TOPIC: SITE SAFETY AND HEALTH

MEASURES IN CONSTRUCTION SITES

SITE SAFETY AND HEALTH MEASURES IN CONSTRUCTION SITES

1. Introduction
Tanzania Construction Industry and Occupational Health
and Safety (TCI & OHS):

The Tanzania construction industry plays a significant role in

the economic development. However, the Construction
industry is known for its dangerous physical working conditions
and high accident risks. It is one of the most hazardous
occupational setting worldwide as work in construction is very
harsh and among the “3D” occupations: Dirty, Difficult and
Dangerous. The industry employs 9% to 11% of the national
workforce but accounts for 25 – 40% fatalities.
2. Important of safety and health measures in
construction sites

Adherence to safety and health measures in

construction sites is not only important for
compliance reasons but is a moral responsibility for
the contractor in ensuring the well being of those
on site. It also gives a contractor an opportunity to
MAXIMIZE PROFIT on business. IGNORING safety
and health measures can result into accidents and
diseases causing INEFFICIENCY hence lowering
productivity and therefore loss of profit.
3. What is Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) ?

OHS is concerned with health and safety in relation

to work, working environment, working tools,
machines, working stations and the workers. Its
range includes assessment, prevention and control
of hazards in the working environment; accidents,
occupational diseases, injuries and damages
attributable to the above factors.
4. Statutory requirements governing safety and
health in construction work sites in Tanzania

There are several statutory requirements governing safety and

occupational health in Tanzania (OSHA CONSTRUCTION SAFETY STANDARDS),
which the contractor brings to its readers, here are just to mention the
few:-
The occupational health and safety act. 2003
The occupational and safety act (OSHA) 2003 is the main legislation
governing occupational health and safety practice in Tanzania. The
most important features of the OSHA act, 2003 are:
 Introduction of health and safety representatives and committees of workers
at construction sites.
 Employers are regally responsible for providing health and safety training to
workers including information on hazards inherent in the work.
 OSHA has powers to compound offences
The factories (building operations and works of
engineering construction) rules 1985

The factories ordinance is the main legislation

making provision for safety, health and welfare of
person employed in factories and other places and
for matter incidental to, and connected with it.
These rules give safety provision on: excavation;
shafts & tunnels; cofferdams and caissons;
operations and works on/or adjacent to water; road
workers; scaffolding and other working places;
lifting operations; demolition and additional safety
measures.
The contractors registration act (no. 17 of 1997)
The act, under section 4 (m) tasks the board: to ensure that all
construction sites are hoarded; and labour laws, occupational health
and safety regulations in the construction industry are adhered to.

The contractors registration Act (No. 17 of 1997) by laws 1999

These regulations follow from the contractors registration act, 1997
(as amended 2008). They regulate the conduct of contractors as
related to provision of safety gear, maintenance of accident registers
on sites, hoarding of sites and provision of fire fighting equipment
and hygienic facilities on site

Fire and rescue services act, 1985 (No. 3 of 1985)

Essentially the act is for the fire brigade but there are some clauses
relevant to OHS.
5. Safety Organisation and Management
Safety consciousness must start at the top of each organisation with
the realisation of the cost of accidents in human, time and economic
terms. Encouragement from the top will ensure that all people will
address the problem with required efforts.

Safety management involves elements of planning, identifying problem

areas, coordinating, controlling, and directing the safety activities at the
work site, all aimed at the prevention of accidents and ill health. An
accident is defined as unplanned / unexpected event which could result
in an injury or loss of property. Safety management means applying
safety measures before accidents happen. Effective safety management
has three main objectives:
 To make the environment safe
 To make the job safe
6. Causes of Hazards
A. Nature of the working environment
B. Carelessness of the individuals/Working
conditions

A. NATURE OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The working environment frequently has a wide
variety of chemicals, physical and biological hazards.
The occupational hazards could be classified into:

