Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Construction Management Department of the Built Environment in the Faculty of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2014 / The construction industry contributes significantly to national economic growth and offers substantial opportunities for job creation; however the industry has continually been plagued by workplace accidents. Moreover, employers may not realize the economic magnitude of workplace injury and ill health arising from construction activities. These accidents represent a considerable economic and social burden to employers, employees and to society as a whole. Despite governments and organisations worldwide maintaining an on-going commitment towards establishing a working environment free of injury and disease, a great deal of construction accidents continues to frequent our society. Given the high rate of construction accidents experienced, employers are not entirely mindful of the actual costs of construction accidents, especially when considering the hidden or indirect costs of accidents. Various safety research efforts have attempted to quantify the true costs of worker injuries, however localised systematic information on cost of construction accidents at work is not readily available from administrative statistical data sources, therefore this study was carried out in order to estimate the costs, like lost workdays or lost income, are clearly visible and can readily be expressed in monetary value; for a large part however, economic consequences of accidents are somewhat hidden. Indirect costs following an accident may be disregarded, damage to the company image is difficult to quantify and pricing human suffering and health damage is subject to discussion. Nevertheless, it is possible to get an adequate insight into the costs of accidents and the potential benefits of accident prevention.

The construction workforce in South Africa is one that is ageing. This is a global phenomenon and necessitates research into how the older cohort of the construction work force can be optimally engaged. Optimum worker productivity, high quality products that meet the specifications required, and high levels of occupational safety and health are integral factors in achieving a sustainable workforce. The purpose of the research was to quantify the injury rates among older construction workers as well as to determine the events leading to these injuries, the nature of the injuries and the bodily locations affected. The costs associated with these injuries were investigated to understand whether there were any discernable differences between injuries to older and younger workers. Apart from the literature review, two statistical construction injury databases were analysed. Qualitative questionnaire based interviews were designed to gather information related to older construction workers. Questionnaires were sent to construction site managers to gauge their perceptions of older construction workers. The statistical data was collected from the Western Cape region and was for the period 1998 through 2005 while the interviews and questionnaire data were collected during 2008. xv The potential benefits to industry are a consolidation of injury information relating to older construction workers. This should assist construction managers with developing policies and implementing strategies to prevent or at least minimise injuries and minimise the related costs, with the aim of more effectively utilising their older workers and ultimately achieving a more sustainable construction industry. The study found that older workers sustained less injuries in total compared with younger workers. No discernable variances occurred between younger and older workers when it came to events leading to injuries (causes) and the type/nature of injuries. It was, however, found that for the body parts affected, older workers were more prone to certain injuries. Older workers sustained less severe injuries compared with their younger counterparts but the injuries were more costly. The research findings supported the notion that older workers receive less training than younger workers.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T17:57:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Frederico_confrontada.pdf: 5462020 bytes, checksum: 78e28b0ea393f505f0e3617851d55d06 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-30 / The decision for the building construction industry was due to its dynamics, having diverse areas within a project, many construction workers are involved, and they are exposed to machinery and equipments noise. Machinery noise is the main cause of medical leave and injuries; it can also cause early retirements by the INSS [Brazilian National Institute of Social Security]. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment, the civil construction sector held 1,045,251 direct job positions in 2003, and 1,118,570 direct job positions in 2004. The Ministry of Welfare points that in 2005, approximately 492,000 of work related injuries were reported to the INSS. If compared to the previous year of 2004, work related injuries increased 5.6%. The numbers show the importance of a research in that area. According to the NR-9, the noise is a physical agent, and many times do not receive the special attention required, it can go unnoticed during the implementation stages of a project. It is necessary, before the start of each job or project, the identification, evaluation and the correct control of the noise when needed. Noise is considered the third main cause of environmental pollution, only behind of water and air pollution. Hearing loss is a pathology that can be 100% prevented, but once acquired, it becomes permanent and irreversible. This research objective was the analysis by a dosimeter of the sound pressure level generated by the equipments: concrete truck mixer; the circular saw or portable and construction lift of the civil construction sector. The research took place in 5 (five) sites of vertical building projects, during the final stage, in the Metropolitan area of Recife (RMR). The results were satisfactory, as no construction worker was found exposed to the different levels of sound pressure (noise), generated by the machinery being monitored: concrete truck mixer, circular saw or portable and construction lift. Even though some levels exceeded the tolerance limit (LT) which is a standard of 85dB (A), for a 100% exposure in an 8 hours working day. Only 1 out of 14 construction workers was not equipped with the Individual Protection Equipment (EPI). In this particular case, the ear protector (protective type shell or plug type), exposed the worker to the limit set by the standard. Two (2) dosimeters from Quest brand were used in this research; models Q-300 and Q-400. The devices were connected to the body of the worker. After verifying the sound pressure levels and the exposure of each worker to such levels of noise, the results were confronted with the legislation in charge and some mitigation measures were suggested, when deemed necessary, in order to avoid possible damages to the workers health / A escolha pela Industria da Construção Civil foi devido à sua dinâmica, exibindo diversos ramos dentro de uma obra com muitos funcionários envolvidos, estando muitas vezes expostos ao ruído de máquinas e equipamentos. O ruído é considerado como um dos maiores causadores de afastamento, lesões chegando até a causar as aposentadorias, junto ao INSS. Segundo o Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego, o setor da construção civil ocupou 1.048.251 postos de trabalhos diretos em 2003, tendo ocupado 1.118.570 postos de trabalhos em 2004. De acordo com o Ministério da Previdência Social, no ano de 2005, cerca de 492 mil acidentes do trabalho foram registrados no INSS. Comparado com o ano anterior, 2004, o número de acidentes de trabalho registrados aumentou 5,6%, por isso a importância de pesquisas nessa área. De acordo com a NR-9, o ruído é um agente físico, muitas vezes esquecido, passando despercebido nas fases de execução de uma obra, se fazendo necessário, antes do inicio de cada obra, a sua identificação, avaliação e os possíveis controles quando necessário. O ruído é considerado o terceiro maior causador da poluição ambiental, só ficando atrás da poluição das águas e do ar. A perda auditiva é uma patologia 100% evitável, mas uma vez adquirida, é permanente e irreversível. Essa pesquisa teve como objetivo, a analise através da dosimetria do nível de pressão sonora, gerado pelos equipamentos: betoneira , serra circular e/ ou manual e guincho (elevador) do ramo da indústria da construção civil. Foi realizada em 5 (cinco) obras de edificações verticais, na fase de acabamento, na Região Metropolitana do Recife (RMR). Os resultados foram satisfatórios, pois nenhum funcionário encontrava-se expostos aos diferentes níveis de pressão sonora (ruídos), gerados pelas máquinas monitoradas: guincho , betoneira e serra circular ou portátil. Apesar de alguns níveis excederem o limite de tolerância (LT) que para a norma é de 85dB (A), com uma dose de exposição de 100% para uma permanência de 8 horas diárias. Apenas 1 dos 14 funcionários, não utilizava o Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPI), no caso específico em apreço, o protetor auricular, tipo concha ou tipo plug, o que o levou a aproximar-se mais do limite estabelecido pela norma. Foram utilizados 2 (dois) dosímetros de marca Quest , modelos Q-300 e Q-400 , aparelhos estes conectados ao corpo do trabalhador. Depois de verificados esses níveis de pressão sonora e a exposição de cada funcionário a tais níveis de ruído, os resultados foram confrontados com a legislação vigente e sugeridas algumas medidas de atenuação, quando julgados necessários

This short story collection includes five original works of fiction, three of which make up a trilogy titled "The World Drops Beneath You," which follows the life of James McClellan from 1969 in Texas until roughly 2009, when he is struggling to care for his wife, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. One of the two remaining stories, "She Loved Him When He Looked Like Elvis," prominently features James McClellan's parents and is set approximately eight years before the start of the trilogy. Each of the stories is concerned with blue-collar families trying to make their way in postindustrial America and the forces that buffet them, including some brought on by the choices they make.

