THE NEED FOR THE INCLUSION OF CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY (H&S)

IN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION

CIB W099 IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETYCIB W099 IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY

AND HEALTH ON CONSTRUCTION SITESAND HEALTH ON CONSTRUCTION SITES

TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2005TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2005

HONG KONGHONG KONG

BY PROFESSOR JOHN SMALLWOOD, BY PROFESSOR JOHN SMALLWOOD,

DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF PORT MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF PORT

ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICAELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA

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OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

LITERATURE SURVEY: INTRODUCTION MOTIVATION LEGISLATION INFLUENCE OF DESIGN PROCUREMENT

RESEARCH: SAMPLE FRAME AND METHODOLOGY ANALYSIS FINDINGS

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CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

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LITERATURE SURVEY:INTRODUCTION

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE (ILO) (1992) STATES THAT DESIGNERS SHOULD:

RECEIVE TRAINING IN H&S INTEGRATE THE H&S OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

INTO THE DESIGN AND PLANNING PROCESS NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING IN A DESIGN WHICH

WOULD NECESSITATE THE USE OF DANGEROUS PROCEDURES OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WHICH COULD BE AVOIDED BY DESIGN

TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE H&S OF WORKERS DURING SUBSEQUENT MAINTENANCE.

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DESIGNERS OFTEN ADVISE CLIENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE:

TYPE OF PROCUREMENT SYSTEM (PS) AND FORM OF CONTRACT TO BE USED

SELECTING OF A CONTRACTOR, INCLUDING PRE-QUALIFYING

PROJECT DURATION DESIGNERS PARTICIPATE IN PARTNERING AND

DESIGNERS CAN FACILITATE THE PRE-PLANNING OF H&S THROUGH COMPLETENESS OF DESIGN

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ILO (1992) ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT CLIENTS SHOULD:

COORDINATE OR NOMINATE A COMPETENT PERSON TO COORDINATE ALL ACTIVITIES RELATING TO H&S

INFORM ALL CONTRACTORS OF SPECIAL RISKS TO H&S

REQUIRE CONTRACTORS SUBMITTING TENDERS TO MAKE PROVISION FOR H&S

CONSIDER H&S REQUIREMENTS WHEN ESTIMATING DATES FOR STAGE AND OVERALL COMPLETION

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LITERATURE SURVEY:MOTIVATION

COST OF ACCIDENTS (COA): 6.5% OF THE VALUE OF COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION

(THE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, 1991) 8.5% OF TENDER PRICE (ANDERSON, 1997)

SYNERGY BETWEEN H&S AND OTHER PROJECT PARAMETERS OF: COST; ENVIRONMENT; PRODUCTIVITY; QUALITY, AND SCHEDULE (SMALLWOOD, 1996)

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LITERATURE SURVEY:LEGISLATION

SECTION 10 OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT (OH&S ACT) - DESIGNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT ANY ‘ARTICLE’ IS SAFE AND WITHOUT RISKS TO HEALTH

DRAFT SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS:

CLIENTS SHALL, INTER ALIA: ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE COMPLETION OF

PROJECTS PRE-QUALIFY CONTRACTORS CONDUCT PERIODIC AUDITS OF THE CONTRACTORS’ H&S

PERFORMANCE ENSURE THAT WHERE DESIGN CHANGES ARE MADE

SUFFICIENT H&S INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE CONTRACTORS

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DESIGNERS SHALL, INTER ALIA: MAKE AVAILABLE ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT

THE DESIGN SUCH AS THE SOIL INVESTIGATION REPORT, DESIGN LOADINGS OF THE STRUCTURE, AND METHODS AND SEQUENCE OF CONSTRUCTION

INFORM THE PRINCIPLE CONTRACTORS OF ANY KNOWN OR ANTICIPATED DANGERS OR HAZARDS OR SPECIAL MEASURES REQUIRED FOR THE SAFE EXECUTION OF THE WORKS

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LITERATURE SURVEY:INFLUENCE OF DESIGN

OVERALL DESIGN, MANIFESTED IN SHAPE OF THE STRUCTURE, CONFIGURATION ON PLAN, TYPE OF STRUCTURAL FRAME AND ENCLOSING FABRIC, INFLUENCE H&S (HINZE AND GAMBATESE, 1994)

RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN EUROPE, DETERMINED THAT OF SITE FATALITIES, 35% WERE CAUSED BY FALLS, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED THROUGH DESIGN DECISIONS JEFFREY AND DOUGLAS (1994)

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DETAIL AND METHOD OF FIXING MAY REQUIRE (SCHNEIDER AND SUSI, 1994):

BENDING OR TWISTING THE BACK IN AN AWKWARD WAY

WORKING IN AWKWARD OR CRAMPED POSITIONS REACHING AWAY FROM THE BODY REACHING OVERHEAD REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS AND USE OF BODY FORCE