A1. PHYSICAL HAZARDS

The physical hazards encountered in the
NOISE HAZARDS

Effect of Noise:
I. Damage to hearing (temporary or permanent loss of
hearing otherwise known as occupational deafness)
II. Ringing in the ear
III. Masking (making it hard to hear sounds that one needs
to hear such as working sound or signal)
IV. Exposure to high levels of noise at work can cause stress
reaction in the body. This affects work performance.
Noise control:
I. Check that exhaust of outlets are fitted with silencers
or mufflers, and do not keep machine running
unnecessarily
II. Check that concrete noise breaker, mufflers and similar
devices are securely fitted.
III. Provide sound – insulating screens to reduce noise
from stationary plants
IV. Workers should wear protective earmuffs.
VIBRATION HAZARDS
Many noise machines or hand-operated tools transmit
vibrations to the body. These injure muscles and joints,
and effect blood circulation causing what is called
vibration white finger diseases.
Vibration control
I. Make sure that the hand held tools being used are of
lowest feasible amount of vibration.
II. Proper maintenance of tools will also help
III. Use appropriate clothing and gloves
IV. The people operating the machines should be given
breaks in between.
A2. CHEMICAL HAZARDS
These are observed in most of the materials found
on site, e.g. cement, silica, asbestos, solvents and
fungicides. Many chemicals are hazardous with a
potential of fire and explosion or toxic with an
inherent potential to cause poisoning. Chemicals
enter into the body either by inhaling, ingestion or
swallowing, or by absorbing through the skin.
Accidents and ill health from the use of chemicals
can be prevented if one knows what chemicals are
being used and the risks they impose, and follow
the established safe practice of handling them.
Safety Measures Against Chemical Hazardous
I. Substitute the chemicals with harmless or less hazardous
one
II. Enclose the process using the chemical or provide
engineering control where appropriate
III. Use personal protective equipment (PPE)
IV. The chemicals should be handled with care and stored in
separate secure places where they will not affect the users
V. Observe health regulation and safety when handling or
working with the different materials, i.e. Putting on
protective clothing, cleaning of clothing and affected area,
etc.
A3. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Biological hazards: - These include insects, bacterial
contamination, viral, molds and fungal.
A4. PHYSIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Physiological Hazards: human indicators include
stress related to task, e.g.:-
I. Repetitive, fragmentary work content, organisation and
management carrier problems.
II. Problems at work home interface
B. CARELESSNESS OF THE INDIVIDUALS/
WORKING CONDITIONS
These are those accidents which occur on working area due to
the condition or mainly due to the people concerned not
observing rules and regulations e.g. on excavations, scaffolding,
steps and ladders, hoisting up equipment electric power tools.
Statutory laws and regulations are clearly stated in safety and
Health in building and civil engineering prepared by ILO, as well
as Tanzania safety regulations in the construction industry
stating the explicitly the role that each party must play.
How to Avoid Accidents ?
In order to avoid accidents that might be caused by
carelessness / ignorance of the individuals/working
conditions, the following activities and other similar
jobs should be carried out by well trained, certified,
competent and qualified personnel:
I. Erection of scaffolding
II. Timbering to trench or sheeting
III. Maintenance of electrical power tools
IV. Mounting of abrasive wheels
V. Woodworking machines
VI. Explosively and even machinery.
7. Safety Health and Welfare on Construction Sites
Good welfare facilities improve worker’s welfare
and enhance efficiency. Welfare facilities include:
i. Provision of safe drinking water
 provision of water taps from public supply or water
fountains
 by water bottles or containers or similar facilities
ii. washing facilities
 One wash basin for 15 workers
 Soap and paper towels are necessary
 Showers for skin contaminated areas
iii. Sanitary facilities
Sufficient toilets and urinals for men and women with
adequate privacy, protection from weather, with
smooth floors, well ventilated and lit.
iv. Facilities for changing, storing and drying clothes
Changing from street clothes to working clothes and for
airing and drying for workers’ personal hygiene.
V. Rest breaks for construction workers
Construction workers begin work early and as the time
progress, their activity level declines and fatigue
develops. Short breaks make them regain their strength.
A midday break and if possible, a ten minute break in the
morning and in the afternoon sessions are enough.
vi. Facilities for Supply of Food
 Workers should be provided with meals or a chance to
eat at midday break to ensure that they retain their
energy and hence produce more.
 A meal area should be arranged with tables and seats
protected from weather and dirt where one can eat
comfortably.
vii. First Aid
 In case of emergency or injury the workers should be
trained how to attend to the casualty, as well as taking
necessary actions according to the emergency.
 First aid boxes well equipped and clearly marked should
be located so that they are readily accessible in an
Dangerous or Unhealthy Processes
Warnings should be given to operatives working with or
adjacent to dangerous or unhealthy process.
Additionally, warning notices and signs can be used
effectively by the different trades or supervisors where
particular processes are hazardous.

The following are some of the useful warning symbols

and signs to observed and used effectively by the
different workers on site:
 POISONOUS AND INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects
These materials may be classified as toxic or very toxic based on
information such as LD50 or LC50.

Examples: Styrene, hydrogen cyanide are very toxic substances.

