E4559 V4 REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF ROADS & HIGHWAYS Department of Feeder Roads Transport Sector Project Environmental and Social Management Plans [ESMP] v.1 31 SELECTED FEEDER ROADS August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs List of Acronyms CEHRT Centre for Environment and Health Research and Training DA District Assembly DE District Engineer DFR Department of feeder Roads IDA International Development Association EA Environmental Assessment EC Energy Commission EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan FID Factories Inspectorate Department GHA Ghana Highway Authority GHGs Green House Gases GNFS Ghana National Fire Service HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ILO International Labour Organisation LI Legislative Instrument MEST Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology MoE Ministry of Energy MRH Ministry of Roads and Highways MTTU Motor Traffic and Transport Unit NETF National Employment Task force NYEP National Youth Employment Program OP/BP Operational Policy/Banks Policy OSH Occupational Safety and Health PPE Personal Protective Equipment SE Site Engineer SIM Stakeholder Identification Matrix SNEP Strategic National Energy Plan STIs Sexually Transmitted Infections ToR Terms of Reference TSP Transport Sector Project RoW Right of Way RPF Resettlement Program Framework URTIs Upper Respiratory Tract Infections VOC Vehicle Operating Cost WHO World Health Organization DFR i August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The Department of Feeder Roads of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (MRH) have selected eighty- four (84) feeder roads for minor rehabilitation/spot improvement and other maintenance works throughout the country. The maintenance works fall under the Transport Sector Project (TSP) to be financed by the International Development Association (IDA). The implementation of projects under the TSP is guided by the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) of the MRH. This is to ensure compliance with the relevant environmental and social safeguard requirements for sound project execution. Therefore in line with the ESMF and the RPF, 84 ESMPs have been prepared for the maintenance works on the 84 selected feeder roads. The roads have been grouped under the four major eco-climatic zones of Ghana – the South-Western Equatorial; Dry Equatorial; Wet Semi Equatorial; and the Tropical Continental Zones. In order to facilitate administrative and implementation arrangement of the ESMPs, the eco-climatic zones have been aligned with the relevant regional boundaries. Thus, the ten administrative regions of Ghana have been grouped into four, based on their broad eco-climatic characteristics as follows:  Western Region - South Western Equatorial Zone  Ashanti, Eastern and Volta (middle) Regions - Wet Semi-Equatorial Zone  Central, Greater Accra and Volta (southern) Regions - Dry Equatorial Zone  Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East & West and Volta - Tropical Continental Zone (northern) Regions This report focuses on the maintenance works in the Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone, and presents the ESMPs for the thirty one selected feeder roads in twenty one districts within the 4 regions which make up the zone. The scale of the maintenance/rehabilitation works is rather limited, with localised impacts within the existing right of way (RoW). No land outside the RoW or property, building or any structure will be affected by the road works, therefore no compensation or resettlement will be required. Also no sensitive sites or resources such as forest reserve, sacred grove, cemetery, shrine or other places of historical and cultural interests are within or near the RoW of any of the 31 roads earmarked for maintenance. Furthermore, the maintenance works will not affect any utility lines such as water, electricity or telecommunication lines. Thus, the World Bank safeguard Policies such as the Involuntary Resettlement, Management of Cultural Property, Conservation of Natural Habitats and Forestry are not triggered. Policy, Legislative and Administrative Frameworks The relevant policy and legislative frameworks applicable to the sector and feeder road ESMP preparation and therefore considered included:  Environmental and Social Management Framework of the Transport Sector Project (TSD);  Ghana’s Environmental Policy;  Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994;  Environmental Assessment Regulations and Procedures; DFR ii August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002;  Occupational Safety and Health Policy of Ghana (Draft);  National Workplace HIV/AIDS Policy;  The World Bank Requirements. General Project and Zonal Information All the road alignments already exist, but in deplorable conditions. Ashanti Region has a total of 65.55km (29.1%) of feeder road designated for maintenance works in the Wet-Semi Equatorial Climatic Zone. Central and Eastern Regions follow in succession with 58.3km and 52.5km representing 25.8% and 23.3% respectively. Volta region (middle) with a total road length 48.8km constitutes 21.7% of designated roads in this zone. The lengths and recommended works for the various roads in the Wet- Semi Equatorial Climatic Zone are given in the table below. Table 1 Selected Road for Maintenance in Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone No. Road Name Districts Length (km) Recommended Works Ashanti Region 1. Fumso-Odemu-Anwhiam Adansi North 10.00 Spot Improvement 2 Twepease Junction- Twepease Adansi South 5.05 Minor Rehabilitation 3 Bakame-Sunkwa-Mamponteng-Ankaase Asante Akim South 4.70 Minor Rehabilitation 4 Dansabonso-Appiahkrom-Yawsafo Asante Akim South 4.50 Minor Rehabilitation 5 Gyereso-Aboabo-Bibiani Atwima-Mponua 12.00 Spot Improvement 6 Adomfe-Tanokrom Asante Akim South 10.00 Spot Improvement 7 Kona-Brofoyedru-Adegensuagya Sekyere South 4.20 Spot Improvement 8 Kumawu-Drabonso-Aframso Sekyere-Afram Plains 10.40 Minor Rehabilitation 9 Sekyere-Akrokyere Sekyere-Afram Plains 4.70 Spot Improvement Sub-Total 65.55 Volta Region (Middle) 10 Adzoatsi-Dekpor Ketu North 1.10 Spot Improvement 11 Agorve Junction-Devego Ketu North 13.8 Rehabilitation 12 Aveyime-CattleRanch-Mafi Aklawaya North Tongu 12.4 Minor Rehabilitation 13 Odumase Junction-Odumase Biakoye 5.0 Spot Improvement 14 Wute-Sasekpe-Amegakope-Kutime North Tongu 16.5 Minor Rehabilitation Sub-Total 48.8 Central Region 15 Wamaso-Acquakrom Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira 0 .60 Minor Rehabilitation 16 Jukwa-Krobo Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira 7.00 Spot Improvement 17 Kwame Alert Junction-Kwame Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira 26.00 Spot Improvement Alert-Amuzu 18 Ntonton-Kona Upper Denkyira East 5.00 Spot Improvement Municipal 19 Nsuta-Bepokokoo Assin South District 6.70 Spot Improvement 20 Senchem-Asensuhu-Agave Assin North Municipal 4.00 Minor Rehabilitation 21 Kwanyarko-Namawora Agona East 4.00 Spot Improvement 22 Abowinim-Nkodwo Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam 4.00 Spot Improvement 23 Mfuom-Aponkwaa-Onomakwaa Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira 6.00 Spot Improvement Sub-Total 58.3 Eastern Region 24 Sutapong - Sutapong Fall Upper Manya 2.80 Spot Improvement 25 Akorabo Junction – Kromaneng Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar 2.40 Spot Improvement 26 Frankadua – Alabo River Asuogyaman 5.20 Minor Rehabilitation DFR iii August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 27 Agavenya Junction-Brukum Agavenya Yilo Krobo 3.70 Spot Improvement 28 Akoradarko – Bomoden Fanteakwa 9.50 Spot Improvement 29 Abekoase – Subriso Atiwa 8.00 Spot Improvement 30 Anum Apapam – Kofipare Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar 3.80 Spot Improvement 31 Abenase – Akokoase Akyemansa 17.1 Spot Improvement Sub-Total 52.5 Total 225.15 The combined land area of the four regions making up the zone is 74,108 km2 which is about 31% of Ghana’s total land surface. The Ashanti and Eastern Regions are located within the high forest zone of the country. The Central Region is coastal savannah along the coast, while semi-deciduous forest predominates the inland areas. It bears similarity to the Volta Region (middle) which has savannah grassland as well as mangrove swamps and semi-deciduous forest areas. The zone is characterized by a double maxima rainfall in June and October. The first rainy season is from May to June, with the heaviest rainfall in June while the second season is from September to October, with little variations between the districts. Temperatures range between 26 oC in August and 30oC in March. The relative humidity which is high throughout the year varies between 70% -80%. Economic activities within the Wet-Semi Equatorial zone comprise agriculture, commerce and also various services. Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The main benefits of the projects will include enhanced mobility and access to market centres, efficient transportation, as well as reduced vehicle operating cost, reduced transportation cost and time and also CO2 emissions. With the spot improvement works, farmers will be able to transport farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. The potential adverse impacts for which relevant mitigation and monitoring measures have been provided include: water resource, drainage and erosion impacts, dust generation and air quality, temporary site office impacts, noise and vibration impacts, occupational health and safety and HIV/AIDS and STIs risks and waste generation as well as impacts of road diversion. Mitigation measures include: culverts and drains designed with adequate capacity to direct and contain flows and run-off, to prevent overflow and road embankment erosion; excavated and heaped materials retained in confinements and located 10 meters (minimum distance) away from water bodies and drainage channels; covering of all flyable materials; agreement between contractor and owner of land identified for erection of site office; use of noise protection devices and limiting time of exposure; water dousing, speed control limits and ramps; training and strict schedule of maintenance/servicing of machinery; use of personal protective equipment (PPE), provision of first aid kits as well as erection of warning signs; sensitization and awareness on transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS and STIs; composting and segregation of waste and maintaining high hygienic standards. In addition to mounting warning signs and directing traffic near culvert construction sites, barricades will also be mounted to protect workers. Monitoring will check the effectiveness of mitigation and erosion prevention measures, material losses into and contamination of water bodies; records of machinery maintenance schedules; noise and vibration exposure levels and duration; water dousing and speed control; fulfilment of the terms of agreement on use of site for project office; records of injury and clinic attendance cases, use and state of PPEs; HIV/ AIDS awareness programs effectiveness; state of toilets and segregation of waste; and mounted road signs and traffic direction. DFR iv August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Environmental and Social Management Plan Implementation The general outline of ESMPs implementation by the various actors will involve the following stages:  ESMP preparation and approval;  Contract specifications on E&S safeguards obligations;  Rehabilitation/project contract award;  E&S safeguards implementation plan and schedule;  Rehabilitation/project commencement;  Capacity building on E&S safeguards (and other awareness programme);  E&S safeguards and mitigation implementation;  Monitoring of safeguard/mitigation measures;  Reporting; and  Compliance and other periodic verification monitoring. The main environmental and social safeguard measures in the ESMPs are:  Water resources, erosion control and flood prevention management;  Noise and vibration exposure management;  Dust control management;  Public and occupational health and safety management;  HIV/AIDS and health awareness management;  Waste management; and  Road diversion and accident prevention;  Temporary office site reinstatement. The