Within construction companies there is a very important department, Safety, Hygiene and Environment (SHMA), which gives great support to this type of company to guarantee the safety of workers and their health. At the same time, it prevents damage to the facilities and the environment, through strict compliance with the procedures and regulations on safety, health and the environment.

“At the same time, it prevents damage to the facilities and the environment, through strict compliance with procedures and regulations on safety, health and the environment”

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This department is in charge of establishing the methodology for the dynamic identification of hazards, risk assessment and the determination of the necessary controls of the same, before any damage occurs.

Some of the objectives of the SHMA department is to identify hazards, unsafe acts and conditions, evaluate and assess risks, have control and follow-up on these indicators; promote health by preventing occupational diseases, minimizing incidents and accidents, as well as emergency situations; prevention of workplace bullying and promoting a healthy work environment.

With the above, it is possible to avoid accidents or incidents within a construction site, but do you know what could be some factors that could cause them? Here is a list according to their classification:

• By structures: They can be facilities of buildings and deteriorated premises, improperly designed, built or installed constructions would also enter; lack of anchorage points, lack of fire prevention and protection measures.
• Machinery: This factor would include facilities in machinery or equipment improperly designed, built, assembled or in a poor state of maintenance and inadequate, deficient or non-existent protection in machinery, equipment or facilities.
• Lack of order and cleanliness: Insufficient, missing or inadequate safety and hygiene notices or signs.

Another factor is inappropriate behavior within the work, putting the safety of people at risk, being able to suffer an accident, for example:

1. Carry out operations without prior training.
2. Execute the job at speed not indicated.
3. Traveling without authorization in vehicles or mechanisms.
4. Overloading platforms, carts, forklifts, etc.
5. Arrive in an inconvenient state to carry out activities.
6. Play pranks on the job site.

The above points are of which Safety, Hygiene and Environment (SHMA) must be responsible for respecting and regulating some work actions, always with the aim of protecting the environment where construction is taking place.

Sometimes, by not correctly respecting the indications of those in charge of each area, in certain processes, consequences may be suffered, either to a worker or to the facilities, which may come from the risks that could occur during the activity of job.

THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF COSTS TO REMUNERATE THESE ACCIDENTS:

DIRECT COSTS:

1. Medical and surgical assistance
2. Rehabilitation
3. Hospitalization
4. Medicines and healing materials
5. Prosthetic devices
6. Compensation: Disabilities (partial, temporary and permanent) Aid and pensions.

INDIRECT COSTS:

1. Machinery damage
2. Loss of products, raw materials and energy
3. Unused hours
4. Development and Training.

SOCIAL COSTS: 

1. Family breakdown
2. Unemployment and underemployment
3. Community disruption
4. Adaptation of facilities.

Despite the fact that there is accident prevention throughout the work, some of the risks are not controllable and unwanted events can happen, so there are also emergency protocols to minimize the impact that these could cause, however in GEG, the SHMA department tries as much as possible to always contain and prevent the aforementioned accidents and incidents.