Importance of safety considerations in site layout and organization

Site layout and organization are important management functions which influence all aspects of work on a construction site - from construction methods and sequence to health, safety, and productivity. The design of site layouts is often arbitrarily carried out without a full evaluation of all the relevant factors. The organizational framework within which many projects are carried out also leaves much to be desired with lack of adequate structures and facilities for managing safety. In many cases, site and project managers tend to focus on considerations such as optimizing productivity without adequately taking into account the health and safety implications. This is despite the fact that there is major scope for preventing, or minimizing, the effects of many construction site accidents through appropriate site layout design and organization. This article examines the need for safety to be integrated into site layout and organization at the earliest possible stages of a project. It reviews previous studies and explores the legal framework within which many contractors in the United Kingdom operate. Guidelines for the integration of safety considerations into site layout design and organization are also presented. The benefits of improving construction site safety through better site layout and organization are highlighted.