Toxic Symbol
BIOHAZARDOUS INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
This classification includes any organisms and the toxins produced by
these organisms that have been shown to cause disease or are
believed to cause disease in either humans or animals. For example,
a blood sample containing the Hepatitis B virus is a biohazardous
infectious material. It may cause hepatitis in persons exposed to it.

Biohazardous Symbol
FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
 Flammable or combustible materials will ignite and
continue to burn if exposed to a flame or source of ignition.
 Materials are classified as a flammable gas, flammable aerosol,
flammable liquid, combustible liquid, flammable solid, or reactive
flammable material. Methane, acetone, aniline, and lithium
hydride are examples of flammable materials.

Symbol for Flammable and Combustible Material

OXIDIZING MATERIAL
An oxidizing material may or may not burn itself, but will
release oxygen or another oxidizing substance, and thereby
causes or contributes to the combustion of another
material. Ozone, chlorine, and nitrogen dioxide are
oxidizing materials. These chemicals will support a fire and
are highly reactive.

Symbol for Oxidizing Material

CORROSIVE MATERIAL
Corrosive materials can attack (corrode) metals or cause
permanent damage to human tissues such as the skin and eyes
on contact. Burning, scarring, and blindness may result from skin
or eye contact.

Corrosive materials may also cause metal containers or structural

materials to become weak and eventually to leak or collapse.
Ammonia, fluorine, and hydrochloric acid are examples of
corrosive substances.

Corrosive Symbol
DANGEROUSLY REACTIVE MATERIAL
Dangerously reactive materials may undergo vigorous
polymerization, decomposition or condensation. They may
react violently under conditions of shock or an increase in
pressure or temperature. They may also react vigorously
with water to release a toxic gas.
Ozone, hydrazine, and benzoyl peroxide are examples of
dangerously reactive materials.

Reactive Material Symbol

Materials That Use the Explosive Symbol
1. Explosives are materials which release a tremendous
amount of energy in the form of heat, light and expanding pressure
within a very short period of time.
2. Water Reactives react with water and may explode, or they
may release a gas which is flammable.
3. Unstable Reactives are chemicals that can react or can
become self-reactive when subjected to shock, pressure or
temperature.

Explosive Symbol
Irritant Or Harmful Materials Hazardous
 Harmfully if swallowed
 Flammable
 Keep away from food, drinks animal feeding stuffs
 Wear suitable protective clothing
 If swallowed seek medical advice immediately
 Incase of fire use water, fog, co2 or alcohol foam.
SAFETY MATTERS BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
a) keep work places free from debris at floor level
b) Construct work platforms with sound materials using
experienced and trained scaffolders
c) Foresee hazards and take steps to reduce them by
removing dangerous projections to scaffolds.
d) Obtain clearance certificate and approval from the
safety supervisor/officer before allowing electric arc
welding etc. to be undertaken to boilers, cylinders and
other storage vessels or in confined spaces because
residue of previous stored or used materials could
cause an explosion. Thorough cleaning or ventilating of
the vessels may be necessary
 SAFETY MATTERS BEFORE WORK COMMENCES (cont…)
f) Carefully clear away other dangerous substances before
allowing the work to proceed, e.g. contaminated earth,
asbestos substances. Notify the factory inspectorate
before removing blue asbestos, acids, red lead-coated
objects and fumes etc.
g) Fence of large holes, unattended dangerous points
around the work area and machines, and if possible
adequately cover to prevent operatives failing or being
injured.
h) Ensure work places, where practically possible, are flat,
firm, and non-slippery to enable operatives to operate
safely and prevent fatigue etc.
SAFETY MATTERS AS WORK PROCEEDS
a) Clean the work area periodically to minimize the
following: tripping, ankle twisting, slipping, nails or
other sharp objects from entering the feet.
b) Use sound materials and observe the manufacturer’s
instructions when using them
c) Ensure tools are sound and well maintained
d) ensure power hand tools are in good working order
and are used by competent persons.
e) Provide suitable protective clothing footwear and
safety gear which should be worn depending on the
type of hazard to be encountered.
SAFETY MATTERS AS WORK PROCEEDS (Cont…)
g) Seek advice from the structural engineering department when using
formwork/false work if there is any doubt about its adequacy
h) Observe correct sequences of work particularly where dismantling
operations are underway
i) Leave major demolition to the experts, but for others, observe the
sequence of working including the appropriate safety measures shown
j) Abandon certain operations during severe weather conditions, e.g. in high
winds do not operate tower cranes beyond the manufacturers
recommendations workers should move away from high platform working;
sheeting operations, and deep excavations where there is a possibility of
flooding.
k) Use appropriate plant to reduce the strain on operatives.
END