries in 2009 and 2008 respectively (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1). These figures act to demonstrate that construction safety programs have a major role to play in preventing fatalities which occur as a result of exposure of workers to hazards within the construction site. Additionally, working experience is also attributed to the reduction in fatalities in the construction sector. It is important to note that hazards within a construction project and the related controls change at every stage or phase. It is in this regard that implementing a safety program for workers in the construction industry is more challenging as compared to any other industry. This is also related to the multiple crafts, flexibility, functions and skills which are required to achieve high safety standards at every phase of the construction process (United States Department of Labor 1). More significantly, construction workers are required to regularly change their work place within the construction site for safety reasons. It is in this sense that it becomes apparent that engineering controls within a construction site are challenging and difficult to implement effectively. In order to overcome such difficulties, construction safety programs are designed with a view of decreasing catastrophes, injuries, fatalities and illnesses on the construction site (Wilkins 1017). This research paper is aimed at studying the role of construction safety programs in mitigating the major hazards which are associated with construction work. The research paper will be guided and based on the research question: What are the major hazards in the construction sector and what is the role of construction safety program in handling and mitigating these hazards? Figure 1: Signs at Construction Site Warn of Hazards Electrocution Hazards Electrocution hazards expose construction workers to electrical accidents which have been described to be the cause of over 6% of deaths within the construction industry (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1). Electrical hazards and related injuries can occur within various aspects of the construction work. For example painters, trimmers and landscapers are predisposed to electrocution hazards. Electrocution accidents often involve overhead power lines, metal ladders, fire which result from rogue wires and exposed electric wires within the construction site (United States Department of Labor). These possibilities for electrocution represent the hazards at the construction site into which workers are exposed. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has played significant role through its construction safety program to prevent electrocution accidents which emanate from exposure of construction workers to electrocution hazards. Numerous studies have been conducted through the construction safety program as mediated by NIOSH. These studies are aimed at achieving innovativeness in the design of power systems so that electrocution hazards and the consequent electrocution accidents on construction workers are eliminated especially within construction sites (National Association of Home Builders 1). In addition, studies have been conducted on administrative and engineering controls at the construction sites with a view of developing work techniques and procedures which will prevent electrocution accidents during construction work. More importantly, protective equipment have been advocated for through the construction safety program to ensure that the risk of electrocution into which construction workers are exposed to is reduced to the minimum. Human factors which lead to the electrocution at the construction site have also been studied through construction safety programs. This has led to a set of rules, standards and behaviors into which construction workers are mandated to adhere so that their exposure to electrocution accidents is minimized to the lowest degree possible. As a result, construction workers are expected to follow safe wok procedures that will prevent them from incurring electrical accidents during construction work (Zou 20). More significant is the standards which employers are expected to provide at work environments so that electrical accidents are mitigated. Employers are mandated to make sure that all work sites are as safe as possible. In addition, employers are expected to guarantee that that all individuals at the construction site are protected from possible electrical injuries. More importantly, construction workers must be taught on ways through which live wires are to be handled so that electrical injuries are prevented. OSHA has provided specific standards which must be implemented within construction sites and work stations. These standards cover safety at the construction site which includes mitigation of risks of electrical injuries or execution. OSHA standards cover every step within the construction processes. These standards include the obligation of employers to survey construction sites to ensure that these sites are free of hazards such as risks to electric injuries to construction workers. More significantly is the provision of OSHA standards for employers to provide construction workers with protective gear such as gloves, hats and vests to protect them from various injuries including electrocution (Gangwar and Paul 851). It is postulated that it is through the construction safety program that electrical safety will be achieved. This includes a focus on potential hazards which are related to the modern technological equipment. As a result training of construction workers will be mediated through the construction safety program leading to significant reduction in electrocution accidents at construction sites. Falls Falls are common and persistent of the major hazards which are found in work places and construction sites. Falls, as hazards, result from climbing ladders or complex construction work activities (Michael 1172). In 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics registered more than 212, 000 injuries and 605 deaths from work related falls (United States Department of Labor). These statistics further revealed that a larger percentage of work related