OSH in Indian

Construction Industry

S N Borkar
Director (Safety),
DGFASLI, Mumbai
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 LEGISLATIVE FRAME WORK
 In India the Construction Sector is covered by
- The Building and Other Construction Workers Act
1996 and Rules 1998.
- The Act is Central Act and Rules also have been made
by the Central Government, However each State has
the power to make and notify its own Rules
Salient Features
 Employs over 35 million people
 Fast growing sector
 Construction sites are dangerous place
 Each Site is a unique place, with different OSH Challenges
 OSH Awareness is much low
 All the construction activities costing over 10 lakh/ 1 million are covered
 Provides for registration of Establishment, Employers and workers
 Certificate of registration to be displayed at the site
 Establishment of State Welfare Boards
- Registration of workers as Beneficiaries
- 18 years of age
- Engaged in construction for not less than 90 days
 Central Advisory Committee
 Cess of 1-2% for welfare of workers
7 GOLDEN RULES- Legislative Provisions

 Rule 1: MAKE LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT

- Rule 39 -Health and Safety Policy
- Rule 5 -Duties & Absolute Responsibilities of
Employers, Employees and others
 Rule 2: IDENTIFY ALL HAZARDS AND RISKS SYSTEMATICALLY
- Rule 6 - Assigns the responsibilities to architects,
project engineers and designers to give due
consideration at the planning stage.
-Rule 210, 211, 230
- Gives the procedure for reporting
investigation of Accidents ( including
Occupational Diseases) and Dangerous
occurrences.
7 GOLDEN RULES- Legislative Provisions
 RULE 3 Create a Safety and improvement programme
and set verifiable targets
-Rule 39 on Health and Safety Policy
-Rule 40 for Dangerous and Harmful environment
 Rule 4 Ensure that occupational safety measures are
organised
- Section 44 & Rule5 Responsibility of Employer,
employees, etc.
- Rule 36 Emergency Action Plan
7 GOLDEN RULES- Legislative Provisions
 Rule5 Use only Safe and Healthy technology
- Rules 41 to 56 makes it obligatory to use safe and
healthy technology
 Rule 6 Ensure that Employees are competent by investing
in Training
-Rule 39, 64 and 229 provides for training of workers
 Rule 7 : Invest Systematically in Staff Participation
- Rule 10 Constitution of Advisory committee at
Central and State level with representation of
workers
- Rule 208 – Constitution of Safety Committees
- Section 18 Constitution of Welfare Boards
Specific features of the construction industry

√ Migrant labour
√ Subcontractors (all kinds of outsourcing) are the main employers in the
construction industry (most of them are micro or small enterprises).
√ Construction is a labour-intensive activity.
√ “Labour-only “subcontracting and self-employment on short-term contracts
are common practice.
√ Payment on the basis of “work performed” (rather than hours) is becoming
the norm in many countries (favouring a high number of working hours per
day and working days per week).
√ It has the highest rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational accidents
(sometimes more than 50% of all occupational accidents in all industries).
√ Falls from height are the main cause of fatal accidents in most countries
(sometimes more than 50% of the fatal accidents in construction).
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List of hazards and risks in construction

(1) Mechanical (falls from height, fall of objects, cave-ins, etc.)

(2) Electrical (electric shock, electrostatic discharges, etc.)
(3) Thermal (heat, cold, fire, etc.)
(4) Radiation (ultraviolet radiation, ionizing, etc.)
(5) Noise (exposure to noise, etc.)
(6) Chemical (dust, fumes, gases, vapours, etc.)
(7) Biological (pathogenic material, fungus, etc.)
(8) Other hazards/risks (humidity, confined space, low visibility,
etc.)
(9) Hazards/risks affecting health (back injuries, skin disease, etc.)

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Main OSH hazards/risks in the construction industry
Hazards/risks that may cause
occupational accidents
Falls
from
height

Caught
in/between Hazards/risks that may cause
Cave in occupational illness
Electrocution

Struck Back
by Respiratory injuries
Musculo- diseases
skeletal
Hearing
disorders
losses
Skin
diseases

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What is required to be done ?
The 9 General Principles of Prevention
1. Avoid risks
2. Evaluate the risks that cannot be avoided
3. Combat the risks at source
4. Adapt the work to the individual
5. Adapt to technical progress
6. Replace the dangerous by the non-dangerous or less dangerous
7. Develop a coherent overall prevention policy
8. Give collective protective measures priority over individual protective
measures
9. Give appropriate instructions to the workers.

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Identification of hazards and risks in a construction
project

Construction project/site: Ref./Date

Exists? Risk Level (RL) Notes / Comments

Hazards/Risks Yes No NA P S RL (e.g. where the risks may occur, exposure period, temperature, etc.)

1. Mechanical
1.1. Falls from height
1.2. Falls at the same level
1.3. Fall of objects
1.4. Struck between
1.5. Cave in
1.6. Running over
1.7. Collision of vehicles
1.8. Explosion
1.9. Crushing of the foot
1.10. Fall for slipping
1.11. Pointed or cutting objects

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“Everyone who is involved in the construction
activity should shoulder the responsibility of
identifying the potential hazards and make all
efforts to eliminate them from the construction
sites.”
 CAUSES OF DEATHS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SITES IN INDIA FOR YEAR 2012 & 2013

Sr. No. Causes of Deaths Total Number of Deaths % to Total Deaths

2012 2013 2012 2013

1 Electrocution 8750 10218 2.2% 2.6%

2 Falls 12319 12803 3.1% 3.2%

Fall from Height 10567 10822 2.7% 2.7%

Fall into
Pit/Manhole, etc. 1752 1981 0.4% 0.5%

3 Fire (Short Circuit) 1439 1690 0.4% 0.5%