Construction Site Safety in Malaysia

Construction Site Safety in MalaysiaThe coverage of the reflexion industry is very wide-ranging it consists of residential spin, commercial building formula, heavy engineering social structure, elegant engineering, industrial eddy and infrastructure.Construction coif is considered to be the closely hazardous working indicate. In the verbalism turn up, gumshoe devicety and quality ar al panaches concerns by the people. In the recent years, construction industry is facing environmental problem collect to the pollution and the hazards mostly take a crap by the construction activities.In Malaysia, the construction industry is ac fellowship generating the republic development and overly improves the country economic. The frequencies of aim transmits and property damage which create a great impact to the construction organization. During construction period, when give-up the ghosting of calamitys and injuries or deaths of histrions go forth cause holds to the co nstruction foresee. The delay of the forcing out directly and indirectly forget incur the cost. As a result, all the construction organization must provide a good and safe working environment for the players.1.3 BackgroundWorking in the construction site is very dangerous. Most of the cam strokes happen in construction site are ca utilize by pretermit of training, carelessness, communication problem and not following basic safety rule during working in the site.The company pauperization to comply with any requirements in addition to any security policy is to create them to meet federal, state and local laws. Safety policy and regulations are use to train the construction actor for safety practices and to warning about hazards on the site during construction period. Nowadays, construction site accidents became serious and known is an most-valuable to the organization involved. Most of the construction action at law is difficult, dangerous, dirty, and considered as dangerous occupations compared with other type of industries. Most of the construction workers shoot to work in adverse conditions during rain, heat, dust, noise and at night. Some of the construction site accident happen is obvious work with the heavy machinery and hold up high above from the ground direct. The most serious accidents happen are resulting in injuries and death. The machinery need to be seriously handle and dately monitoring as it may affect the organization in high cost to repair and brinytenance the machinery. Beside that the construction company lead become bad reputation and need to pay for medical treatment for the construction workers that involved in accident during construction period. When an accident happens, it should be immediate report to the office of Safety and Health department to ensure that the suitability action could be taken by the germane(predicate) organization. For the surveillance also need to be taken to get a line the factors which cause th e accident and the way to prevent it from happen again in the future. Construction worker need to report any injuries or accidents to their supervisors or Safety and Health Department.1.4 Problem StatementSite accident is one of the signifi bourninatet and key issues that seriously happen in the construction site that control its daily operation exploitation machineries at the construction site. The numbers of site accident occurred each year at the construction site and also increasing from both year resulted in variable cost items of the project. If the construction company no way taken for prevention, it can become more serious and bad reputation to the construction company.1.5 Aim and ObjectiveTo involve the site safety in construction site during the construction periodIn the scope of this look, it contains the following objectivesTo analysis of type of accident occurrence and causes of accident in the Malaysia construction siteTo instruct safety solicitude and hazard in Malaysia construction siteTo identify the duties of various party of the site safety in construction siteResearch MethodologyA study on site safety in Malaysia construction siteTo study safety management and hazard in Malaysia construction siteTo identify the duties of various party of the site safety in construction siteTo analysis of type of accident occurrence and causes of accident in the Malaysia construction siteStage 1Literature Reviews(Secondary outset)Stage 2Technique of Data Collection(Primary source, Questionnaires)Stage 3The Result of Analysis and FindingsA caseful study about the fire protection remains in commercial buildingA set of question pull up stakes be distribute to the commercial buildings users to dertermine theier knowledge about fire safetyAn interview would be carry out to the fire safety professionalStage 4Conclusion and Recommendation originally conducting this assignment, an appropriate method to get the information is determined.InterviewWe also ca rry out interview to achieve our research goal. This is reason because it takes place with interviewees known to pitch been involved on the previous experience on the site safety in construction site in