Risk Mitigation in Construction

Safety is sustainability which is part of "Social" one of the key pillars of ESG. Underground cable detection is very important and life saving measures while doing excavation for utility companies I still remember 20 year ago one our workmen hit the High voltage underground live cable and died. I felt very sad that day and I stated working on various measures of cable detection before any excavation work wherever I had worked and save hundreds of lives. Urge all HSE professionals specially utility companies for having a cable /pipe locator : “ Cable Avoidance Tool (C.A.T) and Signal Generators (Genny)" and ensure it is used before starting any excavation along with trial pits , having insulated excavation tools, trainings etc. #safety #hseprofessionals #excavation #cablelocators

The worker hand was placed in the "line of fire" between the heavy object and a stationary surface. This unfortunate accident occurred because of the following expected causes: - Improper manual handling and lifting techniques "It was there no clear tag line"  - The large bag was not adequately secured during movement or positioning.  - Lack of situational awareness and inadequate communication during handling operations. - Lifting accessories was not valid. What we can do from HSE side: -Conduct a Risk Assessment Before any lifting activity, a thorough risk assessment must be completed to identify potential hazards and mitigation measures. - Review of Lifting Documents & Certifications Before starting any lifting activity a comprehensive review of all related documents and certificates of inspection's must be conducted. -Use Mechanical Aids, Certified Riggers & operator. Utilize mechanical lifting equipment with valid inspection certificates. Activities must only be performed by certified riggers and under competent supervision. - Tag line. Ensure tag lines are used to control loads and keep workers out of the danger zone. - Establish an Exclusion Zone Set up a clearly marked exclusion zone around the lifting area to prevent unauthorized or unsafe access. -Manual Handling Training Provide targeted training for workers on safe manual handling techniques, including hazard awareness and proper body positioning. -Communication Protocols Reinforce the importance of clear communication and task briefing before and during lifting operations.

There ya have it... Snap the streak of unsafe lifting situations by making sure the rigging you are using is adequate and in good working condition. Before each lift, rigging equipment should be thoroughly inspected for any signs of damage or wear, ensuring safe operation, as recommended by OSHA and industry best practices. Here's a more detailed explanation: OSHA Standard: OSHA standard 1926.251 recommends inspecting rigging equipment before use on each shift and as necessary during its use. Pre-Use Inspection: Conduct a comprehensive inspection of all rigging equipment before every use, including hooks, shackles, slings, and other components. Check for Damage: Carefully examine the rigging equipment for signs of wear, damage, or corrosion, such as chemical burns, heat damage, discoloration, damaged threading, corrosion, pitting, twists, bents, and nicks. Remove Damaged Equipment: If you find any damaged or defective rigging equipment, immediately remove it from service and do not return it to service unless approved by a qualified person. Competent Person: Designate a competent person for frequent lifting equipment inspection, who can be an individual or a crew member considered competent as per OSHA standards. Document Inspections: Thoroughly document your inspections to ensure accountability and track the condition of your rigging equipment. Periodic Inspections: In addition to pre-use inspections, conduct periodic inspections by a professional service provider or a qualified person, every 12 months (at a minimum) and monthly to quarterly in more severe service conditions. Safe Operation: Ensure all personnel are at a safe distance during the lifting and moving process and use taglines to stabilize and guide the load where necessary. Clear Communication: Employ hand signals and clear communication throughout the operation.

Overlooking basic checks—like verifying the shackle’s capacity or knowing the exact weight of a load—is a frequent mistake, but one that can easily be avoided. Taking steps to prevent these kinds of errors, especially the most common ones, is crucial to protecting both your people and your workplace. To help you recognize some of these typical, preventable rigging mistakes, here are key issues to watch out for: • The load weight is not identified. • Rigging gear is not properly inspected, or workers aren’t sure what to look for during inspections. • The rated capacity of slings or hardware is unknown. • Improperly made or modified below-the-hook lifting devices are being used. • The wrong sling, device, or hitch is selected for the job. • Sling protection is not being applied when necessary. • There’s a lack of understanding about the load’s structural stability. • Load control is not properly maintained. • Rigging charts are not referenced or consulted.

