Civil Engineer Responsibilities

There are many other jobs that need to ensure Health and Safety is important and some of these are: landlords, contractors, emergency services, trade union representatives and consultants. They have to make sure Health and Safety is an important role whilst doing their job as they don’t just have to think about themselves and the people who work for them, they also have to consider the people who are putting their trust in them to help them.

Over the past five years, as the economy continues to improve, a growing number of workers are returning to jobs in construction. Historically, an increase in employment means that more workers are exposed to hazards that will likely result in more serious and fatal injuries. Among the top four reasons construction workers are injured, falls remain the leading cause of fatal injury (Bethancourt, 2017). Nevertheless, falls are the leading cause of death in construction. According to OSHA, all construction workers exposed to fall hazards more than 6 ft must be provided fall protection in the form of a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system. OSHA (2010) has also stated that personal fall restraint, when applied correctly, is acceptable

The right to a safe and healthy workplace is one of the legal guarantees that employees in the United States have under workplace rights. Furthermore, Health and safety is one of the most important aspects in the internal environment for an organization. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an organization within the U.S. Department of Labor that created what is known as the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The mission of OSHA and its act is to prevent work related injuries, illness, and death by setting rules, regulations, and standards for workplace health and safety. Since the establishment of OSHA and its Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, workplace fatalities have been cut by forty percent, and occupational injury and illness rates have been cut by sixty percent, proving their success in improving worker safety and health (1). OSHA has been able to accomplish this by implementing training programs for the employees within many different companies, but especially for those in construction and hard labor. They create these programs because they know that some working sites are more dangerous than others. For example, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that those in the construction industries have a “4.6 in 100 chance of being injured on or getting sick from their jobs”

All employees of Robinson’s Excavation are valued members of the organization which is why safety must always come first. The construction industry is traditionally a hazardous work environment, but with vigilance, dedication, and training, the dangers can be significantly reduced. In order to provide the employees of Robinson’s Excavation with a safe work environment, all employees, regardless of status, are required to follow and enforce all safety procedures, which are not all inclusive. Additionally, the following protocol is in compliance with all state and federal OHSA regulations.

The main objective of this project was to experience what a career in civil engineering would resemble. In order to achieve my goal of becoming familiar with the project development process and funding sources, I attended project meetings, visited active construction sites, and became familiar with engineering plans and drawings (both civil and architectural). In addition, I learned about project scheduling, oversight, and maintenance. I

As with many other professions, civil engineering is deemed by society to be of higher ethical and moral standards due to the nature of our work affecting the general public in numerous ways. This comes as no surprise seeing as how our profession is responsible for planning and designing so much of the world around us. The roads we drive on, the

Falls from elevated heights are the leading deaths in the construction industry. They constitute 40% of all fatalities in the construction industry. Statistics have shown that every year the number of fatalities from falls to lower level is increasing instead of decreasing, despite all of the equipment and training is out there for employers. It is a very serious issue, not just in the construction industry but in all of the work force. OSHA has strict work practice for employers to protect their employees from unsafe conditions. OSHA has a National Safety Stand Down every year that focuses on fall protection. They have been successful in the past and continue to progress to reach their goal of 5 million workers, which would be over half of the construction workforce.

[1]. Goetsch, D. L. (2010). Construction Safety and the OSHA Standards. New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education

Construction involves being really high off the ground, foundation trench collapses and equipment malfunctions. From building little house to building towers and skyscrapers takes hard work form hundreds of construction workers. Construction workers make sure everything will turn out perfect and try to avoid any complications by following the building plans. In the year 2016 a little more than 5,190 workers were killed on the job of construction. A estimate of ninety nine on average a week and more than fourteen deaths a day occurred on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also known as “OSHA” is a small Federal agency, that is responsible for the health and safety of employees lifes. For over four decades OSHA has come together with many organization to find different ways to have a more safe environment for workers, not only in construction but other careers that are just as dangerous. Construction involves so many tiny things that cause injury to many workers. Especially when dealing with electricity. Electricity in in the top eight percent for deaths in the United States. The highest percentage in construction is falls with thirty eight percent give or take. When individuals choose the career of construction they need to be aware of the risk that they will be experiencing; From falling objects,

I seem to have always had an underlying passion for infrastructure. That is a fact which I only came to fully comprehend during the summer. The Python Bridge, with its red snake-like abnormal shape, and Magere Brug, with its iconic drawbridge properties, are both picturesque examples of engineering done “right”. Perhaps it is that realisation of modern life being wholly dependent on engineering, which is everywhere and is always changing; perhaps it is the pressures of the ever increasing population and global warming; or perhaps it is the idea of helping to change the world around me to meet the demands of the future generations. That has driven me to hope for a challenging career which I will find personally gratifying and feel that I have given something back to the community.

According to a poll taken by Time Magazine (2016), construction workers have the twelfth uppermost dangerous jobs in America. (Johnson, 2016). Construction workers come to their job, with the assumption that they are safe and can perform their job with ease. They do not anticipate getting hurt on the job, but often are subject to injuries or even fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health act states that employees have the right to a safe work environment, and must ensure that safety measures are provided for these employees. (OSHA.gov, 2016).

AECOM recruits graduates who have specialized in Civil Engineering. In general, civil engineers translate detailed designs into structures such as bridges, roadways and buildings. In order to qualify for employment at AECOM, an aspiring engineer must be proficient in computer aided design (CAD) using relevant software. In addition, they must be capable of interpreting blueprints and technical specifications. Generally, potential candidates are expected to be knowledgeable in all aspects that touch on construction. Furthermore, must demonstrate their ability to troubleshoot technical challenges that may arise at any given phase of the project. The role of civil engineers is to ensure that a project conforms to its blueprints (Fasano 1).

With the constant discovery of scientific principles and new engineering designs, the responsibility often lies in the hands of engineers to decide what is in the best interest of the public. Millions of people around the world use products and structures developed by engineers, every day. Before accepting work from a client, it is important that engineers have a good understanding of their own personal limitations. If work is accepted that they are “not competent to perform by virtue of [their] training and experience” , there is a clear disregard for public welfare and potential for a serious safety hazard. It is again evident that the

Construction laborers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Workers may experience cuts from materials and tools, falls from ladders and scaffolding, and burns from chemicals or equipment. Some jobs expose workers to harmful materials, fumes, odors, or dangerous machinery. Workers also may experience muscle fatigue and injuries related to lifting and carrying heavy materials. Although they face similar hazards, construction helpers generally experience a rate of injuries and illnesses that is close to the national average.

In the United States, construction has always been one of the most dangerous industries to work in. The number of fatalities that occur in this industry year after year demonstrate this. In 2014, 19.6% of worker fatalities, in private industry, were in construction (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015) despite the industry comprising only 6.8% of the total work force. This epidemic is not unique to the United States. Essentially every country faces similar problems regarding construction safety. For example, in 2004 the Australian construction industry employed approximately 8% of the countries workforce. However, workers compensation statistics indicated that the industry’s incidence rate was 28.6 per 1000 employees,