Ensuring labor safety on construction sites during the rainy and stormy season

During the rainy and stormy season, when the weather is complicated, it is necessary to strengthen safety work at construction sites to ensure labor safety, maintain construction progress and limit incidents and risks.

The scene of the incident where a 30m high tower crane broke at the Hiyori Aqua Tower Apartment project on Le Duc Tho Street, Son Tra Ward, on the afternoon of October 23, causing panic among many residents. Photo: HOAI PHONG

Disaster response at construction sites

At the coastal road project connecting Lien Chieu port, one of the key traffic projects of Da Nang , hundreds of engineers, workers and modern mechanical equipment are working urgently at the construction site.

The project has a total investment of more than 1,203 billion VND, a length of 2.96 km, designed with a speed of 60 km/h, high-class A1 road surface, starting construction in September 2023. Up to now, the construction progress has achieved positive results, many items have basically completed the roadbed and drainage system.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Manh, representative of the construction contractor, said that the unit has established a specialized team on labor safety, regularly inspects the site and organizes weekly safety procedure training.

“We always provide full protective gear, set up monitoring posts, and have forces ready to respond to sudden heavy rains or strong winds. The goal is to ensure safety while not interrupting progress,” said Mr. Manh.

With the same proactive spirit, at the Northwest Axis 1 project, where a series of items and roadbeds connecting Lien Chieu area with the city center are being constructed, risk prevention work is also strictly implemented.

Mr. Truong Nhat Doan, in charge of the contractor's technical department, shared: "We have a flexible construction plan, depending on the weather conditions. When it rains heavily, we only focus on safe items such as reinforcing slopes and drainage culverts, and temporarily stop items with high risk factors. Each team of workers is trained in evacuation skills in case of an emergency."

In addition to the above two projects, there are dozens of private investment projects being simultaneously implemented in the city. These projects mobilize thousands of workers and large amounts of machinery and equipment, requiring close supervision, especially in conditions of prolonged rain and storms.

Mr. Le Thanh Hung, Director of the Management Board of Priority Infrastructure Investment Projects of Da Nang City, said that the board is managing dozens of projects with a total investment value of up to thousands of billions of VND.

“We regularly urge and inspect the site, especially at temporary bridges, temporary roads, and embankments. When signs of unsafety are detected, the board immediately requests that construction be stopped, repaired, or warning signs be added. The point is not to let any subjectivity happen,” Mr. Hung emphasized.

Implementing the direction of the City People's Committee, the Department of Construction has issued many documents requesting investors, construction units and supervision consultants to proactively prevent and combat natural disasters and ensure construction safety during the rainy and stormy season.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam , Director of the Department of Construction, for projects with tower cranes installed, the investor must complete the dismantling of the boom and counterweight systems before the storm arrives. Particularly, high-rise buildings must reinforce the basement, retaining walls, scaffolding, and covering nets to avoid landslides or collapses when there are strong winds. The Department also requires units to anchor construction equipment at high altitudes, reinforce hoists, concrete distribution systems, and pump booms to ensure absolute safety for people and constructions.

Strengthening management work

Recently, on the afternoon of October 23, at the Hiyori Aqua Tower Apartment project on Le Duc Tho Street (Son Tra Ward), an incident occurred where a tower crane about 30m high broke, causing panic among many residents.

Dozens of projects with private investment capital are being implemented with the motto "proactive - safe - progress". In the photo: Mia Center Point apartment project (25 floors) invested by Mia Investment Joint Stock Company. Photo: HOAI PHONG

This incident has sounded the alarm about the risk of unsafe construction sites, especially when Da Nang is entering the peak of storms and rains. Mr. Dinh Vui, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Tra Ward, said that he has asked the investor to check all equipment, especially the tower crane system and scaffolding.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam, Director of the Department of Construction, said that after the crane breakage incident at the Hiyori Aqua Tower project, the City People's Committee directed the Department of Construction to coordinate with localities to inspect all projects under construction and immediately suspend items showing signs of not ensuring safety.

At the same time, investors and contractors are required to check the entire system of scaffolding, anchor bracing, foundation pits, slopes, and cranes to prevent landslides or local flooding during heavy rains, ensuring safety during construction.

Not only stopping at natural disaster prevention, the Department of Construction is promoting the building of a culture of labor safety in the construction industry, considering this a mandatory criterion for all projects. Along with that is the requirement to use unburnt construction materials, reduce emissions during the construction process, aiming for the goal of "net zero emissions" according to the national commitment to sustainable development.

“Labor safety must be the top priority. Do not neglect disaster prevention and control work because of progress pressure. Each safe project is a brick that builds the image of Da Nang as a safe place for everyone,” said Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam.

With a series of proactive measures, along with close coordination between all levels and sectors, Da Nang is striving to ensure that all projects, from large to small, ensure absolute safety, both protecting the lives of workers and maintaining the infrastructure development progress of a dynamic city.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/bao-dam-an-toan-lao-dong-tren-cac-cong-trinh-xay-dung-mua-mua-bao-3308232.html