Construction Failure. The collapse of a wet concrete deck during a pour, resulting in the concrete falling to the ground, is a catastrophic event that can occur due to several factors related to structural, procedural, and material deficiencies. Below are some main factors: 1. Inadequate Formwork Design - Improper Load Bearing: Formwork not designed to handle the weight of wet concrete and construction equipment. - Insufficient Bracing - Deficient Materials: Use of low-quality or unsuitable materials for formwork components. 2. Shoring Failures - Improper Shoring Placement: Shoring supports not placed at the correct intervals or with proper alignment. - Overloading of Shores: Shores carrying loads beyond their designed capacity. - Settlement of Shores: Shores placed on unstable or unprepared ground can settle unevenly, leading to collapse. 3. Vibrations and Dynamic Loads - Equipment Movements: Movement of heavy machinery like concrete pumps can induce vibrations, destabilizing the formwork. - Concrete Placement Impact: Uneven or rapid concrete placement can create dynamic loads beyond the formwork's capacity. 4. Improper Construction Practices - Improper Pouring Techniques: Uneven distribution or overloading a specific area can lead to excessive localized stress. - Negligence in Monitoring: Failure to monitor deflections, cracks, or signs of instability during the pour. 5. Poor Ground Conditions - Unstable Ground: Supporting structures placed on weak, loose, or waterlogged soil. - Uneven Settling: Differential settlement of supports leading to instability. 6. Environmental Factors - High Winds: Wind loads causing lateral movement of formwork. 7. Material Quality Issues - Inadequate Concrete Mix - Defective Formwork Materials 8. Design Errors - Flawed Structural Design: Errors in calculating load distributions or overlooking critical stress points. - Lack of Safety Margins 9. Human Errors - Inadequate Supervision - Communication Gaps - Insufficient Training 10. Overloading Beyond Planned Capacity through overfilling and additional loads Mitigation Measures 1. Proper Planning and Design: Ensure formwork and shoring are designed for expected loads with adequate safety factors. 2. Quality Materials: Use high-quality materials for formwork and supports. 3. Inspection and Testing: Regularly inspect formwork and shoring during and after setup. 4. Controlled Pouring: Use planned sequences to avoid overloading specific areas. 5. Monitoring Ground Conditions: Stabilize and compact the ground under shoring supports. 6. Environmental Considerations 7.Training and Supervision: Ensure workers are trained, & experienced supervisors oversee operations. A comprehensive risk assessment & adherence to engineering best practices are critical to preventing such failures. To reach others, repost #construction #hse #management #leadership HSE Professionals Health Service Journal Occupational Safety and Health Association --OSHAssociation

LIFTING OPERATION Lifting operations on a construction site involve using machinery and equipment like cranes, hoists, and forklifts to move and position heavy loads. These operations are essential for building tall structures, installing equipment, and transporting materials across a worksite. However, they are also some of the most high-risk activities, with the potential for serious accidents, injuries, and fatalities if not managed properly. Lifting Operations Risks 1. Overloading: Attempting to lift a load that exceeds the equipment's capacity can lead to mechanical failure and the collapse of the machinery. 2. Falling Loads: If a load isn't properly secured, it can slip, swing, or drop, causing severe injury or death to anyone in the fall zone. 3. Crane Collapse: Unstable ground, improper setup, or high winds can cause a crane to tip over, resulting in catastrophic damage. 4. Electrocution: Contact with overhead power lines is a significant and often fatal risk for crane operators and ground workers. 5. Human Error: Inexperience, lack of communication, or a failure to follow safety procedures can lead to preventable accidents. Essential Safety Precautions to Mitigate the Risks Pre-Lift Planning & Inspection 1. Risk Assessment: Identify all potential hazards on and around the site, including ground conditions, wind, nearby structures, and power lines. 2. Equipment Inspection: A competent person must inspect all lifting equipment and accessories (slings, shackles, hooks) before each use to check for damage, defects, and proper function. All equipment should be properly maintained and have a visible tag indicating its Safe Working Load (SWL). 3. Competent Personnel: Ensure all workers involved, including the crane operator, slinger, and signalperson, are properly trained, certified, and aware of their specific roles and responsibilities. During the Lift 1. Proper Load Securing: The load's weight, size, and center of gravity must be accurately determined. Use the correct rigging equipment and method to ensure the load is stable and secure before lifting. 2. Clear Communication: A designated signalperson should use standardized hand signals or a radio to communicate with the crane operator, especially during blind lifts where the operator's view is obstructed. 3. Maintain Exclusion Zones: Clearly mark off and barricade the area beneath and around the suspended load. Absolutely no one should be allowed to stand or walk under a suspended load. 4. Monitor Conditions: Continuously monitor environmental conditions like wind speed and weather, and halt the operation if conditions become unsafe. Post-Lift 1. Proper Storage: After use, lifting accessories should be cleaned, inspected, and stored properly to prevent damage and deterioration. 2. Review and Documentation: The lifting plan and any incidents should be documented and reviewed to improve future operations.