OPTIMAL INTERACTION WITH CLIENTS AT THE DESIGN BRIEF STAGE, AS DEVIATIONS AT A LATER STAGE RESULT IN VARIATION ORDERS, WHICH CAN BE THE CATALYST THAT TRIGGER A SERIES OF EVENTS FROM DESIGNER THROUGH TO WORKERS IN AN ACCIDENT ON SITE (JEFFREY AND DOUGLAS, 1994)

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‘DESIGN FOR SAFE CONSTRUCTION’ IS ONE OF SIXTEEN CONSTRUCTABILITY DESIGN PRINCIPLES (MCGEORGE AND PALMER, 1997); MOST OF THE OTHER FIFTEEN PRINCIPLES ARE INDIRECTLY RELATED TO, AND INFLUENCE H&S

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Table 1: Frequency at which architectural practices consider/refer to H&S relative to various aspects (Smallwood, 2000).

Aspect Response (%) II RankA O S R N

Position of components 17.3 31.7 20.2 14.4 7.7 2.52 1

Method of fixing 22.1 32.7 18.3 15.4 5.8 2.51 2

Specification 26.9 24.0 19.2 16.3 5.8 2.49 3

Content of material 21.2 24.0 21.2 19.2 7.7 2.29 4

Edge of materials 26.0 21.2 14.4 19.2 10.6 2.26 5

Details 21.2 23.1 21.2 14.4 11.5 2.24 6

Finishes 20.2 22.1 19.2 20.2 8.7 2.18 7

Type of structural frame 19.2 24.0 18.3 21.2 8.7 2.17 8

Plan layout 21.2 18.3 20.0 18.3 11.5 2.10 9

Texture of materials 18.3 19.2 25.0 17.3 12.5 2.08 10

Design (general) 16.3 17.3 26.9 22.1 10.6 2.05 11

Schedule 14.4 20.2 20.2 19.2 13.5 1.91 12=

Surface area of materials 16.3 20.0 18.3 17.3 16.3 1.91 12=

Elevations 17.3 14.4 21.2 22.1 14.4 1.88 14

Site location 18.3 13.5 19.2 25.0 17.3 1.84 15

Mass of Materials 11.5 15.4 25.0 25.0 12.5 1.78 16

(A=Always; O=Often; S=Sometimes; R=Rarely; N=Never)

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LITERATURE SURVEY:PROCUREMENT

INCORRECT CHOICE AND USE OF PSs HAS CONTRIBUTED TO NEGLECTING OF H&S BY PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS (RWELAMILA AND SMALLWOOD, 1999)

FORM OF CONSTRUCTION DELIVERY AFFECTS CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUTUAL GOALS (DREGER, 1996)

TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT SYSTEM (TCPS) PREDOMINATES AMONG PSs USED IN SOUTH AFRICA (RWELAMILA AND SMALLWOOD, 1999):

FOLLOWS A SEQUENCE OF FOUR PHASES: PREPARATION; DESIGN; PREPARING AND OBTAINING TENDERS, AND CONSTRUCTION

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INVARIABLY AN OPTIMUM DESIGN BRIEF IS NOT REALISED, A BILL OF QUANTITIES OR SCHEDULE OF RATES IS EVOLVED FROM THE PARTIALLY COMPLETE DESIGN AND DETAILS, RESULTING IN ‘PROVISIONAL’ QUANTITIES AND A PLETHORA OF PRIME COST AND PROVISIONAL SUMS

CONTRACTOR APPOINTED PRIMARILY ON THE BASIS OF ‘LOWEST COST’

COMMENCES WORK ON SITE SHORTLY AFTER HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE PROJECT - VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE STRUCTURE TO BE ERECTED

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MEERE (1990) ADVOCATES THE INTEGRATION OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AS A CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING H&S

DREGER (1996) RECOMMENDS THE DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT FORM DUE TO THE INTEGRATION OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

REFERENCES TO H&S IN STANDARD SOUTH AFRICAN CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION ARE GENERALLY INDIRECT (SMALLWOOD AND RWELAMILA, 1996)

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RESEARCH:SAMPLE FRAME AND METHODOLOGY

THE SAMPLE FRAME CONSISTED OF 8 (57.1%) TECHNIKON AND 6 (42.9%) UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS / SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE

POSTAL QUESTIONNAIRE 9 RESPONSES – 5 TECHNIKONS (55.6%) AND 4

UNIVERSITIES (44.4%) - RESPONSE RATE OF 64.3%

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RESEARCH:ANALYSIS

RESPONDENTS REQUIRED TO RESPOND IN TERMS OF IMPACT ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5 - NECESSARY TO COMPUTE AN IMPORTANCE INDEX (II) WITH A MINIMUM VALUE OF 0, AND A MAXIMUM VALUE OF 4

