Specialized safety audits for high-risk jobs can reduce accidents on construction sites, Real Estate News, ET RealEstate

The Indian construction industry is perhaps the second largest employer after the agricultural sector; however, the alarming number of injuries and fatalities also makes it one of the most dangerous activities. According to a 2015 study published in the Scientific World Journal, India’s construction workforce, which accounts for 7.5% of the total global workforce, contributes to 16.4% of fatal work accidents. in the world.

The study also indicates that the possibility of a death is five times more likely in the construction sector than in a manufacturing industry. Independent surveys by NGOs and the media also indicate that the number of injuries and deaths in the construction sector is considerably high.

Accidents due to falls from heights and electrocution are common workplace hazards in the construction industry. Injuries can place a heavy burden on construction workers who are already financially constrained. Moderate and severe injuries can lead to poor quality of life and have long-term psychosocial impacts. Such accidents and their subsequent consequences can be avoided. It may therefore be wise for construction companies and developers to consider a proactive approach such as high-risk specialist safety audits for their businesses.

What is a security audit of high-risk operations?

The High-Risk Operations Safety Audit is an in-depth audit of situations that could potentially cause serious injury and damage to people and property and helps organizations focus on these activities. The audit actively examines high-risk activities such as working at height, confined space entry, lifting operations, soil excavation, electrical safety, fire safety management and worker safety. subcontractors. In addition, leadership commitment and accountability, risk assessment and management, and work permits are discussed in detail. The audit process involves a greater level of interaction with staff, site visits and documentation review.

How is an audit of risky operations carried out in the construction sector?

A high-risk operations safety audit is an in-depth analysis of hazardous activity controls and the effectiveness of existing safety initiatives related to the prevention of serious injury. The audit is a quantified and personalized approach, which compares the current level of safety performance of the construction company regarding high-risk activities, against global best practices. A suitable and personalized approach is created in an audit report form, which meets the requirements of the organization. The findings of the audit will give the organization visibility into its position in terms of high-risk activities, identifying opportunities for improvement. This is then followed by advice that will help strengthen areas that need attention through recommendations, knowledge sharing and training.

The audit process requires the active participation of all employees of the organization. It is mainly divided into four key phases:

1. Management Commitment and Planning
2. Implementation and operation
3. Performance monitoring and measurement
4. Evaluation and continuous improvement

How construction companies can benefit from a high-risk safety audit

For companies with high-risk activities, such as the construction industry, the benefits of auditing can be both tangible and intangible.

Some of the intangible benefits of security audits:

• This can help create an effective hands-on learning tool on risk reduction for construction workers.
• A security audit can help provide a forum for identifying security risks, analyzing root causes, and implementing corrective actions.
• This can lead to increased awareness and positive behavior among workers towards safety.
• A safety audit can help improve a construction company’s safety record with fewer accidents, injuries, near-misses and physical hazards.
• It can facilitate root cause analysis and corrective actions to eliminate hazards.
• An audit can lay the foundation for on-the-job training for supervisors and construction workers.

Some of the tangible benefits of security audits

• A detailed checklist covering the items can be prepared according to industry standards.
• It can help define the process with pre-audit meetings to review the checklist, answer questions, and develop management-facilitated audit routes.
• Safety risks and corrective actions can be documented.
• Post-audit discussions can be reviewed for hazard findings and corrective actions.
• Post-audit corrective action meetings can be held to review progress, answer questions, and ensure safety findings are addressed.

Construction companies should make safety auditing of high-risk operations a priority. A comprehensive and thorough audit will help assess and address potential high-risk areas and provide opportunities to improve and strengthen them in line with best practices.

A high-risk safety audit helps build confidence in the safety system and its ability to prevent injuries and fatalities. This will help management understand high-risk areas of work and situations that could cause serious harm and the control that needs to be taken. Overall, a security audit for high-risk operations will help create a happy, confident, and safe work environment for everyone.