Counterfeit d-shackles are killing workers Last year, a tower crane lift on a Mumbai high-rise. The safety audit had just passed. All lifting gear was "certified." Mid-lift, the shackle pin backed out. 2-ton steel beam. 15-meter drop. Missed workers by seconds. The investigation? Pin was loose. Batch number was fake. Nobody had actually checked the markings. 💡Here's what every construction professional misses: D-shackles aren't just metal loops. They're engineered components with critical identifiers. And most site teams can't read them. 💡The 7 Critical Checks: 📌Before Every Lift: ➡CE Marked - European conformity standard Missing? Don't use it. ➡Safe Work Load (SWL) - Maximum rated capacity Faded or illegible? Discard immediately. ➡Manufacturer Company - Traceable origin Unknown brand? High risk of counterfeit. ➡Test Batch Reference Number - Traceability No number = no proof of testing. ➡Shackle Diameter - Size specification Must match your rigging plan exactly. ➡Thread Condition - Pin wear check Stripped threads = failure point. ➡Overall Condition - Visual inspection Cracks, deformation, corrosion? Reject it. 💡The Reality Check: I've watched riggers grab shackles based on "looks about right." No marking verification. No load calculation. Just muscle memory and hope. That's not risk management. That's luck. 💡The Common Failures: ❌ Using shackles without visible SWL markings. ❌ Mixing metric and imperial sizes. ❌ Ignoring thread damage on pins. ❌ Accepting "replacement" pins from unknown sources. ❌ Skipping batch number documentation. 💡The 60-Second Protocol: ✓ Read all 7 markings before every lift. ✓ Match SWL to load calculation (with safety factor). ✓ Check pin threads - finger tight, wrench snug. ✓ Document batch numbers in lift plan. ✓ Reject any shackle with unclear markings. 💡The Truth: Counterfeit lifting gear is everywhere. Perfect-looking shackles with fake certifications. They fail at 40% of rated load. The only defense? Know what to look for. 💡The Lesson: Zero harm means zero assumptions about gear. That 30-second marking check? It's the difference between a safe lift and a fatality. 💡The Standard: If you can't read all 7 markings clearly, that shackle doesn't go on the hook. No exceptions. No "just this once." 💡Your Action Today: Walk to your lifting gear storage right now. Pick up three random shackles. Can you identify all 7 markings on each? If not, your team needs training. Question: How does your site verify lifting gear before use? Do you have a formal marking verification process, or is it visual-only? Share your protocol below—let's raise the standard together. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: Great 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 aren't born— they're made through learning from others' 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 👍🏻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ✍🏻𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 🎁 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄👆𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 🤝 #LiftingSafety #ConstructionSafety #EHS #ZeroHarm #Careerdwar #VishalManocha #AakarSafetyVision

