Construction Safety Audit

Safety is crucial and urgent in the construction industry, which employs around 7.1 crore workers, making it the second-largest employment generator in India after agriculture. However, the sector witnesses a high number of accidents and fatalities. Reports indicate that India's construction workforce accounts for 16.4% of fatal occupational accidents worldwide, underscoring the pressing need for improved safety measures. In addition, some of the undereducated youth, particularly from rural areas

Safety in elevated and underground projects

The most frequent causes of fatal injuries in construction include falls from height, electrocution, incidents involving moving objects, and accidents with vehicles. Elevated and underground projects inherently involve more significant risks, necessitating specialized safety protocols, risk assessments, and audits to mitigate potential hazards. Any underground projects are basically disturbing the current structure of the earth and in spite of the best technology being used to identify the hazards and design a robust support structure, there could be some hidden hazards that were not foreseen due to which things could go wrong. Hence safety in underground and elevated structure projects is very critical and needs to be managed meticulously.

Following safety protocols

Despite ongoing efforts, safety lapses continue to be a significant concern in the industry. Many incidents result from poor risk management, lack of proper training, and non-adherence to critical safety measures. A Critical Risks Safety Audit helps construction companies identify risk-prone areas, ensure compliance, and implement best practices to enhance overall safety. Historically the construction professionals at all levels tend to blame the perennial problems in the industry (such as multiple levels of contracting, floating labour force, award of jobs to L1 contractor etc.) for non-compliance with safety protocols, rather than looking at solutions to overcome these challenges. 

Safety lapses and the way forward

Indian construction sites often lack structured safety audits, consistent risk assessments, and adequate worker training, contributing to frequent accidents and workplace hazards. To address these challenges, the industry must adopt a more proactive approach to safety. This includes a strong leadership commitment to safety. Conducting Critical Risks Safety Audits regularly will help identify potential hazards and ensure compliance with best practices. Strengthening safety compliance measures is essential to create a safer working environment and prevent accidents. Increasing leadership commitment to worker safety can drive a culture of accountability and responsibility. Providing comprehensive training programs for employees and supervisors will further enhance awareness and equip workers with the necessary skills to handle risks effectively.

Not only in construction projects, in general throughout the world, in almost all the industries, most of the initiatives taken by organizations revolve around detecting unsafe conditions, eliminating them and providing a safe and healthy working condition to the employees. However, if we take a closer look at all the incidents that happened, it is predominantly the unsafe practices of people that have caused them invariably. In fact, there are statistics to prove that 80% of the incidents are caused predominantly due to unsafe practices and hence our approach towards safety management should focus on reinforcing safe practices by rewards & recognitions and making sure that unsafe practices are captured, and the employees must get a feeling that it is highly unlikely that their unsafe practices will go unnoticed. This behaviour based approach is the way forward in bringing a positive culture among employees.

Evolving technologies for safety

Safety audits and modern technology are improving and revolutionizing construction site safety by identifying potential hazards and ensuring compliance with best practices. Advanced risk assessment tools help evaluate workplace dangers more accurately, allowing for proactive measures to prevent accidents. Digital monitoring systems enhance real-time surveillance and provide data-driven insights to improve safety protocols. Developing improved personal protective equipment (PPE) ensures better protection for workers in hazardous environments. Additionally, automation reduces human exposure to dangerous tasks, minimizing the risk of severe injuries and fatalities. By integrating these innovations, the construction industry can significantly enhance workplace safety and create a more secure environment for workers, ushering in a new era of construction safety.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, robotics etc. are changing the way we manage safety in the workplace. In order to improve the effectiveness of training VR/AR aids are available in plenty to give experiential learning experience to the employees. Unless we catch up with these technologies, organizations will eb left behind with the traditional management techniques which may become redundant very soon.

Safety at complex construction sites

As construction projects become more vertically ambitious and structurally intricate, safety challenges also increase, demanding a more structured and proactive approach to risk management. A four-step Critical Risks Safety Audit ensures continuous monitoring and improvement of safety practices. The process begins with Leadership Commitment and Planning, where senior management sets the foundation for a strong safety culture. This is followed by Implementation and Operation, where safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies are put into action. The next step, Monitoring and Measurement, involves assessing these measures' effectiveness to identify areas for improvement. Finally, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement ensures that safety procedures evolve, addressing emerging risks and enhancing workplace safety.

It is very imperative to consider safety of the construction workmen at the design stage itself using the concept of “Prevention through Design (PtD) or at the procurement stage by prescribing safety features in all the tools & equipment or at the planning stage by following the correct sequence of installation rather than depending on implementing safety at the construction stage, which could become very costly, cumbersome and may be very difficult sometimes. This concept of addressing safety of employees at design, procurement, planning, and contracting stage is more and more critical as the projects are becoming taller, deeper and complex.

Safe construction

The vision for a safe construction industry revolves around championing a proactive risk management approach rather than relying on reactive measures after incidents occur. Ensuring worker safety requires comprehensive training and awareness programs that equip employees with the knowledge to identify and mitigate potential hazards. Regular critical risk audits are crucial in preventing severe injuries and fatalities by identifying risks early and implementing necessary safety measures. Additionally, collaboration with globally recognized audit and consultancy firms helps establish and maintain best safety practices, ensuring compliance with international standards. By prioritizing critical risks, leadership involvement, and continuous safety improvements, the construction industry can significantly reduce workplace accidents and create a safer, more secure environment for its workforce, putting the power of safety in our hands.

As indicated earlier, infusing a positive safety culture and sustaining it is the key in the years to come in managing safety in construction. A structured assessment of the current level of culture in the project site to begin with and designing all the prevention initiatives to suit the level of culture existing in the project assumes lot of significance and would become the focused approach rather than a generic approach being followed by most organizations currently.