key actors in the implementation of the ESMPs include:  The contractor- to be awarded the rehabilitation contract and be required to implement the environmental and social safeguard measures;  DFR - to ensure that E&S safeguards and other mitigation measures are duly implemented;  EPA - to ensure compliance with the ESMP and other relevant approval conditions;  MRH - to oversee the effective implementation of the road project and related E&S safeguards  MEST - to address complaints of any aggrieved parties on E&S safeguards, especially with respect to ‘unfavourable’ decisions of the EPA. The other components of the ESMP include capacity building, proposed implementation budget and E&S safeguards obligations of contractors. Capacity building mainly on E&S safeguards planning, implementation and supervision, monitoring and reporting, and also public and occupational E&S and health (including HIV/AIDS) awareness and waste management have been prepared to enhance the capacity of DFR District Engineers, Contractors and their Site Engineers/Foremen as well as selected members of nearby communities. A proposed budget of nine hundred and sixty one thousand, four hundred and thirty two dollars ($961,432) to facilitate implementation of the various measures, monitoring plan and capacity building of the ESMP has been made as an integral part of financing for the rehabilitation/maintenance projects. The specific E&S safeguards obligations for the contractor to be incorporated into the contract specifications are also provided, as well as other contractual provisions made in the General Items of the Bills of Quantities. DFR v August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... II TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................... VI LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... XV LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................... XVI 1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE ESMPS ..................................................................................................... 1 1.3 METHODOLOGY FOR THE ESMPS ............................................................................................ 2 1.4 ORGANIZATION OF REPORT ...................................................................................................... 2 2.0 POLICY, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORKS ............................ 3 2.1 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................ 3 2.2 NATIONAL LAND, LABOUR, SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ....................................... 4 2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ................................................. 5 2.4 THE WORLD BANK REQUIREMENTS......................................................................................... 5 3.0 GENERAL PROJECT AND ZONAL INFORMATION........................................................ 7 3.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................. 7 3.2 ZONAL BASELINE INFORMATION ............................................................................................. 8 4.0 FUMSO-ANWIASO-ADEM SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .................................... 11 4.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 11 4.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 11 4.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 12 4.3.1 Potential Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......... 12 4.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................. 13 4.3.3 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................................ 13 4.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ...................... 14 4.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ............................................. 15 4.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring.................................................................. 15 4.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................ 16 4.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................. 16 5.0 TWEAPEASE JUNCTION-TWAPEASE MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT.. 18 5.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 18 5.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 18 5.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 19 5.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 19 5.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................. 20 5.3.3 Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................................................... 20 5.3.4 Occupational and Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring............... 21 5.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ............................................. 22 5.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................ 22 5.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................ 23 5.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................. 24 6.0 BANKAME–MAMPONTENG-ANKAASE MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT ... 25 6.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 25 6.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 25 6.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 26 DFR vi August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 6.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................... 27 6.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring..................................................... 27 6.3.3 Dust generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................................. 28 6.3.4 Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ...................................... 28 6.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ............................................. 29 6.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring.................................................................. 29 6.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................ 30 6.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................. 31 7.0 DANSABOSO–APPRIAHKROM YAWSARFO JUCTION MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT .................................................................................................................................. 32 7.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 32 7.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 32 7.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 33 7.3.1 Potential Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......... 33 7.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................................ 34 7.3.4 Occupational and Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring.................... 35 7.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring............................................. 35 7.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................ 36 7.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................ 37 7.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................. 37 8.0 GYERESO-ABOABO-BIBIANI SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .............................. 39 8.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 39 8.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 39 8.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 40 8.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 40 8.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................ 41 8.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................ 41 8.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 42 8.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ............................................. 43 8.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................ 43 8.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................ 44 8.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................. 44 9.0 ADOMFE - TANOKROM SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.....................................46 9.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 46 9.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 46 9.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 47 9.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................ 47 9.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................ 48 9.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .............................. 48 9.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 49 9.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring.................................................. 50 9.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................ 50 9.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................ 51 9.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................. 51 10.0 KONA-BROFOYEDU ADENGENSUAGYA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ......... 53 10.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 53 10.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 53 10.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 54 10.3.1 Potential Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ... 54 10.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................... 55 10.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 55 DFR vii August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 10.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ........... 56 10.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ........................................ 57 10.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................... 57 10.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 58 10.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................... 58 11.0 KUMAWU-DRABONSO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .......................................... 60 11.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 60 11.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 60 11.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES. ...................................... 61 11.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .......................... 61 11.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................ 62 11.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .............................. 62 11.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring .................. 63 11.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ......................................... 64 11.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................... 64 11.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................... 65 12.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 67 12.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 67 12.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 68 12.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .......................... 68 12.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................... 69 12.3.3 Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................................................. 69 12.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................. 70 12.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ........................................ 71 12.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................. 71 12.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 72 12.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................... 72 13.0 ADZOATSI-DEKPOR SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .............................................. 75 13.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 75 13.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 75 13.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 76 13.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................... 76 13.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................... 77 13.3.3 Dust generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................... 77 13.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ........... 78 13.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ......................................... 79 13.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................. 79 13.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 80 13.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................... 80 14.0 AGORVE JUNCTION-DEVEGO REHABILITATION PROJECT .................................. 82 14.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 82 14.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 82 14.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 83 14.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................... 83 14.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................... 84 14.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................... 84 14.3.4 Occupational/Public health and Safety Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 85 14.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ......................................... 85 14.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................. 86 14.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 86 DFR viii August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 14.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................... 87 15.0 AVEYIME CATTLE RANCH – MAFI AKLAWAYA MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT .................................................................................................................................. 89 15.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 89 15.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 89 15.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 90 15.3.1 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................. 90 15.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................... 91 15.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 91 15.3.4 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring .................. 92 15.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ......................................... 92 15.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................... 93 15.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 93 15.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................... 94 16.0 ODUMASE JUNCTION–ODUMASE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT..................... 95 16.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ................................................................................. 95 16.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 95 16.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 96 16.3.1 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ......................... 96 16.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................... 97 16.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 97 16.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 98 16.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ......................................... 98 16.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................. 98 16.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 99 16.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 100 17.0 WUTE – SASEKPE - KUTIME MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT ..................... 101 17.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 101 17.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 101 17.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 102 17.3.1 Water Resourses /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring...................... 102 17.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring............................................... 103 17.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .......................... 103 17.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 104 17.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ...................................... 104 17.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 105 17.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 105 17.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 106 18.0 WAMASO-ACQUAKROM MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT ........................... 108 18.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 108 18.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 108 18.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 109 18.3.1 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ...................... 109 18.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring................................................. 110 18.3.3 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................. 110 18.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring .................... 111 18.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 111 18.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 112 18.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 112 18.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 113 DFR ix August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 19.0 JUKWA-KROBO MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT ............................................ 114 19.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 114 19.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 114 19.3.1 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ..................... 115 19.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring............................................... 115 19.3.3 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................... 116 19.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 117 19.3.5 HIV/AIDS Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring............................................................... 117 19.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ..................... 118 19.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 118 19.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 119 20.0 KWAME ALERT JUNCTION-KWAME ALERT-AMUZU SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ................................................................................................................................ 120 20.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 120 20.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 120 20.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 121 20.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 121 20.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 122 20.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 122 20.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 123 20.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 123 20.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 124 20.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 125 20.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 126 21.0 NTONTON-KONA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .................................................. 127 21.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 127 21.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 127 21.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 128 21.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 128 21.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 129 21.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 129 21.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 130 21.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 130 21.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 131 21.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 132 21.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 133 22.0 NSUTA-BEPOKOKOO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .......................................... 134 22.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 134 22.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 134 22.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 135 22.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 135 22.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 136 22.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 136 22.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 137 22.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 138 22.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 139 22.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 139 22.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 140 23.0 SENCHEM-ASENSUHU-AGAVE MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT ................ 141 23.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 141 DFR x August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 23.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 141 23.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 142 23.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 142 23.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 143 23.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 143 23.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 144 23.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 144 23.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 145 23.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 146 23.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 147 24.0 KWANYARKO-NAMAWORA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ............................. 148 24.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 148 24.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 148 24.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES............................................................. 149 24.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 149 24.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 150 24.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 150 24.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 151 24.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 151 24.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 152 24.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 153 24.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 153 25.0 ABOWINIM-NKODWO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ........................................ 155 25.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 155 25.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 155 25.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 156 25.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 156 25.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 157 25.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 157 25.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 158 25.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 158 25.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 159 25.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 160 25.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 160 26.0 MFUOM-APONKWAA-ONOMAKWAA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ............ 162 26.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 162 26.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 162 26.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 163 26.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 163 26.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 164 26.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 164 26.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 165 26.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................... 165 26.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 166 26.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 167 26.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 167 27.0 ABEKOASE-SUBRISO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT .......................................... 170 27.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 170 27.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 170 27.3 POTENTIAL IMPACT, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ....................................... 171 DFR xi August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 27.