Safety management on a construction jobsite Research Paper

Safety management on a construction jobsite - Research Paper Example â€Å"Safety management system is a documented set of policies, procedures and work instructions that describe how a business manages and minimises the risk of injury to its workforce† (Gardener). This paper tends to explore the potential ways in which the construction jobsite safety can be managed. Essentials of safety management: Safety culture: Safety culture is defined as â€Å"the enduring value and priority placed on worker and public safety by everyone in every group at every level of an organization† (Wiegmann et al. cited in Wiegmann, Thaden, and Gibbons 3). â€Å"Norms and rules for dealing with risk, safety attitudes, and reflexivity on safety practice† are three components of a healthy safety culture (Pidgeon). Thus, by establishing a rich safety culture, management essentially involves each and every individual into the process of safety management, and the results thus derived are effective and long lasting. The safety culture can be best implemente d by preparing and strictly working upon a safety plan. The safety plan: The construction jobsite safety plan lays pattern to secure the health and safety of each and every individual on the site. The plan necessarily deals with the following areas: Assessment of health and safety threats originating both in the jobsite as well as in the areas surrounding it. Selection of appropriate methods, ways and means to reduce the risk and change it into opportunity Conduction of regular safety checks on the site Establishment of a well developed system to monitor and ensure that the safety plan is being complied with by every member in the hierarchical structure of the management as well as the workers. Factors that need to be included into a construction jobsite safety plan are as follows: Assessment of the abilities of organizational members and assignment of specific responsibilities related to safety management according to the individuals’ abilities. Evaluation of methods to iden tify hazard like task analysis Development of methods to investigate and report the accidents that may occur on the jobsite Establishment of procedures to be followed in cases of emergency caused by earthquake, fire breakout, and chemical spill etc Identification of strategies that would ensure quick and effective communication among individuals and the members concerned Assessment of the need and frequency of safety meetings Establishment of a comprehensive audit programme for the site safety Once the jobsite safety plan has been made, there are several factors that need to be taken care of throughout the four phases of project including project planning, designing, procurement and construction. Stage 1 & 2 – Project planning and designing: In these phases, parties that are fundamentally carrying out the work are that of client and the designers or/and architects. In these phases, it should be made sure that the health and safety is given due consideration in the design deve lopment and project planning. Design of a project plays a decisive role in determining what safety measures need to be taken. The measures may vary from project to project depending upon the nature of work. Vertical construction has its own safety requirements that differ from those of the horizontal construction. In the planning phase, pre-tender requirements of the health and safety are established which the applying contractors are expected to comply with during construction. Stage 3 – Procurement: Teams involved in the procurement stage are client and contractors. In this stage, the tender document is