International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 05 Issue: 12 | Dec 2018 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072 © 2018, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.211 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 438 LABOUR SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A LITERATURE REVIEW Mr.C.Ravikumar 1 , Mr.A.Varadharaj 2 1 PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, RVS .Technical Campus, Coimbatore-641402, India 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, RVS .Technical Campus, Coimbatore-641402, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract - Construction is the second largest economic activity in India after agriculture. For a construction project to be successful, safety of the structures as well as that of the personnel is of utmost importance. The safety issues are to be considered right from the design stage till the completion and handing over of the structure. Construction industry employs skilled and unskilled labourers subject to construction site accidents and health risks. A proper coordination between contractors, clients, and workforce is needed for safe work condition which is very much lacking in Indian construction companies. A large number of construction workers are exposed to the risks of workplace accidents and occupational health problems. Accidents and illness can be extremely costly for a construction firm. Though labour safety laws are available, the numerous accidents taking place at construction sites are continuing. Management commitment towards health and safety of the workers is also lacking. A detailed literature study was carried out to understand the causes of accidents, preventive measures, and development of safe work environment. Key Words: Accidents, risks, labour safety, safety laws, preventive measures. 1. INTRODUCTION In India the construction industry is the largest among the non-farming sector to generate jobs. But it also is a large contributor of grievous injuries and deaths of its workers in the country. The construction area of civil engineering is one of the most hazardous industries worldwide. The ‘fatal four’ causes of disastrous incidents in the construction industry are falls, electrocutions, being struck by objects and caught in between. The rapid growth of construction industry in India today is out of proportion to practical developments in terms of safety and health aspects of the construction workers. Pitfalls in legislation combined with lack of proper implementation is also a significant contributor. The Indian construction workers form 7.5% of the world labour force, but it contributes to 16.4% of fatal global occupational accidents [1]. It accounts for about 11% of occupational injuries and 20% of deaths resulting from occupational accidents [2]. In the construction industry the possibility of a fatality is five times more likely than in a manufacturing industry, whereas the risk of a major injury is two and a half times higher. Each year, up to 120 people are killed at work place in the developed countries like UK and there are about 3000 workers who suffer from major injuries in construction-related accidents [3], these facts tarnish the image of the construction industry, and making it more difficult to attract skilled labour [4]. In the past decade, need for safety awareness among construction companies has fiscally increased [5]. This is due to the high cost associated with work-related injuries, worker’s compensation, insurance premium, indirect costs of injuries, and litigation. Every year, a considerable amount of time is lost due to work-related health problems and site accidents [6]. There are several factors responsible for health problems and construction site accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) examined the causes of construction fatalities, result showed that 33% of fatalities in construction were caused by falls, 22% were struck by objects. 18% were caught in/between incidents, 17% were electrocutions, and 10% were caused by other reasons (1985-89). 1.1 Various Techniques There are several techniques that can be adopted for labour safety, Hazard Analysis: Before any construction work takes place, management should assess job site condition to identify potential areas of serious injuries. Many serious injuries are attributed to workers falls, collapse, being struck by vehicles, trench cave-ins and electrical lines. The analysis should address the sequence of work, the hazards of each activity and control measures to eliminate or minimize the hazard. Safety Training: Training should be at the core of every safety program. It is important to identify the areas in which training is required. All employees should be trained on hazard communication; other training may include electrical lock out, confined space entry, trenching, back- injury prevention, fall protection, fire protection, equipment safety and other safety concerns. Safety organization: The organization of safety on the construction site will be determined by the size of the work site, the system of employment and the way in which the project is being organized. Safety and health records should be kept which facilitate the identification and resolution of safety and health problems on the site.