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 171 27.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 172 27.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 172 27.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 173 27.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 173 27.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 174 27.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 175 27.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 176 28.0 ABENASE-AKOKOASE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ........................................ 177 28.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 177 28.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 177 28.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 178 28.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 178 28.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 179 28.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 179 28.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 180 28.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 180 28.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 181 28.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 182 28.7.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 182 29.0 AGAVENYA JUNCTION-BRUKUM AGAVENYA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT……... ..................................................................................................................... 184 29.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 184 29.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 184 29.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 185 29.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 185 29.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 186 29.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 186 29.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 187 29.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 187 29.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 188 29.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 189 29.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 189 30.0 AKORABO JUNCTION – KROMANENG SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.......... 191 30.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 191 30.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 191 30.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 192 30.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 192 30.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 193 30.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 193 30.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 194 30.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 194 30.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 195 30.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 196 30.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 196 31.0 AKORADARKO-BOMODEN SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ............................... 198 31.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 198 31.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 198 31.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING IMPACT MEASURES ........................ 199 31.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 199 DFR xii August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 31.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 200 31.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 200 31.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 201 31.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 201 31.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 202 31.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 203 31.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 203 32.0 ANUM APAPAM – KOFIPARE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ........................... 205 32.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 205 32.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 205 32.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITROING MEASURES ..................................... 206 32.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 206 32.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 207 32.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 207 32.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 208 32.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 208 32.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 209 32.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 210 32.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 210 33.0 FRANKADUA-ALABO RIVER SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ............................ 212 33.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 212 33.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 212 33.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 213 33.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 213 33.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 214 33.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 214 33.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 215 33.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ............... 215 33.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 216 33.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 217 33.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 217 34.0 SUTAPONG – SUTAPONG FALL SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ....................... 219 34.1 PROJECT ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................... 219 34.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 219 34.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION AND MONITORING MEASURES ..................................... 220 34.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................ 220 34.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................... 221 34.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................... 221 34.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring ....................................... 222 34.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring ................ 222 34.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring ........................................................... 223 34.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring .................................. 224 34.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring ....................................... 224 35.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .. 226 35.1 IMPLEMENTATION STAGES, SAFEGUARD MEASURES AND INSTITUTIONS ........................... 226 35.2 INSTITUTIONAL ROLES ......................................................................................................... 227 35.2.1 District Engineer (DE) ................................................................................................ 227 35.2.2 Regional Environmental Desks (RED) ........................................................................ 227 35.2.3 National Environmental Desk...................................................................................... 227 35.2.4 Environmental Protection Agency ............................................................................... 228 DFR xiii August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 35.2.5 Ministry of Roads and Highways ................................................................................. 228 35.2.6 Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST)........................................ 228 35.2.7 Contractor ................................................................................................................... 228 35.3 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS ......................................................................................... 229 35.4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES ................................................ 230 35.4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES ................................................ 230 35.4.1 Water Resources, Erosion Control and Flood Prevention Management .................... 230 35.4.2 Noise and Vibration Exposure Management ............................................................... 230 35.4.3 Dust Management ........................................................................................................ 230 35.4.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Management .......................................... 231 35.4.5 HIV/AIDS and Health Management ............................................................................ 231 35.4.6 Waste Management...................................................................................................... 231 35.4.7 Road Diversion and Accident Prevention.................................................................... 231 35.5 CAPACITY BUILDING ............................................................................................................ 233 35.6 ESMPS IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET ..................................................................................... 233 36.0 CONSULTATIONS ................................................................................................................ 236 APPENDIX I ........................................................................................................................................ 245 APPENDIX II ......................................................................................................................................... 248 DFR xiv August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs LIST OF TABLES TABLE 3. 1 PROPOSED ROADS FOR MAINTENANCE IN THE WET-SEMI EQUATORIAL ZONE ........................................7 TABLE 4. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE FUMSO-ANWIASO-ADEM ROAD ......................................11 TABLE 6. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE BANKAME–MAMPONTENG-ANKAASE ROAD.....................25 TABLE 7. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE DANSABOSO–APPRIAHKROM YAWSARFO ROAD ...............32 TABLE 8. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE GYERESO-ABOABO-BIBIANI ROAD ..................................39 TABLE 9. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE ADOMFE - TANOKROM ROAD..........................................46 TABLE 10. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE KONA-BROFOYEDU ADENGENSUAGYA ROAD ..................53 TABLE 11. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE KUMAWU-DRABONSO ROAD ...........................................60 TABLE 12. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE SEKYERE-AKROKYERE ROAD ..........................................67 TABLE 13. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE ADZOATSI-DEKPOR ROAD ..............................................75 TABLE 14. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE AGORVE JUNCTION-DEVEGO ROAD ................................82 TABLE 15. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE AVEYIME CATTLE RANCH – MAFI AKLAWAYA ROAD ........89 TABLE 16. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE ODUMASE JUNCTION–ODUMASE ROAD ..........................95 TABLE 17. 1 LOCATIONS WITH SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE WUTE – SASEKPE - KUTIME ROAD ............................101 TABLE 18. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE WAMASO-ACQUAKROM ROAD ......................................108 TABLE 19. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE JUKWA-KROBO ROAD ..................................................114 TABLE 20.1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE KWAME ALERT JUNCTION-KWAME ALERT-AMUZU ROAD ....120 TABLE 21. 1 LOCATIONS/DISTANCES OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE PROJECT ROAD..........................................127 TABLE 22. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE NSUTA-BEPOKOKOO ROAD ..........................................134 TABLE 23. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG SENCHEM-ASENUHU-AGAVE ROAD .....................................141 TABLE 24. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE NSUTA-BEPOKOKOO ROAD ..........................................148 TABLE 25. 1 LOCATIONS SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE ABOWINIM-NKODWO ROAD ...............................................155 TABLE 26. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE MFUOM-APONKWAA-ONOMAKWAA ROAD ....................162 TABLE 27. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE ABEKOASE-SUBRISO ROAD ..........................................170 TABLE 28. 1 LOCATIONS OR DISTANCES OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE ABENASE-AKOKOASE ROAD ...................177 TABLE 29. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE AGAVENYA JUNCTION-BRUKUM AGAVENYA ROAD.........184 TABLE 30. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE AKORABO JUNCTION – KROMANENG ROAD ..................191 TABLE 31. 1 LOCATIONS OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE AKORADARKO-BOMODEN ROAD ...................................198 TABLE 32. 1 SPECIFIC WORKS AND THEIR LOCATIONS ALONG THE ANUM APAPAM – KOFIPARE ROAD ...................205 TABLE 33. 1 LOCATIONS OR DISTANCES OF SPECIFIC WORKS ALONG THE FRANKADUA-ALABO RIVER ROAD ..........212 TABLE 34. 1 SPECIFIC WORKS AND THEIR LOCATIONS ALONG THE SUTAPONG – SUTAPONG ROAD .........................219 TABLE 35. 1 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ........................................................................231 TABLE 35. 2 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE ESMPI ...............................................................................................234 TABLE 36. 1 REPONSES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FEEDER ROADS (DFR) ASANTE-AKIM SOUTH DISTRICT ........236 TABLE 36. 2 RESPONSES FROM DFR, MFANTSIMAN MUNICIPAL ...........................................................................238 TABLE 36. 3 REPONSES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FEEDER ROADS (DFR) ASUOGYAMAN DISTRICT ....................240 DFR xv August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 3. 1 A MAP OF GHANA SHOWING THE FOUR CLIMATIC ZONES .....................................................................9 FIGURE 6. 1 SECTIONS OF THE BANKAME-SUNKWA-MAMPONTENG-ANKAASE ROAD................................................25 FIGURE 35. 1 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT FLOW CHART ..............................................................................229 FIGURE 36. 1 CONSULTATION WITH DFR, ASANTE-AKIM SOUTH DISTRICT ........................................................236 FIGURE 36. 2 CONSULTATIONS WITH MOFA, ASANTE-AKIM SOUTH DISTRICT....................................................237 FIGURE 36. 3 CONSULTATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT HEALTH DIRECTORATE, ASANTE-AKIM SOUTH DISTRICT ......238 FIGURE 36. 4 CONSULTATION WITH DFR, MFANTISMAN MUNICIPAL.................................................................239 FIGURE 36. 5 CONSULTATIONS WITH MOFA, MFANTSIMAN MUNICIPAL ............................................................240 FIGURE 36. 6 CONSULTATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FEEDER ROADS, ASUOGYAMAN DISTRICT .................241 FIGURE 36. 7 CONSULTATIONS WITH MOFA, ASUOGYAMAN DISTRICT ...............................................................242 FIGURE 36. 8 CONSULTATION WITH THE DHD OF THE ASUOGYAMAN DISTRICT .................................................243 DFR xvi August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Under the Transport Sector Project (TSP) by Ministry of Roads and Highways (the then Ministry of Transportation), an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) were prepared for the road transport sector in 2008. The ESMF and the RPF provided the means to addressing the safeguards requirements of projects to be financed under the TSP, when they were due for implementation. Currently, eighty-four (84) feeder roads have been selected for rehabilitation/maintenance works throughout the country under the TSP. The provisions of the ESMF require the preparation of an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for each of the selected roads, given that the roads are in use and benefit from rehabilitation works from time to time. The country has been divided into four zones base on eco-climatic variations namely: the Tropical Continental, South-Western Equatorial, Wet-Semi Equatorial and the Dry Equatorial zones for purposes of grouping the planned rehabilitation / maintenance works. Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone which comprises the Ashanti, Middle Volta, Central and Eastern Regions is expected to benefit from the maintenance works of 31 feeder roads. This report covers the ESMPs for the selected 31 feeder roads in the Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone. The total length of feeder roads in this eco-climatic zone is 16421.55km. Out of this10224.58km is engineered; 2030.38 km is partially engineered; while 2448.1km is unengineered. Feeder roads regularly undergo maintenance works given that they are often not tarred and hence susceptible to rapid deterioration. The main object of the proposed maintenance works is to improve the road condition to reduce travel time and enhance interconnection between the adjoining communities. The nature and scale of the rehabilitation/maintenance works are rather limited and within the existing right of way (RoW). The likely environmental and social impacts will also be localised and mainly temporary, with known and easy to apply mitigation and management measures. No land outside the RoW or property, building or any structure will be affected by the road works, therefore no compensation or resettlement will be required. Also no sensitive sites or resources such as forest reserve, sacred grove, cemetery, shrine or other places of historical and cultural interests are within or near the RoW of any of the 31 roads earmarked for maintenance. Furthermore, the magnitude of maintenance works will not affect any utility lines such as water, electricity or telecommunication lines. Thus, the World Bank’s Policy on Involuntary Resettlement, Management of Cultural Property, Conservation of Natural Habitats and Forestry are not triggered. 1.2 Objectives of the ESMPs Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) are required for each road in line with the ESMF of the TSP. Environmental and Social Management Plans are usually prepared for existing undertakings/projects in accordance with Ghana’s Environmental Assessment (EA) Regulations (LI 1652, Section 24). The purpose of the ESMP is to:  Reduce the potential adverse environmental and social impacts of the required maintenance/civil works;  Facilitate monitoring and enhancement measures as contribution to environmental and social performance during implementation;  Provide institutional strengthening measures for effective oversight and supervision; as well as  Ensure compliance with the safeguards requirements of the projects, in line with the ESMF DFR 1 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 1.3 Methodology for the ESMPs The ESMP preparation involved field visits to the project sites, document review and consultation with key representative stakeholders at the national, regional and district levels. The main national and the World Bank reference documents reviewed included:  Environmental and Social Management Framework for TSP (2008);  Resettlement Policy Framework for the TSP;  Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490);  Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (LI 1652);  Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002 (LI 1703)  National Environmental Action Plan;  Ghana EIA Procedures; and  World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies (OP/BP 4.01 and OP/BP 4.12). The national and regional level institutions involved in the ESMP processes were the EPA and the DFR. The district engineers of the relevant DAs were also consulted. Three sets of data capture forms (Appendix I) were designed and used to conduct individual road project assessments. The forms captured data on the following:  Project description (i.e. for the specific feeder roads);  Project corridor and adjoining area (baseline) information; and  Potential impacts (environmental and social) of the project (road works & borrow pits). The scope/structure of the ESMPs for the Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone covers the following:  Policy, legislative/regulatory and administrative frameworks;  Regional (baseline) information on feeder roads;  Beneficial and adverse impacts for specific project roads;  Mitigation measures for the project roads;  Monitoring plan; and  Environmental and social management implementation plan and budget. The methodology also took into account provision made in the general items of the bill of quantity (BoQ) which are incorporated into contracts by the DFR. 1.4 Organization of Report This report contains thirty-six (36) main chapters, preceded by a non-technical executive summary. The main sections are:  Chapters 1, 2 and 3: General introduction to the ESMPs, overview of applicable legal, policy and administrative frameworks, and general project zonal information;  Chapter 4 – 12: Assessment of each of the nine project roads in the Ashanti Region;  Chapter 13 – 17: Assessment for each of the five project roads in the middle Volta Region;  Chapter 18 – 26: Assessment for each of the nine project roads in the Central Region;  Chapter 27 – 34: Assessment for each of the eight project roads in the Eastern Region;  Chapter 35: Implementation of ESMPs and associated budget; and  Chapter 36: Consultation with stakeholders. DFR 2 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 2.0 POLICY, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORKS The principal policies, laws and procedures on ESMP and related requirements which guided preparation of the ESMPs are presented below. 1) The national environmental requirements: a. Ghana’s Environmental Policy; b. Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994; c. Environmental Assessment Regulations and Procedures; and d. Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002. 2) The national land, labour, safety and health requirements: a. Lands Statutory Wayleaves Act, 1963; b. Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970; c. Occupational Safety and Health Policy of Ghana (Draft); d. National Workplace HIV/AIDS Policy; e. Labour Act, 2003; and f. Youth Employment Implementation Guidelines. 3) Environmental and Social Management Framework - Ghana Transport Sector Program (TSP). 4) The World Bank Requirements a. Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01); b. Conservation of Natural Habitats (OP 4.04); c. Forestry (OP/BP 4.36); and d. Management of Cultural Property (OPN 11.03); 2.1 National Environmental Requirements Ghana’s Environmental Policy The environmental policy of Ghana formulated in the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of 1993 hinges strongly on ‘prevention’ as the most effective tool for environmental protection. The policy aims at a sound management of resources and environment, and the reconciliation between economic planning and environmental resources utilization for sustainable national development. Within this context and in relation to the road transport sector, the policy also seeks among others, to institute an environmental quality control and sustainable development programs by requiring prior EA (including environmental and social management) of all developments, and to take appropriate measures to protect critical eco-systems, including the flora and fauna they contain against harmful effects, nuisance or destructive practices. The adoption of the NEAP led to the enactment of the EPA Act 1994 (Act 490); and subsequently the passing of the Ghana EIA Procedures into the EA Regulations, 1999 (LI 1652). Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, 1994 (Act 490) grants the Agency enforcement and standards setting powers, and the power to ensure compliance with the Ghana EA requirements/procedures. The Agency (including its Regional and District Offices) is also vested with the power to determine what constitutes an ‘adverse effect on the environment’ or an activity posing ‘a serious threat to the environment or public health’, to require EAs, ESMPs, AERs, etc of an ‘undertaking’, including road transport sector projects, to regulate and serve an enforcement notice for any offending or non-complying undertaking. The Agency is required to conduct monitoring to verify compliance with permit conditions for project and mitigation commitments. Furthermore, a requirement by EPA for an EA precludes any authorising MDA from licensing, permitting, approving or consenting such undertaking, unless notified otherwise. DFR 3 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Environmental Assessment Regulations and Procedures The Environmental Assessment (EA) Regulations combine both an environmental assessment and environmental management systems. The EA considers environmental and social aspects in an integrated way. The regulations prohibit commencing an “undertaking” (including road transport sector projects) without prior registration and environmental permit. Undertakings are grouped into schedules to enable registration and securing environmental permit from the EPA through the EA system. The Regulations also define the relevant stages and actions, including: certification, fee payment, ESMP, AER, suspension/revocation of permit, complaints/appeals, etc. Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002 The Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002 (LI 1703) were made to amend sections of the EA fees regime of LI 1652 (the ‘principal enactment’) on processing charges, payment for environmental permit and certificates (for ESMPs) issued by the Agency. 2.2 National Land, Labour, Safety and Health Requirements Lands Statutory Wayleaves Act, 1963 The Lands Statutory Wayleaves Act 1963 (Act 186) was enacted to facilitate the entry on any land for the purposes of construction, installation and maintenance of public utility works and creation of right of ways and other similar right for such works. Works for which right of ways may be created are “feeder roads or works for purposes of, or in connection with any public utility works”. The Act and its accompanying Regulations, the Lands Statutory Wayleave Regulations 1964 (LI 334) provides the modalities and procedures for the acquisition of the Statutory right of ways. Thus, the mechanism for entry for survey works and construction has been spelt out in details. Provision has also been made for restoration of affected lands where that is possible. Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970 The Factories, Offices and Shops Act of 1970 (Act 328) mandates the Factories Inspectorate Department to register factories and ensure that internationally accepted standards of providing safety, health and welfare of persons are adhered to. It defines a factory to include any premises (whether in or not in a building) in which one or more persons are employed in manual labour, among others. The Act spells out the responsibilities of the employer in ensuring a safe and healthy work environment so as to guarantee the health and safety of employees. In this respect, the Act makes provision for the protection of the workforce that will be involved in the road construction activities. Occupational Safety and Health Policy of Ghana (Draft) The policy statement of the OSH Policy (draft 2004) is: ‘to prevent accidents and injuries arising out of or linked with or occurring in the course of work, by minimizing, as far as reasonably practicable, the cause of the hazards in the working environment and, therefore, the risk to which employees and the public may be exposed’. The policy is derived from provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 155 and 161. The policy document has specific sections on objectives, scope, strategies, activities and promotion and awareness creation. National Workplace HIV/AIDS Policy The broad objectives of the policy among others, are to provide protection from discrimination in the workplace to people living with HIV and AIDS; prevent HIV and AIDS spread amongst workers; and provide care, support and counselling for those infected and affected. DFR 4 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Labour Act, 2003 The purpose of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) is to amend and consolidate existing laws relating to labour, employers, trade unions and industrial relations. The Act provides for the rights and duties of employers and workers; legal or illegal strike; guarantees trade unions and freedom of associations, and establishes the Labour Commission to mediate and act in respect of all labour issues. Under Part XV (Occupational Health, Safety and Environment), the Act explicitly indicates that it is the duty of an employer to ensure that every worker works under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions. Youth Employment Implementation Guidelines The authority for decision-making on the implementation of the National Youth Employment Program (NYEP) resides in the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, through a National Employment Task Force (NETF) set up to implement the program. District Employment Task Forces set up are made accountable to the NETF in all their undertakings throughout the implementation of the program. The overall objective of the program is to empower the youth to be able to contribute more productively towards the socio-economic and sustainable development of the nation. The specific objectives of the Program include checking the drift of the youth from the rural to urban communities in search of jobs by creating those opportunities in the rural areas, etc. 2.3 Environmental and Social Management Framework The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), sponsored by the World Bank was prepared for the Ghana Transport Sector Program (TSP). The ESMF provides a corporate environmental and social safeguard policy framework, institutional arrangements, and capacity available to identify and mitigate potential safeguard issues and impacts of each sub-project. The ESMF was designed to address potential adverse environmental and social impacts at the planning stage of the feeder roads’ maintenance works. The ESMF defines the management procedures to avoid causing harm or exacerbating social tensions, and to ensure consistent management of environmental and social issues during feeder roads maintenance works. 2.4 The World Bank Requirements The Bank’s Safeguard Policies The Bank’s safeguard policies are designed to help ensure that programs proposed for financing are environmentally and socially sustainable, and thus improve decision-making. The Bank’s Operational Policies (OP) are meant to ensure that operations of the Bank do not lead to adverse impacts or cause any harm. The relevant ones include:  Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01);  Management of Cultural Property (OPN 11.03);  Conservation of Natural Habitats (OP 4.04);  Forestry (OP/BP 4.36) Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01) The OP 4.01 requires among others that screening for potential impacts is carried out early, in order to determine the level of EA to assess and mitigate potential adverse impacts. The Bank’s project screening criteria group projects into three categories:  Category A – Detailed Environmental Assessment;  Category B - Initial Environmental Examination and DFR 5 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Category C – Environmentally friendly. The EA ensures that appropriate levels of environmental and social assessment are carried out as part of project design, including public consultation process, especially for Category A and B projects. The OP 4.01 is triggered if a program is likely to present some risks and potential adverse environmental impacts in its area of influence. The OP 4.01 is applicable to all components of the Bank’s financed projects, even for co-financed components. Considering the rather limited scale and nature of the proposed maintenance works on the feeder roads, and the potential low magnitude and localized environmental and social impacts of the project, the proposed feeder roads maintenance works are classified category ‘B’. DFR 6 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 3.0 GENERAL PROJECT AND ZONAL INFORMATION 3.1 Project Description The proposed works form part of DFR’s ongoing rehabilitation/maintenance activities which aim at improving access and mobility to and from the beneficiary communities and the districts. All the selected roads already exist, but are in deplorable conditions. Settlements, schools, farms are the main rural infrastructure located along some of the project routes. The maintenance works to be carried out are mainly spot improvement and minor rehabilitation as provided in table 3.1 below. These works will, however, not affect any structure or facility within the corridor. The Table 3.1 provides the list/name and length of roads, the district/municipality and region they fall in as well as the type of maintenance works to be carried out. Table 3. 1 Proposed Roads for Maintenance in the Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone No. Road Name Districts Length Recommended Works (km) Ashanti Region 1. Fumso-Odemu-Anwhiam Adansi North 10.00 Spot Improvement 2 Twepease Junction- Twepease Adansi South 5.05 Minor Rehabilitation 3 Bakame-Sunkwa-Mamponteng- Asante Akim South 4.70 Minor Rehabilitation Ankaase 4 Dansabonso-Appiahkrom- Asante Akim South 4.50 Minor Rehabilitation Yawsafo 5 Gyereso-Aboabo-Bibiani Atwima-Mponua 12.00 Spot Improvement 6 Adomfe-Tanokrom Asante Akim South 10.00 Spot Improvement 7 Kona-Brofoyedru- Sekyere South 4.20 Spot Improvement Adegensuagya 8 Kumawu-Drabonso-Aframso Sekyere-Afram Plains 10.40 Minor Rehabilitation 9 Sekyere-Akrokyere Sekyere-Afram Plains 4.70 Spot Improvement Sub-Total 65.55 Middle Volta Region 10 Adzoatsi-Dekpor Ketu North 1.10 Spot Improvement 11 Agorve Junction-Devego Ketu North 13.8 Rehabilitation 12 Aveyime-Cattle Ranch-Mafi North Tongu 12.4 Minor Rehabilitation Aklawaya 13 Odumase Junction-Odumase Biakoye 5.0 Spot Improvement 14 Wute-Sasekpe-Amegakope- North Tongu 16.5 Minor Rehabilitation Kutime Sub-Total 48.8 Central Region 15 Wamaso-Acquakrom Twifo-Heman-Lower 0 .60 Minor Rehabilitation Denkyira 16 Jukwa-Krobo Twifo-Heman-Lower 7.00 Spot Improvement Denkyira 17 Kwame Alert Junction-Kwame Twifo-Heman-Lower 26.00 Spot Improvement Alert-Amuzu Denkyira 18 Ntonton-Kona Upper Denkyira East 5.00 Spot Improvement Municipal 19 Nsuta-Bepokokoo Assin South District 6.70 Spot Improvement 20 Senchem-Asensuhu-Agave Assin North Municipal 4.00 Minor Rehabilitation 21 Kwanyarko-Namawora Agona East 4.00 Spot Improvement 22 Abowinim-Nkodwo Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam 4.00 Spot Improvement 23 Mfuom-Aponkwaa-Onomakwaa Twifo-Heman-Lower 6.00 Spot Improvement Denkyira DFR 7 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Sub-Total 58.3 Eastern Region 24 Sutapong - Sutapong Fall Upper Manya 2.80 Spot Improvement 25 Akorabo Junction – Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar 2.40 Spot Improvement Kromaneng 26 Frankadua – Alabo River Asuogyaman 5.20 Minor Rehabilitation 27 Agavenya Junction- Yilo Krobo 3.70 Spot Improvement Brukum Agavenya 28 Akoradarko – Bomoden Fanteakwa 9.50 Spot Improvement 29 Abekoase – Subriso Atiwa 8.00 Spot Improvement 30 Anum Apapam – Kofipare Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar 3.80 Spot Improvement 31 Abenase - Akokoase Akyemansa 17.1 Spot Improvement Sub-Total 52.5 Total 225.15 Spot Improvement Spot improvement works basically involves maintenance of specific spots on the road that are in bad shape and thus impedes easy transportation. This may include construction of culverts, sectional gravelling, sectional levelling, etc. Minor Rehabilitation The activities undertaken are similar to that of spot improvement works but the extent of works differs in that they are more involving. Such works include clearing, formation activities, blading, gravelling, culvert construction and drain cleaning. 3.2 Zonal Baseline Information The combined land area of the four regions making up the zone is 74,108 km2 which is about 31% of Ghana’s total land surface. The Ashanti and Eastern Regions are located entirely within the high forest zone of the country. The Central Region has coastal savannah with grassland and few trees along the coast, while semi-deciduous forest predominates the inland areas. It bears similarity to the Volta Region (middle) which has savannah grassland as well as mangrove swamps and semi-deciduous forest areas. The zone is characterized by a double maxima rainfall in June and October. The first rainy season is from May to June, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in June while the second season is from September to October, with little variations between the districts. Temperatures range between 26 oC in August and 30oC in March. The relative humidity which is high throughout the year varies between 70% -80%. Economic activities within the Wet-Semi Equatorial zone comprise agriculture, commerce and also various services. The Ashanti region is endowed with a unique geography, lakes, scarps, forest reserves, waterfalls, national parks, birds and wildlife sanctuaries (Owabi Arboretum and Bomgobiri wildlife sanctuaries). The region is drained by Rivers Offin, Prah, Afram and Owabi. There are other smaller rivers and streams which serve as sources of drinking water for residents of some localities in the region. The major occupation in all the districts is agriculture, except in the Kumasi metropolis, where commerce predominates. The Volta Region has 92.5% of its economically active population employed in various industries, with 7.5% unemployed. The rate of unemployment is highest in Kpando (11.1%), followed by Jasikan (10.4%) and Ho (10.5%). The rest of the districts have unemployment rate ranging from 3.4% for Nkwanta, to 9.7% for Hohoe. The rate of unemployment is higher among females than males in seven DFR 8 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs of the 15 districts. Students constitute 31.1 % of the non-economically active population in the region. Workers in the agricultural and related occupations are in the majority in all the districts. Agriculture remains the largest industry in the region except Keta and Krachi, districts where fishing is the mainstay. The Central Region can be broadly divided into two: the coast, which consists of undulating plains with isolated hills and occasional cliffs characterised by sandy beaches and marsh in certain areas; and the hinterland, where the land rises between 250 metres and 300 metres above sea level. The predominant industry in all districts except Cape Coast is agriculture (52.3%), followed by manufacturing (10.5%). Agriculture (including fishing) is the main occupation and employs more than two thirds of the workforce in many districts. Cocoa production is concentrated in Assin, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira and Upper Denkyira while oil palm production is mainly in Assin and Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira. Other major agricultural enterprises are pineapple and grain production. Fishing is concentrated mainly in the six coastal districts. More males (8.6%) than females (4.6%) are engaged in professional/technical occupations while more females (18.2%) than males (6.0%) are involved in sales work. It is important to note that in all the districts, except Cape Coast, less than 10 % active population are engaged in service activities. The Eastern Region is the third most populous region, after the Ashanti and Greater Accra. The region is one of the most economically active regions in the country. Both agriculture and industry feature prominently in the region’s economic activities. Figure 3.1 shows the four eco-climatic zones of Ghana. Figure 3. 1 A map of Ghana Showing the Four Eco-Climatic Zones DFR 9 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs ROADS IN THE ASHANTI REGION DFR 10 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 4.0 FUMSO-ANWIASO-ADEM SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 4.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Adansi North District, 24.7km from Fomena the district capital. The road is 10km long and 4m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Fumso, Odem and Anwiaso. There are schools at Fumso and Odem, a market at Fumso and a health centre at Fumso. The main vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for cocoa farming and palm plantations. The area is drained by 14 drainage channels and the road crossed by some water crossing channels at low laying sections and creeks. The topography is generally rolling and hilly. 4.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some spot improvement works in the form of culvert construction in 2009. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced to 4.0m on the average (instead of 6.0m). The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres, as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 4.1 below. Table 4. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Fumso-Anwiaso-Adem Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Fumso to Anwiaso, Ch.0+000 to Ch.9+400 2 Formation Ch0+000 to Ch9+400 3 Construction of culverts 0+000,1+700,2+600,2+900,3+000,4+300,5+400,5+800,5+900,6+400,6 +700,7+300,8+900,8+950 4 Filling and gravelling Filling of all culvert approaches and gravelling the approaches Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction, formation works which include blading. Two (2) types of new culverts will be constructed, 14 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 8No. 900x700; b) 6 No. 1200x900. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 2km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 2 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 4 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: DFR 11 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs a) Portland cement (1,580 bags) c) Chippings (128m3) b) Laterite (20,413m3) d) Sand (64m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of thirty (30) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 8 months. 4.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Fumso, Odem and Anwiaso communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food to the about 32 workers during their 8 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (10km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 4.3.1 Potential Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spots improvement specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 10km road may result in the pollution of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with rolling and hilly topography will have minimal impacts on the creeks especially if work is carried out in the dry season. In the rainy season however, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the creeks. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (eg. from cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Fumso. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 14 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods will be stored at designated places at site office at Fumso away from steep slopes and the creeks to prevent pollution from run offs. The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the DFR 12 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs rehabilitation works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance to prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and 4.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 10.0km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health center to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 4.3.3 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the DFR 13 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 4.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work; and  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and DFR 14 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 4.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 4.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. DFR 15 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 4.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 14 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 4.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. DFR 16 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 17 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 5.0 TWEAPEASE JUNCTION-TWAPEASE MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 5.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Adansi South District, about 24.8km from Edubiase, the district capital. The road is 5km long with the following communities along the stretch: Tweapease, Subriso, Brekete, Praso and Nsuta. There are schools and a health centre at Subriso. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture: food crops and cocoa farms. The area is drained by three (3) small water crossings which cross the road at low laying areas. The topography is generally hilly and undulating. 5.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, no culverts and not accessible. It was only cleared with dozer in 2007. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, shaping, formation, filling and gravelling, culvert construction. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in table 5.1 below. Table 5. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Tweapease Junction-Twapease Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Twapease Jn –Twapease, 0+000 to 4+000 2 Formation 0+000 –4+000 3 Filling and gravelling Filling all culvert approaches and gravell the approach fillings 4 Construction of culverts 0+500,0+700,1+250,1+800,1+900,1+900,2+000,3+000,3+400,3+850 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. 2 types of new culverts will be constructed, 9 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 7No. 900x700; b) 2 No. 1200x900; Filling will be done mainly with gravel. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 2 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 3 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (822 bags); b) Chippings (4679m3); and c) Sand (8m3). Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary DFR 18 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The rehabilitation is expected to employ a workforce of thirty (30) and the project implementation will take about 8 months. 5.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Tweapease, Subriso, Brekete, Praso and Nsuta communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food to the about 30 workers during their 8 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (5km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site impacts 5.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 5km road may result in the pollution of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have minimal impacts on the creeks especially if work is carried out in the dry season leaving enough working distance to these water bodies. In rainy season however, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the creeks. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Twapease. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 9 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods will be stored at designated places at site office at Twapease away from steep slopes and the creeks to prevent pollution from run offs. The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the rehabilitation works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance and prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. DFR 19 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 5.