Safety Management Plan For Night Time Work Construction Essay

Safety Management Plan For Night Time Work Construction EssayIn the previous in Chapter 1, the overview of this study was explained ab surface and the line was identified. Then from the overview, the aims of the study be to explore the challenges faced in construction site during shadow epoch, to delineate the different factors associated with safety during nighttimetime- cartridge holder construction. Through the chapter, the elaborations of the topic are turn overly described. The clarification of the sub-topic will studies about the night time construction, intendning aspect, and the impact of night-time construction operations on safety, quality, environmental factors, and productivity.2.2 Overview of Night lap up2.2.1 explanation of Night field of studyAccording to Derek Simpson (2005), night work is defined as a 7 hour period which includes that between midnight and 5am, usually 11pm to 6am. Anyone who normally industrial plant at least 3 hours of their working da y during this night period is classed as a night worker. Night workers should not work more than an sightly of 8 hours in every 24. Where such work involves any special hazards or heavy physical or mental strain the 8 hours edge applies to each 24 hour period, not an average 8 hours over the reference period.According to the North Region Construction Night Work usher (2007), night work is the most difficult and challenging time for the contractor to work to meet his contractual obligations and therefore the most difficult time for the tester to en legitimate the work meets the standards and takes of quality while also ensuring that everything is done safely.2.2.2 Safety Management Plan for Night time WorkA focal point plan should be well documented and structured so that both employers and employees pile benefits from its use. The following are recommended components of a safety management plan for night time works(Site personnel dutyIt should be determined and stated clearl y in the safety management plan the responsibility of each individual at construction site for night time works. Project Manager, Engineers, Designers, Safety Officer and Site Supervisors as well as workers each have their specific responsibility to make confident(predicate) the highest level of priority are given towards safety and health issues.Permission to work at nightPermission to work at night should be obtained from the relevant authority before construction works at night is carried out. Employers should submit their application for work permit to Local government Authority and it is adviscapable to follow all requirements enforced by the authority prior to executing night time construction works. It is also recommended to notify the close police station, BOMBA, hospitals or clinics so that they can prepare accordingly in case of an emergency. It is also recommended that night work approved by the local regimen be informed to the residents/occupants of the surrounding n eighbourhood.Inventory preparation for safety equipmentsBefore night works are carried out, check the inventory of safety equipment to make sure they are sufficiently available, appropriate, and in good working condition. Purchase sufficient new safety equipment for a new construction project or to kick the bucket existing inventory. Equipments such as retro-reflective signage, barriers, retro reflective tapes and lighting equipment are some example of safety equipment that should be provided for night time construction works. worldly and Machine movement / coordinationEmployers should be aware that material and form movement that is not well supervised could potentially cause serious injury and constipation to workers and properties.House writeingAccidents can occur as a result of poor housekeeping. Hazards at construction site are the same for both day and night metamorphose while the bumpinesss of injury are much high(prenominal) during night works because of the inherent poor illumination. It is essential that the workplace is kept clean and good to ensure safety and prevent accidents.Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR)One of the most important elements to number before work at night is carried out is the EPR specifically for night time environment. A well established EPR can help both employer and employees to prepare response and recover should a disaster occurs. prevalent safetyWhen construction works involves public area, it is important to make sure the safety of the public. Consider the following when planning for night time work identify the hazards for example construction vehicle movement or too much glare from lighting equipment and plan for vehicular movement to not interrupt dot hours and make sure adequate supervision is provided for such movement.Provide sufficient signage to warn the public and put barriers at a safe distance to keep the public away.Set up a safe walk ways where it is unavoidable to work near or in public vi cinity.Ar lay out loud equipments or machinery at farthest point from the public or adopt an engineering control to reduce the noise.When overhead crane is operating near the public, clear off the area and make sure adequate supervision is in place.Schedule for daily cleaning of the adjacent public road and filling up holes as well as uneven surfaces.Working hours manpower arrangementEmployers should identify at which construction phase the need for night time work is