Work sampling had its origin in industrial engineering; however, its use in construction has increased greatly during the 1970's and 1980's. Research would suggest that most of the innovation in this field is taking place in the United States. The basic methods of Work Sampling have been developed to suit the peculiarities of the construction site as opposed to the production line or factory where it was first used. The objectives of this report are as follows: 1. To review the existing methods of Construction Work Sampling as well as discuss further aspects and problems which should be considered when undertaking a Work Sampling study. 2. To compare Construction Work Sampling with other methods of measuring productivity. 3. To evaluate by means of a case study the ease of applicability of the sampling methods to a South African construction site, and at the same time to identify differences between the description of the methods in theory and their use in practice. 4. To establish by means of a questionnaire the extent to which Construction Work Sampling methods are already in use in South Africa as well as other related information. Information for this report was obtained from journals, manuals, text books, interviews, and the case study and questionnaires mentioned.

Syfte: Eftersom byggbranschen är en av de mest olycks- och dödsfallsdrabbade branscher finns det anledningar att tro att det någonstans i arbetsmiljöarbetet brister. Inom arbetsmiljö och säkerhet sker en ständig utveckling vilket påverkar hur viktigt det är med en bra kommunikation från arbetsledaren till yrkesarbetaren. Målet med studien var att identifiera kommunikationsbrister mellan arbetsledare och yrkesarbetare som kunde skapa tillfälle för olyckor och tillbud. Syftet med att göra den här undersökningen var att utveckla ett eget förbättringsförslag och implementera det i praktiken och utvärdera hur detta mottogs. Metod: Studien utfördes som en aktionsforskning där brister i dagens informationsflöde identifierades för att sedan implementera en lämplig handling för att åtgärda problemet. Efter detta utvärderades den nya handlingen. För att utföra denna undersökning och besvara frågeställningarna har flera undersökningsmetoder för datainsamlingens använts: semistrukturerade intervjuer, litteraturstudier, dokumentanalys och deltagande observationer vilka har analyserats genom en triangulering för ett trovärdigt resultat. Resultat: Informationen om de risker som identifierades i ett arbetsmoment kommunicerades genom arbetsberedningar, vilka skulle ske genom ett överlämnings möte tillsammans med yrkesarbetarna. Dagens arbetsberedningsmall upplevdes som bristfällig samt med stort rum för utveckling. I identifieringen av bristerna i dagens informationsflöde var det informationen gällande kringliggande arbeten som var mest återkommande. Detta resulterade i att förbättringsförslaget begränsades till den frågan. En ny arbetsberedning togs fram med frågeställningar berörande arbetsmoment som sker i närheten och vilka risker samt riskreducerande åtgärder som skall vidtas. Konsekvenser: Det upplevdes förekomma ett samband mellan bristande kommunikation och tillbud samt olyckor. Individers personliga inställning till arbetsmiljöfrågor ansågs vara en faktor till att det sker olyckor. Detta kunde vara en faktor till att arbetsmiljön inte prioriterades mer under arbetsberedningar och påverkade i sin tur både överlämningen samt mängden information som återkopplas till arbetsledarna. För att minska tillbud och olyckor borde yrkesarbetarna informerats om kringliggande arbeten och de risker som tillkommer. Detta bidrog även till att yrkesarbetarna kände sig mer delaktiga och involverade i frågor som berörde deras arbetsmiljö. Begränsningar: Den här studien undersökte endast kommunikationsbrister mellan arbetsledare och yrkesarbetare som påverkade arbetsmiljöns efterlevnad. Resultatet ansågs vara generaliserbart i byggbranschen. Förbättringsarbetet syftade till att förbättra redan befintliga dokument och eftersom arbetsberedningar är företagsspecifikt blir även funna brister i arbetsberedningarna det. / Purpose: Since the construction industry is one of the most harmful and lethal industries there is reason to believe that there is something wrong with the work environment planning. There is constant ongoing progress within the area of safety issues and work environment which affects how important good communication is from the supervisor to the carpenter. The