Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

According to an article about Build build build program, there will be an increase

of 7.3 percent infrastructure investments for the reconstruction and building of new

roads, bridges, highways, etc (Zoleta, 2018). One of the highlights of the program is the

reconstruction and expansion of roads, which entails the increase of road construction

projects in urban and rural areas. Construction sites are linked to various hazardous

factors that could threaten the safety of the people in the vicinity. Hazard is a source of

potential harm or adverse damage/ effect (CCOHS, 2017, para.1). In addition, it could

also be referred to environmental hazards, which is “a substance, state or event which

has the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment that adversely affects

people's health” (IGI Global, n.d.). One of the types of environmental hazards is physical

hazards. Physical hazard is defined as “a factor within the environment that can harm

the body without necessarily touching it. Vibration and noise are examples of physical

hazards" (ComCare, 2018, para. 1). This includes but aren't limited to electricity,

radiation, pressure, noise, heights and vibration amongst many others.

In order to secure the safety and anticipate any threats and/or risks, a risk

assessment is conducted in a workplace. SGS (n.d.), states that a risk assessment

allows any corrective measure and control to increase success of the project. In

addition, risk assessments help to create awareness of hazards and risk, and identify

who may be at risk (CCOHS, 2017, para. 4). A risk assessment can be done in any

place where hazards and threat of a risk may stem. It could be for occupational setting,
assess health and safety in an institution, or an assessment of an instrument, materials,

and paraphernalia.

There are 5 steps to risk hazard. First, identify the hazards; second, decide who

might be harmed and how; third, evaluate the risks and decide on precautions; fourth,

record your findings and implement it; lastly, review your assessment and update if

necessary (Seton, 2016). One of the vital information needed for a risk assessment is

hazard identification. Health and Safety Services (n.d.) describes hazard identification

as “the process used to evaluate if any particular situation, item, thing, etc. may have

the potential to cause harm”. The basis of hazard identification would be the standard

procedures of basic safety partitions. In Philippine setting, the basis would be the

Guidelines for Occupation Health and Safety as amended by the Department of Labor

and Employment (DOLE), which states that the objective of the issuance is to protect

the working man against the danger of injury, sickness, and death, through safe and

healthy working conditions” (2016). The issuance covers the guidelines for safety

environment in general, however, there were sections in which safety in construction

sites were specified.