Malaysia. However, it needed to focus on the interviewers that score experiences regarding the site safety. The interview will be carried out face-to-face with 1-10 consultants who having previous experiences of this site safety in construction site. The data collected of interview will be summary and comprise in appendix of my dissertation.QuestionnairesThe general research approach is based on questionnaires. This is chosen because it will enhance the knowledge for my research topic. The questionnaires will be given out to 1-15 respondents who are the contractor, supervisor, etc that involve in the site safety in construction site. Besides that, this is an good alternative to interviews because it is enable to increase the information in my research.Literature ReviewA literary productions review is a critical and in depth evaluation of previous research. The main purposes of applying writings review method in my research are to achieve my goal and to convey the knowledge and ideas have been established with regarding to my topic. The literature review serves to deliver and more understanding and knowledge of theoretical and research issues related to my topic. Related literature refers to writing in publication such as books, journals, magazines, articles, newspaper and decision information on the internet. Furthermore, literature review helps and guide me to discovered more knowledge and helpful in my research.Case StudyCase study consists of a detailed investigation, often with data collected over a period of time, of phenomena, within the context. This method is useful for trying to test theoretical models by using them in real world situations. Basically, a case study is an in depth study of particular situation rather than a statistical survey. Th e case study is also useful for testing whether scientific theories and models actually work in the real world. Furthermore, I will plan and design how I am going to address the study and make sure that all collected data is relevant to my research topic which is site safety in construction site.1.7 Scope limitation of studyThis study focuses on site safety in a Malaysian construction site. On the primary research, I will focus on the case study of according to my objectives which are review the history of accident and study safety management in construction site, and literature review of types of accident and hazard in construction site, duties of various party of the site safety in construction site. For my secondary research, I will do a questionnaire to TAR college SOT lecturers and Construction Company (related to site safety on construction site) in Kuala Lumpur provided.The scope of this study is many types thither is literature review receivable to the quantity of publish ed journals, article, textbooks and the information on the internet so that can find out the information according to my objectives within the circumscribed time frame. Besides that, the construction company which related to site safety in construction site in Malaysia need to get permission so that can go there to visit and get the information about site safety in construction site.2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW2.1 IntroductionThe construction site involves a lot of operations which may be dangerous, risky and unwellnessy. The number of injuries, accident, and work related illness will contribute to additional be and delays on projects. Construction site is the most dangerous and hazardous compare with other type of industry. Nowadays, site accident is keep happened in construction site and the accident percentage is kept rising every year. When accident happens in construction site it will cause the project delay and loss of project cost.In this chapter will discuss about the review acci dent occurrence and safety management in Malaysia construction site. Site safety is very important because when accident happen on construction site not only people injury and also will affect the project in term of cost and time.2.2 Type of accidents occurrence in Malaysia construction siteSite accident is an unplanned, unexpected and uncontrollable occurrence, which results in injury or death to the construction workers damage the equipment. All accidents, regardless of the damage or loss of the nature, should be concerned about. The accidents that not result damage to materials or equipment or injury to worker may presage future of unexpected accidents.Although site accident could not totally prevent from happening but still need to find the way to minimize the rate of accident by providing a safe working conditions and insisting on the use of safe working methods and procedures.In Malaysia, the number of accident occurring at the construction site is keep increasing every year d ue to the unpredictable reported. So the site accident has captured the attention and concern from the relevant organization. The table 1 show in below is the summary of major accident happen in Malaysia construction site.20052006200720081) Tower cranebroke into 2and fell ontofourIndonesianconstructionworkers at aconstructionsite buildingapartmentlocated at