Salahaddin University

College of Engineering Hazard

Architecture Department Identification and
5th Grade - Spring Semester
2023 - 2024 Risk Assessment

Instructor: Asst. lec. Carol Kharbosh & Mr. Bayar

Introduction

What is a Hazard?
• a source or a situation with the potential to cause harm including human injury
or ill-health, damage to property, damage to the environment, or a combination
of these.
• Examples: Working at heights, moving machinery, electrical wires.

What is Risk?
• A risk is the chance of something happening that will have a negative effect. Or
in other word is The probability that a hazard will cause harm.

The level of risk reflects:

• the likelihood of the unwanted event
• the potential consequences of the unwanted event.
• Factors: Frequency of exposure, severity of consequences, existing safety
measures.
OSHA & International Standards on Risk Assessment

OSHA Regulations:
• General Duty Clause (OSHA Act, Section 5(a)(1)) – Employers must provide a
hazard-free workplace.
• 29 CFR 1926.20 – Employers must establish safety and health programs.
• Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) – 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Workers must
be informed of hazards.

ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational Health & Safety Management System

• International framework for risk management
Types of Construction Hazards

• Physical Hazards (Slips, trips, falls, equipment movement)

• Chemical Hazards (Exposure to toxic substances, fumes, asbestos)
• Biological Hazards (Mold, bacteria, viruses)
• Ergonomic Hazards (Poor lifting techniques, repetitive motion injuries)
• Electrical Hazards (Live wires, exposed conductors)
• Psychosocial Hazards (Workplace stress, mental health issues)
OSHA Standards

OSHA Most Frequently Cited Standards that must be Checked

include:

Fall
Scaffolding Ladders Stairways
Protection

Head
Cranes Trenching
Protection
OSHA Standards

Scaffolding
Hazard

• Fall hazards
• Collapse hazards

Solutions

• Scaffold must be structurally sound, rigid and

sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the
maximum intended load.

• Unstable objects, such as barrels or boxes must not

be used to support scaffolds or planks.
OSHA Standards

Scaffolding
Solutions

• Scaffold must not be erected except under the

Supervision of a competent person

• Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails

• Scaffolds must be at least 1O feet (3.00 m) from

uninsulated electric power lines and 3 feet (0.90 m)
from insulated lines.
OSHA Standards

Fall Protection
Hazard

Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest

number of fatalities in the construction industry.

Solutions

• Consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms

• Erect guardrail systems with toe boards and warning

lines
OSHA Standards

Fall Protection

Solutions

• Cover floor holes

• Use Safety net systems

• Use personal fall arrest systems (body harnesses)

OSHA Standards

Ladders
Hazard

Ladders and stairways are another source of injuries

and fatalities among construction workers.

Solutions

• Use the correct ladder for the task.

• Have a competent person visually inspect a ladder

before use for any defects.
OSHA Standards

Ladders

Solutions

• Make sure that ladders are long enough to safely

reach the work area.

• Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended

load

• Avoid using ladders with metallic components near

electrical work
OSHA Standards

Stairways
Hazard

Slips, trips and falls on stairways area major source of

injuries and fatalities among construction workers.

Solutions

Stairway treads and walkways must be free o dangerous

objects, debris and materials.

Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than

30 inches (76 cm) must have at least one handrail.
OSHA Standards

Trenching
Hazard

Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds

of injuries each year.

Solutions

Never enter an unprotected trench.

Always use a protective system for trenches 5 feet (1.50

m) deep or greater.
OSHA Standards

Trenching

Solutions

Employ a registered professional engineer to design a

protective system for trenches 20 feet (6.00 m) deep or
greater.

Always provide a way to exit a trench-such as a ladder,

stairway

Make sure that trenches are inspected by a competent

person prior to entry and after any hazard-increasing
event
OSHA Standards

Cranes
Hazard

Significant and serious injuries may occur if cranes are

not inspected before use and if they are not used
properly.

Solutions

Check all crane controls to insure proper operation

before use.

Inspect wire rope, chains and hook for any damage.

OSHA Standards

Cranes

Solutions

Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift.

Ensure that the load does not exceed the crane's rated
capacity.

Raise the load a few inches to verify balance and the

effectiveness of the brake system.
OSHA Standards

Cranes

Solutions

Do not move a load over workers.

Barricade accessible areas within the crane's swing

radius.

Watch for overhead electrical distribution and

transmission lines and maintain a safe working clearance
of at least 10 feet (3.00 m) from energized electrical
lines.
OSHA Standards

Head Protection
Hazard

Serious head injuries can result from blows to the head.

Solutions

Be sure that workers wear hard hats

Chemical & Biological Hazards

• Chemical exposure (paint fumes, solvents, lead, silica dust) – OSHA HAZMAT
Standard (29 CFR 1910.120)
• Biological risks (poor sanitation, waterborne diseases)
• Prevention: PPE, ventilation, hazard labels (OSHA GHS standard)
Radiation

Ionizing radiation is produced by X-ray equipment and by

radioactive material.

Such radiation may be present on the construction site when X-

raying welds, measuring soil density, or performing nondestructive
materials testing.
Radiation

only well-trained employees should be permitted to operate such

equipment.

Workers must be provided anti laser eye protection when working

in areas having a potential exposure to laser light output greater
than 5 mW.
Toxic Materials

Construction workers may accidentally encounter toxic materials

at any time, particularly on reconstruction projects.