required. Consider the following when planning for night time work arrange a special team to work at night and allow for shift rotation and inform workers of the special hazards and risks at night to allow effective adaptation with the work environment.It is also recommended to send workers for health screening to make sure the workers are fit to work at night. Allowing an unfit worker to work at night will endanger the worker and other worker in the same work area.2.3 Overview of Night-time constructionAccording to the Guidelines for Construction Activities at Night (1999), there is an increasing demand for performing construction of highways and buildings at night, especially in the urban areas to reduce conflict between the public and the stakeholders of the projects. This approach can be beneficial in particular, for reducing traffic disruptions and meeting the completion deadlines. However, contractors should consider the enlarged safety risk at the workplace when conducting any construction activities at night.2.3.1 Planning of construction work at nightWorking during night time by its very nature is dangerous. Workers are exposed to many high risk unsafe working conditions at construction site. Common troubles that strength occur are poor visibility in the working environment, working in a drowsy condition, and communication problems with the day shift. This could contribute to other work related safety and health problems for example drug and alcohol abuse, psychological problems, an d physiological problems. (Shane J.S., 2012).Therefore, it is very important to plan any works for night time is engaged. Employers need to plan before hand the workforce required, special arrangement for safety provision such as sufficient work area lighting, retro-reflective clothing, newsbreak lights on equipments or structures and retro-reflective tape at work area surroundings.2.3.2 Factors modifying night time workIn order to decide when to conduct night time work, factors (pa draweters) affecting night time work must be identified. The following factors were identified (Douglas K.D., 2003) attemptIlluminationNuisancesProductivityCostSafety jeopardyNight time construction introduces numerous risks to a construction project. One clear set of examples is driver and worker fatigue and reduced visibility, which are factors that could increase safety risks. Other major factors contributing to the risks of night time work are merciful factors such as sleep, stress, work, social o r domestic issues, and psychological characteristics, such as appetite and safety. Additional factors associated with the risks of night time construction work zones are reduced work space for machinery and equipment movement, inadequate lighting, high revivify of traffic during the night, and long working hours (12 to 14 hours). (Shane J.S., 2012). try management processThe best way to address night time construction work-zone risks and hazards is by means of risk management courses. It is suggested that agencies and contractors begin their risk management processes early and review the risk management program carefully prior to beginning night time work. Risk management is the term used to describe a sequence of analysis and management activities focused on identifying and creating a response to risks and, in the case of night time construction, to project-specific risks (Shane J.S., 2012). Various organizations use very similar steps, but slightly different terms, to describe their risk management approach. These are the important risk management steps1. Risk identification.2. Risk assessment/analysis.3. Risk mitigation and planning.4. Risk allocation.5. Risk monitoring and control.Risk identification is the process of determining which risks might affect the project and documenting their characteristics using tools such as brainstorming and checklists.Risk assessment/analysis involves the quantitative or qualitative analysis that assesses impact and probability of risk.Risk mitigation and planning involves analyzing risk response options (acceptance, avoidance, mitigation, or transference) and deciding how to approach and plan risk management activities.Risk allocation involves placing responsibility for a risk on a specific party or parties typically through a contract. The fundamental tenets of risk allocation include allocating risks to the party that is best able to manage them, allocating risks in alignment with project goals, and allocating risks to promote team alignment with customer-oriented performance goals.Risk monitoring and control is the capture, analysis, and reporting of project performance, usually as compared to the risk management plan. Risk monitoring and control assists in tracking and resolution.Types of RiskThe first step in an effective risk management program is to identify possible risks. Specific concerns related to night time work zones include poor visibility and work quality, staffing issues, unwanted noise and glare, decreased worker and driver alertness, impaired drivers, higher vehicle speeds, increased labour costs, materials and traffic control, and problems in logistics and supervision. These risks are categorized broadly as safety, cost/production and schedule, quality, organisational relationships, technical, construction, economic, and environmental.IlluminationNight time construction lighting arrangements have an impact on project safety, quality, cost, and productivity. One of the main rea sons