4n1 + 3n2 + 2n3 + 1n4 + 0n5

(n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 + n5)

where n1 = Major impact (1)

n2 = Substantial impact (2)

n3 = Impact (3)

n4 = Minor impact (4)

n5 = No impact (5)

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RESEARCH:FINDINGS

33.3% MAINTAINED CONSTRUCTION H&S IS INCLUDED IN THE ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAMME / CURRICULUM:

OF THOSE THAT DID NOT: 16.7% INTENDED TO INCLUDE IT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, 16.7% DID NOT INTEND TO EVER INCLUDE IT, AND 66.7% DID NOT KNOW

OF THOSE THAT DID: 66.7% INCLUDED IT AS A COMPONENT OF A SUBJECT, AND 33.3% AS A MODULE OF A SUBJECT

33.3% REGARDED CONSTRUCTION H&S AS ‘IMPORTANT’ TO THEIR DISCIPLINE, 33.3% AS ‘FAIRLY IMPORTANT’ AND 22.2% AS ‘NOT IMPORTANT’

100% WERE NOT AWARE OF THE CONSTRUCTION (DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

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EXTENT TO WHICH DESIGN AND PROCUREMENT RELATED ASPECTS IMPACT ON H&S

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Table 2: Perceived extent to which various design and procurement related aspects impact on construction H&S according to Architectural Departments / Schools.

Aspect

Impact (%)Don’t know

II RankMajor ………………………………………..………….No

1 2 3 4 5

Design related:                

Method of fixing 44.4 33.3 11.1 0.0 0.0 11.2 3.00 1

Details 22.2 55.6 11.1 0.0 0.0 11.1 2.78 2

Specification 33.4 22.2 22.2 11.1 11.1 0.0 2.56 3

Design (general) 22.2 22.2 22.2 22.2 11.2 0.0 2.22 4=

Content of materials  11.1 33.3  33.3  11.1   0.0  11.2  2.22   4=

Concept design 0.0 25.0 12.5 37.5 25.0 0.0 1.38 6

Size (bulk) of materials 0.0  22.2  22.2  11.1  11.1  33.3  1.22 7

Mass of materials 0.0 25.0 12.5 12.5 12.5 37.5 1.13 8

Texture of materials 0.0 0.0 33.3  33.3  11.2  22.2  1.00   9

Procurement related:                

Form of contract 0.0 11.1 22.2 11.1 11.1 44.4 0.89 10

Procurement system  0.0  0.0 25.0 37.5 0.0 37.5 0.88 11

Contract duration 0.0 0.0 22.2 22.2 16.2 44.4 0.67 12

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55.6% OF RESPONDENTS HAD ONE OR MORE COMMENTS IN GENERAL REGARDING CONSTRUCTION H&S, AND CONSTRUCTION H&S EDUCATION:

“SOMETHING THAT NEEDS MORE PUBLICITY AND DEVELOPMENT.”

“THIS ASPECT IS DISCUSSED IN THE CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.”

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CONCLUSIONS

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS INFLUENCE CONSTRUCTION H&S DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, THROUGH BOTH DESIGN RELATED ACTIVITIES AND PROCUREMENT RELATED INTERVENTIONS

CURRENT AND PENDING SOUTH AFRICAN LEGISLATION AND INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION AND BEST PRACTICE AMPLIFIES THE NEED FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS TO ADDRESS CONSTRUCTION H&S

LITERATURE INDICATES THAT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS DO CONSIDER/REFER TO CONSTRUCTION H&S RELATIVE TO VARIOUS DESIGN RELATED ASPECTS

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A LOW LEVEL OF AWARENESS EXISTS AMONG ARCHITECTURAL DEPARTMENTS /SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH VARIOUS DESIGN AND PROCUREMENT RELATED ASPECTS IMPACT ON CONSTRUCTION H&S. THE PERCEIVED DEGREE OF IMPORTANCE OF, AND THE MINIMAL EXTENT TO WHICH CONSTRUCTION H&S IS ADDRESSED IN ARCHITECTURAL TERTIARY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IS PROBABLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THIS LOW LEVEL OF AWARENESS

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RECOMMENDATIONS

TERTIARY EDUCATION ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAMMES SHOULD INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION H&S EDUCATION AS A MODULE OF A SUBJECT

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AMONG CRITERIA USED FOR EVALUATING DESIGN PROJECTS, WORKING DRAWINGS AND DETAILS

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) FOR ARCHITECTS SHOULD INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION H&S

THE PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ARCHITECTS SHOULD DEVELOP PRACTICE NOTES RELATIVE TO CONSTRUCTION H&S