Construction projects are extremely complicated and can expose you to various risks. To avoid these risks, strict codes, laws, and regulations must be accompanied during construction. However, there is no way to completely avoid risks because there will always be unknown factors that arise during the course of a project. Understanding the different types of risks and how to manage them is one of the best ways to manage risks. You can improve your risk management and prevent potential losses by quickly identifying and categorizing risks before you begin a project.
Additionally, risk assessment entails closely examining your workplace to identify any elements, circumstances, or procedures that could be harmful, particularly to individuals. Following identification, you assess the risk’s likelihood and seriousness. After making this determination, one can decide what steps should be taken to remove or regulate the harm successfully. The different types of construction risk are described below, along with the criteria for a successful risk assessment.
Environmental risks in construction, technical risks in construction, logistical risks in construction, management-related risks in construction, financial risks in construction, and socio-political risks in construction are the six categories into which construction risks can be divided. However, in this instance, environmental risk will be weighed most.
Risks associated with the environment are the likelihood and consequences of an unanticipated accident. Natural disasters, which are devastating occurrences caused by the atmosphere, geological, and hydrological factors, such as drought, earthquakes, floods, and landslides, can result in deaths, damage to property, and social and environmental disruption. Weather and seasonal effects may also lead to environmental risk. And when people are unaccustomed to the local conditions, these risks are frequently overlooked. If one is going to work on a project in a new place, one should become acquainted with the weather patterns of that area. An individual will most likely avoid potential postponements and losses if they plan for potential weather risks.
In addition to environmental risks, other risks include technical risks in construction, which include anything that prevents you from producing the goods your customers desire. This can include unreliable site investigation, unfinished designs, and uncertain resource and material availability. These risks can frequently arise due to changes to the project’s scope and requirements as well as from mistakes or omissions in the design (Siraj & Fayek, 2019). Additionally, there are practical risks in construction that must be addressed before a project can start. These hazards include the accessibility of transportation infrastructure as well as the accessibility of tools like replacement components, fuel, and labor. You run the risk of causing project delays and financial losses if you don’t address these logistical problems.
Construction Financial Risks such as Inflation, local taxes, availability, and currency fluctuations are just a few of the financial risks one may face during a construction project. If individuals are working on an international project, they have to comprehend how foreign money will be shared. Individual nations also have significantly distinct taxes, which one should consider prior to beginning a project. If you work in a place with low taxes as opposed to a place with high taxes, the financial picture will look very different. Construction Management-Related Risks, Uncertainty in resource productivity is the most prevalent management-related risk. Also, it is important to make sure your staff is adequately trained and that their roles and responsibilities have been clearly defined before starting a project. And devastating losses may result from failing to do this.
Social and political risks in construction make up the final risk category. One or more of the political and social risks one might experience during a construction project includes customs and import restrictions, as well as challenges with equipment disposal. There will be various rules and codes that one must follow regardless of where your project is. An individual is going to be in for an unpleasant surprise if he or she believes every project will follow the same rules and guidelines.
The term risk assessment refers to the general procedure or way of identifying risks and dangers variables that have the ability to bring about damage (Mahmoud et al., 2020). As a result, risk identification leads to risk analysis and evaluation of the risk associated with that hazard. Risk assessment and identifying suitable measures to eliminate the risk or regulate the risk when the danger cannot be eliminated or risk control are all steps in the risk identification process. Risk analysis is defined as the process of determining the type of hazards and the degree of risk. As a result, a risk assessment is an in-depth investigation of your workplace to find those items, circumstances, and procedures that could lead to harm, especially to vulnerable people. After identifying the risk, you must analyze and assess its likelihood and severity. After you’ve made this determination, you can decide what steps should be taken to efficiently remove or regulate the harm.
Understanding the appropriate time for the assessment can be helpful at times. Therefore, when conducting such an evaluation, there may be a variety of factors that make a risk assessment necessary, including when new products, machinery, tools, or equipment are introduced, as well as when new information about harm becomes available. A risk assessment should also be conducted before changes are made to current operations or activities. Whenever risks have been identified, it should be done at that point.
