Why Scaffold Erector Is Exposed and at Risk of Falling from Height

Literature Review

Why scaffold erector is exposed and risk to falling from height while erecting a perimeter scaffold around a building under construction in construction industry? Length (excluding Abstract, References, Appendices and data contained in figures, charts and tables):Research Proposal as an appendix. • Include other appendices if they help to inform the reader. Do not include irrelevant material, or place material in the appendices to avoid exceeding the word limit. With these contents Title of Research – why scaffold erector is exposed and risk to falling from height while erecting a perimeter scaffold around a building under construction in construction industry? Insert Word Count Actual Total and Word Count (Exclude References, Tables and Figures) ABSTRACT AKNOWLEDGEMENT TABLE OF CONTENT TABLE OF FIGURES CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION A. Background B. Current Problem C. Research Question D. Research Objective(s) E. Research Hypotheses F. Definition of Terms G. Past Related Research Articles G.1. Table of Past Research Articles/Journals (Use table with columns of Title of Article, Publication Number & Publication Date, Description of Article, Difference Between Your Research & Article)(20 articles) H. Rationale of Research & Research Ethics CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW A. Concept of exposed and risk to falling from height while erecting a perimeter scaffold around a building under construction B. Statistics of Injuries on falling from height while erecting a perimeter scaffold around a building under construction C. Risk of falling from heights effects erecting a perimeter scaffold around a building under construction D. Types of risks from falling from height & Injuries E. Types of Measurements on falling from height Index F......... G.... CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A. Types of Research Method B. Respondents Profile & Sampling C. Method of Data Collection D. Development of Surveys/Questionnaires E….. CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSIONS A. Findings & Results B. Statistical & Data Analysis C. Limitations of Research CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS A. Conclusions B. Recommendations REFERENCE LIST (at least 30 references including books, journals etc.) APPENDIXES A. Sample Survey Questionnaires (In all relevant languages if any) Before Your side did the draft report for me: for your information Table of Contents Introduction 3 Aim 3 Main objective 3 Specific objectives 3 Literature review 3 Common risks in scaffolding erection. 5 Falls 5 Scaffold collapse 6 Falling materials 6 Rationale of the study 6 Learning outcomes 6 Study design 7 Method investigation 7 Ethics 7 Risks 8 Resources required 8 Program diary 9 References 10 Introduction Scaffolding remains an essential task in allowing safe work at heights by creating work platforms conveniently and a means to transfer materials and tools to the required locations along the height. Nevertheless, when scaffolding fails to be properly secured or faulty, various accidents both fatal, critical, and minor injuries could occurred (Weddikkara & Devapriya, 2011). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 72 percent of workers who have suffered injury on site from scaffolding relates the cause of accidents to be from unsuitable scaffolding devices or improper installation of scaffolds. At least 60 percent workers on a construction site are involved in work from scaffolds (Bedair, 2014). This bases the need to sufficiently understand any causative factors that contributes to endangered exposures and risks while erecting perimeter scaffolds around a building as is typical in the construction industry. Aim The objectives of this proposal include: Main objective • To determine the exposure of scaffold erector and risk to falling from height when erecting scaffolds. Specific objectives • To identify the specific risks, one is exposed to when erecting scaffolds. • To determine risks levels in scaffold erection Literature review A scaffold is a portable framework intended to serve access or function platforms. Scaffolds are involved in construction projects, such that employees have a safe, steady work surface when work cannot be completed on the ground or on the floor level. Scaffolding includes specific elements, such as rods, couplings or frameworks, and components that shape a scaffold when installed. Scaffolding work is the installation, modification or removal of a temporary framework installed to support a platform from which an individual or item may fall more than 4 meters from the platform or framework (B., 2020). The scaffolding work must be carried out by an individual with a valid approved certificate of the necessary standard. Falls are a significant cause of death and severe injuries at workplaces (Allan, 2016). Fall risks are known while conducting common activities in the development of a typical building. Risk of a fall implies a situation that leads a worker to a possibility of a fall that is fairly probable to inflict harm to an employee or other individual when at work or in the proximity of a working environment. This involves the situations under which the worker or other individual is; • On or near a surface from which an individual could fall. • In or on a plant that is required to achieve entry to an elevated level • On or close a wet, oblique or uneven board. • in or on a plant or system that is at an elevated point (Carn, 2018) • in the vicinity of an edge over which a person could fall etc. The safety risks involved during the construction of the scaffold are severe and sometimes life-threatening. Even despite OSHA 's protection scaffolding laws, staff can suffer from slips, dropping objects, and scaffolding tip-overs. Scaffolding