SAFETY IN BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

DR. K.M.SONI

CHIEF ENGINEER, CPWD

MUMBAI

ROLE OF ENGINEERS ON SAFETY ISSUES

• INDUSTRIES/LABOUR WELFARE OFFICERS• ENVIRONMENT/ENVIRONMENTALISTS • ROAD ACCIDENTS - POLICE• BUILDING COLLAPSE – POLICE• ENGINEERS’ CONCERNS ?

SAFETY Vs ENGINEERS

• ENGINEERS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH AVOIDS THE ACCIDENTS WHETHER INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENT, ROADS OR BUILDINGS

• ALSO ONLY ENGINEERS CAN EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE SAFETY

• ENGINEERING HAVE TO PROVIDE BUILT IN SAFETY MEASURES IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS THROUGH BETTER PLANNING AND DESIGNING

SAFETY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT & QUALITY

SAFETY COST

• DIRECT COST– MEDICAL CARE– COMPENSATION– LOSS OF PROPERTY/EQUIPMENT– REPLACEMENT COST OF EQUIPMENT/ASSET– LEGAL COST

• INDIRECT COST– LOSS OF PRODUCTION – COST OF TIME SPENT ON INVESTIGATION & WITH REGULATORY

AUTHORITIES– LOSS OF SLOW DOWN OF THE WORK– COST OF TIME LOST IN REPLACEMENT– LOSS OF REPUTATION & CLIENT

RELATION BETWEEN ACCIDENT COST & PREVENTION COST

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

• MOSTLY ACCIDENTS DO NOT HAPPEN, THEY ARE CAUSED DUE TO NEGLIGENCE EITHER OF INDIVIDUAL, ENGINEERING OR MANAGEMENT

APPROACH TOWARDS SAFETY

• SWAMP : SAFETY WITHOUT ANY MANAGEMENT PROCESS (16%)

• NORM : THE NATURALLY OCCURING REACTIVE MANAGEMENT – RELUCTANT COMPLIERS (77%)

• WORLD CLASS: WHERE MOST ARE READY TO COMPLY (7%)

INDIAN SCENARIO

• CONSTRUCTION– KATCHA– SEMI PERMANENT– PUCCA

• PUCCA (62%)– ENGINEERED (LET US ASSUME 10%) AS THERE IS

LARGE NUMBER OF NON ENGINEERED CONSTRUCTION. ASSUMING 7% COMPLIERS BOTH FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION, ONLY 0.42% ARE THE SAFETY COMPLIERS AND @ 4.6% RELUCTANT COMPLIERS

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

WHAT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT AT WORKPLACE?

• UNSAFE ACT: ATTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUAL• UNSAFE CONDITIONS: ATTRIBUTED TO

ENGINEERING – ENGINEERS/MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

3/4/5 Es FOR SAFETY MANAGEMENT

• EDUCATION• ENGINEERING• ENLISTMENT• ENFORCEMENT• ENCOURAGEMENT

PREVENTION OF UNSAFE ACT

• EDUCATION AND TRAINING– ORIENTATION TRAINING– DISPLAY OF POSTERS/SIGNAGES– SAFETY TASK ASSIGNMENTS– AND THEN ……..

PREVENTION OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS THROUGH ENGINEERING

• PLANNING, AND DESIGN– PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE

SAFETY PROGRAMME• EXECUTION AND MANAGEMENT– INSPECTIONS – CHECKLISTS– IMPLEMENTATION– HR MANAGEMENT INCLUDING APPOINTMENT OF

SAFETY OFFICERS

ENLISTMENT

• ENLISTMENT: POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF STAKEHOLDERS i.e. CONTRACTOR, ENGINEER AND MANAGEMENT TOWARDS SAFETY PROGRAMME AND ITS PURPOSE

ENFORCEMENT• SAFETY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

PROGRAMME• STRONG WILL AND DETERMINATION• PROMOTIONAL MEASURES– REWARDS– SAFETY COMPETITIONS– DISCIPLINARY ACTION I/C

PUNISHMENTS– CARRYING OUT

ACCIDENTS/INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS FOR ASCERTAINING CORRECTIVE & PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

PROCESS SAFETY

TECHNICAL SAFETY

• SAFETY IN PLANNING AND DESIGN

• SAFETY DURING EXECUTION• SAFETY DURING MAINTENANCE• SAFETY DURING DEMOLISHING

SAFETY ASPECTS IN CONSTRUCTION

• STRUCTURAL SAFETY• HUMAN SAFETY• FIRE SAFETY• ELECTRICAL SAFETY• EQUIPMENT SAFETY• ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY• SAFETY DURING PROCESS