objective of this study is to identify communication deficiencies between the supervisor and carpenter, which in turn raises the probability for accidents and incidents to occur. The purpose of this study is to develop an improvement proposal to implement and evaluate how it is received. Method: The study is conducted as an action research study where deficiencies are identified in today’s information channels. Furthermore, an appropriate action is proposed to address the problem, followed by an evaluation of the new action. When conducting this research, and when answering the research questions, several methods been utilized, such as: structural interviews, literature studies, document analysis, and participant observations which have been analyzed through triangulation for a credible result. Findings: The information about the risks identified in a work activity was communicated through a work sets, which was be done through a meeting with the construction workers. Today’s work set template was perceived as inadequate, with a lot of room for development. When identifying the deficiencies in today’s information flow, the information regarding surrounding work was identified as the most recurring. This resulted in the improvement proposal being limited to that issue. A new work set was made with questions regarding work activities that are taking place nearby and what risks and risk mitigation measures are to be taken. Implications: The connection between lack of communication and incidents as well as accidents was identified. An individual's attitude toward work environment issues are a factor in the occurrence of accidents. This is a factor when it comes to the work environment as it is not prioritized higher when planning work sets which affects both the handover and the amount of information that is given back to the supervisors. To reduce incidents and accidents, construction workers need to be informed about the surrounding work and the risks involved, this also makes the construction workers feel more involved in issues that affect their daily work environment. Limitations: This study only examines communication deficiencies between supervisors and construction workers regarding the work environment. The result is regarded as general to the construction industry. The improvement work is limited to improving existing documents. Furthermore, work sets are company-specific, shown deficiencies are as well.

Problem background: This thesis in building technology at Mälardalen University examines the noise level of the constructions on Öster Mälarstrand. The area Öster Mälarstrand is in the eastern part of Västerås next to the water area Mälaren. This district began to build in the end of the 20th century, and the area went from an industrial field to become as described, one of the best places in Västerås to live at. The district is now an area with a large extent of residentials and other necessities such as banking, gym, cafes, restaurants, shops and a large marina. Öster Mälarstrand is still under constant construction of new buildings. The purpose of the survey is to investigate the noise level on Öster Mälarstrand, and if the construction sites are customised to the guidelines that exist regarding noise and noise levels outside in a residential area. The work is summarized and ends by giving examples of measures to reduce noise and noise levels in the area. The method is based on own noise measurements, calculations and interviews. The noise measurements carried out at three specific locations on Öster Mälarstrand during four working days when constructions were underway. Interviews have also been conducted with 50 people who live in the area. The calculations of the noise measurments showed several varying values, but one thing that is clear is that the noise calculations that was executed, exceeds the guideline values set for noise-levels in Öster Mälarstrand. The interviews that were conducted presents that a majority of the interviewees thought that the noise level of the constructions on Öster Mälarstrand was disturbing, especially now during the pandemic of Covid-19, when several people started working from home. The conclusion in this thesis is that noise levels exceeds the guideline values ​​that exist according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The interviews in the area show that the majority of the participants experience the noise from the construction site as a disturbance.

