Analyzing Safety and Risk Management in Canberra Construction Projects

This report delves into the critical aspects of safety and risk management within the construction industry, using a case study of a construction company in Canberra, Australia. It examines the workplace environment, focusing on hazards like low-hanging power lines, and analyzes a specific incident involving a fatal accident. The report explores various safety breaches and outlines preventative measures such as demolition of work, excavation protocols, safe design, and electrical risk management. It presents a detailed account of the accident, the legal proceedings, and the company's shortcomings in implementing safety measures. Furthermore, the report discusses the importance of risk management processes including hazard identification, risk assessment, and control measures, alongside the implementation of work procedures, training, and supervision to mitigate risks. It emphasizes the significance of accountability, maintenance, and information in fostering a safe work environment, drawing on Australian regulations and best practices to provide a comprehensive overview of safety management in construction, ultimately aiming to prevent future accidents and ensure a healthy workplace.

SAFETY AND RISK
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Description of Workplace...........................................................................................................1
Safety breach can be avoided......................................................................................................1
The case and the practices to resolve such issues.......................................................................2
Things which can drift the situation differently at the workplace..............................................4
CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
Illustration Index
Illustration 1: Risk Management process.........................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Safety and risk management are the practices which protect the right of individuals
working at hazardous locations. Implementing safety practices at work place play an important
role as it protects the employment rights of the workforce. Moreover, the report will analyse case
of Canberra in which from last few years almost 1.1 million dollar death were served due to
uneven and low establishment of power lines in the mid of road way. Further, it will outline the
case of Michael Booth, the truck driver who died in an accident due to minor touch with slung of
power lines at the site of work under Kenoss Contractor. Thus, the report will evaluate the safety
measures which can prevent the accidents at Construction Companies of Canberra.
Description of Workplace
The construction site where Michael was working was full of risk due to uneven and low
placement of power lines. The Contractors do not even focused on putting any signboards
regarding warning and creating awareness for the drivers therefore while driving the individuals
like Michael slung with power line and die. Further, there are many risks which can be the
reason of increasing death in the capital city of Australia. The authorities like, government, and
the specific contractors who are running projects under such conditions should focus on
implementing measures to protect the employees from various risk of construction site. The
major risk at work places of city is like, risk of falling from heights, confined space, pressurized
gas piping systems, use of hazardous chemicals and substances, energize electrical installation,
high temperature and midway establishment of power lines which interrupt the way of trucks at
work site.
Safety breach can be avoided
There are various models which can be implemented to prevent from hazardous incidents
at construction site of Canberra. The measures which should be followed by the project manager
of construction site are, Demolition of Work: This model states that every individual working under hazardous
condition should be provided with appropriate guidance regarding location of site and
work. This model aims at managing and controlling risk at construction site (Kines, &
et.al., 2010). This model should be under the rule book of every Contractor of
construction business.

 Excavation work: This model aims at giving practical guidance to the employees about
working condition and site. In this the management need to guide workers the risk which
can come across while working and the steps which can help the employees to escape the
situation or to deal with the uncertainties. Safe design and structure: In this the contractors are responsible for making safe and
flexible working structure for the employees in order to prevent risk. Moreover, under
this model the organization is liable to provide practical guidance to the workers about
the structure which can help the individuals to deal and skip the risky locations of site
(Carbonari, Giretti & Naticchia 2011). Managing electrical risk in the work place: This model states that every construction
firm is liable to manage and control the risk from electrical equipment like, tools, power
lines, electrical installation etc. Moreover, in accordance to this the employees should be
provided appropriate suits while working in such condition in order to prevent the risk
from electrical uncertainties.
 Managing Noise and preventing hearing loss at work: The major risk at construction
site is that, the people start losing their abilities to hear because of increased sound
pollution at the site. Therefore, this model aims at protecting the employees from sound
by providing them, the aids and facilities which can assist workers in working at
construction site with sound pollution.
The case and the practices to resolve such issues
In Canberra, the construction companies has served approximately 1.1 million dollar
accidents of truck driver by an immediate contact of truck with the low level slung of power
lines. In accordance to the case of the 48 year old man, Michael booth who died in the truck
accidents touched the low hanging wire of power lines at turn. The contractors did not show any
remorse towards the incidents and avoided it like many other accidents. According to many
employees and case there were no safety measures taken by the construction firms to prevent
accidents from any uncertainties. Further, in the court it was revealed that there were no warning
signs and boards to warn the drivers about the low level of power lines (Elizabeth 2015). The
risk in Canberra is obvious but Kenoss the contractor neglected it which ruined lives of
employees like Michael Booth. Furthermore, in the case the court charged the action against two
project managers that is, Munir Al Hasani and Kenoss who were responsible to maintain healthy