STRUCTURAL SAFETY

• THROUGH PLANNING AND DESIGNING AS PER CODES AND GUIDELINES

• THROUGH CONTRACT PROVISIONS

• THROUGH QUALITY ASSURANCE

• THROUGH REGULATIONS

STRUCTURAL FAILURE• UNSAFE DESIGN• NOT FOLLOWING THE CORRECT DESIGN. THE DESIGN

MIGHT HAVE BEEN REVISED BUT OLD EXECUTION MADE BASED ON OLD DRAWING. OLD DRAWING IS NOT DESTROYED, KEPT AT SITE AND EVEN AN ENTRY IS NOT MADE OF ITS REVISION IN THE OLD DRAWING

• COLLAPSE OF TEMPORARY STRUCTURES LIKE FAILURE OF SCAFFOLDING, CENTERING AND SHUTTERING

• INCORRECT SEQUENCE OF REMOVAL OF PROPS LIKE REMOVAL OF PROPS FROM FIXED SIDE IN A CANTILEVER

• REMOVAL OF CENTERING AND SHUTTERING BEFORE SPECIFIED AND REQUIRED STRIPPING PERIOD

STRUCTURAL FAILURE

USE OF DIFFERENT GRADES AND TYPES OF MATERIALS NOT CONSIDERED IN THE DESIGN LIKE USE OF PPC IN PLACE OF OPC AND REMOVING CENTERING AND SHUTTERING SPECIFIED FOR OPC.

POOR QUALITY OF WORK SUDDEN CHANGE OF CONDITIONS LIKE PARTLY CONSTRUCTED

UNDERGROUND TANK CAN FLOAT IF WATER GETS FILLED UP AROUND IT DUE TO SUDDEN RAINS AND THERE IS HUGE UPLIFT WHICH IS MORE THAN THE LOAD OF THE TANK

POOR DETAILING LIKE NO OVERLAP OF THE REINFORCEMENT OR EVEN SAY NO PROVISION OF WEEP HOLES IN A RETAINING WALL OR IN A BOUNDARY WALL LEADING TO WATER PRESSURE ON ONE SIDE OF WALL NOT DESIGNED FOR.

STRUCTURAL FAILURE DURING MAINTENANCE PERIOD

• REMOVAL OF LOAD BEARING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS• ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS• DUE TO CHANGED CONDITIONS BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER

STRUCTURES LIKE UNDERGROUND METRO CONSTRUCTION MAY CREATE DISTRESS IN ADJOINING STRUCTURES

• NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE EARTHQUAKES ETC. FOR WHICH THE STRUCTURES ARE NOT DESIGNED

• AGING OF STRUCTURES AND RESIDUAL STRENGTH NOT ADEQUATE TO TAKE LOADS

• POOR MAINTENANCE CONDITIONS LEADING TO DETERIORATION OF STRENGTH OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

• CHANGED USE LIKE A BUILDING DESIGNED FOR OFFICE BUILDING BEING USED FOR LIBRARY OR A CINEMA HALL

• POOR DRAINAGE CONDITIONS AROUND THE BUILDING OR RISE OF GROUND WATER TABLE LEADING TO REDUCTION IN BEARING CAPACITY OF THE SOIL

ENVIRONMENT SAFETY

• DUST• POLLUTION• ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES• USE OF WASTE MATERIALS• USE OF NON-TOXIC MATERIALS

PLANNING ENGINEERS

• MATERIALS : DURABLE, NON-COMBUSTABLE, NON-TOXIC AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY

• METHODS: ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES

• DESIGN: DESIGNED TEMPORARY STRUCTURES LIKE SCAFFOLDING, CENTERING/SHUTTERING ETC.

• PLANNING: COMPATIBLE PROVISIONS OF MACHINE, MATERIALS AND METHODS.

