Workplace Health Hazards and Controls

Physical Health Hazards

• Noise, vibration, and slipping/falling are physical health hazards.

Physical Health Hazards Control Measures

• Wear headphones to reduce noise exposure, wear anti-vibration gloves, and mop the floor with proper signage to combat physical health risks.

Chemical Health Hazards

• Flammable, toxic, and corrosive substances are chemical health hazards.

Chemical Health Hazards Control Measures

• Place proper signage, ensure proper storage and handling, and always wear protective equipment to mitigate chemical health risks.

Psychological Health Hazards

• Work-related stress, bullying, and sexual harassment are psychological health hazards.

Psychological Health Hazards Control Measures

• Manage time properly, report bullying and harassment to management, and discuss the problem to manage psychological health risks.

COVID-19 Control Measures

• Monitor and practice social distancing.
• Sanitize surfaces regularly.
• Conduct temperature checks upon entry.
• Sanitize hands regularly.
• Wear face masks properly, covering both mouth and nose.
• Wash hands properly and regularly.
• Get vaccinated.
• Get booster shots.

Tendering Methods

• Open Tendering: Allows anyone to submit a tender; used by both government and private sectors.
• Selective Tendering: Bidders are invited to submit tenders; suitable for specialized work or equipment.
• Negotiated Tendering: Employer invites a contractor of their choice; preferred for unique projects or extensions.
• Serial Tendering: Tenders based on a bill of quantities or schedule of works; used to value results for multiple projects.

The Construction Bidding Process

• Step 1: Bid Solicitation: The owner/project team issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB).
• Step 2: Bid Preparation: Bidders prepare their proposals based on the RFP/IFB requirements.
• Step 3: Bid Submission: Bidders submit their proposals to the owner/project team by the deadline.
• Step 4: Bid Evaluation & Selection: The owner/project team evaluates bids and selects the best proposal.
• Step 5: Contract Negotiation & Awarding: The owner/project team negotiates the contract terms with the selected bidder and awards the contract.

Category of Contract

• Cost-Reimbursable Contract: Contractor is paid for all actual incurred costs plus a fee for profit.
  • Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF): Contractor receives a fixed fee that doesn't vary with actual cost.
  • Cost Plus Incentive Fee (FPIF): Fee adjusted based on the relationship between actual and target costs.
  • Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF): Fee consists of a fixed base amount and an award based on evaluation.

Time and Material Contract (T&M)

• A hybrid contract combining elements of cost-reimbursable and fixed-price contracts; used when costs are uncertain.

Cost-Plus Contract

• Contractor is paid for all expenses plus a profit margin.
  • Benefits: No risk of losing money on materials, guaranteed profit.
  • Drawbacks: Can include "not to exceed" clauses for costs, requiring extra labor to track expenses.

Incentive Construction Contract

• Contractor receives an agreed-upon payment if the project is delivered by a certain date and at a specific point.
  • Benefits: Encourages cost control and on-time delivery, promotes collaboration.
  • Drawbacks: Requires negotiation to determine incentives, unclear terms can lead to disputes.

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Contract

• A multi-party agreement with a shared risk/reward model, guaranteed costs, and collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Prioritizes innovation and collaboration, spreads risk and reward fairly.
  • Drawbacks: Relatively new, may not be embraced by all design firms and subcontractors, less transparency on final cost.

Unit Price Contract

• Details prices per unit, including materials, labor, overhead, and profit.
  • Benefits: Works well with projects easily divided into units, simple invoicing, shared risk.
  • Drawbacks: Not suitable for complex projects with varied tasks, doesn't incentivize contractors.

Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Contract

• A public entity grants a private firm the rights to build and operate a project and then transfers control back after a set timeframe.
  • Benefits: Enables governments to transfer project costs and risks to private entities, potential for profit for the private firm.

This quiz covers various health hazards in the workplace, including physical, chemical, and psychological risks. It also outlines effective control measures to mitigate these hazards, including precautions for COVID-19. Test your knowledge on maintaining a safe work environment!