Batu14, Puchong.1) Landslideoccurred at aconstructionsite located atTaman Desa,Kuala Lumpurburied killed a35 year oldIndonesianman at about3.30pm whilehe wasworking onsome iron steelbeamfoundationsfor the five block609unitscondominiumcomplexes.1) Death of twoworkers andsevere injurieson ten workersat The PavillionKuala Lumpur,Jalan BukitBintangconstructionsite where thecables of theworkmens liftat the poshcondominiumand shoppingcomplex projectsnapped andplummeted 15metres to theground.1) TwoMalaysianconstructionworkerswere buried alive(p) byexcavatedsand pile in a3.6m-deepsewer trenchat TamanMerbauphase twoconstructionsite inCh anglun2) Iron hurtleweighingalmost twotonnes fellfrom 20 storeycondominiumsunderconstructiononto Dr. LiewBoon HorngsBMW killedhim andseverelyinjured hiswife and thedriver at centerDamas locateda eagle-eyed JalanHartamas.2) Negligenceof threeconstructioncompanies, ledto the death ofanotherIndonesianworker on 15May 2006located at Lot206, Section63, LorongBinjai where a32-storey of100 unitsapartment wasto be built.2) Death of twoMalaysianconstructionworkers, buriedalive fourmeters deep ina landslidewhile workingon the fencinglocated atTaman Merbau2, Fasa III atKubang, Pasu.2) Twentyfive foreignworkersescapedwithoutmajorinjurieswhen thestructurethey werestandinggave way inone of theconstructionsites inKuching.3) Two sidescollapsed of abridge thatwas underconstruction at3.2 kilometersof the KlangValley alley thatcaused thedeath of twoBangladeshworkers.3) One foreignconstructionsite workerdied anothercolleagueseverely injuredat theconstructionsite of thehonored KKTimes Squarecommercialc omplex afterpiles of sandfell on them inKota Kinabalu.4) ThreeIndonesianconstructionworkers fellfrom hold up totheir deathswhen theyslipped fromthe top floor ofa 21-storeycondominiumunderconstructionand landed onthe fifth floor atTaman TampoiIndah5) Bricks fellfrom theconstructionsite in TamanBukit Angkasa,Kerinchi onseveral carsparked at thenearby flatsduring a threehourdownpour6) Eight hugeconcrete beamswith ameasurement ofat least 40mlong and 70tonnes weightof anuncompletedflyover nearNilai collapsed,which narrowlymissed amotorist and hisaged parentsIn the construction site, it can be verbalize that there are many different types of accidents occurred at the construction sites everyday during the construction period. The types of accident in construction site, which are scaffolding, deterioration of people, struck by falling objects and so on. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health Ministry of Human Resources find out the rise of accident occurring almost every month in the year 2007 and 2008.Falling of peopleFalling of people also is the one of higher percentage happening accidents in the construction site. People working in the construction site has the risk exposed to fall in any place of the site especially at the high level. Most of the worker fall from the higher level mostly resulted in death. The type of accident is always happen in construction which is fall from scaffolding.CausesThe people who falling from the higher level because lack of safety measure at the construction site. The workers will not be protected by safety measure when accident occurs.According to the Vincent G. pubic hair in his Safety in the Construction Industry OSHA, an incident can result in an accident if fright makes a man take unprotected action. For an example, if one scaffold rope fails, the man may be saved if he just hangs on. The other common causes areImproper netting for scaffolding cause workers falls from the scaffold.The used of timber head for the hills is in myopic condition. The ladder may broken and cause the worker fall downThe ladder is not securely fixed to prevent against slipping and slide movement.Inadequate lighting during construction of basement had caused many falling of construction workers.CasesCases 1http//cdn.theborneopost.com/newsimages/A2537.jpg consultation Borneo Post Online December 29,2011, ThursdayConstruction siteKuchingEventThe workers body injury after falling down from the scaffolding .The accident happened at close to 4pm when his colleague foot support him was standing on suddenly broke, causing him fall to the ground.ConsequencesA construction worker was killed.2.2.3 PreventionFor the prevention of fall of people, there are two areas that must be emphasized during construction period. The two areas areScaffold protectionEvery construction worker on a scaffold more than 2 meter above a lower level must be protected from falling to that level workers on a walkway situated within a scaffold must be protected by the use of a personal fall arrest system or guardrail system. It is important for those workers performing plastering and painting operation for using the scaffold. The guardrail system must be installed along all extend sides and end of platforms, and they must be installed completely before the scaffold use by workers.Safety netThe safety net must be provided when the workplaces are more than 25 ft above the surface where the use, scaffold, catch platforms, temporary floors and so on. The safety net is infallible, shall not