WORKERS SAFETY

WORKERS SAFETY

• EXCAVATION AND TRENCHING• FALL FROM A HEIGHT • ELECTRICAL SAFETY• FIRE SAFETY• HAZARDOUS MATERIAL• MATERIAL HANDLING• CONFINED SPACE CONDITIONS• TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT• TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

REASONS OF WORKER’S SAFETY NOT BEING GIVEN IMPORTANCE

• SHORT TERM ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS• NON- AVAILABILITY OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT • OLD AND OUTLIVED MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT• NO PROVISIONS OF SITE AND WORK SPECIFIC SAFETY MEASURES • NO PROVISIONS FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE MEASURES• POOR KNOWLEDGE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND THE SAFETY

PROVISIONS• UNAWARENESS • DUE TO BAD WORKMANSHIP• DUE TO ELECTRIC SHOCKS • NON ADOPTION OF SAFETY MEASURES BY WORKERS• WORKERS NOT ABIDING TO SAFETY RULES • DUE TO CULTURE OF NOT TAKING SAFETY SERIOUSLY

WORKERS SAFETY

• THROUGH REGULATIONS• INCLUDE PROVISIONS IN PLANNING AND DESIGNING

THROUGH CONTRACT CONDITIONS– THROUGH PAYMENT ?

HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT ?

• THROUGH CONTRACT– THROUGH BILL OF QUANTITIES– THROUGH CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

• CONSIDERING COST ELEMENT IN THE JUSTIFICATION

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

SPECIFICATIONS FOR SAFETY PROVISIONS

• PPE LIKE SAFETY BELTS, HELMETS• SCAFFOLDINGS• LADDERS AND CHAIRS• TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT• SAFETY ESCAPE ROUTES• EMERGENCY MEDICAL AIDS

CONTRACTOR

• SAFETY IS STILL BY RELUCTANCE

• TILL IT IS NOT MANDATORY OR INCENTAVISED, IT MAY NOT BE IMPLEMENTED

• WE CAN MAKE IT MANDATORY THROUGH CONTRACT

• INCLUDE IN ENLISTMENT CRITERIA

SAFETY PLATFORMS/STAGING

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

• DURING CONSTRUCTION– USE OF NON-TOXIC MATERIALS– WELFARE MEASURES OF CONSTRUCTION

WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILY/CHILDREN

• DURING OCCUPATION– ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN– MATERIALS USED IN THE BUILDINGS– HEALTHY WORKPLACE

PUBLIC SAFETY• STORAGE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ON PUBLIC ROADS OR

PUBLIC PLACES.• FALL OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL DUE TO NO PROVISION OF

BARRICADING AND CURTAINS. • DIRECT ACCESS TO SITE BECAUSE OF NO BARRICADING.• DEEP EXCAVATIONS IN CLOSE VICINITY OF EXISTING STRUCTURES

WITHOUT TAKING SUFFICIENT PRECAUTIONS TO AFFECT OTHER PROPERTY.

• EXCAVATIONS IN UNPROTECTED AREAS WITHOUT PROTECTING THEM WITH BARRICADING AND WITHOUT DISPLAY OF WARNING SIGNS.

• AIR, WATER OR NOISE POLLUTION LIKE ADOPTING DRIVEN PILES FOR FOUNDATION IN A HABITAT AREA.

• NO PROVISIONS OF BASIC FACILITIES TO WORKERS THEREBY ENCROACHMENT BY THEM TO PUBLIC FACILITIES OR THEIR MISUSE

TENDER DOCUMENTS

• ITEMS FOR SAFETY NORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED AND INCLUDED IN BOQ(ITEMS LIKE BARRICADING, SCAFFOLDING ETC.)

• SMALL ITEMS ONLY IN THE FORM OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS

“NOTHING COMES FREE” – PAY FOR IT, ULTIMATELY IT MAY BE REWARDING

SAFETY, QUALITY & QUANTITY

• SAFETY & QUALITY ARE COMPLEMENTARY

• IF WORKERS DO NOT FEEL SAFE, WORK WILL BE QUALITY DEFICIENT

• WITH UNSAFE CONDITIONS, PRODUCTIVITY DECREASES

SAFETY

• IF NOT FOLLOWED, MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF QUALITY, QUANTITY, IMAGE BUILDING, NATION’S CAPITAL AND SO ON

• BUT IMPLEMENTATION IS POSSIBLE ONLY IF ITS NON-IMPLEMENTATION WILL RESULT INTO LOSS FOR THE IMPLEMENTERS.

SAFETY

• AND PLEASE ENSURE SAFETY OF ENGINEERS AND

• PUBLIC SAFETY

CONCLUSIONSSAFETY THROUGH • EVERY DESIGN, EVERY PROCESS, EVERY MATERIAL,

EVERY EQUIPMENT & EVERY PERSON • NEEDS SAFETY CULTURE• PLAN FOR SAFETY DURING PRE-CONSTRUCTION

STAGE AND PAY FOR IT• STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF RULES AND CONTRACT

PROVISIONS

Thank you(Many photos/information/material have been taken from internet from various sites. Their contribution is

gratefully acknowledged)