Sains Malaysiana 45(7)(2016): 1139–1147

Occupational Risk Assessment: Review of Wooden Scaffold Board Application in Malaysian Oil and Gas Industry

(Kajian Risiko Pekerjaan: Penilaian terhadap Aplikasi Papan Perancah Kayu dalam Industri Minyak dan Gas di Malaysia)

MOHD JAMIL ABDUL WAHAB*, NOOR AZRIEDA ABD RASHID, SALMIAH UJANG

& LIM SENG CHOON

Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 1 September 2015/Accepted: 12 February 2016

ABSTRACT

Timber scaffold boards have been widely utilised in the offshore construction industry. However, technical specifications and inspection procedure for the application of scaffold boards from a wood material were inadequate. In the development of the standard requirements, evaluation of actual engineering practices could indicate the level of workplace safety. A study was conducted to identify risk and safety measures concerning the use of timber scaffold boards in construction. This article discusses on the occupational risks and ergonomics issues of the scaffolding application based on the physical and mechanical conditions of tropical timber scaffold boards extracted from offshore oil and gas rigs. The boards were exposed to a seasonal climate of East Coast monsoon of South China Sea between November and February. The scaffolding application extended up to 20 m directly above the ocean surface and some boards were completely immersed below the ocean surface particularly during elevated tidal waves. Some of the boards were installed as the on-deck platforms. Forty scaffold boards fabricated from tropical timber species were evaluated. Physical characteristics of the boards were described by natural and man-made factors. A three-point bending test was conducted to determine the maximum load capacity of each board and the mode of fracture was evaluated. Timber identification test was conducted to identify the groups of the timber being used. The microscopic observation confirmed the presence of hyphae which indicated the biological deterioration has happened in some of the boards. Occupational risks were summarised based on the results of the physical and mechanical assessments.

Keywords: Marine construction; safety; timber properties

ABSTRAK

Papan perancah kayu telah digunakan secara meluas di dalam industri pembinaan luar pantai. Walau bagaimanapun, spesifikasi teknikal dan prosedur pemeriksaan untuk aplikasi papan perancah daripada bahan berasaskan kayu adalah tidak lengkap. Dalam usaha membangunkan piawaian tersebut, penilaian terhadap amalan sebenar kejuruteraan boleh memberikan gambaran tentang tahap keselamatan di tempat kerja. Satu kajian telah dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti bahaya dan langkah-langkah keselamatan berkenaan penggunaan papan perancah kayu di dalam pembinaan. Artikel ini membincangkan risiko kerja dan isu ergonomik aplikasi perancah berdasarkan keadaan fizikal dan mekanik sampel papan kayu tropika yang diambil dari pelantar minyak dan gas luar pantai. Sampel papan tersebut terdedah kepada pertukaran cuaca dan musim tengkujuh di Pantai Timur antara bulan November hingga Februari. Aplikasi perancah menjangkau ketinggian 20 m di atas permukaan laut dan sebahagian papan ditenggelami air terutama ketika air pasang. Sebahagian papan telah digunakan sebagai platform atas pelantar. Empat puluh sampel papan daripada pelbagai spesies kayu tropika telah dikaji. Ciri fizikal papan dikategorikan sebagai faktor semula jadi dan buatan. Ujian lenturan 'three point' telah dijalankan untuk menentukan kapasiti beban maksimum setiap sampel dan jenis kegagalan yang berlaku dianalisis. Ujian identifikasi telah dijalankan untuk menentukan jenis kumpulan kayu yang digunakan. Pemerhatian mikroskopik mengesahkan kehadiran hyphae yang menunjukkan bahawa pereputan biologi telah berlaku pada sebahagian papan. Risiko kerja telah dirumuskan berdasarkan hasil ujian fizikal dan mekanik tersebut.

Kata kunci: Keselamatan; pembinaan luar pantai; sifat kayu

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*Corresponding author; email: mohdjamil@frim.gov.my