operate until the net is in place and has been tested. The safety net must extend about 8 ft outside the edge of the work.The employer should provide a safety training program for every worker who might be exposed to fall hazards. The safety training must let every worker to be familiar the hazards of falling order to minimize these hazards. So that employer must assure that every construction worker been trained. Some critical hazard areas a t the high-rise building construction equal lift shaft and edge of the structure must also provide with a proper guardrail system.2.3 Struck by falling objectsIt can be said that the events of struck by falling objects are quite same with the fall of people. The only thing different is falling objects may not essential cause injured or fatality. Whereas, in fall of people it definitely caused injury or fatal of people.CausesNot proper netting for the scaffolding. Some workers may not hold the tools and equipment properly during superstructure work and cause the tools and equipment fall out from the netting.Falling of scaffolding components during the erection and dismantling.Not carry the work the proper manner. For instance, the workers throw the rubbish directly from the edge of the building at the high level as shown in Appendix.Material fall during handling by the crane due to indecent stackingThe too heavy load to carry in the handling will cause the broken of rope, where the rope is not able to withstand the loading. frankincense falling of material occur.The ropes used in the handling not securely tied are always cause the material fall during the operation.2.3.5 Causes of hapAccident dont just happen, they are caused. According to Ridley 99 per cent of the accident are caused by either unguaranteed acts or unprotected conditions or both (Ridley, 1986). As such, accidents could be prevented. The vulnerable act is a violation of an accepted safe procedure which could permit the occurrence of an accident. The unsafe condition is a hazardous physical condition or circumstances which could directly permit the occurrence of an accident. Most accident results from a combination of contributing causes and one or more unsafe acts and unsafe condition. Accident theories and models discussed in the previous section have evolved from merely blaming workers, conditions, machineries into management roles and responsibilities. Nowadays, accident models are bei ng used to make better explain the causes of accident so that appropriate actions could be taken to make improvement. However, in order to effect permanent improvement, we must deal with the alkali causes of accident. A review of the literature indicates that finding the factors and causes that influence construction accidents has been the passion of many researchers. Kartam and Bouz (1998) did a study in Kuwaiti construction and noted that the causes of accidents were due to worker turnover and glum acts inadequate safety performance improper cleaning and unusable materials destiny low tool maintenance supervisory fault and misplacing objects. Abdelhamid and Everett (2000) conducted a more oecumenical study in the USA and classified the causes into benevolent and physical factors. Human factors were due failed to secure and warn Failed to wear personal preventive equipment (PPE) horseplay operating equipment without consent operating at unsafe speed personal factor remove sa fety device serviced moving and energized equipment took unsafe position or posture used defective tool or equipment and other unsafe action. While, physical factors were due to unsafe act of another person(s) disregard known prescribed procedures defects of accident source dress or apparel hazard environmental hazard fire hazard hazardous arrangement hazardous method housekeeping hazard improper assignment of personnel inadequately guarded public hazard and other unsafe conditions.Lubega et al (2000) did a study in Uganda and concluded the causes of accidents were mainly due to lack of awareness of safety regulations lack of enforcement of safety regulations poor regard for safety by people involved in construction projects engaging incapable personnel non-vibrant professionalism mechanical bereavement of construction machinery/equipment physical and emotional stress and chemical impairment. Pipitsupaphol and Watanabe (2000) did a study in Thailand construction sites and classifi ed the causes into the most potent factors i.e. unique nature of the industry job site conditions unsafe equipment unsafe methods human elements and management factors. They further concluded that major immediate causes were due to failure to use personal protective equipment improper loading or placement of equipment or supplies failure to warn co-workers or to secure equipment and improper use of equipment.Toole (2002) also did a study in the USA and suggested that the causes of accidents were due to lack of proper training deficient enforcement of safety safety equipment not provided unsafe methods or sequencing unsafe site conditions not using provided safety equipment poor attitude toward safety and isolated and sudden deviation from