Checking at construction site
6. pilings, shoring and bracing used in trench
excavation with depths exceeding 4 metres
(refer reg. 116(1)); and
7. supporting structure to ensure stability of
adjoining structures during excavation work
(refer reg. 112) and piling work (refer reg.
124).
3. Supervision, instructions and
information
Providing supervision, instruction, information and
training is required by the OSHA. In general, the
employer must decide the level of supervision,
instruction and training by the severity of the
hazard, knowledge about controlling the hazard,
and the cost of controlling the hazard. The employer
should also take into consideration the level of
skills, knowledge, training and experience of his
employees. How many times have worker actions
or capabilities been regarded to have contributed
to the accidents? This indicates inadequate
instruction, training and supervision, which are
in fact statutory duties of the employer. Lack of
supervision was one of the contributing factors to
the viaduct accident case mentioned. BOWECS
require contractors to appoint a competent person
to carry out supervision or inspections related
with traffic, concreting, chutes, safety belts, safety
nets, scaffolding, demolition, excavation, piling and
blasting. BOWECS further requires any professional
engineer who designs any formwork structure to be
responsible for the supervision of the construction
and the stability of it.
Employers must provide their employees and
workers under their control with the information
and instruction they need to carry out their work
without risk to safety and health. Information can
be provided through a safe working procedure
and method statement, whilst instructions can
be conveyed to the employees through toolbox
talks, campaigns and training. The OSHA also
requires designers, such as engineers, who design
plants for use at work, such as lifts, escalators,
cranes, scaffolds and vehicles, to provide specific
information to the manufacturer, user or any other
person who use the design.
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