University of the Assumption
College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Architecture
Unisite Subdivision, Del Pilar, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
College of Engineering and Architecture
ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT
CEA_ Construction Management: Function of
a Basic Human Resource of a Basic Manager
First Semester AY 2024-2025
Ar. Rhoel Pineda
Instructor
Name of Student: Jeremiah S. Chan
Student Number: 2020000958
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Hazard Assessment in Construction
A hazard assessment aims to identify dangerous factors in construction projects.
Before discussing how and when a risk assessment is performed, it helps to define
what a risk is. A risk is a chance that a hazard will cause someone injury, illness,
harm or other damage.
Usually, hazard assessment is a three-part process that involves:
Identifying hazards
Analyzing and evaluating risk
Controlling the risk
While one of the goals of a hazard assessment is the prevention of injuries, there are
additional reasons to perform an assessment. A risk assessment allows you to:
Determine who is at risk, such as employees or site visitors
Raise awareness of the risk and any hazards
Determine if existing measures are adequate for controlling the risk or if you
need to take further action
Decide if you need a particular control program for a hazard
Fulfill any legal requirements, if applicable
When performing a risk assessment, it’s likely you’ll need to answer a series of
questions. Finding an answer to your questions can help determine the best way to
control specific liabilities and minimize hazards. A few of the things to ask as you
perform the risk assessment are:
What could happen?
What circumstances need to exist for the hazard to be present?
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What are the consequences of doing nothing to correct the hazard?
What is the likelihood of the consequences occurring?
What can you do to control the risk?
Are you effectively controlling the risk, or do you need to take further action?
“Safety. Quality. Performance.” – Houck
Construction Project Hazard Assessment Checklist: How to Perform a Hazard
Assessment
Ideally, the person who performs a risk assessment at a construction site will be
familiar with the project, with construction in general and who has a good idea of the
issues at hand. The risk assessment process typically involves four steps.
1. Identify Hazards
You want to classify any hazards that might be present on the job site or that might
arise during a project. One way to go about identifying hazards and the risks
connected to them is to think of specific tasks that will be part of the project. From
there, you can assess any dangers that could come up and what the risks connected
to them might be. When looking for these liabilities, remember to:
Keep the big picture in mind.
Refer to accident reports from past projects for an idea of hazards that were a
concern previously.
Account for anyone who might be present at the construction site, including
visitors such as clients and delivery drivers.
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Take unusual conditions, such as a severe storm or power outage, under
consideration.
Examine equipment to see if altering it could change its safety features.
Consider different groups of employees, as risk level can vary based on
experience or overall health.
2. Assess the Risk the Hazards Present
The next step is to determine the severity of the risk a hazard creates. You want to
evaluate not only how likely a particular hazard is to cause harm, but how bad the
harm could be. When analyzing risk, consider dangers that are present under
normal, day-to-day circumstances, as well as during unusual periods, such as when
there’s severe weather, an emergency or a power outage.
To get a sense of the potential risk presented, review any information available, such
as the operator’s manual for equipment, safety data sheets, inspection reports, test
results, accident reports and studies from reputable third parties.
When ranking risks, you can evaluate the severity of the risk as well as the
probability of it. For example, the severity ranking of a risk can range from low to
high. A low risk might be one that results in a minor injury, such as a cut or bruise. A
high risk might be one that causes a fracture, fatality or the loss of a significant
amount of blood.
A highly probable risk might be one that is likely to occur at least once a year, while a
less probable risk is one that is likely to occur just once during a lifetime.
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3. Identify Actions You Can Take to Minimize or Reduce Hazards
There are several actions you can take to minimize the risk particular hazards
present. One option is to eliminate the risk by removing the danger. For example,
you can send employees home if wet weather makes the construction site slippery,
increasing the chance of falls.
Another option is to introduce controls that will either eliminate a hazard or reduce it
enough that it no longer presents a significant risk. For example, if one piece of
equipment is particularly hazardous, you might replace it with a safer one, such as a
newer, more reliable model.
4. Confirm You Have Corrected the Hazard
The final step in risk assessment is to verify your team has corrected the hazard,
either by eliminating or minimizing it. After that, it’s essential to continue to monitor
the situation to ensure any risks remain minimized and to confirm additional ones
haven’t come up.
Common Risk Factors in Construction Projects
Although it’s common to associate risks and hazards with issues that cause physical
harm, the scope is somewhat broader than that. During a construction project, risks
can also include any problems that cause the project to go over budget or that
interfere with the ability to complete the project on schedule. Common risk factors
any manager should be aware of include the following.
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Occupational risks – equipment, layouts, or work that causes a risk of injury.
Project risks – issues that could impact your ability to complete the project
successfully and on time.
Contractual risks – problems arising with missed deadlines and maintaining a
positive contractual relationship with clients and partner organizations.
Financial risks – issues whereby the construction works may run over budget.
Natural risks – things like weather and environmental factors that could affect
your ability to continue working.
Four Safety Precautions During Maintenance Work
Risk assessment isn’t only vital during construction projects to create a building. It’s
also essential for any maintenance of an established building.
Encourage communication
Choose appropriate controls
Have a plan for non-routine operations
Check in regularly
The goal of any building or construction manager should be to protect the
employees and craftspeople who are working on a construction site or
performing a maintenance project. Performing a risk assessment before any
project begins is one way to lower the risk of injury. Risk assessment can also
protect the project itself by making sure it stays on deadline and on budget.