prescribed behavior. Tam et al (2004) did a study in China and noticed that the causes of accidents were due poor safety awareness from top leaders lack of training poor safety awareness of project managers reluctance to input resources for safety reckless operation lack of certified skill wear down poor equipment lack of first aid measures lack of pissed enforcement of safety regulation lack of organizational commitment low education level of workers poor safety conscientiousness of workers lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in impressive operation of safety regulation lack of technical guidance lack of strict operational procedures lack of experienced project managers shortfall of safety regulations lack of protection in material transportation lack of protection in material fund lack of teamwork spirits excessive overtime work for labor shortage of safety management manual lack of innovative technology and poor information flow.2.3.1 Accident Causation ModelsThe accident causality model is not a new model to determine the root causes of safety problems in the construction and other industries. The accident causation model is a tool that providing better industrial accident prevention program. As described by Heinrich (1980) accident prevention is an integral program, a series of coordinate activities, directed to the control of unsafe personal performance and unsafe mechanical conditions, and based on certain knowledge, attitudes, and abilities. The famous models that were developed that relate to accident causation are namely half mask theory that was invented by Heinrich in 1930 and multiple causation theory that was developed by Petersen in 1971.2.3.4 Human Error TheoriesThe practice of this theory is pointed out that the worker as a major factor in the accident. This theory as mentioned by Abdelhamid (2000) studies the tendency of humans to make mistake in a pastiche of conditions and circumstances, with the blame mostly fall on human characteristics. This theory does not mean to blame the workers as the main problem for accident, other factors such as workplace design and tasks without considering the limitation of the worker as the reason why accident happened in construction sit e. The objective of human error theory is to establish a good design of workplace, tasks, and tools that suitable with human limitation. The theory is that it comes to human error theory, which is a model of patterns of behavior and human factors. Most of these theories describe that the human (worker) is the main problem caused an accident happen, which is permanent feature of human and human capacity overload and human conditions that often make mistake.2.4 Root Causes of AccidentThe root causes mean the main causes of accident happen in the construction site. There are some roots causes of accident happen in the construction site. The causes of accident can separate in 4 parts, which arePeoples roleOrganization and managementNature of construction industryMaterial and Equipment2.4.1 Peoples Role2.4.1.1 Worker attitude and BehaviourOne of the roots causes of an accident is the poor attitude and bad behaviour of the workers which difficult to control (Teo et al., 2005). The origin al manual workers in the industrialization of agri acculturation, and annul the risk of awareness with the construction industry. Furthermore, most of the workers are low educated. Most of them are only concern with the contract wages than importance of personal safety. This minus attitude and behaviour have stimulated most workers not to use the personal protective equipment during working on construction site. The reason of not lay their protective equipments is inconvenient for their operation. Rasmussen (1997) identified that 70%-80% of accidents happened arise from worker attitude and behaviour.2.4.1.2 Worker Attitude and BehaviourPrevious studied have pointed out that the causality play an important role in determined causation of an accident (Gibb, (1999, 2001) McKay et al., 2002 Loughborough University UMIST, 2003 Wright et al., 2003). The accident was mainly due to the widespread use of manual handling. As a result, it introduces a lot of manual handling hazards. For e xamples, cast in-situ method.Furthermore, the design complexity has dedicated to the causation of accident. The design complexity is referring to the intricate aesthetic qualities. set up on Loughborough University and UMIST (2003) studied, the more complexity of design tend to have a greater potential to influence accident occurrence in workplace.2.4.2 Organization and care2.4.2.1 Poor Management CommitmentAfter the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), (2009b) conducted a survey, the result shown 75% of all fatal accidents in the building and civil engineering industries in the United Kingdom are caused by the ineffective of management. Nowadays, the contractor is more reliance on the insurance, contractor tends to passed most of the damages and financial obligation to insurance company (Lingard H, Rowlinson S, 1997). As a result, contractor may not provide appropriate training and focus on workplace safety