⚓️ RIGGING & LIFTING SAFETY 🏗️ Rigging and lifting operations are high-risk activities where one small mistake can lead to serious injuries, fatalities, or costly damage to equipment. Safe lifting requires planning, inspection, communication, and skilled teamwork. --- 1️⃣ 🛠️ Pre-Operation Inspection 👀 Inspect all rigging equipment (slings, hooks, chains, shackles) for cracks, bends, frays, or defects. 📋 Verify load rating tags are visible and valid. ❌ Immediately remove any damaged or uncertified gear from service. 🔧 Ensure crane, hoists, and lifting devices are well maintained. --- 2️⃣ ⚖️ Know Your Load 🧮 Calculate the exact weight of the load. 📐 Identify the center of gravity for stability. 🚫 Never exceed rated capacity of lifting equipment or rigging gear. 🔍 Use load charts for cranes and lifting devices before starting. --- 3️⃣ 🔗 Proper Rigging Techniques 🪢 Select correct sling types (wire rope, chain, synthetic web). 🔒 Ensure shackles, hooks, and pins are fully secured. 📏 Keep rigging angles above 45° when possible to reduce stress. ⚠️ Never use makeshift rigging or tie knots unless engineered for the load. --- 4️⃣ 🧑🤝🧑 Qualified Personnel 👷 Only trained, competent, and certified riggers & operators may conduct lifts. 📚 Provide ongoing training on OSHA / lifting standards. 🛡️ Assign a designated signal person for crane operations. --- 5️⃣ 📣 Clear Communication 🔄 Review the lift plan with the entire crew. 🤟 Use standard hand signals or radios for safe coordination. 🛑 Stop operations immediately if communication is lost. --- 6️⃣ 🚧 Area Safety 🚷 Restrict unauthorized personnel from the lift zone. 🚨 Use barricades, cones, and safety signs. ⚡ Maintain safe clearance from overhead power lines. 🧯 Ensure emergency procedures are known by all team members. --- 7️⃣ 🚀 Safe Lifting Practices 🔄 Lift loads straight up — avoid swinging, jerking, or sudden shifts. ⚖️ Double-check balance before traveling with a load. ⏳ Always lift and lower slowly for control. ❌ Never stand under a suspended load. --- 8️⃣ 🛠️ Post-Lift Inspection & Maintenance 🔍 Reinspect rigging gear after each use. 🧹 Clean, dry, and store properly to prevent rust or damage. 🔧 Tag and report any worn-out equipment for repair or disposal. --- 🧠 Remember: ⚠️ Every lift is critical — even a "small lift" can turn dangerous. Proper rigging & lifting practices save lives, protect assets, and ensure smooth operations. Safety always comes first! --- 🔖 #RiggingSafety #LiftingSafety #CraneSafety #WorkplaceSafety #ConstructionSafety #SafeLifting #LoadHandling #SafetyCulture #TeamSafety #ZeroHarm

🔧 Drilling a wall to hang or install medical equipment is not unusual for Biomedical Engineers—but it’s one of those simple tasks that can sometimes lead to serious consequences if not approached carefully. What may look like just another wall could actually be hiding critical utilities such as: 💧 Concealed water pipes ⚡ Electrical power lines 🫁 Medical gas pipelines (O₂, vacuum, compressed air, etc.) 🔥 Fire alarm & sprinkler lines 📡 Data and communication cables ⚠️ Potential Consequences if done without proper study or consultation: 📛Flooding and water damage in critical patient care areas. 📛Electrical hazards causing shocks, equipment damage, or even fire. 📛Oxygen or medical gas leakage creating life-threatening risks. 📛Disruption of IT & communication systems, affecting patient care. 📛Costly downtime, repair, and reputational damage for the facility. ➡️Best Practices to Prevent Such Incidents: ❇️Always consult the MEP team before drilling. ❇️Review as-built drawings or updated facility plans. ✳️Use wall scanners/detectors to identify concealed utilities. ✳️Get work permits/approvals before starting any wall drilling. ✳️In sensitive areas, consider alternate mounting solutions. In healthcare facilities, even a minor mistake can create a major crisis. Let’s prioritize safety, communication, and coordination—because patient care depends on it. #BiomedicalEngineering #HealthcareSafety #MedicalEquipment #PatientSafety #MEP #HospitalManagement #FacilitySafety #RiskManagement #HealthcareTechnology

Stopping rebar corrosion is as simple as patching the concrete. Wrong. Patching damaged concrete does not stop corrosion. In fact, it may make it worse. When concrete spalling is caused by corrosion of reinforcement, patching the surface might look like a fix – but if you do not address the cause of rusting steel, you are not solving the problem. You are shifting it. This is called the 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵, also known as 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 – where new concrete patches can actually accelerate corrosion in adjacent, untreated areas. Why? Because you change the electrochemical environment of the steel. The corrosion current just moves to the edge of the patch and keeps going. In other words, the rust doesn’t stop, it simply moves. Effective repairs require more than a patch: → Control water ingress  → Stop chlorides and carbonation → Apply corrosion inhibitors to reinforcement → Install cathodic protection system → Install galvanic anodes Corrosion is not a cosmetic issue. It is structural. If you are managing asset remediation, you need to treat the cause, not just the symptom. If you are planning concrete remediation, get engineering advice before locking in your repair strategy. It could save years of trouble. Have you seen patch repairs fail too soon? --- BTW the picture was created by AI. Not quite perfect, but a very good attempt! What do you think?