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Hazard Assessment in Construction Example
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Job Hazard Analysis in Construction
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is an analysis of the hazards and risk associated which
focus on identifying and controlling hazards. Utilizing the JHA will provide a process
for analyzing the work activities that will identify the tools, materials and equipment
needed to develop work methods and procedures for accomplishing the task. The
process will identify existing and potential hazards and assessing the risk and
identify methods to eliminate or protect against the hazard.
Why Is JHA Important in the Construction Industry?
JHAs provide general contractors with the confidence prior to work starting that
subcontractors have a detailed plan in place that identifies potential hazards and
controls. Trade partners are experts in their craft and often best placed to provide
detailed knowledge around risks and resources, training, tools, and protections
required to safely complete their work and prevent injuries.
How to Conduct a JHA
To conduct a JHA, general contractors should ensure subcontractors follow a
systematic process. JHA expectations should be included in pre-work safety
orientations and even in contractual agreements. OSHA’s JHA template is a good
place to start in setting up a standard procedure. Here are the steps involved in
completing JHAs:
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1. Choose the job or task to be analyzed:
Consider selecting jobs or tasks that have a high risk of injury or illness, or
those with a history of accidents or incidents. JHAs are also helpful before a
new scope of work begins or a new piece of major equipment arrives onsite.
Take into account the level of complexity and the number of steps involved in
the job or task.
2. Break the job or task down into steps:
Break down the job or task into individual steps or tasks to ensure that all
hazards are identified.
Record each step or task on the JHA form or template.
3. Identify potential hazards:
Identify potential hazards associated with each step or task by considering
past accidents, incidents, or near misses.
Consider potential hazards related to the equipment, tools, materials, and
environment. Use not only the experience of your team to determine hazards
but also read product information and safety data sheets (SDS).
4. Determine the severity and likelihood of each hazard:
Evaluate the severity and likelihood of each hazard to determine the overall
risk level.
Use a risk matrix or other risk assessment tool to help prioritize hazards
based on severity and likelihood.
5. Identify controls for each hazard:
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Identify controls for each hazard that will eliminate or reduce the risk level to
an acceptable level.
Consider using the hierarchy of controls, which prioritizes elimination or
substitution, followed by engineering, administrative, and personal protective
equipment controls.
6. Submit for approval before starting work:
A representative from the general contractor reviews the JHA and provides
comments or accepts the subcontractor’s proposals to ensure it is site-specific
and supports your safety standards.
7. Implement controls:
Use the JHA as the source of truth for work method and implement the
identified controls for each hazard, making sure they are effective and
feasible.
Ensure that workers are trained on the proper use of controls and that the
controls are maintained and inspected regularly.
8. Review and update the JHA:
Regularly review and update the JHA to ensure that it remains current and
effective. Consider reviewing the JHA whenever there are changes to the job
or task, equipment, or work environment, or when incidents or accidents
occur, and make sure that workers are aware of the changes.
JHA Example
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Below is an example of templates you may insert into your site-specific JHA for a
project to construct a new entrance into an existing building:
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND JOB HAZARD
ANALYSIS (JHA)
Hazard Assessment
Scope: Broad and comprehensive, covering all potential hazards in a workplace or
project.
Focus: Identifies and evaluates hazards across the entire work environment.
Process:
Identify Hazards: Recognize potential sources of harm.
Evaluate Risks: Assess the likelihood and severity of harm.
Implement Controls: Develop measures to eliminate or reduce risks.
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Outcome: A general safety plan that addresses multiple hazards and risks.
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Scope: Specific and detailed, focusing on individual job tasks.
Focus: Breaks down each job task to identify hazards associated with each step.
Process:
Select Jobs for Analysis: Prioritize jobs with high injury rates or severe
potential consequences.
Break Down the Job: Divide the job into individual tasks or steps.
Identify Hazards: Analyze each step to identify potential hazards.
Determine Controls: Recommend measures to eliminate or reduce hazards
for each task.
Outcome: A detailed safety plan for specific job tasks, ensuring each step is
performed safely.
Key Differences
Breadth vs. Depth: Hazard Assessment is broader, covering the entire work
environment, while JHA is more detailed, focusing on specific tasks.
Application: Hazard Assessment is used for overall safety planning, whereas JHA is
used for task-specific safety measures.
Detail Level: Hazard Assessment provides a general overview, while JHA offers a
step-by-step analysis.
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REFERENCES:
Risk Assessment For Construction Site -
https://www.scribd.com/document/473553631/Risk-Assessment-for-Construction-
Site
What Are Risk Assessments and Factors in Construction?
-https://www.houcks.com/blog/risk-assessments-factors-construction/
What is a risk assessment in construction? - https://www.clearway.co.uk/news/what-
is-a-risk-assessment-in-construction/#:~:text=Construction%20risk%20assessments
%20are%20all,unique%20set%20of%20potential%20hazards.
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) -
https://ehs.ncsu.edu/occupational-safety/job-hazard-analysis-jha/
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A Comprehensive Guide to Job Hazard Analysis’ in Construction: Tips and Tools for
Success - https://www.hammertech.com/onedegree/jha-guide-and-template
Construction Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
-https://www.hammertech.com/onedegree/jha-guide-and-template
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