The importance of education and training for construction workers about requirements of the earthquake-safe house and retrofitting method using ferrocement layers

Abstract

Construction workers play an important role in attaining a good construction and safe building. However, it has not been getting enough attention to the importance of worker's roles since it is assumed that engineer has already enough knowledge to control and supervise the construction workers. Based on the survey results, more than 95% of workers in West Sumatera have lack of knowledge about the earthquake-safe house requirements and retrofitting of damaged houses. In this study, the expert team of Andalas University conducted training for the construction workers in Padang City and Padang Pariaman District. The training provides all activities that support the whole construction process of the earthquake-safe house and the retrofitting method for unreinforced masonry houses using ferrocement layers, which is presented by slides presentation and practice on the field. The result of the training program shows that the knowledge of the construction workers on requirements of the earthquake-safe house and retrofitting method using ferrocement layer improved significantly. The construction workers understood how to build the earthquake-safe house and to retrofit the weak or damaged houses. This training program is an effective way in disaster risk reduction to prevent the damage to houses due to the earthquake.