Identification of the hazards/risk involved in construction process for selected construction approaches in Malaysia

The low safety and health performance in the construction industry in Malaysia were proven by the annual accident reports by DOSH and SOCSO. Through these reports, it is evident that the construction industry is among the sectors, which require a high rate of strong improvement in the existing safety of the site. This article discusses the identification and analysis of the hazards/risks involved in several construction approaches, which represent Industrialised Building System (IBS) and traditional construction methods. Case study design was employed, in which the data collection on the activity involved in each construction method and its associated hazards/risks were executed through field observation and interviews. This study involved collecting the data at 2 manufacturing plants and construction sites that represent IBS method, which are precast concrete wall panel system and blockwork system; and 1 construction site that represents conventional method, which is in-situ concrete and masonry method. Furthermore, the hazards/risks are represented as damaging energy, which refers to the energy damage model. It was suggested in this research that the comprehension of risks in various construction process, including IBS, would contribute to new insights for enhanced health and safety of the construction site. After determining the activities and hazards/risks, it was suggested that the risk should be compared in further detail to ensure that the understanding of the risks is enhanced, and a mitigation action is performed before construction works begin.