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 collapse of a 30-meter-tall tower crane at the Hiyori Aqua Tower apartment building construction site on Le Duc Tho Street, Son Tra Ward, on the afternoon of October 23rd, caused panic among many residents. Photo: HOAI PHONG

Responding to natural disasters at construction sites.

At the coastal road project connecting Lien Chieu port, one of Da Nang 's key transportation projects, hundreds of engineers, workers, and modern machinery are working diligently on the construction site.

The project, with a total investment of over 1.203 billion VND, spans 2.96km, is designed for a speed of 60km/h, and features a high-grade A1 road surface. Construction began in September 2023. To date, the construction progress has been promising, with many components having been largely completed, including the roadbed and drainage system.

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

"We always provide full personal protective equipment, set up monitoring checkpoints, and deploy personnel ready to respond to sudden heavy rain or strong winds. The goal is to ensure safety while preventing any disruption to the project," Mr. Mạnh said.

In the same spirit of proactiveness, at the Northwest Main Road Project 1, where a series of components and roadbeds connecting the Lien Chieu area with the city center are under construction, risk prevention measures are also being strictly implemented.

Mr. Truong Nhat Doan, the contractor's technical manager, 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 systems, and temporarily halt items with high risk factors. Each team of workers is trained in evacuation skills in case of emergencies."

Besides the two projects mentioned above, dozens of private investment projects are simultaneously under construction in the city. These projects mobilize thousands of workers and a large amount of machinery and equipment, requiring close supervision, especially during prolonged periods of 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 thousands of billions of VND.

“We regularly monitor and inspect the construction sites, especially temporary bridges, temporary roads, and embankments. When we detect any signs of unsafe conditions, we immediately order a halt to construction, corrective action, or the addition of warning signs. Our stance is to prevent any negligence,” Mr. Hung emphasized.

Following the direction of the City People's Committee, the Department of Construction has issued numerous documents requiring investors, construction units, and supervisory consultants to proactively prevent and mitigate natural disasters and ensure the safety of construction projects throughout the rainy and stormy season.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam , Director of the Department of Construction, for projects equipped with tower cranes, investors must complete the dismantling of the crane arm and counterweight system before the storm arrives. High-rise buildings, in particular, must reinforce basements, retaining walls, scaffolding, and protective netting to prevent landslides or collapses during strong winds. The Department also requires construction units to secure high-altitude construction equipment, reinforce elevators, concrete distribution systems, and pumps to ensure absolute safety for people and the construction site.

Strengthen management

Recently, on the afternoon of October 23rd, a crane, approximately 30 meters high, collapsed at the Hiyori Aqua Tower apartment building construction site on Le Duc Tho Street (Son Tra Ward), causing panic among residents.

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

This incident has raised alarm bells about safety risks at construction sites, especially as Da Nang is entering the peak season for storms and heavy rain. Mr. Dinh Vui, Chairman of the Son Tra Ward People's Committee, said that he has requested the investor to review all equipment, especially the tower crane and scaffolding systems.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam, Director of the Department of Construction, said that following the crane collapse incident at the Hiyori Aqua Tower apartment building project, the City People's Committee directed the Department of Construction to coordinate with local authorities to inspect all ongoing construction projects and immediately suspend any items showing signs of not meeting safety standards.

At the same time, the investor and contractor are required to inspect the entire scaffolding system, bracing, foundation pits, slopes, and cranes to prevent landslides or localized flooding during heavy rains, ensuring safety during construction.

Beyond just disaster prevention, the Department of Construction is promoting a culture of workplace safety in the construction industry, considering it a mandatory criterion for all projects. This includes requiring the use of non-fired building materials and reducing emissions during construction, aiming for "zero net emissions" in line with national commitments to sustainable development.

"Workplace safety must be the top priority. We must not neglect disaster prevention and control due to deadline pressure. Every safe construction project is a brick in building the image of Da Nang as a safe place for everyone," said Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam.

With a series of proactive measures and close coordination between all levels and sectors, Da Nang is striving to ensure that all construction projects, from large to small, are absolutely safe, protecting the lives of workers while maintaining the progress of infrastructure development in a dynamic city.

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