falls are attributed to construction work. Active construction and maintenance of buildings causes significant risk of falling among construction workers. This reflects that the construction safety program should be designed to ensure that the risks and hazards related to falls re mitigated within work environments and particularly at construction sites. At the construction site, circumstances such as slippery surfaces, unstable working or walking surfaces, unprotected openings, poorly positioned ladders and unprotected edges are the major causes of falls (Wilkins 1018). The mitigation of falls should therefore be focused at preventing circumstances which lead to falls or the predisposing factors to fall hazard. Figure 2: Major Construction Accidents/Injuries (Gangwar and Paul 852). Construction safety programs advocate for adherence of the federal regulations on safety of work environment. More significantly the construction safety programs promote implementation of the construction industry standards for protection of construction workers from falls. However the fall injury rates are dropping significantly. This is explained by the lessons learned from the past fall experiences among construction workers and the work of the construction safety programs (Kim 14). The need to mitigate falls within construction sites is demonstrated by the financial burden which results from such falls. This includes the medical costs which are incurred in the treatment of fall injuries, and the compensation of injured construction workers. It is because of these burdens and challenges that construction safety programs are designed with objectives of mitigating hazards which would result to falls. In order to mitigate hazards which cause falls at construction work, construction safety programs have designed various objectives to be implemented within the construction industry. For example the programs are aimed at ensuring that each and every of the foremen within a construction site are qualified and adherent to the safety practices and standards of construction work. In addition, the construction safety programs engage in ensuring that safety inspections are conducted at the construction site so that possible hazard and risks to falls are identified and mitigated on the spot (Michael 1175). Furthermore, the construction safety programs enforce the standards which are related to the safety of construction equipment. This is aimed at ensuring that various injuries and falls are prevented or minimized as much as possible. More significantly, the construction safety programs ensure that safety procedures in addition to the rules of safety are followed during the construction program. Some of the construction safety programs are basically focused at providing ongoing training on the issues of safety and mitigation of hazards such as falls within construction sites (Hallowell and John 1317). Finally, the safety programs within the construction sector are responsible for the enforcement of the safety procedures and rules which has contributed to the fall in construction site injuries and fatalities including those which emanate from falls. It is therefore through the objectives that the role of construction safety programs in mitigating fall accidents in construction sites is explained. Being Stuck By or Caught in Between Construction Material The processes of construction are complex and phased which puts the construction workers at the risk of being caught between construction materials in cases of collapse of walls or parts of the construction. These hazards are risky and have been categorized as one of the major causes of death among the construction site accidents (Construction Safety Council 1). These hazards are often associated to circumstances where the construction processes are not congruent to the standards and rules of construction work. For example the design of the construction support equipment and framework when erroneous leads to the risk of collapse of walls and construction material which puts the construction staff or personnel at a risk of injury and death as a result if being stuck between construction equipment and materials (Gangwar and Paul 853). Through the standards o-f construction and the regulations on safety at the work place, the construction safety programs has been able to play its role in mitigating injuries associated with construction staff being caught between construction material or equipment (Zou 14). These hazards and the consequent injuries are prevented through adherence to the standards and objectives of safety within a construction site. In this regard, the construction safety programs ensures that employers are mandated to provide safety measures at the construction site which prevents the construction staff from accidents and deaths which would emanate from being caught between construction materials. NIOSH has specifically demonstrated commitment to the mitigation of injuries within construction sites such as being caught and stuck between construction material through provision of practical solutions to such hazards and the related accidents (Construction Safety Council 1). These solutions are focused at complex problems which emanate from construction work and the resultant injuries which are inflicted on construction workers. Conclusion In the light of the above discussions, illustrations and explanations, it is evident that construction safety programs play a leading role in reduction of accidents and injuries which commonly characterize construction work. This includes the enforcement of the laws and regulations on workplace safety and the objectives of these programs that are designed to mitigate hazards, risks and injuries associated with construction processes and activities. Electrocution or electric injuries, falls and being stuck between construction materials are some of the major injuries associated with construction work. As described within this research paper, the deaths and injuries which construction workers are predisposed to have registered reducing deaths as a result of enforcement of standards and safety practices in construction. 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