and safe environment at workplace. Apart from this, only one manager was present that is Hasani
because Kenoss was in liquidity and therefore not represented in the case. The court head the
appealing from both the side but the project manager of the company was not answerable for not
implementing warning signs, boards or flags to alert truck drivers like, Mr. Booth about the
danger.
Besides, to resolve the issue and prevent risk like this, the company can follow many
measures and model enacted by government of Canberra, to save lives against risk at workplace.
The companies working under risky conditions can follow the model that is, Demolition of Work
in which the construction companies like Kenoss Contractors are liable to provide guidance to
employees regarding location and its risk which can assist the employees in taking safe action
while working. Moreover, Contractors need to follow the models which can reduce the risk from
sound pollution, and electrical installation by following the models like, managing electrical risk
and managing noise pollution at construction site. These models by government of Canberra are
formulated to make workers aware about the electrical uncertainties which can arise due to minor
negligence (Rozenfeld, Sacks & Baum 2010). The construction organisations are liable to
comply with these models because not maintaining healthy and safe management practices at
construction site is a punishable offense for the enterprise. It is important for every organisation
to comply with risk and safety management practices of workplace because the policies and
functioning do not only impact the internal functioning of enterprises instead it impacts the
market image of the business too. Implementation of safety policies and practices act as tonic for
the construction business because it helps in managing time and deriving the easiest way to
accomplish the project. Apart from this, briefing employees about the site and work provides the
guidance to employees by which the workers can move forward keeping in mind their safety
measures. To make the briefing process easier, the Australian government has enacted model
which is Excavation of work which provides the companies a systematic process to guide
employee about all the practices carried out at construction site which can cause risk (Zhou,
Whyte & Sacks 2012).
Henceforth, implementing the use of safe practices and models at construction site can
assist the organisations of Canberra to prevent hazardous incidents. Complying with the
regulations like, Demolition of Work, Excavation work, Safe design and structure, Managing
electrical risk in the work place, Managing Noise and preventing hearing loss at work are the

basic models which are necessary to be implemented in order to protect the rights of employees
working at construction sites (Badri, Gbodossou & Nadeau 2012). There are some health and
safe duties which are necessary for the companies to follow which are as follows:
 It is important for the commission structure of the organisations of Canberra to consult
designer who can formulate the structure of the organisation keeping in mind the safety
measures of workers.
 The construction companies in the city need to carry out the work process in order to
control and manage risk which can arise at construction site.
 The contractor of the businesses must be aware about the Work and safety practices that
can help the enterprise in controlling uncertainties and risk at site.
 The contractor of site must ensure that there is an easy entry and exit facilities for
workers in case of risk.
Things which can help drift the situation differently at the workplace.
The best method to manage and control risk at construction sites is, risk management
process which involves 4 steps which are as follows:

 Identifying hazard: By using this, initially the companies can identifying the reason and
loopholes due to which the risks are arising at workplace. It is important for the
construction companies of Canberra to first analyse the risk and its reasons.
 Assessing Risk: In this step, the project management team of the enterprise identifies the
risk, its impact and harm. Moreover, this helps the manager in evaluating the
consequences' which can arise if the organisation will not the control the factors.
 Controlling Risk: In this step, the manager can implement the methods and process
which help the team in controlling and preventing hazard at construction site.
Illustration 1: Risk Management process
Source: (Identifying, assess and control hazards, 2017).

