Developing a framework to ensure safety of maintenance workers in Sri Lankan commercial buildings

Abstract

Maintenance is one of the most important and critical activities in every high rise commercial building. Maintenance activities often comprised of risk increasing factors and different kinds of potential hazards. Significant numbers of maintenance workers may be exposed to a variety of risks when doing their job. The safety of the maintenance workers should be prioritized in every maintenance work. It is mandatory to provide a safe working environment for their workers. Organisations and maintenance workers are not adhering appropriate safety practices to safeguard their lives and properties. Initiated regulations and standards are not specifically designed for the building maintenance activities. Therefore, this research intended to address this issue by developing a framework to ensure safety of maintenance workers in commercial buildings. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was carried out on the subject matter. Based on the nature of the study, data collection was carried out in two phases. A case study approach was used to gather existing information on maintenance works carried out under different categories, their related hazards. Semi structured interviews were conducted with a professional who is in the management level of the maintenance department in each selected case study. Expert survey was then carried out with three industry professionals to gather information about appropriate suggestions to ensure the safety of maintenance workers. The study highlighted key categories of maintenance works as confined space works, hot works, works at height, works involve with electrical equipment and works involve in using dangerous substance. These activities involve with different kinds of potential hazards such as physical, chemical, biological and psychological. The exposure level of the maintenance workers to the hazards is significantly high in this work environment. The study identified safe procedures to follow during different maintenance tasks.