<p>  </p> <p>Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant occupational health concern in the construction industry, necessitating effective hearing protection for workers. This project explores the detrimental consequences of environmental pollutants, specifically noise pollution common in construction settings. The research incorporates user interviews with construction workers and managers to identify challenges and motivations surrounding the use of hearing protection devices.</p> <p>My findings underscore the necessity of addressing pollution in the construction industry to safeguard the well-being of workers. Noise pollution emerges as a primary concern, leading to hearing loss, stress, decreased productivity, and safety hazards. The research revealed that workers grapple with obstacles, including discomfort, lack of awareness, and cost barriers, while also recognizing driving forces, including fear of hearing loss and the encouragement of supervisors. The design process involved thorough research, including a literature review, competitive analysis, and semi-structured user interviews, resulting in an advanced hearing protection device that prioritizes effective communication, cleanliness, and user comfort. The final product incorporates innovative features such as lighting indicators, a compact charging case, strategically positioned buttons, secure fit with magnets, and a range of color options. Furthermore, the accompanying application features customizable ambient sounds, performance feedback, and gamification elements.</p>

Denna studie undersöker hur ledarskap påverkar arbetsmiljön inom byggbranschen under produktionsfasen. Bakgrunden till studien är att effektivt ledarskap kan förbättra både säkerheten och produktiviteten på byggarbetsplatser. En bra arbetsmiljö bidrar inte bara till att yrkesarbetarna trivs bättre utan även till projektens framgång och kvalitet.Syftet med studien är att identifiera vilka faktorer yrkesarbetarna anser vara viktigast för en bra ledning/organisation, att undersöka fördelarna med en bra ledning för yrkesarbetarna under produktionen, att förstå hur en bra ledning gynnar entreprenören samt att jämföra dessa faktorer med de initiativ och program som företag i branschen arbetar med för att förbättra ledarskap och arbetsmiljö. Studien genomfördes med hjälp av enkäter och intervjuer med yrkesarbetare för att samla in deras uppfattningar och erfarenheter.Resultaten visar att yrkesarbetarna värderar följande faktorer högst: coachande ledarskap, tydlig kommunikation, delaktighet i beslutsprocesser, och förmågan att lyssna på och förstå deras behov. Dessa faktorer bidrar till ökad arbetsglädje, motivation, säkerhet och effektivitet på arbetsplatsen. Vilket också gynnar entreprenören genom minskade olyckor och förbättrad kvalitet i arbetet. Jämförelsen med företagen Skanska och Veidekke visar att deras initiativ, såsom Skanskas IFE-program och Veidekkes "Vi bygger lag"-initiativ, överensstämmer med yrkesarbetarnas önskemål om ett coachande och involverande ledarskapSammanfattningsvis betonar studien vikten av ett ledarskap som kombinerar coachning, tydlighet, delaktighet och lyhördhet för att främja en god arbetsmiljö och öka effektiviteten inom byggbranschen. De initiativ och program som företag som Skanska och Veidekke arbetar med visar att de är på rätt väg mot att möta yrkesarbetarnas behov och skapa en hållbar och produktiv arbetsmiljö. / This thesis investigates how leadership impacts the work environment in the construction industry during the production phase. The background of the study is that effective leadership can enhance both safety and productivity on construction sites. A good work environment not only contributes to better job satisfaction among workers but also to the success and quality of projects.The purpose of the study is to identify which factors construction workers consider most important for good leadership/organization, to examine the benefits of good leadership for workers during production, to understand how good leadership benefits the contractor, and to compare these factors with the initiatives and programs that companies in the industry implement to improve leadership and the work environment. The study was conducted using surveys and interviews with construction workers to gather their perceptions and experiences.The results show that construction workers highly value the following factors: coaching leadership, clear communication, involvement in decision-making processes, and the ability to listen to and understand their needs. These factors contribute to increased job satisfaction, motivation, safety, and efficiency on the work site, which also benefits the contractor by reducing accidents and improving work quality. The comparison with companies Skanska and Veidekke shows that their initiatives, such as Skanska's IFE program and Veidekke's "We Build Teams" initiative, align with the workers' desires for a coaching and involving leadership style.In summary, the study emphasizes the importance of leadership that combines coaching, clarity, involvement, and attentiveness to promote a good work environment and increase efficiency in the construction industry. The initiatives and programs that companies like Skanska and Veidekke are working on show that they are on the right path to meeting the needs of construction workers and creating a sustainable and productive work environment.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration