Raouf Balbaa: Compliance, Safety Are Key for Construction Companies

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 10, 2012 (Press-News.org) Patch.com reports that a construction company in Redwood City, California, caused an explosion and was found to have violated environmental safety laws. Raouf Balbaa, President of a Consulting Engineering firm, shares a series of important safety tips for construction professionals. He encourages individuals working within the industry to learn from the experiences of other companies and make safety a priority.

"As a safety professional for some 20 years, I have investigated a large number of construction accidents and provided litigation support as an expert witness in courts, coroner's inquests, and hearings," comments Raouf Balbaa. "In my experience, accidents are most commonly caused by a short list of factors. These include human error, equipment or structural malfunction, design failures, and poor maintenance of equipment or structures."

Balbaa goes on to say that an accident in the workplace can be detrimental to a company's reputation and budget. He references the previously cited article, which asserts that the company responsible for the explosion was fined in excess of $75,000. Balbaa notes that such an expense is harmful to a company of any size, but that this large of a fine may be disastrous to a smaller organization. He asserts that it is the responsibility of the owners of structures and the construction companies who are working on them to ensure that safety is made a priority.

"There are several things that construction professionals can do to improve the safety within the workplace," Balbaa explains. First, he says, it is important for employers & employees to understand the requirements of the job. They must be knowledgeable of the regulations and applicable safety standards associated with the work they will be performing. This includes learning about health and safety policies and procedures, which should be followed while preparing and executing the construction strategy.

Training plays a crucial role in the improvement of safety standards and their implementation. Balbaa asserts that it is essential for all employees to be properly trained--and their training documented. Additionally, all of the equipment used on the job should undergo regular inspections to ensure that it is in working order and compliant with all safety guidelines.

The construction industry presents many dangers to professionals, property owners, and the environment. For this reason, Balbaa stresses the importance of making safety a primary concern both on the worksite and off. He believes that, should all employees be trained properly regarding safety regulations and all worksites and equipment inspected regularly, the occurrence of on the job accidents would decline.

ABOUT:

Raouf Balbaa is the President of Consulting Engineering firm. With degrees and certifications from Oxford & Cambridge, University of Alexandria, University of Toronto, and McMaster University, Raouf Balbaa is a highly educated construction professional who prides himself on his ability to meet client expectations while offering the highest degrees of industry insight and customer service.