Review of Qualitative Approaches for the Construction Industry: Designing a Risk Management Toolbox.
- Author:
David M ZALK
1
;
Ton SPEE
;
Matt GILLEN
;
Thomas J LENTZ
;
Andrew GARROD
;
Paul EVANS
;
Paul SWUSTE
Author Information
1. Environment, Safety, and Health Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA. zalk1@llnl.gov
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Control banding;
Qualitative risk management;
Construction toolbox;
Risk level based management system;
Barrier banding
- MeSH:
Construction Industry;
Hygiene;
Noise;
Occupational Health;
Risk Assessment;
Risk Management;
Silicon Dioxide;
Social Security;
Welding
- From:Safety and Health at Work
2011;2(2):105-121
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This paper presents the framework and protocol design for a construction industry risk management toolbox. The construction industry needs a comprehensive, systematic approach to assess and control occupational risks. These risks span several professional health and safety disciplines, emphasized by multiple international occupational research agenda projects including: falls, electrocution, noise, silica, welding fumes, and musculoskeletal disorders. Yet, the International Social Security Association says, "whereas progress has been made in safety and health, the construction industry is still a high risk sector." METHODS: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employ about 80% of the world's construction workers. In recent years a strategy for qualitative occupational risk management, known as Control Banding (CB) has gained international attention as a simplified approach for reducing work-related risks. CB groups hazards into stratified risk 'bands', identifying commensurate controls to reduce the level of risk and promote worker health and safety. We review these qualitative solutions-based approaches and identify strengths and weaknesses toward designing a simplified CB 'toolbox' approach for use by SMEs in construction trades. RESULTS: This toolbox design proposal includes international input on multidisciplinary approaches for performing a qualitative risk assessment determining a risk 'band' for a given project. Risk bands are used to identify the appropriate level of training to oversee construction work, leading to commensurate and appropriate control methods to perform the work safely. CONCLUSION: The Construction Toolbox presents a review-generated format to harness multiple solutions-based national programs and publications for controlling construction-related risks with simplified approaches across the occupational safety, health and hygiene professions.
