Safety programmes in the Egyptian construction industry

Amr A G Hassanein1, Ragaa S Hanna

  • 1Construction Engineering, the American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. mail@finbi.com

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Survey Safety01:28

Survey Safety

Surveying near highways, rough terrain, or power lines involves significant risks. Working along highways is particularly dangerous and requires the use of warning signs and flagmen. It is safest to avoid working directly on roads and use offsets whenever possible. When highway work is unavoidable, it must follow all safety guidelines. Surveyors should wear bright clothing, such as orange reflective vests, to ensure visibility to motorists, coworkers, and hunters. In construction zones, wearing...
Design Example: Managing Concrete Workability01:14

Design Example: Managing Concrete Workability

This example deals with managing the workability of concrete for a raft foundation project under hot weather conditions. Workability is crucial for ensuring the concrete is easy to place, compact, and finish. In this scenario, a slump test — a common method to measure the workability of fresh concrete — initially indicated low workability. This was attributed to the rapid water loss from the concrete mix, exacerbated by the high temperatures causing the course aggregates to heat up.
To address...
Shotcrete01:18

Shotcrete

Shotcrete is a specialized technique where mortar or small aggregate concrete rich in cement content is sprayed onto a surface at high velocity. The force of impact compacts the material and enables it to cling to vertical or overhead areas without sagging. The technique involves layering the shotcrete in stages until it reaches approximately 4 inches in thickness. Operator skill in nozzle management is pivotal in deciding the quality of the shotcrete. Shotcrete is used in constructing tunnel...
Preplaced Aggregate Concrete01:29

Preplaced Aggregate Concrete

Preplaced aggregate concrete is ideal for construction environments that are not easily accessible. The process begins by properly wetting the gap-graded coarse aggregates to remove the dirt, then placing it in the form and compacting it. Voids are filled with a mortar mix pumped under pressure through slotted pipes. This mortar typically consists of Portland cement, pozzolan, fine aggregates, water, and a fluidizing aid. The pozzolan helps reduce bleeding and segregation while improving the...
Masonry in Cold and Hot Weather Conditions01:21

Masonry in Cold and Hot Weather Conditions

In cold weather, masonry construction requires specific precautions to ensure mortar does not freeze before curing, as this can significantly weaken its strength and watertightness. Mortar temperature should be maintained between 60°F and 80°F to support proper hydration and curing. Below 40°F, mortar water must be heated, but should not exceed 120°F as high temperatures can reduce mortar's compressive and bond strength.
Other key practices include keeping masonry units and sand dry and...
Mass Concreting01:22

Mass Concreting

Mass concreting refers to the process of placing large volumes of concrete, such as in gravity dams. The heat generated during the cement hydration process and differential cooling rates within the concrete mass can lead to a temperature gradient, which can result in thermal cracks in the concrete mass.
To reduce the risk of such cracking, the concrete mix may incorporate low-heat cement and pozzolans to reduce the temperature rise. Pre-cooled angular aggregates and water-reducing admixtures...