FEATURE HIGH-RISE PROJECTS RMD Kwikform recently undertook research that looked into areas where
temporary works can have a significant impact on improving health and safety for site operatives. Simon Dowd, Major Projects Manager at the company, discusses these findings and what the construction industry can learn.
It goes without saying that safety should be a top priority for contractors and workers in the construction industry. Our research surveyed a range of general and specialist contractors in the construction industry as well engineering consultants. Rather surprisingly, 56% of respondents said individuals on site needed to take more responsibility for their own health and safety. While half of those surveyed said contractors need to work harder to improve site conditions, it was unexpected to find more felt it was the role of the individual to ensure they were meeting the right health and safety standards, having undertaken the appropriate preventative measures.
This tension between individuals on site taking personal responsibility for health and safety, and many believing that the onus is on contractors themselves to improve conditions, is key to addressing this issue. Personal responsibility is, of course, important but an employer’s role in providing a safe working environment is paramount.
It has become clear that there is a widespread need for safer methods of construction to be introduced. While a minority of contractors believe that health and safety regulations are adequate, RMD Kwikform’s research revealed the vast majority are not satisfied with the current level of health and safety standards on construction sites. Many modern formwork and falsework systems often have integrated safety features – such as working platforms that are protected and sealed off during lifting – but features like this are not generally prioritised. Indeed, it is often the speed of erection, ease of installation and the total labour hours required that are ranked as more important. Contractors would clearly benefit from prioritising health and safety features of equipment, however.
For those involved in high-rise construction projects using formwork and falsework systems, multi-level safety screens – which give access to the building façade below the wet deck level – are seen as playing a key role in improving construction safety. These systems deliver both safety and productivity benefits, helping to speed up working cycles on the façades too.
Then, when it comes to the issue of debris falling during high-rise working, safety screen systems are the most popular solution. Debris skirts and standard edge protection systems with toe boards are considered the most important preventative measure, and the latest debris protection innovations can help dramatically
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improve health and safety for those on site. One feature is the use of slab jaw brackets that, once opened, allow screens to be removed without having to lift the system up the building. This not only reduces the crane height required but helps minimise the use of cranes altogether for this job, further increasing on site safety.
Finally, slip form solutions have an increasing role to play in high-rise projects and have become popular on tall buildings because of the project speed they can help deliver. Nevertheless, these systems have safety implications because they are constantly moving, and therefore are not always viable for projects in busy city centres. It is important for contractors to bear this in mind.
Ultimately, both contractors and individuals need to work together to ensure health and safety risks are managed and prevented, while upholding best practice at all times. Contractors should empower individuals to ensure on-site health and safety is consistently championed, while individuals should take responsibility of making sure rules and regulations are adhered to.
Download the new report from RMD Kwikform here
www.rmdkwikform.com
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