Some of the objectives must be looked at whenever carrying out the risk assessment. As a result, one of the goals of the procedure for risk assessment is to assess the risks, then remove or reduce the level of risk by implementing control measures as needed. Then you would have thus created an environment that is healthier and more secure. Furthermore, these objectives attempt to answer the question of what circumstances and what conditions. What are the potential outcomes of these risks? How likely are the potential consequences to occur, and, finally, is the risk effectively controlled, or does additional action need to be taken? As a result, these will make a contribution to the success of a risk assessment.
One should have a great plan to make this risk assessment successful when one wants to become successful in an organization or anywhere else. An individual should first be aware of the parameters of their risk assessment. For example, they ought to be specific about the aspects they are evaluating, such as the product’s lifetime, the location where their job takes place, or the kinds of risk. Anyone should be mindful of the resources required to conduct a successful risk assessment, including the kinds of sources of information as well as training a team for people to conduct the assessment.
Individuals should be aware of the risk analysis measures that are going to be used, such as how precise the range or factors must be in order to deliver the most appropriate evaluation. When conducting this risk assessment, it is important to comprehend who the stakeholders are. Managers, workers, worker representatives, and even suppliers are examples of such individuals. Furthermore, understanding the appropriate laws, restrictions, codes, or requirements that may apply in your jurisdiction, as well as organizational policies and procedures, is critical to the success of the risk assessment.
Additionally, for the risk assessment to be successful, it should be performed by a competent individual or team of individuals who have a thorough understanding of the situation under consideration. Include managers and employees who work with the process under review on the team or as sources of information, as these people are the most knowledgeable about the operation. To perform that assessment, one must first identify the risk. Determining the likelihood of harm, such as an injury or illness occurring, and the severity of the harm, in which everyday working circumstances,, as well as unusual events such as maintenance, shutdowns, power outages, emergencies, and extreme weather,, should be considered.
The majority of the time, it’s crucial to review all health and safety information that is available regarding the risks, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS), manufacturer literature, information from trusted organizations, test results, inspection reports, records of incidents at work or accidents, including details on the nature and frequency of incidents, illnesses, and injuries, and understanding the minimal legislated demands for the authority (Luo et al., 2019). Determining the steps required to reduce or eliminate the risk using a structure of risk management techniques, then evaluating the results to see if the risk was successfully reduced or effectively managed. Ensure that the control is still working by keeping an eye on it. Any records or documents that might be required were being kept. As a result, documentation may include a description of the risk assessment procedure, a summary of any evaluations, or a description of the conclusions reached regarding the risk.
One should consider the techniques and procedures used in the preparation, use, handling, or storage of the substance when conducting this risk assessment. The actual and potential worker exposure, including the number of workers who may be exposed, the nature of that exposure, and the frequency of that exposure. The steps and methods required to limit such exposure using engineering safeguards, work habits, and facilities and practices for hygiene. Because of the task’s length and frequency, it is important to be aware of these factors. The place where the task is completed. The equipment, materials, and methods used in an operation, such as the chemical’s physical state or lifting heavy loads over a long distance. If the task could have an impact on others, such as cleaners and visitors, and any potential interactions with nearby activities.
Additionally, the workers have been educated and trained on how a person would respond in a specific circumstance, such as what would be a typical response by a person if the equipment failed or malfunctioned. Therefore, it’s critical to keep in mind that the assessment must consider both the current workplace environment and any potential situations. The employer, as well as the committee on health and safety, as applicable, can decide if a control program is necessary and to what extent by identifying the level of risk connected with the risks. It is important to identify risks in any workplace; the overall goal is to find and document potential risks in your workplace. Working as a team that includes both people who are accustomed to the work area and people who are unfamiliar with the location may be beneficial. As a result, you have both an experienced and an innovative eye for performing the inspection. In both scenarios, the person or team conducting the assessment should be competent and have knowledge concerning the risk being evaluated, any circumstances that may arise, and precautions suitable to that danger or risk. To ensure that all risks are identified, one should examine all aspects of the work. Non-routine tasks such as maintenance, repair, or cleaning should also be included. And those who work away from the office, whether at home, on additional job sites, as drivers, remote workers, or with prospects.