illumination levels have a ironlike impact on the other aspects of night time construction is the fact that light influences human performance and alertness.Recommended lighting levelA major problem with night time work-zone lighting arrangements is the insufficiency of the lighting provided to perform the construction or maintenance task. The level of lighting needed for specific construction activities depends on factors related to the humans performing the activities, as well as factors relating to the task at hand and the environment in which it takes place.For example, optic ability is a human factor that is known to vary among workers. Therefore, lighting standards assume reasonable visual abilities that are considered to be normal, while giving some allowance for variations among individuals. This assumption allows for visual standards to be based mainly on the visual requirements of the specific tasks construction activities required (Shane J.S., 2012).Task Dependency Visual StandardRequired AccuracyThe higher the precision required in a task, the higher the level of illumination needed.Background ReflectionThe ability to visualize an target or a send depends on the contrast between that object and the background. Highly reflective backgrounds decrease the visibility of the target or object.Relative SpeedThe relative speed of the object/target or its observer is another factor directly affecting the level of lighting needed for the construction task.Faster moving objects or targets compel higher levels of illumination.Objective SpeedThe size of the target observed in construction tasks has an impact on the needed level of illumination for the task. The smaller the object, the higher the level of lighting needed.Seeing distanceThe distance between the observer and the target in each task is another determining factor in setting illumination levels. Larger distances necessitate higher levels of illumination.Table 2.1 Task-dependent visual standa rdsSources A Guidebook for Nighttime Construction Impacts on Safety, Quality, and Productivity.NuisancesSoundSound is postcode in motion as a pressure wave through the air produced by a vibrating body. A decibel (dB) is the basic sound level unit it denotes a ratio of intensity to a reference sound. Most sounds that humans are capable of hearing have a decibel range of 0 to 140. Zero dB, by international agreement, corresponds to an air pressure level of 20 micro-Pascals (in other words, the agreed-upon threshold of hearing). A whisper is about 30 dB, colloquial speech is about 60 dB, and 130 dB is the threshold of physical pain. Humans sense the intensity difference of one sound from another. A three-decibel neuter in noise level is a barely noticeable difference, while a 10-dB change is perceived subjectively as a doubling/halving in loudness (Shane J.S., 2012).NoiseNoise can seriously harm human health and interfere with peoples daily activities at school, at work, at home and during empty time. According to World wellness Organization (WHO) (2004), the main health risks of noise identified arePain and hearing fatigueHearing impairment including tinnitus hatredInterferences with social behaviour (aggressiveness, protest and helplessness)Interference with speech communicationSleep mental disorder and all its consequences on a long and short term foundation garmentCardiovascular effectsHormonal responses (stress hormones) and their possible consequences on human metabolism (nutrition) and immune systemPerformance at work and schoolEnvironment scathing health effectSound level dB(A)*Time hoursOutdoor living areasAnnoyance50-5516Indoor dwellingsSpeech intelligibility3516BedroomsSleep disturbance308School classroomsDisturbance of communication35During classIndustrial, commercial and traffic areasHearing impairment7024Music through earphonesHearing impairment851Ceremonies and entertainmentHearing impairment1004Table 2.2 WHO Community Noise GuidanceSources O ccupational Noise-World Health OrganizationVibrationAccording to Shreve (1994), vibration can be defined as simply the cyclic or oscillating motion of a machine or machine component from its position of rest.Many types of construction activities cause vibrations that spread through the ground (ground-borne), most notably pile driving, hoe ram demolition, blasting, and vibratory compacting. Though the vibrations diminish in strength with distance from the source, they can produce annoying or objectionable audible and feel able levels in buildings very close to construction sites.Rarely do vibrations reach levels that cause structural damage to buildings. However, minor cosmetic damages can occur at lower vibration levels and, in the case of old, fragile, or historical buildings, a danger of significant structural damage always exists.DustDuring the night, many households leave their windows open to take advantage of the cool night air. With urban night time construction projects bein g very close to peoples living space, dust can be a problem.Night time construction dust problems are accentuated by the lighting, which makes the particulate matter very visible. Fugitive dust may be generated by construction operations, and the contract specifications should require that the contractor prepare a dust control plan. In many cases, dust control is not a problem that is limited to night time activities therefore, air quality or dust control plans should be for all hours of the day or night (Shane J.S., 2012).