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Reviewing Safety Systems

Dr Adewale Abimbola, FHEA, GMICE

www.edulibrary.co.uk

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Aim & Objectives

Aim:

  • Reviewing safety systems

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

  • State the purpose of reviewing safe systems of work.
  • Discuss how safety systems are improved following the reporting of accidents and review of procedures.

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Incidents and Health Conditions in the Workplace: Key Definitions

  • Accident:
    • An occurrence resulting in injury or ill health.
    • Events leading to physical harm or adverse health effects.
  • Near Miss:
    • An incident lacking harm but possessing potential for injury or ill health.
    • Indicates a close call that could have resulted in harm.
  • Minor Injuries:
    • Non-life-threatening injuries.
    • Examples: bruises, abrasions, sprains, muscle strains, splinters.
  • Major Injuries:
    • Injuries with life-threatening potential, causing long-term disability or death.
    • Poses significant health risks.
  • Ill Health:
    •  Health conditions impacting well-being.
    • Examples: stress, depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders, etc.

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Reviewing Safety Systems – Key Objectives

  • Purpose of Review:
    • Confirming the ongoing effectiveness of control measures.
    • Monitoring and maintaining risk ratings within safe/acceptable levels.
    • Fulfilling legal obligations outlined in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Reflects commitment to legal responsibilities for workplace safety.
  • Frequency of Review:
    • Periodic reviews conducted multiple times throughout the construction project.
    • Ensures continuous safety alignment and adherence.
    • Iterative and repetitive to accommodate dynamic project conditions.
    • To adapt to evolving circumstances and maintain optimal safety standards.

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?��

Analysis of Accident Trends at National Level

  • Ill Health Statistics:
    • Occurrences: 1.8 million workers experienced work-related ill health (new or existing) during 2022/23.
    • 5,250 cases per 100,000 workers.
    • The current rate exceeds the pre-coronavirus level of 2018/19.
  • Fatal injuries:
    • Historically, the rate of fatal injuries to workers demonstrated a declining trend.
    • In the years leading up to the coronavirus pandemic, the rate remained relatively stable.
    • The present rate aligns with pre-coronavirus levels.

Figure 1. New and long-standing cases of work-related ill health by type, 2022/23 (Health and Safety Executive, 2024a)

Figure 2. Main kinds of fatal accident for workers, 2022/23. (Health and Safety Executive, 2024b)

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?

Analysis of Accident Trends at National Level (Cont’d)

  • Fatal injuries – cont’d.
  • Non-fatal injuries:

Dominant Accident Categories:

    • Slips, Trips, or Falls (32%): This category constituted the largest share of non-fatal injuries reported by employers.
    • Injuries during Handling, Lifting, or Carrying (17%): A significant portion of non-fatal injuries resulted from activities involving handling, lifting, or carrying.
    •  The two identified accident types collectively contributed to approximately 50% of all reported non-fatal injuries.
  • Implications for Construction Activities:
    • Monitoring and Control Measures: These statistics highlight specific areas within construction activities that demand increased monitoring and the implementation of effective control measures.

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Figure 4. Non-fatal injuries reported under RIDDOR 2022/23 (Health and Safety Executive, 2023b)

Figure 3. Rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers (Health and Safety Executive, 2023a)

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?��

Analysis of Onsite Accident/Near Miss Data

  • Data Examination:
    •  Scrutinise onsite accident and near-miss data comprehensively.
    • Identify activities requiring urgent review based on the analysed data.
  • Justification and Recommendations:
    • Utilise statistical insights to substantiate proposed recommendations and suggestions for enhanced safety in construction activities.
    •  Base safety interventions on the identified areas of concern gleaned from onsite data.
  • Comparative Assessment:
    • Evaluate the efficacy of control measures by comparing onsite accident data with national averages in the construction industry.
    •  Use national statistics as a benchmark to gauge the performance of control measures in the construction context.

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?

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The accident rates for both years is close, so the original conclusion was incorrect. The workplace has not become more dangerous; the increase in the number of accidents occurred because more people now work on the construction site.

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?��

Collaboration between the Construction Team Members

  • Effective communication among construction team members is crucial for reducing accidents and preventing them on the site.
  • Proper communication contributes to the implementation and review of safe systems of work.
  • Communication Methods:
    • Site Safety Meetings:
      • Conduct regular safety meetings where workers actively express safety concerns.
      • Workers' input aids in refining and enhancing safe systems of work.
    • Safety Committees:
      • Establish safety committees with representatives from all workforce tiers.
      • Facilitate discussions within safety committees, allowing practical suggestions and recommendations for improving systems of work.

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Reviewing Safety Systems – How?

  • The following methods of communication can be used to review the safe systems of work (Cont’d).
  • Confidential Worker Input:
    • Interviews and Suggestion Box:
      • Encourage confidential interviews or provide suggestion boxes for workers to express safety concerns.
      • This allows workers to share concerns confidentially, fostering a culture of open communication.
  • Interactive Discussions:
    • Toolbox Talks:
      • Conduct toolbox talks for discussing and revising safety procedures.
      • Toolbox talks facilitate interactive learning, ensuring workers understand and adhere to updated safety measures.
  • Visible Safety Information:
    • Safety Notices:
      • Display safety notices prominently in locations like notice boards and welfare facilities.
      • This ensures increased awareness among workers about essential safety information.

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Group-assessment Task

Your employer has changed the forklift used to transport heavy materials across the site.

  • Discuss how you would review this change?
  • In terms of the safety of operatives using the new forklift, how would you review its use on site?

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Benefits of Safety Systems

  • Costs:
  • Safety reviews contribute to project cost reduction.
  • Poorly designed safe systems can lead to court fines, damages, and high insurance premiums.
  • Reputation:
  • Low accident data enhances attractiveness to potential clients.
  • Regular safety system reviews contribute to minimizing accidents on construction sites.
  • Client Satisfaction:
  • Low accident rates contribute to overall client satisfaction.
  • Clients are more likely to recommend or rehire contractors with a strong safety track record.
  • Financial Impact:
  • Prevention of accidents through safety systems leads to financial savings.
  • Avoiding fines and legal costs by prioritizing safety positively impacts the project's financial health.
  • Operational Efficiency:
  • Safety measures contribute to a smoother and more efficient construction process.
  • Reduced accidents result in fewer work interruptions and increased productivity.
  • Legal Compliance:
  • Regular safety reviews ensure adherence to legal requirements and standards.
  • Avoidance of legal issues contributes to a positive legal standing for the construction project.
  • Employee Retention:
  • Prioritizing safety enhances job satisfaction, leading to better employee retention.
  • A safe work environment attracts and retains skilled workers.

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Self-assessment Task 1

  1. A construction company has 15 lost-time accidents resulting from fall from height in one year (500 Workers ) and 40 lost-time accidents resulting from fall from height the next year (800 workers).
  2. A construction company experiences a change in the number of lost-time accidents related to being struck by moving objects over two consecutive years.

Year 1:

Lost-time accidents from being struck by moving object: 5 incidents

Workforce: 100 workers

Year 2:

Lost-time accidents from being struck by moving object: 7 incidents

Workforce: 150 workers

  • For the two case studies above, calculate their Accident Incidence Rate (AIR) and make conclusions about the resulting statistics.
  • Then, state and discuss your actions if you noticed this trend of injuries under your supervision.

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Self-assessment Task 2

Explain at least THREE ways safe systems of work are reviewed.

Hint: Include references to comparative analysis of onsite accident data, accident trends at the national level, collaboration between the construction team members, etc.

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References/Bibliography