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ASC Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference
University of Nebraska-Lincoln- Lincoln, Nebraska
April  1989              pp  33-38

 

RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS FOR A SAFETY MANAGEMENT COURSE

 

H. Stephen Egger and Shahram Varzavand
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

 

Safety is a concern which must be addressed in more than just words, it must be consciously considered, methodically put into action, and continuously monitored. Students within a construction program need to be challenged into developing a positive philosophy toward safety and have a strong basic understanding of minimally acceptable industry standards. Assurance of safey operations is an ongoing task from the weekly tool box meetings to daily involvement of foreman and superintendent or the occasional walk-through by management personnel. It needs to be stressed that safety is everyone's responsibility and without such commitment the program will not be totally effective. OSHA parts 1926 and 1910 Standards, Fatal Facts, articles from Construction and Safety Journals, and Right-to-Know Directives are but a few items which can be utilized in the classroom to educate potential construction managers. A recent development which has generated enthusiasm on the part of students is the analysis of on-site videotapes of construction operations.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Safety facilitation within a company's organization is one of the primary concerns presently facing managers in the construction industry. From a humanitarian as well as a cost effective perspective much more consideration and attention need to be directed at safety and health in the construction industry. Demographic information on workers employed in the construction industry (Table 1) represent 5.6% of the American workforce yet account for 19.46% of deaths and 10.5% of disabling injuries. The incident rates also reflects the need for stronger emphasis on safety (Table 2). These losses critically affect the competitiveness of individual firms and the construction industry in general on a state, national and international level. Losses pertain to direct costs (workers' compensation, liability insurances) and indirect costs (productivity, scheduling delays, lost wages, damages to company reputation, etc.).

“The Business Roundtable estimated that "accidents cost $8.9 billion or 6.5% of the $137 billion (1979 dollars) spent annually by users of industrial, utility, and commercial construction." A projected $2.75 billion savings is achievable reflecting a reduction in the frequency and severity of accidents. Also they have projected the savings to the expense attributed the cost of administering safety and health program and have estimated a positive ratio of 3.2 to 1.” (The Business Roundtable, 1982).

You have to ask yourself the question, "What is the present movement in safety management pertaining to areas of safety and health in construction? What better way to implement safety consciousness into the construction industry than through the graduates of construction programs." The major emphasis of this presentation is to suggest some of the major parts which should be instituted into a safety management course in a construction curriculum.

The following represent an attempt by faculty in the construction program at the University of Northern Iowa to address safety management. We have consulted with leaders in the construction industry who are concerned with safety management.

In addition, we have utilized sources such as the state, regional and federal centers for OSHA, constructors and professional associations across the state of Iowa, textbooks and journals on the topic of safety management.

Recommended Component Parts

Recommended content to be addressed in a safety management course:

A. Historical analysis of safety which has lead up to current practices and standards. Examination to include topics such as: Fellow Servant Law, Contributory Negligence, Assumption of Risk, Williams-Steiger Act to the Right-to-Know.

 B. Specific attention needs to be directed to the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970. This law mandates safety and health standards in the workplace. It is Adapted from data published by the National Safety Council Accident Facts 1987.important to emphasize that these are recommended minimum standards. for industry. The composition of these guidelines are based on information drawn from standards established by-associations or institutions such as American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Welding Society (AWS) ... etc. Approximately 40 to 50% of the standards are drawn from ANSI. It is suggested that instructors make an effort to have at least a few of these reference materials (ANSI, AWS, etc.) on hand so students have an idea how the OSHA Standards are formulated. Examination of the subparts in Part 1926, and specific references to Part 1910 sets the stage for an understanding of minimum mandated standards. The subparts of 1926 include:

Subpart A - General

Subpart B - General Interpretations Subpart C - General Safety and Health Provisions

Subpart D - Occupational Health and Environmental Controls

Subpart E - Personal Protective and Life Savings Equipment

Subpart F - Fire Protection and Prevention

Subpart G - Signs, Signals, and Barricades

Subpart H - Materials Handling, Storage, Use, and Disposal

Subpart I - Tools - Hand and Power

Subpart J - Welding and Cutting

Subpart K - Electrical

Subpart L - Ladders and Scaffolding

Subpart M - Floors and Wall Openings, and Stairways

Subpart N - Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
Subpart 0 - Motor Vehicles, Mechanized Equipment, and Marine Operations

