1.

0 Introduction
Construction workers are exposed to a variety of health hazards every day. These men and
women have the potential for becoming sick, ill and disabled for life. Statistic has shown that
the number of fatality and permanent disablement cases due to accident at construction sites
is one of the highest as compared to the other sector. Year after year construction is one of the
most dangerous industries, with approximately 1050 construction workers dying on the job
each year(United States).
The construction industry covers a wide range of activities from large-scale civil engineering
projects to very small house extensions. This work may be new building work, such as a
building extension or, more commonly, the refurbishment, maintenance or repair of existing
buildings. Larger civil engineering projects involving road and bridge building, water supply
and sewage schemes and river and canal work.
The work could involve hazardous operations, such as demolition or roof work, or contact
with hazardous materials, such as asbestos or lead. Construction also includes the use of
woodworking workshops together with woodworking machines and their associated hazards,
painting and decorating and the use of heavy machinery. It will often require work to take
place in confined spaces, such as excavations and underground chambers.
Finally, at any given time, there are many young people receiving training on site in the
various construction trades. These trainees need supervision and structured training
programmes because they may not be familiar with the hazards involved in doing certain
tasks.
Therefore, this assignment is intended to identify and highlights the hazards that are most
commonly found at our construction sites today.

2.0 Construction hazards

There are two major categories of hazard in construction sites namely:
the risk of physical injury or physical injury hazard.
The agents to the above mention hazard are normally associated with process of
works or equipment used and climatic conditions such as scaffolds, power access
equipment and manual handling, ladder, roof work, plant and machinery,
excavation, etc.
the risk of ill health or health hazard Health hazards in construction work may be
grouped under chemical, physical and biological hazards.
Hazard that has risk of physical injury can cause direct injury to our worker at site and if
severe can cause death. However, hazard that has risk of ill health can only be notified
after long term of period and shall cause sickness or death after certain period of time.
There are three basic steps that should be taken namely identifying the hazard, assessing the
risk and controlling the risk to ensure a safe and conducive working condition.
Implementation of effective hazards control methods may require different approaches due to
changing of working environment at the construction sites.

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2.1 Hazard Analysis
2.1.1 Work Place Environment
Checklist for work place environment cover item such as access, guard rail, condition of
opening, temporary structures, site tidiness, waste disposal and visibility.
Precautions:
Keep your site clean and tidy, with clear space for people to work in
Keep people, including the public, away from danger
Fence the site off and use safety(warning) signs
2.1.2 Excavation
Excavation was identified to be the major hazards in construction sites involve with
infrastructure works. Common accidents occur due to:
i. Unavailability of insufficient stop block or signage to prevent or warn tipping
vehicle falling in.
ii. Inadequate guard rail to prevent people falling in.
iii. Edge of excavation stored with material, plant, etc.
Precautions:
Keep the fence on all sides of an excavation intact.
Use safe access for ingress and egress.
Do not pile soil or any other materials at the edge of an excavation.
Make sure that a trench is securely shored before working in it.
2.1.3 Work at height
Work at height involves ladder and scaffold. Hazard in association with ladder include item
such as ladder condition, position and foundation, suitability and prevention to slipping
sideways.
Precautions:
Use a ladder which is of good construction, sound material and adequate strength.
Examine the ladder before using it and inspect it at regular intervals.
Place the ladder on a level and firm footing.
Place the ladder at an appropriate angle.
Ensure that the ladder has a sufficient length. The upper end of the ladder should be at
least 1 metre above the landing against which the ladder leans.
Do not use a ladder unless its upper or lower end has been securely fixed or secured
by another worker.
If there are electrical installations nearby, do not use metal ladders. If work is carried
out 2 metres or more above the floor, use a suitable working platform.

2.1.4 Scaffold

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Checklist of hazards regarding scaffold works at site include items such as competence
person, access, condition of elements, ties and working platform, guard rail, toe boards,
signage and inspection. Barrier or warning notices are most of time unavailable or
insufficient to warn people using the incomplete scaffold. Insufficient or never conducted the
periodical inspection of the scaffold.
Precautions:
Do not use scaffolds unless they have been erected by trained workmen and under the
supervision of a competent person.
Do not use a scaffold unless it has been inspected and certified safe by a competent
person before use.
Strictly follow the instructions of a competent person. Do not alter the scaffold unless
authorized to do so. Do not work on an unfinished scaffold.
When it is necessary to work on a mobile scaffold, lock the wheels of the scaffold
before you start working.
Do not work on a scaffold unless it has been provided with a suitable working
platform.
2.1.5 Power Access Equipment
Hazard in association with power access equipment(portable power tool) identified include
competence person, skill of operator, equipment security, guard rail, barrier and power
supply.
Precautions:
Do not use a portable power tool (such as saw, grinder and drill) unless its dangerous
parts have been effectively guarded.
Place the electric cable and hose of a tool at an appropriate position to avoid tripping.
2.1.6 Manual Handling
Hazard in association with manual handling was identified as risk of injuries due to manual
handling.
Precautions:
Avoid manual handling operations as far as possible to minimize the risk of injury.
Estimate the weight of the load.
Lift an object with a correct posture.
Wear suitable protective equipment. Put on gloves as far as possible to protect your
hands from any cut, scratch or puncture, and wear safety boots or shoes to prevent
injury to toes by heavy falling objects.
Seek assistance from someone in lifting a load if necessary.

