SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Before implementing an intervention, all organizations are required under the Organizational Health and Safety (OHS) Act of 1995 to conduct a risk assessment. According to risk assessment, health and safety risks must be minimized to the greatest extent that is practically possible. This report’s objective is to outline safety management options and suggestions for a fictitious construction firm, ArchitektonikiDomi Ltd. The site layout, worker safety gear, and obvious health and safety risks at work will be the only areas covered by the risk assessment.

In Athens, Greece, there is a private building company called ArchitektonikiDomi Ltd. It started erecting a five-story multi-unit structure on April 11, 2009. The building plan had a ground level, a rectangular basement, a single apartment on the first floor, two apartments on the second and third floors, and a smaller apartment on the fourth story. The scheme’s goals in terms of deadlines, budgetary constraints, and quality standards have been established. Nonetheless, there are still some issues with the workplace’s safety management.

Approach to Risk Assessment

The first step in safety management is carrying out risk assessment under OHS guidelines (Burke, 2004). Several hazards were identified by the author in the given case study.

Inflammable materials

A fire or explosion at the building site could be caused by the presence of many flammable or combustible sources, such as welding gear, torches, or even cigarettes. The site is in the center of the city, a fire can have an impact on people outside as well as those inside by seriously harming body systems like the liver, lungs, or skin.

Noise levels

There is a lot of noise pollution at the construction site as a result of the trucks and other machinery. In addition to being annoying, noise can lead to hearing loss, which can raise heart rates and stress levels in people, all of which can have a detrimental effect on construction workers’ health (Kogi, 2006). Pigeons flock to the work site. One of the biggest risks to everyone’s health at the construction site is the bird droppings. Although both employees and guests are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as facemasks with filters, these devices are not infallible because employees are frequently seen taking them off during breaks. Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that can cause lung infections, is frequently found in bird feces (CCPS, 2005). As a result, the employees face a significant health risk.

There is a lot of noise pollution at the construction site as a result of the trucks and other machinery. In addition to being annoying, noise can lead to hearing loss, which can raise heart rates and stress levels in people, all of which can have a detrimental effect on construction workers’ health (Kogi, 2006). Pigeons flock to the work site. One of the biggest risks to everyone’s health at the construction site is the bird droppings. Although both employees and guests are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as facemasks with filters, these devices are not infallible because employees are frequently seen taking them off during breaks. Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that can cause lung infections, is frequently found in bird feces (CCPS, 2005). As a result, the employees face a significant health risk.

Eating area

The building site and the dining area, which has pure drinking water, are somewhat far apart. This has been done to prevent food and water from becoming contaminated, which could endanger the workers’ health. However, traveling in the heat during the summer, when temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius, can render workers unconscious or even suffer from heat stroke (OHS Australia, 2009). Therefore, during the summer, the distance to the dining area may pose a health risk.

Risk Evaluation

 Each risk’s likelihood and seriousness are assessed using a risk matrix. The following matrix is used to rate each risk’s likelihood and seriousness. The risks are ranked according to the author’s own experiences with them as well as prior records that are accessible (Table 1). The suggested actions for different risk grades are listed in the risk matrix in accordance with OHS legislation (Table 2).

Existing Safety measures

 Examining the current safety management procedures is crucial before outlining the suggestions for the building site.

•  Non- smoking zone- Smoking is absolutely prohibited on the building site. Employees who wish to smoke up can do so in a designated smoking area. Many fire extinguishers are placed in easily accessible locations in case a fire does break out. To put out small flames, the employees receive training on how to utilize these extinguishers. The fire station is close by, and the fire alarm can be heard from anywhere on the property. Employee evacuation drills are routinely carried out in case of an emergency. This demonstrates the reasonableness of the current control measures.
•  Use of PPEs: Employees who perform welding and torching must always wear facemasks and earplugs to lessen the impact of noise. To ensure that there are no long-term, irreversible impacts of noise, other personnel are likewise given the proper PPE. To keep the noise level as low as possible, the machines are frequently greased. For a building site, noise must be regarded as an occupational danger that cannot be totally eliminated. Therefore, as long as they are practically feasible, the current control methods are sufficient.
• Bird Repeller’s: To keep birds away from the site, ArchitektonikiDomi Ltd. employs bird repellent methods like spray. These are only utilized at the ground level, though. Using these sprays at the roof, which has turned into a pigeon roost, is not economically viable. These pigeons’ excrement creates a mess and an unpleasant stench at the building site. Workers are constantly at risk of getting into touch with fungus that might cause lung infections since it is not cleansed on a regular basis. This demonstrates a weakness in the current control measures that might be strengthened. To avoid any dust contamination of the food or water, the dining area is kept off from the building site. Although it is not required, it is assumed that the staff members take a shower before entering the main dining area. There is no setup for cold drinking water or glucose water at the location itself during the sweltering summer months. In extremely hot weather, this might result in dehydration or even coma. It is obvious that the control mechanisms are insufficient and need to be strengthened.

Recommendations:

The following safety management measures are recommended:

• Bird shield techniques:  the effects of bird repellent sprays are so fleeting, they are not practical at heights. The pigeons may be more successfully repelled by a shield. As a result, there will be less bird droppings, which lowers the workers’ risk of lung infections. Additionally, the ground floor needs to be cleaned frequently to keep the unpleasant odor from bothering the employees. This will lower the workers’ health risk.
• Moving vehicle for cold water/ glucose: Since there is no risk involved, the effects of the surrounding lack of cool drinking water or glucose must be monitored over time. Action must be done if unfavorable incidents, such as workers being unconscious or dehydrated, continue to rise. One possible course of action is to give each employee bottled glucose or mineral water to carry with them. As an alternative, a moving vehicle may be designated for drinking purposes, which would eliminate the need to drive far to get cold water during intense heat. 

References

•  Burke, R. (2004). Project Management: Planning and Control Techniques. London: John Wiley.
• CCPS. (2005). Building Process Safety Culture: Tools to enhance process safety performance. New York: Center for Chemical Process Safety of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
• Kerzner, H. (2005). A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling. London: John Wiley.
• Kogi, K. (2006). Participatory methods effective for ergonomic workplace improvement. Applied Ergonomics, Vol. 37, Issue 4 , 547-554.
• Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel. (1995). Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995. Queensland: State of Queensland.
• OHS Australia. (2009). Occupational Health and Safety: Risk Management. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
• Swinburne. (2010). OHS Policy & Procedures. Retrieved June 15, 2010, from Swinburne University of Technology.