CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Construction Management is an effective management technique and a professional service to the planning, design, engineering and execution of a project from inception to completion of project. Construction Management is a system specifically created to promote the successful execution of capital projects for owners. These projects can be highly complex.

Construction Management is mobilizing and managing people, materials, equipment, and money to complete the assigned project work on time, within budgeted costs, and specified technical & safety management performance standards. For construction management a group of people of different categories works together, to execute the project economically without affecting the quality in a well-planned and organized manner with efficient and effective safety management implementation. ?

Over a period, Construction industries have changed significantly with the increase in construction activities and tremendous development in Technology and Management. The implementation of Safety Management system has improved workplace safety in true sense which has also increased moral of people and productivity.

A feasibility survey of Safety Management in the construction industry depends on technical, economic, financial, and ecological analysis. The present emerging trend is to hire consultants to render specific services on a contract basis. The main resources for construction Industries are manpower, money, materials, and machinery.

Safety management is an essential and integral part of the construction and service provider industry. ?Safety management provides a competitive edge on production target, quality, productivity during the construction process.

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?Many a times safety gets neglected which increases risk with the potential harm to workers, property, and the business, at the same time the organization gets exposed to higher levels of risk in terms of financial loss, regulatory breaches, workplace mishaps, reputational damage and sometimes loss of human life, the organization to pay high indirect cost in terms of workman compensation cost.

Safety management system assists in Occupational Health and Safety program to match with the employer expectation. A systematic implementation of safety management system includes contractor safety management, under which safety performance evaluation of contractor/sub-contractor from OHS perspective is being carried out. Safety management starts from selection of contractors based on capability and competency of workforce, training them on trade specific activities and monitoring safety performance during execution to achieve health and safe work environment.

The implementation of safety management system ensures that all jobs/services undertaken by contractors to ensure the safety of owner employees and contractor’s employees including sub-contractors’ manpower, consultants, experts, auditors, visitors, etc. ?The safety management system establishes a uniform standard for contractors across construction project tenure. It also establishes policies and procedures applicable to all contractors and subcontractors.

Safety management system creates good safety culture, strong commitment for safe work practices at work and demonstrate good safety performance, and it addresses individual safety responsibilities.

An effective Safety Management System is a major key area of successful construction management: A common hurdle for construction management is inadequate safety management system and poor safety measures. ?

The success and satisfaction of the entire execution team and client should be successful completion of construction project with minimum injuries and no fatalities.

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Since inception of any construction project the recruitment of qualified, experienced adequate numbers of safety personnel is a prime job, in turn they will be involved in every activity being carry out for safety observation, supervision, inspection and safety audits at regular intervals for the construction work and rectify the defect if any.?

??Unsafe acts and unsafe conditions prevailing at the workplace are resulting in rework which is evil for construction managers which increases cost and time both.

?A miracle does occur when an efficient and effective safety management system is being implemented at the construction site.

?Safety Management services for Construction Management:

·?????? A feasibility study and cost estimates of safety personnel.

·?????? Estimation, initial planning, and budgeting for safety management.

·?????? Scrutiny and coordination of safety personnel in design and engineering work.

·?????? Prequalification of construction agencies as per contractor safety management.

·?????? Preparation of the tender, and award contracts to the successful bidder considering contractor safety management.

·?????? Development of safe operating procedures and systems.

·?????? Development of detailed construction plans, project schedules, and performance measuring standards to consider safety management as applicable.

·?????? Administration of contracts and controlling of project time, cost, and quality objectives involving safety management system.

·?????? Safety Supervision of different levels of execution works and quality control.

·?????? Supply of materials and equipment as per safety guidelines.

An efficient and effective team of Safety Management professionals help to speed up the safe completion of projects, settle claims and dispute avoidance, try to reduce the indirect cost, improve the quality of the finished job for a construction industry.

Advantages of implementation of safety management for Construction industry:

·?????? To speed up the progress of the construction work safely. ?

·?????? To manage costs involvement on behalf of safety aspect consideration.

·?????? Implementation of safe work practices to reduce accidents/incidents.

·?????? Hands-on involvement of the client on the construction activities.

·?????? Focus on meeting client’s needs and integrating field design and construction skills.

·?????? Have control over design & engineering to reduce the incidents/accidents.

·?????? Selection of trade-specific specialist contractors to minimize accidents.

·?????? One-to-one contractual relationships between client and contractors.

·?????? Focus on program, sequencing, and buildability to improve productivity and quality.

·?????? Minimizes unsafe practices and bring almost zero accident/incident.

·?????? Improves the capability and competency of the contractors with safe work practices.

·?????? To identify unsafe practices and act upon improvement safety performance.

·?????? Completion of the work within the specified time and budget.

·?????? To evolve a reputation for high-quality workmanship.

·?????? Inculcate habit of safe work practices staff and workers.

