Heavy equipment and truck-related deaths on excavation work sites

PROBLEM: Contact with objects and equipment is the third leading cause of death in construction. This study examines heavy equipment- and truck-related deaths in the excavation work industry in construction. METHODS: The Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries identified 253 heavy equipment related deaths on construction sites in the Excavation Work industry for the years 1992-2002. RESULTS: Heavy equipment operators and construction laborers made up 63% of the heavy equipment- and truck-related deaths. Backhoes and trucks were involved in half the deaths. Rollovers were the main cause of death of heavy equipment operators. For workers on foot and maintenance workers, being struck by heavy equipment or trucks (especially while backing up for workers on foot), and being struck by equipment loads or parts were the major causes of death. DISCUSSION: Ensuring adequate rollover protective structures for heavy equipment, requiring fastening of seat belts, adoption of a lock-out/tagout standard, establishing restricted access zones around heavy equipment, and requiring spotters for workers who must be near heavy equipment or trucks would reduce the risk of heavy equipment- and truck-related deaths in construction. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Safety of heavy equipment operators in particular is a major concern in excavation that needs to be addressed.     

[Case Study] CityCenter and Cosmopolitan Construction Projects, Las Vegas, Nevada: Lessons learned from the use of multiple sources and mixed methods in a safety needs assessment

Problem

The present study describes a response to eight tragic deaths over an eighteen month times span on a fast track construction project on the largest commercial development project in U.S. history.

Methods

Four versions of a survey were distributed to workers, foremen, superintendents, and senior management. In addition to standard Likert-scale safety climate scale items, an open-ended item was included at the end of the survey.

Results

Safety climate perceptions differed by job level. Specifically, management perceived a more positive safety climate as compared to workers. Content analysis of the open-ended item was used to identify important safety and health concerns which might have been overlooked with the qualitative portion of the survey.

Discussion

The surveys were conducted to understand workforce issues of concern with the aim of improving site safety conditions. Such efforts can require minimal investment of resources and time and result in critical feedback for developing interventions affecting organizational structure, management processes, and communication.

Summary

The most important lesson learned was that gauging differences in perception about site safety can provide critical feedback at all levels of a construction organization.

Impact on the Industry

Implementation of multi-level organizational perception surveys can identify major safety issues of concern. Feedback, if acted upon, can potentially result in fewer injuries and fatal events.     

建筑业人身意外伤害保险探讨

建筑业是伤害事故多发的行业 ,实行建筑业人身意外伤害保险 ,在《中华人民共和国建筑法》和《中华人民共和国安全生产法》里有明确规定 ,也是一项国际惯例。建筑业实施人身意外伤害保险 ,对促进建筑市场和保险市场的发育、减轻企业风险和维护社会稳定意义重大 ,同时有利于建筑业的安全管理以及与国际惯例接轨。目前 ,我国由于企业风险意识薄弱、法规不完善、保险公司不能提供优良的服务以及缺乏保险中介等原因 ,使得意外伤害保险的推行情况不甚理想。为大力推动我国建筑业人身意外伤害保险的发展 ,需要加强风险和保险的宣传、完善配套法规、采取强制与服务并重的措施并扶植我国工程保险中介组织的发展     

TBM 在不良地质地段的安全通过技术

主要论述了TBM (隧道掘进机 )安全通过不良地质地段的方法步骤及辅助措施 ,并介绍了坍塌、岩爆、涌水、软弱地层、膨胀性围岩等常见不良地质情况 ,对TBM施工安全的影响及相应处理措施 ,以供工程技术人员参考。     

有关建设项目竣工环境保护验收监测问题的思考

结合建设项目竣工“三同时”环境保护验收监测工作实际;对验收监测过程中存在的具体问题进行了分析;提出了解决问题的方法和途径,为进一步搞好建设项目环境保护验收做了有益的借鉴。     

强化乡镇企业建设项目环境管理之我见

本文通过对乡镇企业建设项目环境管理中存在的问题分析，提出了强化乡镇企业建设项目环境管理的建议．     

江苏省农业生态环境建设及热点探讨

系统概述了江苏省在农业生态环境建设方面所采取的完善肥药结构、多途径利用畜禽粪便及秸秆资源、优化种植业结构、环境综合治理、法制化等措施，同时探讨了严重影响农业环境污染防治效果的热点问题。     

弘扬安全文化 促进班组标准化建设

论述企业安全文化在企业生产经营中的作用,介绍了安全文化在班组标准化建设中产生的影响及其对指导班组建设的贡献。事实表明,安全文化是群众需要的安全文化,是具有强大生命力的企业文化。     

工程车辆空中作业机构安全液压阀保护机理研究

在具有空中作业机构的市政建筑工程车辆中 ,空中作业的人机安全是十分重要的。车辆升降机构的稳定可靠是实现安全作业的必要条件之一。笔者分析和研究了该类车辆的作业特性 ,推荐在升降机构的液压系统中采用液压双路安全阀的技术。施工作业时 ,由于突发原因 ,执行系统的一根液压胶管破断 ,液压安全阀的一个阀芯迅速动作 ,关闭此阀口 ,确保空中作业机构和生产人员的安全 ;同时液压安全阀的另一个阀芯使另一根液压胶管继续工作 ,从而保证系统正常工作。笔者应用了安全液压阀的工作原理 ,建立了阀芯的运动方程 ,并对其安全保护特性进行了计算