and health issues. The workers involved in site activities may not be awa re of the danger zone.In some cases, safety and health officers are threatened by their employer no to report an accident to Department Safety and Health (DOSH, 2011). Many accidents do not report because the project manager is trying to cover up their own fault and protect company image. Normally, the safety management process require site supervisor to carry out on-site inspection and fake a number of safety and health checklist.However, many contractors only put in commitments on paper, act differently in the site (Ding et al., 2000). For examples, the OSHA 1994 personnel protective equipments record in Malaysia.2.4.2.2 Poor Communication and CoordinationIn the construction site, the effective communication and information transfer between management and staff are the effective way to reduce the number of accidents.However, there are many site workers came from foreign country. Some of the workforce does not speak and understand native language. As a result, the safety committee need to convey the danger zone and potential accidents may occur on the site.Furthermore, Debrah YA, Ofori G (2001), the large number of affaire of sub-contractor, the possibility of accidents occurrence is increase as well. It is because going to increase the complexity in coordinate and control among the sub-contractor. Besides that, the main contractor may hammock the safety responsibility toward sub-contractor without ensure the sub-contractor is capable to provide the safety workplace (Wilson, Kohen E, 2000).2.4.2.3 Company SizeThe company size has determined the implementation of safety and health within an organization. The big company has more budget and systematic system in allocation of resources for each department. As a result, the safety and health department have sufficient resources to implement and promote the importance of safety and health at the construction site. Unfortunately, the small company has limited and lack of budgets to implement the effective safety and health approaches within the construction site (Abel Pinto et al., 2001). For examples, a small contractor company cannot afford to provide a set of standard safety equipments for every workforce. A studied by McVittie et al. (1997) indicated that accident rates decrease as the sizes of firms increase.2.4.2.4 Poor Organization Safety CultureThe contractor fails to introduce the culture of safety among the members of the organization. The safety organization chart setup due to the purposes of the law require by the government. However, the safety and health officer does not have needful requirement for autonomy in the workplace (Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM)). It is because some of the safety officer is employee for the contractor and developer.The researchers Diaz and Cabrera (1997) pointed out that an organizational climate is built up through the interaction of organizational factor and individual factors. Many studies had conducted (Coyle, Sleeman, Ad ams, 1995 Diaz and Cabrera, 1997 Felknor, 1997 Krispin, 1997 Seppala, 1992) the lower the score of a safety climate, the worst the safety performance. It is because the members within an organizational will never pay attention to the safety and health level. Beck Woolfson (1999), emphasize that it is important in control workforce beliefs, attitude and behaviours with regard to safety. As a result, poor organization safety culture is one of the roots causes lead to the occurrence of an accident.2.4.3 Nature of Construction Industry2.4.3.1 Economic and Time PressureEconomic and time pressure had come from the high demand in property market (Abel Pinto et al., 2001). The developer required contractor to complete a construction project within a short period of time. In order to complete the project on time, the contractors relax rules and procedure for safety and health. For example, carry out reckless operations. Furthermore, the workforce is required to work overtime. It is easy to cause the accident due to the fatigue of worker (Haslam et al., 2005).2.4.3.2 Constantly Changing WorksiteThe construction industry is not same to others type industry. For the even out industry, the workers repeat and control the machine every day. However, construction industry involves the movement of manual workers in the workplace (Abel Pinto et al., 2009). The more movement in the site, the possibilities of accident will be keep increasing.2.4.3.3 Site RestrictionA restricted site has implied insufficient space on site. Thus, there is limited space for machine, plant and storage of building material. The restricted site will have been introduced as an unexpected persistent cause of accidents (Gibb, (1999, 2001) McKay et al., 2002 Loughborough University UMIST, 2003 Wright et al., 2003). A congested site condition not only implied of dual processing of work. However, it causes an accident as a result of a worker struck by a moving vehicle (HSE, 2009b).2.4.3.4 Worker distinct ionEvery construction project is involved structural, architectural, brick wall, ME and plumbing work. Each kind of