Managing Risks - How to Avoid Accidents?

One of the best techniques of preventing accidentsDepending on the location, the potential hazard could
at a largeproject site is to let the contractorbepersonal injury, falling from height, or possibly
supervisors ponder overthe jobs to be done andcausing afire. So the supervisor will have to state all
then putting them down in writing.the controlmeasures that he will have to take. An
It's a common fact that workers coming together inexample could be forthe workers to wear safety
a largeconstruction project have different levels ofpersonal protective equipment, in this case,safety
experience andtraining. The key persons forharness to prevent falling from heights. Applying for
preventing accidents are thesupervisors.hotwork permit could be another control measure.
By getting the supervisors to put their work stepsThe hot work permit itself is a separate form to be
andprocedures in writing, safety personnel can usefilled. Thisis applicable for hot work that can possibly
this methodto reduce incidents of workers takingcause a fire at thesite. The hot work permit may
shortcuts in safety.require the applicant to makeready fire extinguishers,
The way to do this is to have a form for theremove combustibles, use torches andburning
supervisors tofill. This is called the site incidentequipment that are in good working order, etc...
prevention plan or SIPP.There may be other control measures to be taken.
It's just a form that informs the safety officers theirIt depends onthe job. One control measure might
workplan. A good description of the work plan willrequire that workers do notstep on the existing
include thefollowing:piping. Another control measure might be toerect
1. A sequence of work that starts with informing thebarricades...
projectmanager or supervisor before starting work.4. The last item in the SIPP could be housekeeping
The work will thenhave a description of the potentialafter thecompletion of the work. The potential
hazard if this was notcarried out. Having made awarehazard could be fire ortripping hazard. The control
of the potential hazard, theperson writing the workmeasure - cleaning up, removal ofdebris from the site
plan will also write down thecountermeasures that heand sweeping the floor after workcompletion.
will take to eliminate the hazard. Anexample of thisIn this work plan, the supervisor will indicate his name,
control measure will be seeking approval fromthethelocation of his work, the company name, and the
safety officer and conducting tool box meeting withwork to be done.
theworkers before starting work.Depending on the complexity of the form, he might
2. The next sequence will most likely be mobilizationinclude a sitemap with the location of his work clearly
of toolsand materials to the work site. The potentialmarked out.
hazard could bepersonal injury or messing up of theWhen supervisors make the effort to submit this
work area. To reduce thehazard, the supervisor maySIPP work planone day before the execution of the
require his workers to wear safetygears like helmetwork, they are able tocontrol the work hazards to
and safety shoes.prevent accidents. It all happenswhen thoughts are
3. The job itself will also be stated in the work plan.put into writing.