ENCAP Visual Field Guide: SMALL-SCALE CONSTRUCTION

The guide is designed to ensure that the most common serious environmental deficits in activity design and management are quickly and easily identified for corrective action. The guide consists of several sections, including Pre-Construction Site Survey, Construction Management—Environmental Deficits, and Construction Management—Health and Safety Deficits. Each section presents a series of questions that, if answered in the affirmative, indicate a deficit that will require corrective action. The Pre-Construction Site Survey section assesses the site's environmental risks, including proximity to water bodies, heavily forested areas, and waste dumps. The guide provides images and descriptions of potential environmental hazards, such as erosion, sedimentation, and contamination of water sources. The Construction Management—Environmental Deficits section evaluates the site's environmental management practices, including standing water, erosion, and material extraction from waterways or ecologically sensitive areas. The guide highlights the potential environmental impacts of these practices, such as breeding disease vectors, degrading water quality, and altering drainage and flow. The Construction Management—Health and Safety Deficits section assesses the site's health and safety practices, including open access to the site, personal protective equipment (PPE), and unshored deep trenches. The guide emphasizes the importance of adequate PPE and proper safety measures to prevent injuries and diseases. The guide also provides information on responsible contracting practices, which include mandating environmental compliance, health and safety compliance, and establishing environmental, health, and safety performance as a key element of project performance. The guide encourages users to educate project management or the A/COTR regarding this aspect of construction good practice. In addition, the guide provides information on the importance of using legal, well-managed lumber for construction projects, particularly in countries where certified lumber is available on the domestic market. The guide emphasizes the need to ask questions regarding the source of the lumber being used and to ascertain whether the lumber is legal, even if certified lumber is not available. Overall, the ENCAP Visual Field Guide for Small-Scale Construction is a valuable resource for USAID and implementing partner staff who need to identify and address environmental and health and safety deficits on construction sites. The guide provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use framework for assessing site risks and implementing corrective actions to ensure a safe and environmentally responsible construction process.