By looking at how work is organized or done also includes the abilities of those doing the work as well as the systems in use. Consider foreseeable unusual conditions, such as the potential impact on risk control techniques that may be not available in an emergency or power outage. Find whether a product, machine, or piece of equipment, such as a safety guard, can be changed intentionally or unintentionally. Examine any accident, occurrence, or near-miss records. Examine the risks to people or the general public. Finally, is to consider the groups of people who may be at a higher risk, such as fresh or inexperienced workers, people with impairments, or new employees.
It is critical to understand whether an incident will cause damage or pose a risk. Every potential danger should be investigated to assess its level of risk; thus, prior injuries, illnesses, mishaps, and incident reports should be reviewed to perform a risk assessment. Material on the hazard’s health and safety, such as data sheets for safety, investigations, or other information provided by the manufacturer. Previous knowledge or expertise from coworkers. Finally, details about the product or manufacturer documentation are provided (Van Thuyet et al., 2019). When conducting a risk assessment, certain factors, such as the place of employment arrangement or condition, the work systems in use, as well as the way the source can lead to harm, such as breathing in or ingestion, all contribute to the level of risk.
One method for figuring out which risk is among the most serious and, consequently, which to control first, is to rank or prioritize risks. The likelihood of a serious occurrence, injury, or illness occurring, as well as employee exposure, is typically taken into consideration when determining priority. You establish a ranking or action list by giving the risks a priority. There is no single, easy way to assess risk, and no single method will work in every circumstance. The company must decide which approach will be most effective in each circumstance. Ranking risks needs understanding with workplace activities, an understanding of the need of circumstances, and, most significantly, objective judgment. An assessment may actually be a discussion or brainstorming exercise based on knowledge and experience for simple or less complex situations. Inspection checklists or a matrix of probabilities can be useful in some situations. A team of experienced workers who are comfortable with the work is usually required for more complex situations.
In summary, risk assessments are crucial because they are a crucial component of a management plan for occupational health and safety. In doing so, they contribute to raising awareness of risks. Determining who might be in danger, such as workers, cleaners, guests, contractors, and the general public. It aids in figuring out whether an intervention program is necessary for a specific risk. Prioritizing risk and prevention strategies can help determine whether current safeguards are sufficient or whether more needs to be done to avoid accidents or sickness, especially when performed during the planning or design phases. Furthermore, they support legal compliance when necessary. It is crucial to understand whether your risk assessment has been thorough and accurate. It is also crucial to confirm that any changes to the working environment have not resulted in the introduction of new risks or the elevation of risks that were previously given a lower priority. It is wise to regularly review your assessment to be sure your control measures are working.
References
Luo, Z., Zeng, L., Pan, H., Hu, Q., Liang, B., & Han, J. (2019). Research on construction safety risk assessment of new subway station close-attached undercrossing the existing operating station. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2019.
Sanni-Anibire, M. O., Mahmoud, A. S., Hassanain, M. A., & Salami, B. A. (2020). A risk assessment approach for enhancing construction safety performance. Safety science, 121, 15-29.
Siraj, N. B., & Fayek, A. R. (2019). Risk identification and common risks in construction: Literature review and content analysis. Journal of construction engineering and management, 145(9), 03119004.
Van Thuyet, N., Ogunlana, S. O., & Dey, P. K. (2019). Risk management in oil and gas construction projects in Vietnam. In Risk Management in Engineering and Construction (pp. 225-247). Routledge.
Zhang, F., Fleyeh, H., Wang, X., & Lu, M. (2019). Construction site accident analysis using text mining and natural language processing techniques. Automation in Construction, 99, 238-248.
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