incidents both during the installation and demolition phase may be reduced or prevented by observing the relevant OSHA rules, including maintaining adequate scaffolding, the usage of personal protection equipment and the use of scaffolding inspection tags at scaffolding access points (Borys, 2012). Proper scaffolding inspection, coupled with preparation, will also help to minimize health hazards during scaffolding and dismantling. The availability and oversight of a qualified individual for these inspections is another required form of risk management (Fruchtman, 2019). Any of the risks inherent with the construction of scaffolding arise from underequipped work structures and facilities which have been crowded beyond optimum capacity. Such problems may be identified during inspection and, if not resolved, the probability of falling from the structure can escalate (Raheem & Issa, 2016). Many fall-related hazards involve bracing that is ineffective or unsound and entry points, like ladders, that are improperly or incompletely fixed to the scaffolding. All hazardous scaffolding, either during the installation, demolition or usage phase, must be labelled hazardous for use with scaffolding tags and barred from use before modifications and inspection may ensure that the defined problem is resolved (Kim, Cho & Zhang, 2016). Common risks in scaffolding erection. Falls Falls was due to lack of guardrails, inadequate construction of guardrails and inability to use fall protection measures such as use of double lanyard safety harness and proper hooking of the harness on stable points when necessary. Lack of adequate entry to the scaffolding job area is a potential explanation for scaffolding dropping. Access in the form of a protected staircase, stair tower, ramp, etc. is needed if there is a vertical transition to the upper or lower floor. The means of entry” should be defined prior to the installation of the scaffolding and the workers shall never be permitted to step on the vertical or horizontal cross braces (Hamdan & Awang, 2015). Scaffold collapse Proper installation of a scaffold is important in the protection of this specific danger. A variety of considerations must be taken into consideration before the scaffolding is erected. The sum of weight that the scaffold should bear, namely the weight of the scaffold itself, of the components and of the personnel, should be noted. Only scaffold competent persons should be allowed in scaffold erection (Ho?a, Ho?a & Szóstak, 2017). Falling materials Scaffolding erectors or users are not the only people vulnerable to scaffolding related risks. Many people have been wounded or killed as a result of being hit by objects or devices that have come off the scaffolding platforms. Such people need to be safe from falling objects (Khudeira, 2012). Rationale of the study The rationale of this study is to identify the risks faced in scaffold erection and fall from height as well as cite suitable ways to reduce the exposure to such risks by scaffold erector with close reference to OSHA regulations and case studies in the construction industry. By identifying and understanding the risks, appropriate measures, recommendations, and practices can be identified and encourage to enhance safety of the scaffold erector as well as at the construction site where scaffolding is used. Learning outcomes The expected outcomes of this study shall relate to the following: understanding the contributing factors to exposure and falling risks in scaffold erection, identify the specific risks that consequence the exposure to the identified risks, identify the frequency of such risks, identifying the various regulations created to mitigate against such risks as well as relate their application in the construction industry, as well as recommend measures and practices that a scaffold erector should aim to observe when working on scaffolding erection including the required personal protective equipment. Study design To integrate the different components of this study in a logical and coherent way, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies shall be explored. Three construction sites shall be identified in LTA Projects from which we will examine the procedures or observe and take notes on the manner scaffolding erection is conducted. This shall entail interview or engaging the respective site supervisors as well as a sample of scaffold erection scaffolds. On the Sample of erection will be observed on the types of Scaffold such as tubular Scaffold, Tower Frame Scaffolds and Cuplock Scaffold. Mainly observation is to identify on the three Hazards :1) Falls- Falls are attributed to the lack of guardrails, improper installation of guardrails and failure to use personal fall arrest systems when required. 2) Scaffold Collapse- Before erecting the scaffold, a number of factors must be accounted for. The amount of weight the scaffold will be required to hold including the weight of the scaffold itself, materials, and workers must be considered. 