·?????? Motivates people to give their best.

An experienced safety professional comes in handy in construction projects. They will stay on top of costs, bids, deadlines, and optimum utilization manpower resources and materials. Implementation of safety management will allow us to achieve project goals and productivity. ?

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?The objective of Safety Management System implementation is to establish a systematic approach for surveillance /safety performance assessment and re-assessment of safety system in place. The safety performance evaluation process identifies the positive points and gaps in construction activities during the assessment and help contractors to improve their safety performance on continual basis.

?Measurable Parameters for Safety Performance Assessment:

·?????? Injuries and incidents

·?????? Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate

·?????? Near-miss reporting and actions

·?????? Training and refresher training on Safety

·?????? Workers’ compensation and general liability claims/penalties imposed

·?????? Audits, inspections, and timelines of corrective actions

·?????? Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures

·?????? Contractor Proprietor’s engagement

·?????? First party-contractor Safety Audit by contract owner

·?????? Quality and fitness of tools and equipment being used

·?????? Standard of housekeeping at site

·?????? PPE compliance

·?????? Behavioral compliance with Health and Safety requirements

·?????? Alignment with organization values

·?????? Overall commitment to Health and Safety expectations

·?????? Overall compliance to standard operating procedures / safe work procedures

·?????? Quality supervision improved behavior and attitude of people.

Safety performance evaluation Process Consideration:

·?????? Safety and Health Management System includes

o?? Safety policy & principles.

o?? Safety manuals.

o?? Safety organization.

o?? Look for HIRA or JHA documents.

o?? Legal compliance system.

o?? Emergency planning system.

o?? ?Safety dashboard.

o?? Safety audit & review system.

o?? Operational control, Asset management.

·?????? Procedure for selection of safety personnel, Procedure for deployment of qualified, skilled, and certified employees, managers, supervisors, and Safety supervisors.

·?????? Planning for safe execution of jobs and preparation of documents like JHA, audit plan, tools & equipment, Job execution plan, HSE plan, permits required, work method statement etc.

·?????? System and processes for training on safety standard, behavioral safety, job-specific skill development, emergency preparedness & response for employees and supervisors.

·?????? Preparedness & Response for employees and supervisors etc.

·?????? 2-way communication between contractor leadership and their workforce, proprietor engagement in line safety walk, safety meeting etc.

·?????? Capability, competency, and skilled of certified supervisor, site safety supervisors, and manpower etc.

·?????? Toolbox talk, mass meeting and leadership engagement, contractor owner safety walk.

·?????? Usage of national and international standard (IS/EN) and right PPEs.

·?????? Usage of standard, certified and right tools & tackles, equipment’s and calibrated safety gadgets.

·?????? Good housekeeping free from any slip / trip / fall hazards at working sites.

·?????? Safety initiative for safety improvement by owner and contractors

·?????? Safety audit by contractor work supervisor & contractor safety supervisor.

·?????? Corrective and preventive action on audit report specifically on severity potential of 4 & 5.

·?????? Compliance to generic and specific safety clauses as per contractual commitments.

·?????? Learning from incident reporting and investigation and recommendation.

·?????? Learning from near miss, unsafe act/unsafe condition reporting and investigation.

·?????? Policy on skill-retention

·?????? Safety campaign e.g., safety quiz, safety skit etc. to improve safety culture in place.

·?????? Reward, recognition and consequence management system of the contractors.

·?????? Reduction in lost time /serious injury or permanent disability, first aid case.

·?????? Reduction in non-Injury incidents e.g., property damage/production loss.

·?????? Minimize safety violation of fatality potential of severity 4 and 5.

·?????? Minimize safety non-compliance/cost recovery/penalty imposed/Job stopped.

·?????? Self- safety Initiative by contractor for safety improvement.

·?????? Development of certified work supervisor, site safety supervisor and safety offices for specific job. ?

·?????? Quality of hazard identification and risk assessment inclusion of site/job specific six directional hazard prior to work permit released to start work. ?

For all construction sites contractor Safety Performance Assessment system is to be a mandatory requirement for all High-risk jobs. Contractors and other service providers are to assess the safety performance of their workplace area and status of safety implementation at shopfloor to be updated.

A team of work executing authority/Engineer in charge, contract administrator, and department safety office to conduct safety performance assessment of contractor every quarter with positive notes and opportunities for improvement findings.

Contract administrator and Engineer in charge engagement with contractors and vendor is to be ensured for understanding the gaps from the previous assessment report along with the action plans to fill those gaps to sustain existing the assessment score.

Contractor site safety auditor and training center shall play key role for improving competency of contractor’s supervisors and skill development of contractors’ workers.

The Contractor safety performance evaluation process ensure that all the work performed by contractors is in a safe manner to protect all personnel, plant equipment and other assets of organization from any potential risk of injury, accident, production loss, environmental pollution.