Browsing by Author "Asanka, WA"

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item: Conference-Abstract
Distribution of responsibilities and applicability of risk assessments in construction safety
Asanka, WA; Ranasinghe, M
Safety and Health enhancements are tendencies of today‟s construction industry. Accident mitigation measures and legislations are publishing by authorities, enhancing the public awareness. Safety management systems (SMS)are inserting to construction management schemes and it is mandatory in most countries (Singapore, Australia, etc.). Assessing activity based risk or Risk Assessments (RA) is one of the sub elements under SMS. RA is a systematically arranged set of action statements to explain the safest work procedure prior to actual site work. RA‟s are serving effectively in construction sites identifying and mitigating the inherent risks. However, effective practicing of RAs are challengeable due to human behaviour, irresponsibility, negligence or ignorance, result in accidents. Therefore, personal interpretations and appreciation of RAs are timely requirement. This study examined the detailed RAs of “work at height” activities in varying situations. Work at high elevations cause “Fall from height” accidents and it is the leading fatality type in most countries. A questionnaire was launched to investigate the construction professional‟s appreciation, consideration, and ability to implement action statements on work places in Singapore. The findings were extrapolated towards Srilankan industry to trace the way for better safety performance. The objectives of the current research is to (1) quantify risk associated with the current work practices and compare it with the performance-risk due to past accident statistics (2) establish responsibility weightings for the construction team (3) investigate applicability of existing work practices (4) prepare probabilistic data set for the future studies to mitigate accidents. Even though, highly regularised safety and health protocols are enforced in Singapore, construction team‟s ignorance on RA is 13% ~16%, and willingness to take overall site responsibility of supervisor, the key for many SMSs is significantly low as 8%, and further studies are proposing. Anticipated probabilistic accident severities (fatal, major, minor and near misses) due to ignoring these statements are high as 26% ~41%, which also alarms industry to count as additional risk.
item: Conference-Full-text
STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ACCIDENTS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
(2016-05-04) Asanka, WA; Ranasinghe, M
As the construction industry is carried out in hazardous environments, it experiences accidents in different levels of severity, some causing minor and major injuries with even some resulting in fatality. In addition to the human cost involved, it also causes bad publicity to the profession. Worldwide, authorities have tightened up safety standards, which have enhanced the performance in construction sites. However, accidents are still happening and there is a need for further research on this important subject. From construction organization's point of view, accidents are unexpected events and unplanned costs. Some accidents may change the organizational goals or it could even make the company uncompetitive in the industry. A good understanding of accident forecasting is vital in construction project management. This research explores four questions that arise in accidents in construction sites. Namely, (1) What are the impacts of accidents on construction work? (2) What are the uncertain contributory factors in these accidents? (3) How are human and financial aspects linked to accidents? (4) What are the possible project performance enhancements under uncertainty factors of the accident? The objectives of this research paper are (i) to investigate construction site accidents to identify the critical causes and effects; and (ii) establish relationship of accidents with additional project cost, additional time, project scope, company reputation, and impact on national safety indexes. While human errors were identified as the main cause for construction accidents, negligence or mistakes can happen due to the uncertain circumstances. Hence, unavoidable accidents have to be expected in the construction industry. The commitment of all humans involved, from the project manager to the labourer towards good practices would enhance the safety performance in construction sites.
item: Conference-Full-text
STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ACCIDENTS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
(2016-01-05) Asanka, WA; Ranasinghe, M
As the construction industry is carried out in hazardous environments, it experiences accidents in different levels of severity, some causing minor and major injuries with even some resulting in fatality. In addition to the human cost involved, it also causes bad publicity to the profession. Worldwide, authorities have tightened up safety standards, which have enhanced the performance in construction sites. However, accidents are still happening and there is a need for further research on this important subject. From construction organization’s point of view, accidents are unexpected events and unplanned costs. Some accidents may change the organizational goals or it could even make the company uncompetitive in the industry. A good understanding of accident forecasting is vital in construction project management. This research explores four questions that arise in accidents in construction sites. Namely, (1) What are the impacts of accidents on construction work? (2) What are the uncertain contributory factors in these accidents? (3) How are human and financial aspects linked to accidents? (4) What are the possible project performance enhancements under uncertainty factors of the accident? The objectives of this research paper are (i) to investigate construction site accidents to identify the critical causes and effects; and (ii) establish relationship of accidents with additional project cost, additional time, project scope, company reputation, and impact on national safety indexes. While human errors were identified as the main cause for construction accidents, negligence or mistakes can happen due to the uncertain circumstances. Hence, unavoidable accidents have to be expected in the construction industry. The commitment of all humans involved, from the project manager to the labourer towards good practices would enhance the safety performance in construction sites.