SAFETY ASPECTS OF SCAFFOLDING WORKS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES

Abstract

Construction safety has always been a concern over the years in Singapore. Falling from height has been a contributing factor for fatalities and injuries on construction sites. In Singapore, scaffolds result in numerous fatal accidents and injuries which are mainly concerned with workers falling from height. There is an increasing concern towards safety culture in the companies, and in particular, to ensure safety on scaffold. With the recent introduction of Workplace Safety and Health (Scaffolds) Regulation 2011 which comes into operation on 10th September 2011, the safety and health of workers working on scaffold is further enhanced. The objective of this research is to investigate the processes and procedures adopted by different companies to ensure safety while working on a scaffold. Thus, the research hypothesis is that compliance with regulations and good safety management through planned processes and procedures will result in a reduction of hazards posed by scaffold. Accidents that occurred in Singapore and in other countries are investigated by identifying the likely causes as well as proposing solutions to prevent future occurrence of similar accidents. In-depth interviews and case studies are conducted to find out the safety policies and procedures adopted by the companies. From the interview, many factors that may contribute to the safety of the scaffolds through the entire stage of the project are identified. Training cannot be neglected as it will affect the skills and competency of the workers as well as the supervisors. At the end of this dissertation, learning points and good practices adopted by all companies are drawn from the study. A checklist for the entire process is produced to act as a guideline for the safety supervisor on the construction site.