Every effort must be made to locate and properly protect utility

lines during excavation operations.
Toxic Materials

The air in a work area should be tested whenever an oxygen

deficiency or toxic gas is likely to be encountered.

Specific safety procedures and protective equipment should be

provided if hazardous liquids or solids are likely to be
encountered.
Electrical & Ergonomic Hazards

• Electrical shock risks – OSHA Electrical Safety (29 CFR 1926 Subpart K)
• Repetitive strain injuries from heavy lifting
• Example: Improper posture leading to back injuries
Environmental Health in Construction

Noise Dust Radiation

Toxic
Heat Cold
Materials
Noise

Cab enclosures can be used on construction equipment to protect

equipment operators from equipment noise.

The use of such enclosures has necessitated improved equipment

instrumentation to enable the operator to determine whether the
machine is operating properly without depending on the sound of
the equipment’s operation.
Noise

Although the use of operator enclosures permits an improved

operator environment, it also creates a safety hazard, because it is
difficult for workers outside the enclosures to communicate with
the equipment operator.

As a result, increased attention must be given to the use of guides,

backup alarms, and hand signals if accidents are to be avoided.
Dust

In addition to creating a safety hazard due to loss of visibility, dust

may be responsible for a number of lung diseases.

Silica dust and asbestos dust are particularly dangerous and

produce specific lung diseases (asbestosis and silicosis}.
Dust

Asbestos dust has also been found to be a cancer-producing agent

As a result, OSHA safety and health standards limit the
concentration of dust to which workers may be exposed,

The allowable concentration of asbestos particles is, as you might

expect, quite low.
Heat

Construction workers are often required to work under high-

temperature conditions.

Fortunately, the human body will acclimate itself to high

temperature conditions within a period of 7 to 10 days.
Heat

serious heat illness may result when workers are not properly
acclimated and protected, Medical effects range from fatal heat
stroke to minor heat fatigue,

It is particularly important to health that the body's water and salt

levels be maintained.
Heat

Methods for reducing heat effect on workers include:

- use of mechanical equipment to reduce physical labor
requirements,
- scheduling hot work for the cooler part of the day,
- use of sun shields, providing cool rest areas [optimum
temperatures about 77°F (25°C)].
- providing a water and salt supply easily accessible to
Workers.
-use of proper hot-weather clothing.
Cold

Medical effects of cold include:

-frostbite
-trench foot
-general hypothermia (reduction of the core body temperature).

General hypothermia is usually fatal when the body core

temperature drops below 65°F (18°C).
Cold

The major requirement for successful cold-weather construction

appears to be the provision of adequate clothing and warming
areas.

The use of bulky cold-weather clothing, however, reduces manual

dexterity and may increase the possibility of accidents.
The Risk Assessment Process

OSHA provides guidelines and standards that employers must follow to conduct
effective risk assessments:

1. Identifying Hazards: Employers must systematically identify and document

workplace hazards through inspections, observations, incident investigations, and
input from workers.

2. Assessing Risks: Once hazards are identified, employers assess the severity of
potential harm and the likelihood of exposure to these hazards.

3. Controlling Risks: Implement controls to eliminate or minimize identified hazards.

OSHA prioritizes the use of hierarchy of controls, including engineering controls,
administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

4. Reviewing and Updating: Regularly review and update risk assessments to reflect
changes in processes, equipment, and workplace conditions.
Hazard Identification

Walkthrough Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of the workplace to identify

potential hazards, such as slip/trip hazards, machinery risks, chemical exposures, etc.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Review SDS for chemicals used onsite to understand their
hazards and safe handling procedures.
Worker Input: Consult with workers to gather insights into hazards they encounter
during their tasks.
Risk Assessment

Risk assessment in this context is the process of quantifying the level of risk associated
with the operation of a given machine or process. It should be a structured and
systematic process that answers the following four specific questions:

• How severe are potential injuries?

• How frequently are employees exposed to the potential hazards?
• What is the possibility of avoiding the hazard if it does occur?
• What is the likelihood of an injury should a safety control system fail?
Risk Assessment

S = Severity
Question 1: Severity of potential injuries
S1 Slight injury (bruise, abrasion)
S2 Severe injury (amputation or death)

F = Frequency
Question 2: Frequency of exposure to potential hazards
F1 Infrequent exposure
F2 From frequent to continuous exposure

P = Possibility
Question 3: Possibility of avoiding the hazard if it does occur
P1 Possible
P2 Less possible to not impossible

L = Likelihood
Question 4: Likelihood that the hazard will occur Associated risk factors ranging from lowest (B) to highest
(4) By applying the decision tree in the Figure or a similar
L1 Highly unlikely
device, the risk associated with the operation of a given
L2 Unlikely machine can be quantified. This allows safety personnel
L3 Highly likely to assign logical priorities for machine safeguarding and
RL = Risk Levels hazard prevention.
Hazard Control

Hierarchy of Controls: Implement controls starting with elimination or substitution of

hazards, followed by engineering controls (e.g., machine guarding, ventilation),
administrative controls (e.g., training, work procedures), and PPE as a last resort.
Safety Protocols: Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) that
outline safe work practices and emergency procedures.
Monitoring and Review

Monitoring: Regularly monitor workplace conditions and practices to ensure controls

are effective and workers are adhering to safety protocols.
Review: Conduct periodic reviews of risk assessments to update hazard information,
evaluate the effectiveness of controls, and address new hazards or changes in
processes.
Thank you
Any Question?