Construction Safety: Accident Case Studies & Enforcement Analysis Eric Tan Kun Tien Group Head (Operations Branch) Occupational Safety and Health Division 31 March 2011 Construction demand increased 14% in 2010 Public sector construction demand expected to strengthen in 2011 Expected 65% of total demand from building construction, 35% from civil engineering projects Source: BCA
Industry No. of Inspection s CF NNC SWO Violations / Inspections Construction 3506 3470 3845 79 2.1 Marine 223 55 360 0 1.9 Manufacturing 1356 78 3323 2 2.5 Others 752 17 721 3 1.0 Total 5837 3620 8249 84
Failing to plan is planning to fail. Alan Lakein Some common pitfalls in construction safety: Safety not considered in initial planning stages, i.e. not considered in tandem with work progress Safety at site tends to be reactive in nature, i.e. when something happens, then we see how to readjust Planning and system is in place, but execution falls short and diminishes along the course of work, i.e. safety systems such as PTW, SWP not complied with
Case Study 1 Worker fell from height while dismantling scaffold 1 Fatality Worker fell 33m while dismantling the external safety scaffold. He had used a nylon rope with pulley, attached to the internal frames of the scaffold, to lower dismantled scaffold components to the ground floor. In the process, the scaffold frame swung out, and the worker fell out.
Nylon rope attached to pulley that was secured on the scaffold frames for lowering of material Physical measures -Providing of lifelines & anchorages for workers to hook on safety harness -Ensuring that the scaffold used as anchor of pulley system was securely tied to structure
No lifeline or anchorage for worker to hook on safety harness PTW was applied and approved, but none of the layers ( scaffold supervisor, safety assessor, safety personnel & Project Manager) verified that the physical conditions was as stated in the PTW No inspection was carried out to verify the conditions Unsafe method of work Using of scaffold as anchor for pulley system; acceptable?? Removal of tie-back prior to installing pulley system Occupier Prosecution (sentence $60,000) Failure to put in such measures to ensure that the workplace was safe and without risks to the safety and health of every person within the workplace Project Manager Prosecution (sentence $6,000) Failure to exercise all due diligence when performing his function in relation to the issuance of a PTW. Safety Assessor Prosecution (sentence $6,000) Failure to exercise all due diligence when performing his functions in relation to the evaluation and endorsement of an application for a PTW. Scaffold Supervisors Prosecution (sentence $1,000 each) Failure to ensure that the scaffold workers were provided with lifelines to protect themselves from the hazards of falling from height
Case Study 2 Worker fell from height while hacking slab 1 Fatality
Worker fell through the floor opening while hacking a floor opening to be used for refuse discharge. While doing so, he fell through the opening and landed 7 storey below. Physical measures -Safety harness hooked on to lifeline or anchorage -Ensuring that worker was not standing on or close to the hacked slab
No lifeline or anchorage for worker to hook on safety harness Workers were not given instruction and information on how and where to put up lifelines; thus even if the workers did wear harness, it served no purpose Inadequate supervision Unsafe method of work No risk assessment or SWP conducted for the hacking of chute openings Safety supervisor was further charged with alteration of the accident scene. Principal He had placed Prosecution a safety (sentence harness beside $80,000 the & Deceased s $5,000) Failure body, hoping to implement to mislead adequate investigators. fall prevention measures for their workers during the hacking of floor openings; & WSH Act S25. (1) No person shall, without the consent of the Failure to provide measures to protect other workers from Commissioner falling (a) alter, into replace, completed remove floor or add openings, to any machinery, for instance, equipment, by plant erecting or article which floor-to-ceiling may have contributed enclosures to the around cause the of any completed accident openings resulting in the death of any person or any dangerous occurrence or occupational disease; or (b) modify the scene of the fatal accident or dangerous occurrence or Safety the scene Supervisor where the occupational Prosecution disease (sentence occurred. $15,000) Failure to carry out his duties, such as inspecting the site and assessing and rectifying unsafe conditions Sentenced to 2 weeks imprisonment
Case Study 3 Worker hit by pile 1 Fatality
Worker got hit by a pile while the piling rig was dragging the piles along the site. Piles were to be pulled closer to the pile rig, so as to be driven into the ground. The piles were about 17m away from the rig.
Physical measures -Adopt correct lifting method. Not to drag the piles along the site, especially using a pile rig Method of work was unsafe. In fact, it was identified in the Risk Assessment that piles should be placed near to rig and that no one should be near during the pulling process. Lack of safety supervision and control of works at site No PM or Safey personnel was appointed for the site PTW system, in this case for piling works, was not implemented
Occupier Prosecution (sentence $30,000) Failure to Appoint a Project Manager at site Appoint a Safety Coordinator at site Implement a PTW system for high risk works at site Employer Prosecution (sentence $60,000) Failure to ensure that necessary measures were in place to ensure the safety of his employees at work Accidents can be prevented. Act of God or Unlucky mindsets cannot be condoned. More often than not, accidents can be totally avoided with simple inexpensive physical safety measures, such as installing barricades and using proper equipment and methods for work. So how do we ensure that these physical measures are in place???
Safety systems/administrative procedures provide a level of scrutiny on the safety measures to be in place, provided if implemented properly. Stop treating it like meaningless paperwork. This piece of paper can be a LIFESAVER!
Proper access for workers to move around the falsework and onto the formwork