3) Struck by Falling Materials- Many individuals have been injured or killed due to being struck by materials or tools that have fallen from scaffold platforms. These people must be protected from falling objects. The Scaffold Supervisors who had attended and appointed in the Projects by the Main Contractors will be interviewed. From each site three Scaffold supervisors who had worked in the Construction industry for more than three years will be interviewed. We will also seek to understand how the respective sites reinforce the required OSHA standards in their work. The OSHA standard requires fall protection must be used when work heights reach 10’ or more. OSHA’s standards represent the minimum level of protection; many general contractors require 100% fall protection at 6’ or greater when working on scaffolds. These contractors are increasing safety margins by exceeding the minimum requirements of the OSHA standards. Lastly, all employees who work on scaffolds must have documented training. The training topics must include identification and prevention of fall hazards, falling tools and materials hazards, and knowledge of electrical hazards. Similarly, review of peer reviewed journal works and publications which deals on the subject shall be sought and explored adequately. the resulting outcome shall be organized and presented in graphs, charts etc. from which various deductions and recommendations shall be made. Method investigation The methods of investigations shall include: identification and classification (of risks and causes), the risks and causes identified as follows: a) Falls from height – the biggest causes of death or serious injury in the construction injury is falls from height. If the scaffold structure not erected correctly according to the erection sequence may lead to falls during erecting the scaffold. b) Scaffold collapse – if it’s not put together properly, scaffolding can be very dangerous. All it takes is for one loose bolt or one inadequately supported section for the scaffolding to collapse, putting workers at serious risk. Even if scaffolding is erected perfectly, Scaffold Supervisor should check there are no defective parts such as broken boards. c) Bad weather – poor weather can wreak havoc for outdoor workers, and can put those who work with scaffolding at a high risk of injury. Scaffolding crew should not work in any unsafe conditions and should consider postponing scaffolding work until the weather improves. Observation will be conducted with the following Site Personnel like: The Project Managers, Safety Officers and Site Supervisors. The duration of observation will be weekly once for three hours during day time. The Scaffold Supervisor and the erectors of each Contractor performing the scaffold work will be in the observation list. Interview will be conducted face to face at worksite with the selected Scaffolding Crew. Will be interviewing Five Scaffold crew from each Scaffold contractor, total will be fifteen interviewees. Based on their safety performance evaluated by the main contractor. The Risk in involving scaffolding mainly include: 1) Workers falling 2) Falling materials 3) Parts failure, including from overloading of scaffolding 5) Inadequate fall protection The Causes are as following for the above Risks: 1) Erectors to anchoring their safety harness properly to an anchorage point during scaffold erection work. 2) Scaffold materials not kept properly (couplers, joint pins) during erection period can cause to drop when the materials are accidentally hit. 3) Overloading of scaffolding occurs when the scaffold materials are placed in one particular bay during erection. 4) Guardrails on working platforms not properly installed may endanger those erecting the scaffold. On the identification on safe scaffold erection and concentration as below mentioned work rules to be adhered : 1) Proper design. The scaffold should be capable of supporting its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load to be applied or transmitted to the scaffold and its components. It may be necessary to consult an engineer about complex scaffolding systems to determine heavy-load points. 2) Training personnel. Training should include a review of the specific scaffolding system and its proper use, as well as the fall protection installed on the scaffolding, particularly guardrails, and the proper selection, use, and care of personal fall-arrest equipment. 3) Providing fall protection. Employers must ensure that workers have the appropriate safety equipment available to them. Depending on the type and height of scaffolding in use, this may include a hard hat and full body harness, with lanyard, rope grab, independent vertical lifeline, and an independent lifeline anchorage. For your interview checklist (the Excel file), I don’t understand what is the purpose for the checklist. Are you going to test the knowledge of the scaffold supervisors? You need to explain your scoring system. For example, is each question 1 mark? You have 9 questions but the highest score in your table is only 8. (Interview Check list corrected) Ethics During the research, a number of ethical principles shall be observed. This particularly stress the need to (a) do good (known as beneficence) and (b) do no harm (known as non-malfeasance). The ethical principles to be adhered to are; getting informed consent from all participants in the research, minimize risk of harm to participants, confidentiality and anonymity of the participants, participants right to withdraw from research as well as avoiding deceptive practices during the research. Risks Potential risks from this research are several but can be greatly minimized/ avoid through observation of the ethical principles. The risks include: legal risks due to misunderstanding; lack of approved consent, etc.; loss of confidentiality during the study which may risk the continuation and success of the study; physical risks such as injuries, physical discomfort, illness given the probable unfamiliarity with the work place setting particularly busy construction sites. Resources required The resources required for tis research is as tabulated below; Resource Cost Researchers/ staff $150 Travel and subsistence $230 Materials such as stationaries, print media $135 PPE’s for researchers such as safety shoes, hard hats, etc. $400 Total $1015 Program diary The research program shall be conducted as follows: S. No Project stage August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 Completed by: 1. Research on the study topic 30th August 2020 2. Literature review 30th September 2020 3. Design of the study/ methodology 30st September 2020 4. Field research work 30th October 2020 5. Data analysis, presentation