Did not comply with the safety compliance of the construction site?5 answersConstruction firms in Ghana have shown significant non-compliance with safety regulations on construction sites. Studies reveal that there is a high level of non-compliance with the provision of welfare facilities and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Non-compliance includes the failure to provide essential welfare facilities like sanitary, accommodation, washing facilities, changing rooms, and dining facilities, with only drinking water being prioritized. Additionally, most construction firms fail to provide PPE for their workers, and those who do, often do not comply with user directives. This lack of compliance poses risks such as increased insurance costs due to worker compensation claims and lawsuits from accidents on construction sites. The studies emphasize the urgent need for construction firms to enforce compliance with safety regulations to ensure the well-being of workers and the public.
What are the most common factors contributing to improper safety practices at construction sites?4 answersImproper safety practices at construction sites are influenced by various factors. The most common factors identified in the abstracts include inadequate safety planning, management failure, inadequate safety promotion, safety ignorance, poor supervision and enforcement, casual attitude towards safety, insufficient experience, lack of training, lack of safety culture, lack of regular inspection for material and machinery, lack of measurement of site condition, lack of safety meeting or toolbox meeting, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of supervision by the supervisor in charge, lack of communication between manager and workers, attitudes of the workers, and cultural and behavioral differences among foreign workers. These factors contribute to accidents and fatalities, highlighting the need for improved safety practices in the construction industry.
What are the potential health risks associated with exposure to particle matter on construction sites?4 answersExposure to particle matter (PM) on construction sites poses potential health risks for workers. High concentrations of suspended PMs, such as PM2.5 and PM10, are found in the construction workplace and can lead to major health outcomes. These include both non-cancer and cancer risks. Non-cancer risks associated with PM2.5 and PM10 exposure were found to be highest during the drilling process, while cancer risks were highest during the drilling process for PM10 and lowest during the facilities process. The construction industry, particularly in developing countries like Iran, requires better management to protect the health of workers.Construction workers exposed to respirable dust, including respirable crystalline silica (RCS), also face potential cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Exposure to particles in the construction industry is associated with short- and long-term changes in CVD-related serum proteins. Further studies are needed to determine if these changes predict occupationally induced clinical CVD.PMs generated on construction sites can pose serious health risks to workers and residents. A construction site PM monitoring system was developed using Internet of Things technology to manage PMs in real-time at multiple locations within construction sites. The system achieved performance certification and demonstrated accuracy in measuring PMs.Construction and demolition workers exposed to PMs from nano-enabled building materials (NEBMs) may face health risks. The interaction between NEBMs and the surrounding matrix affects PM formation. Further investigation is needed to understand the differences between PMs generated from NEBMs and non-nano counterparts and to prevent future exposure during demolition.Dust emissions on construction sites have health and economic impacts on workers. Dust concentrations vary depending on factors such as energy use, atmosphere, and construction activities. Earthwork activities have the highest dust concentration. The total added number of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for workers exposed to dust is significant, highlighting the need for policies to compensate workers suffering from dust emission-related diseases.
Are delayed construction projects more likely to cause injuries?5 answersDelayed construction projects can have negative impacts on both the project itself and the construction professionals involved. One of these impacts is an increased risk of workplace accidents and injuries. Factors contributing to construction delays include errors in design documents, rework, and short initial construction periods. Inadequate labor and skill availability, inappropriate contractor policies, and poor labor productivity are major causes of delays and cost overruns in construction projects. It is important to address these delay factors and implement measures such as estimating spare construction periods, reviewing design documents before work, and thorough quality control to mitigate construction delays and reduce the risk of injuries. Collaborative teamwork between clients, contractors, and consultants is also recommended to achieve timely project delivery.
Is construction sector dangerous?4 answersThe construction sector is considered to be one of the most dangerous industries due to its low performance in terms of health and safety compared to other industries worldwide. Hazards in the construction industry can arise from physical work processes, equipment, materials, and the ways projects are designed, delivered, organized, and managed. Construction workers face extraordinary safety and health problems, and the sector has a high rate of fatalities and injuries. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the vulnerability of construction workers to the spread of the virus, making it difficult to minimize its transmission in this sector. Insufficient health and safety management can lead to increased accidents, injuries, and negative impacts on efficiency, productivity, and the environment. Overall, the construction sector poses significant risks and challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the well-being and safety of workers.
What are the challenges to implementing innovations in the construction industry to improve job site safety?5 answersImplementing innovations in the construction industry to improve job site safety faces several challenges. These challenges include a lack of comprehensive national occupational health and safety (OHS) policies, ineffective supervision and prosecution of companies violating safety standards, insufficient safety management personnel on expansive construction sites, inadequate awareness of the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies to improve health and safety performance, and the need for on-site safety inspections using new technologies that most construction sites are not currently ready to adopt. Additionally, the construction industry in developing countries like Ghana faces challenges such as weak occupational health and safety frameworks and a lack of resources and logistics for effective regulation of health and safety standards. These challenges highlight the need for addressing policy gaps, enhancing supervision and enforcement, increasing safety management personnel, raising awareness of technological solutions, and providing resources for effective implementation of safety innovations in the construction industry.