Development of Safety & Risk Management Programme (SRM Instructor Programme 2010) for Construction & Structural Engineering (CSE) Curricular and Student Project Competition in Construction Safety Planning and Design

Abstract

There has been much research showing that safety and health at work is increasingly an important concern in manyAsian countries. Statistics show that world-wide about 1.2 million people have died of work accidents and work related diseases annually, and as many as 120 million have been injured or become ill (Kawakami, 2008). In HongKong, although the Government has contributed to the safety and health policy to reduce the annual accident and fatality rate, there are still in an unacceptable high level for being as the civilized societies. In this proposed project, an intensive Safety & Risk Management Instructor Programme (SRM InstructorProgramme 2010) will be developed and then reinforcing it into safety planning competition for our students who will export to the "dangerous" construction industry at HK after graduation. Previous research on construction safety concentrated on safety training and behavioual modification studies (Duff eta!., 1994; Lingard and Rowlinson, 1994). Lee (1991) promoted the use of the safety orientation programmes to impress safety awareness on new comers.(Jannadi, 1996) indicated that the one of the most important factors affecting construction safety was establishing safety training. Further, (Sawacha et a!., 1999) identified five important issues associated with site safety. They are: (I) management talk on safety; (2) provision of safety booklets; (3) provision of safety equipment; ( 4) providing a safe environment; and (5) appointing a trained safety representative on site. As regards improving construction site safety, (Hinze and Harrison, 1981) stated that formal safety training and safety awards were the most effective tools in educating site engineers and workers and mitigating site accidents. In Occupation Safety and Health Council (OSHC) 2007 survey on safety culture in Hong Kong construction industry concluded that safety training for construction participants should be enhanced by including hands-on training and impressing on workers the hazards from their working situations (risk elements). In the existing curriculum under our department, no intensive/ specific training programme/ course on construction safety & risk management is provided to our BC students. The proposed project will be benefited to lecturers and students who are taking the courses, Building Technology, Construction Environment, Construction Management, . Project Management, Building Management, Industrial Training and Building Design Project, etc. (BC200 1, BC2111, BC2514, BC2515, BC3411/F/P, BC3747, BC4412/F/P, BC5106, BC4639 and BC4145) for Bachelor of Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Building Surveying and Structural & Geotechnical Engineering students (around 250 students for each semester) at CityU and other related programmes at other tertiary institutions.