Ensuring construction safety during the rainy and stormy season

During the rainy season, construction works are affected by wind and rain, potentially causing damage to people and property. In addition to the pressure of progress, the investor has implemented many solutions to proactively respond promptly and effectively, minimizing damage caused by natural disasters.

Construction of river bridges always poses a potential risk of unsafety during the rainy and stormy season. Therefore, safety assurance is always a top priority for investors and construction units.

Safety first

In 2024, according to the forecast of the hydrometeorological agency, Thai Binh will continue to be affected by climate change with extreme weather phenomena. Construction, traffic, and irrigation works are affected by sea waves, estuaries, and lagoons, always at risk of insecurity and damage during the rainy and stormy season.

The Red River Bridge is a key project of the coastal road project in Thai Binh province, which is entering the final stage and is ready to be completed in August 2024. The bridge has a total length of 1,400m, spanning the Red River, connecting Tien Hai district (Thai Binh) and Giao Thuy district (Nam Dinh). According to the construction unit, the main structural items of 27/27 bridge spans have been completed, reaching about 98% of the plan.

Engineer Pham Van Quynh, project manager (Phuong Anh Construction and Trading Investment Co., Ltd.) said: Due to the nature of the construction project in the estuary, on the river, the safety factor during the rainy and stormy season is always focused on and put first by the investor as well as the construction unit, carefully prepared through the storm and flood response plan for the project. The team of engineers and workers wear labor protection and are trained periodically.

Other investors and contractors in the province have also proactively implemented many solutions to ensure safety in construction activities. The construction project of the Le Hong Phong - Eden Garden commercial housing complex with a height of 25 - 30 floors located close to Le Loi and Tran Hung Dao streets is gathering hundreds of workers, preparing many scaffoldings and cranes for urgent construction. Following the direction of the Department of Construction, the project investor applied modern construction methods, using new technology scaffolding, compact, better able to withstand storms and winds, creating solid blocks, minimizing the risk of breakage and collapse during construction.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hai, Head of Project Management Board, representative of BIDGroup Joint Stock Company said: Due to the nature of the high-rise building project, construction is carried out right next to a busy traffic area, so we have proactively taken special safety measures... From the beginning of 2024, the Company proactively reviewed the entire construction plan of the contractor. During stormy days, the unit will require the contractor to stop construction, lower the height of the crane system, and remove equipment at risk of breaking or falling to ensure the safety of workers and protect materials. The construction unit will develop a detailed plan and a critical path for the construction site in stormy weather to both meet labor safety requirements and ensure construction progress.

Ensure safety regulations

Mr. Dao Duy Thai, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, said: Currently, the weather is still complicated; closely following the direction of the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Construction, the Department of Construction has issued a document to agencies, units, and localities to implement a number of solutions such as proactively developing plans and plans for natural disaster prevention and control for their units. In particular, it is necessary to ensure the following contents: Safety for people, construction vehicles, houses, camps, factories, warehouses, yards, especially for high-rise construction works, construction material factories according to the "4 on-site" motto. Strengthen inspection and strict control of the issuance and implementation of construction permits; inspect and check construction order, the implementation of legal regulations, standards, and technical regulations on safety in construction works. During the inspection process, special attention should be paid to items and parts of the construction that are at risk of being damaged, collapsed, or swept away by storms, which are unsafe for the construction itself and neighboring structures. In addition, the Department will step up propaganda to investors, contractors, and construction units to strictly comply with legal regulations in construction activities.

According to the assessment of the construction industry, all construction works and investment projects have plans to ensure safety for people, works under construction and neighboring works according to the provisions of the Construction Law. Investors and contractors in the province comply relatively well with regulations on labor safety... Besides, a few have not complied well but have been inspected and reminded by the Construction Department Inspectorate to correct the problem. For individual housing projects, before granting a construction permit, investors must commit to ensuring safety for people, property and neighboring works according to the provisions of the Construction Law and fully comply with regulations on construction quality management and maintenance of individual houses.