 Reviewing control measures: After implementing the process and measures to control
risk it is important for management to monitor over the measures and step in order to
discover loopholes and shortcomings which can further arise and can risk individuals life
(Hopkins 2011).
Implementing control at workplace to control and manage risk and safety of employees can drift
the situation of Australian City into a safe and healthy work environment. The manager can
control the risk by following tree steps such as:
 Work procedures: It is important for the management for the organisations to develop
the systematic work structure in which problems and risk can be easily identified.
 Training and development session: It is important for the construction business to
provide appropriate training and development session to employees regarding risk and
uncertainties which can arise due to electric installation, noise, or working on heights
etc. Regular training and development session helps the enterprise to acknowledge and
understand the uncertainties in order to provide to appropriate instruction regarding site
activities (Bansal 2011).
 Supervision: It is important for the project manager to look over the activities and guide
the employees at work because it is not necessary that every worker at the organisation is
skilled and knowledgable regarding work therefore supervising staff act as tonic for
controlling and managing risk at site.
Hence, in accordance to the case of construction site, Contractor need to have effective control
and compliance with the legal frame of Canberra is formulated in way to prevent risk at
construction site. The measures which can assist the business are as follows:
 Accountability for heath and safety: allocation of resources and appropriate structure
and procedure of work can help the firm in establishing effective control over risk and
uncertainties.
 Maintenance of plant and equipment: In this step the project manager is liable to
inspect and test the site where the employees are performing their business operations.
This is helpful in identifying and maintaining risk and loopholes on time (Hallowell,
M.R. & et.al., 2013).
 Adequate hazard information: Complete information regarding site in Canberra plays a
major role because it reduces the risk up to 90 percent. As in this the management

directly understands the place where risk can arise so that the manager can take action
regarding same in order to prevent accidents.
 Regular review and consultation: Timely consultation from expertise over risk and
uncertainties can help the firm in controlling hazardous situation like loss of life, major
injuries etc.
CONCLUSIONS
The report summarized the case of Michael Booth, the truck driver, who died in the
accident at the site. Michael used to work for Construction company in Canberra. It analysed
various loopholes due to which approximately 1.1 million Dollar people died in truck accident
while working due to low level placement of power lines in midway of trucks. Further, the report
evaluated various measures due to which the accidents were occurring and the measures' which
can help the organisation to control and manage uncertainties. Thus, the report concluded by
steps which can assist the construction business of Canberra in preventing accidents and hazards
at site like the risk management process and establishing effective control and supervision

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Badri, A., Gbodossou, A. & Nadeau, S.,(2012). Occupational health and safety risks: Towards
the integration into project management. Safety science. 50(2). pp.190-198.
Bansal, V.K., (2011). Application of geographic information systems in construction safety
planning. International Journal of Project Management. 29(1). pp.66-77.
Carbonari, A., Giretti, A. & Naticchia, B., (2011). A proactive system for real-time safety
management in construction sites. Automation in Construction. 20(6). pp.686-698.
Hallowell, M.R. & et.al., (2013). Proactive construction safety control: Measuring, monitoring,
and responding to safety leading indicators. Journal of Construction Engineering and
Management. 139(10). p.04013010.
Hopkins, A., (2011). Risk-management and rule-compliance: Decision-making in hazardous
industries. Safety science. 49(2), pp.110-120.
Kines, P., &et.al., (2010). Improving construction site safety through leader-based verbal safety
communication. Journal of safety research. 41(5). pp.399-406.
Rozenfeld, O., Sacks, R., & Baum, H., (2010). Construction job safety analysis. Safety science.
48(4). pp.491-498.
Zhou, W., Whyte, J. & Sacks, R., (2012). Construction safety and digital design: A review.
Automation in Construction. 22. pp.102-111.
Online
Elizabeth B. (2015). Canberra project manager blames victim for workplace death during road
resurfacing project. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-
02-27/canberra-project-manager-blames-victim-for-workplace-death/6270404>.
[Accessed On 2nd October 2017].
Identifying, assess and control hazards 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/risk>. [Accessed On 2nd October 2017].