Subpart P - Excavations, Trenching, and Shoring

Subpart Q - Concrete, Concrete Forms, and Shoring

Subpart R - Steel Erection

Subpart S - Tunnels and Shafts, Caissons, Cofferdams, and Compressed Air

Subpart T - Demolition

Subpart U - Blasting and Use of Explosives

Subpart V - Power Transmission and Distribution

Subpart W - Rollover Protective Structures; Overhead Protection

Subpart X - Effective Dates (U.S. Department of Labor, 1987)

 

TABLE 1

 

TABLE 2

 

C. Identification of the Organizational Responsibilities and Duties Pertaining to Safety and Health Considerations of a Construction Firm. Specific attention needs to be directed at upper, middle, and lower management levels.

Upper Management should ensure:

·           A safe and healthly work environment

·           Leadership, support and concern for safety

·           A complete and adequate safety program

·           A channel for open communication which allows for feedback and accountability for all employees

·           Contract responsibilities are met

·           A continual review process

·           Complete support

·           The incorporation of safety into every day operations

 

Middle Management (office/jobsite responsibility) should ensure:

·           Open communication between the office and field

·           Commitment to safety

·           Competent leadership

·           Adequate and appropriate training

·           Identification of tasks, duties and responsibilities

·           Adequate authority to guarantee success

·           An open communication channel to upper and lower management

·           Accountability to upper and lower management

·           Contract responsibilities are met

·           Planned and reviewed safety strategies

·           Complete understanding by employees

·           A record keeping process

·           Monitoring and controlling of field operations

·           Worker orientation and review of safety training

·           A process for handling conflict

·           Identification and resolution of hazardous situations, practices and/or processes

·           Involvement and orientation of subcontractors

·           The incorporation of safety into every day activities

 

Lower Management (field, typically foremen) should ensure:

·           Worker orientation and training

·           Safety leadership

·           Worker involvement

·           Task identification and responsibilities

·           Accountability - recording of safety training, difficulties, field situations, etc.

·           The appropriate management of craftspeople

·           Maintenance of daily safety practices in the workplace

·           Establishment of team spirit and motivation in regard to safety

·           The encouragement of good habits as well as the discouragement of poor habits

·           Identification and documentation of infraction(s)

·           The incorporation of safety into every day activities

 

D. Employee

·        Work responsibilities and identification of tasks

·        Program compliance

·        Evaluation, accountability and feedback

·        Motivation

 

E. Record Keeping

·        OSHA

·        Company

 

F. Insurance Costs

·        Direct Indirect

·           Experience modification rate/Incidence Rate

G. Cost Savings

H. OSHA Enforcement

I. OSHA Consultation

J. Professional Associations (ABC, AGC) Involvement

K. Safety Training and Certification of Staff

L. Information from the State of Iowa

·           Fatalities - Fatal Facts (See figures 1-4)

·           Accidents - State Reports

·           Top violation/citations

·           Number of inspections in specific states M.

Offering State Seminars of Safety N. Problematic Situations in the Classroom 0. Video Usage in the Classroom

Iowa Construction Industry.

Reflects the Percentage of 2066 Cases

(Iowa Bureau of Labor, 1986)

FIGURE 1 Nature of Injury or Illness Reported:

 

FIGURE 2 Part of the Worker's Body Effected Iowa Construction Industry Reflects the Percentage of 2066 Cases (Iowa Bureau of Labor, 1986)

 

 
FIGURE 3 Source of Construction Injury or Illness Reported in Iowa Reflects the Percentage of 2066 Cases (Iowa Bureau of Labor, 1986)

 

 
FIGURE 4 Type of Construction Accident or Exposure Reported in Iowa Reflects the Percentage of 2066 Cases (Iowa Bureau of Labor, 1986)

 

SUMMARY

 

Safety management in a construction curriculum must begin with an understanding of federal and/or state mandates. Students must be encouraged to develop a positive attitude toward safety and strategies for implementing an effective program into construction operations. They need to be cognizant of the many components which constitute a complete safety program. Students also need to be aware of the resources and assistance available in the area of safety and the management of construction operations.

 

REFERENCES

 

Improving Construction Safety Performance. (1982, January). The Business Roundtable.
 

Iowa Bureau of Labor (1986) Final Report. Research and Statistic Division - State        Iowa.

 
U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1987). Construction Industry. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.