Effective Safety And Health Planning On Construction Sites
[ONITSHA AND AWKA OF ANAMBRA STATE]

2.1.1.4    SHORT TERM /WEEKLY PLANNING
In the course of the project, problems, delays, shortage of labour, bad Weather may seriously affect the running and completion of the project. It may therefore be necessary to take a ‘forward view’ of the work to be carried out over a shorter period of time, generally, 2-4 weeks. The main aim of this short-term planning is to keep the master plan up to date and’ alive’ and not just a highly decorative chart on a wall that serves no purpose because things are not going as forecast.
2.1.2    Howarth (1972) looked at planning from operational angel, when he stated operation planning is needed to arrive at an economic data for the completion of the job that this time factor will decide on the number of men and plant requirement. He further posited that planning will enable an overall job programme to be made from the decided sequence of operations.
2.1.2.1    He reasoned further that a planned sequence of operations, and a well developed labour force, should result in good production control. This means that with proper planning, and a system of prepared progress, the greatest possible use can be made up of men, materials, and plant. Work control should prevent wasted time and allow the foreman to deal more adequately with supervision.
2.1.3    Mezue (1999) defined project planning as the sequential programming of activities or operations involved in a project in such a manner that overall work is done efficiently with optimum use of the resources like plant, labour and materials in relation to limited time for completion of the project.
2.1.3.1    He subdivided project planning into three phases:
(a)    Pre- tender planning
(b)    Post-tender planning
(c)    Short- term planning
2.1.3.2    He listed the following as the components of pre- tender planning
(I) site visit and pre-tender report
(ii)    Pre-tender method statement
(iii)    Outline programme of work.
2.1.3.3    He posited the job contents of post -tender (pre-contact planning) as follows:
1.    Resources allocation
2.    Purchase and delivery of materials to the site
3.    Co-ordination of the sub-contractors and main contractors
4.    Assessing the progress of work
5.    Establishing a guide for the site activities. On the short-term planning, he said this involves planning for specific activities within the project period.
2.1.4    NIOB hand book (2002) Commenting on construction planning,
Nigeria institute of building observed that: “while design affects construction planning, construction planning has not been allowed to officially affect design;. It further submitted that this adversely increases construction cost and time overrun; that services by professional Builders will allow construction planning to influence design with accrued benefits. It started further that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”, is equally true in the production process of building project
2.1.4.1    It explained that for any building project to be successfully executed on site, the contractor must forecast plan and put in place various productions management Document (Builders documents), that the professional builder will prepare the following production management documents or vet those submitted by the contractor or sub contractors:
•    Construction methodology
•    Construction programme(s)
•    Project quality management plan
•    Project health and safety plan
•    Early warning system chart
•    Information requirement schedule.
From the fore going, the meticulous implementation of the production management documents on any project will yield bountiful constructional dividends including accident minimization and elimination.
2.1.5.1 Romuald (2007) Qualified construction planning as a fundamental and challenging activity in the management and execution of construction project. He is of the view that developing the construction plan is a critical task in the management of construction. He further contended that construction planning is not an activity which is restricted to the period after the award of a contract for construction; that it should be an essential activity during the facility design.