Risk Assessment in Construction Workers: A Case Study of Residential Construction Sites

Abstract

Background and objective:Injuries caused by accidents in the construction industries are highest incidence compared to other manufacturings and has been increasing in each year. This survey study aimed to assess the health risk on injuries of residential construction workers in Khon Kaen province.

Methods:There were 80 workers from five residential construction sites, where comprised of three main processes including earthworks and foundations, structures, and system and decorating works. Data were collected by using the checklists, the structured questionnaire and risk assessment was done by performing health risk matrix of probability and severity of injuries.

Results:The results showed that the high probability of injuries were that the objects or items crash/cut/contact/stab during earthworks and foundation process, the musculoskeletal injuries from every process, skin or respiratory system irritation from system and decorating process. Risk matrix indicated the high risk to unacceptable risk levels from accidents (77.05%) and presented the highest percentage in earthworks and foundation process (36.06%), followed by structure process (21.31%).

Conclusion:The findings showed that construction workers had very high risk on injuries during earthworks, foundation and structures processes. The owners should be awared of setting the safety standard by risk management program to minimize the accidents with workers’ participation.