2.1.7 Fire And Emergency

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Fire and emergency was detected as one of the most common hazards in all construction sites
hazards that had great exposure to the workers. Faulty electrics are the biggest cause of
workplace fires, loose wires, plugs that are over loaded and old equipment can all make for a
potential death trap or sometimes flammable and combustible materials.
Precautions:
Always keep the workplace clean and tidy.
Handle machinery and tools that may generate sparks or heat carefully.
Do not smoke or use naked flames in any area where flammable and explosive
substances are stored.
Know where fire extinguishers are located and how they are used.
Know the place of assembly for fire evacuation.
2.1.8 Hazardous Substances
Construction workers are exposed to many different types of hazardous substances such as
dust, lead or cement. Different substances can harm your health in different ways. Some of
these occur more immediately, like dizziness, headaches and nausea from solvents or burns
from cement. Others, such as lung diseases, can take much longer and sometimes many years
to develop.
Precautions:
Keep yourself clean.
Wash hands before meals and after using the toilet.
Dress tidily and in protective clothing.
2.1.9 Electrical Hazards
Electrical accidents are caused by a combination of three factors:
i. Unsafe equipment and/or installation,
ii. Workplaces made unsafe by the environment,
iii. and Unsafe work practices
80% of all lineman deaths were caused by contacting a live wire with a bare hand.
Precautions:
Before using an electric tool, check the tool and its plug and connecting cable.
Do not use a damaged tool.
Do not use an electric tool unless its connecting cable is well protected.
Do not use an electric tool unless its metal casing is earthed and its power supply is
provided with an earth leakage circuit breaker.
Do not repair or alter any electrical installation unless competent to do so.
If you meet any fault or problem, report it to your supervisor immediately.

2.1.10 Noise

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Construction sites are a very common source of noise pollution. Noise will inevitably occur
as part of any construction project. Loud noise can cause irreversible hearing damage.
Precautions:
Wear ear protectors in areas with high noise levels.
Properly wear ear protectors according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Do not reuse disposable ear plugs.
Clean ear protectors regularly.

3.0 PPE
There many more are hazards on a construction site but those mentioned above are the main
and more recurrent ones. Along with each hazard, the required precautions are listed,
however they are not enough, there are also specific PPE to be used for each task to ensure
full protection.
3.1 What is PPE?
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect workers from serious
workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical,
electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard
hats, and safety shoes, protective equipment includes a variety of devices and garments such
as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.
3.1.1 Protection from Head Injuries
Hard hats can protect your workers from head impact, penetration injuries, and electrical
injuries such as those caused by falling or flying objects, fixed objects, or contact with
electrical conductors. Also, OSHA regulations require employers to ensure that workers cover
and protect long hair to prevent it from getting caught in machine parts such as belts and
chains.
3.1.2 Protection from Foot and Leg Injuries
In addition to foot guards and safety shoes, leggings (e.g., leather, aluminized rayon, or other
appropriate material) can help prevent injuries by protecting workers from hazards such as
falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, wet and slippery surfaces, molten metals, hot
surfaces, and electrical hazards.
3.1.3 Protection from Eye and Face Injuries
Besides spectacles and goggles, personal protective equipment such as special helmets or
shields, spectacles with side shields, and faceshields can protect workers from the hazards of
flying fragments, large chips, hot sparks, optical radiation, splashes from molten metals, as
well as objects, particles, sand, dirt, mists, dusts, and glare.

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3.1.4 Protection from Hearing Loss
Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can help prevent damage to hearing. Exposure to high noise
levels can cause irreversible hearing loss or impairment as well as physical and psychological
stress. Earplugs made from foam, waxed cotton, or fiberglass wool are self-forming and
usually fit well. A professional should fit your workers individually for molded or preformed
earplugs. Clean earplugs regularly, and replace those you cannot clean.
3.1.5 Protection from Hand Injuries
Workers exposed to harmful substances through skin absorption, severe cuts or lacerations,
severe abrasions, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperatureextremes will
benefit from hand protection.
3.1.6 Protection from Body Injury
In some cases workers must shield most or all of their bodies against hazards in the
workplace, such as exposure to heat and radiation as well as hot metals, scalding liquids,
body fluids, hazardous materials or waste, and other hazards. In addition to fire-retardant
wool and fireretardant cotton, materials used in whole-body personal protective equipment
include rubber, leather, synthetics, and plastic.
3.1.7 When to Wear Respiratory Protection
When engineering controls are not feasible, workers must use appropriate respirators to
protect against adverse health effects caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful
dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors. Respirators generally cover the
nose and mouth or the entire face or head and help prevent illness and injury. A proper fit is
essential, however, for respirators to be effective. Required respirators must be NIOSH-
approved and medical evaluation and training must be provided before use.

4.0 Conclusion

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Every employer is responsible for health and safety. Therefore it is very essential to perform a
hazard assessment of the workplace to identify and control physical and health hazards.
Identify and use appropriate PPE for each task, replace worn or damaged PPE.
4.1 Key points:
Give enough time to planning, organising and controlling the work
Check what is actually happening, and stop dangerous practices
Think about health as well as safety risks

5.0 References
[1] Social Security Organisation (SOCSO). Annual Report for 2000 Kuala
Lumpur,
2000.
[2] Law of Malaysia. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994(Act 514) and
Regulations and Orders Kuala Lumpur: International Law Book Services,
2000.
[3] Davies, V.J and Tomasin, K. Construction Safety Handbook London: Thomas
Telford, 1990.
[4] King, R.W. and Hudson, R. Construction Hazard and Safety Handbook
London:
Butterworth, 1985.
[5] Hinze, J., Pedersen, C., Fredley, J. Identfying Root Causes of Construction
Injuries Journal of Construction Engineering and Management.1. 67-71,
1998.