Assessment and Enhancement of Safety Practices on Construction Sites in Nepal

ABSTRACT - Construction Safety is an essential talk topic all over the world especially in countries like Nepal where the construction sector is a major contributor to the economy. Nepal is a developing country. The growth is driven by urbanization to a large degree. We are constructing buildings and all other infrastructures to satisfy the needs of the people who live in the city (water supply, power supply). The rate of construction of infrastructures is increasing. In Nepal most of the projects are labor intensive. The construction industry involves large skilled and unskilled personnel. Nepal is young in practicing construction and lacks experience. Any construction project has risk of accidents as they are inevitable. The site accidents are the most important factor to be considered for a project to be successful. We do not have the exact accident data recording system here in Nepal. The basic problem in Nepal is negligence towards the constructional safety and lack in use of proper safety equipment’s and tools. In addition to that labors are unskilled, illiterate and untrained. Accidents that result in the loss of life, damage of property and many injuries during construction are the major challenges of construction field. The major causes of accident in construction industries are physical, physiological, psychological and mental. One of the main causes of accidents is the unsafe working conditions. Also due to low level of awareness towards safety and importance of human values, development of effective safety management system etc. is the major problem of safety at construction sites in Nepal. Key Words: Construction Safety, Nepal, Safety Practices, Construction Industry, Workplace Safety, Safety Challenges, Safety Training Programs, Regulatory Frameworks, Safety Culture, Construction Accidents