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 5km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment could occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health center to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 5.3.3 Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation works on the 5km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Tweapease, Subriso, Brekete, Praso and Nsuta communities and the workers if work is carried out during the dry season which is usually the case. Air pollution effects are going to be mainly due to the particulates from vehicular emissions of the bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader. Other sources are silica in dust during gravelling and from the earth agitated by constructional equipment and vehicles plying on the 5km uncompleted and untarred roads and other raw materials such as the 822 bags of cements to be used. The resultant effects are acute/chronic respiratory disorders, lung and heart diseases etc. Acute manifestations of its effects include inflammatory conditions like bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia which may be rapidly fatal. DFR 20 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 5.3.4 Occupational and Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work; and  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work; DFR 21 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 5.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval.There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 5.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable DFR 22 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets after each days work. 5.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of nine (9) culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. DFR 23 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 5.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 24 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 6.0 BANKAME–MAMPONTENG-ANKAASE MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 6.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Asante Akim South District, about 28km from Juaso, the district capital. The road is 4.7km long and 5m wide with the Asuogya, Dansabonso and Yawsarfo communities along the stretch. There are schools at Yaw Sarfo and Dansabonso, and a market at Dansabonso. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, cola, cassava and plantain. The area is drained by one stream, but the name of the stream is not known. The topography is generally undulating. 6.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very poor with lots of gullies and potholes. It is earth surface with rolling and hilly sections and one water crossing. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. Figure 6. 1 Sections of the Bankame-Sunkwa-Mamponteng-Ankaase Road The objective of the proposed minor rehabilitation works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 6.1 below. Table 6. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Bankame–Mamponteng-Ankaase Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Ch.0+000 –Ch.4+800, 2 Formation Ch.0+000 –Ch.4+800 3 Construction of culverts 0+300,.0+500,1+050,1+150,1+400,2+150,3+500,3+820,4+100 4 Filling and gravelling 0+025-0+350,0+450-0+550,1+00-1+100,1+350,1+450,2+850- 2+950,4+050 – 4+150 and gravelling from 3+800-4+800 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. Three (3) types of new culverts will be constructed, 10 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: DFR 25 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs a) 3 No. 900x700 c) No. 2/1200x900 b) 6No. 1200x900 d) 1No. 1800x1250 Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 2 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 4 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The types of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (1,728bags) d) Water (85m3) b) Laterite (13,337m3) e) Sand (116.65m3) c) Chippings (223.3m3) f) Reinforcement rods (5.46tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The rehabilitation works is expected to employ a workforce of twenty-seven (27) and its implementation will take about 8 months. 6.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Dansabonso, Asuogya and Yawsarfo communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (4.7km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety impacts  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS Impacts  Dust generation and air quality impacts  Waste generation and sanitation impacts  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site impacts DFR 26 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 6.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 4.7km road may result in the pollution of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have minimal impacts on the creeks especially if work is carried out in the dry season leaving enough distance to these water bodies. In rainy season however, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the creeks. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 10 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods will be stored at designated places at the site office away from steep slopes and the creeks to prevent pollution from run offs. The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the rehabilitation works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance to prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 6.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4.7km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and clinics to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day; DFR 27 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 6.3.3 Dust generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 6.3.4 Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily; DFR 28 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 6.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval.There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 6.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest DFR 29 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets decommissioning after each days work. 6.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of ten culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. DFR 30 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 6.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 31 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 7.0 DANSABOSO–APPRIAHKROM YAWSARFO JUCTION MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 7.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Asante Akim South District, about 35km from Juaso, the district capital. The road is 4.5km long and 4m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Dansabonso, Asuogya, Yawsarfo, Ofoase and Yaw Bronya. There are schools at Dansabonso and Yawsarfo, market at Ofoase and health centre at Ofoase. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, cola, cassava and plantain. The area is drained by four streams. The topography is generally hilly and undulating. 7.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very poor with lots of gullies and potholes poor. It is earth surface with undulating and hilly sections and three water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed minor rehabilitation works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 7.1 below. Table 7. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Dansaboso–Appriahkrom Yawsarfo Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing 0+000 -8+000 2 Formation 0+000 -8+000 3 Construction of 0+700,1+300,2+600,5+100,5+900,6+200,6+500,7+800 culverts 4 Filling and 0+6500-0+750,1+250-1+350,1+550-1+650,6+150-6+400,1+750- gravelling 1+850,5+050-5+150,5+850-5+950,7+750-7+850 and gravelling from 0+0000-8+000 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal the along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. Two types of new culverts will be constructed, 13 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 4No. 900x700; b) 9No. 1200x900; Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 2 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 4 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) DFR 32 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (2009bags) d) Water (71.69m3) b) Laterite (5,120m3) e) Sand (65m3) c) Chippings (130m3) f) Reinforcement rods (5.12tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will also be construction of Site office at Yawsarfo to include places of convenience, store rooms, etc. The rehabilitation work is expected to employ a workforce of twenty-seven (27) and its implementation will take about 8 months. 7.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Dansabonso, Asuogya, Yawsarfo, Ofoase and Yaw Bronya communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food and other services to the about 27 workers during their 8 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (4.5km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 7.3.1 Potential Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 4.5km road may result in the blocking of the drainage channels especially during the rainy seasons resulting flooding and affecting the drainage pattern of the area. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Yawsarfo. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way and done in a manner so as not to block drainage channels especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 13 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods will be stored at designated places at site office at Yawsarfo away from steep slopes and the drainage channels to prevent pollution DFR 33 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs from run offs. The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the rehabilitation works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance to prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 7.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4.5km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health center to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 7.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on DFR 34 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 7.3.4 Occupational and Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 7.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for DFR 35 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 7.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and DFR 36 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets decommissioning after each days work. 7.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 13 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 7.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community; DFR 37 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 38 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 8.0 GYERESO-ABOABO-BIBIANI SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 8.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Atwima -Mponua District, about 47.5km from Nyinahin, the district capital. The road is 12km long and 5.8m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Aboabo, Owusukrom, Kalongo, and Yaw Barimakrom. There are schools at Aboabo,Gyereso and Bibiani , markets at Gyereso and Bibiani and health centres at Gyereso and Bibiani The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, cassava and plantain. The area is drained by four streams. The topography is generally hilly and undulating. 8.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very poor with lots of gullies and potholes. It received spot improvement works from 0.0km to 6.0km in 2008. It is earth surface with undulating and hilly sections and four water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 8.1 below. Table 8. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Gyereso-Aboabo-Bibiani Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing 0+000 -12+600 2 Formation 0+000 -12+600 3 Construction of 7+200,9+100 culverts 4 Filling and gravelling Filling of all culvert approaches then gravelling from:0+000- 0+300,1+000-2+000,2+300-2+700.3+400-6+600,6+800-12+600 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal the along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains.2 types of new culverts will be constructed, 2in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 1No. 2/2x2 B.C; b) 1No. 1/4X4B.C. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 10.7km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 2 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 3 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: DFR 39 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs a) Portland cement (1,209bags) d) Water (59.52m3) b) Laterite (12,214m3) e) Sand (84m3) c) Chippings (1.60m3) f) Reinforcement rods (22.16tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will also be construction of Site Office at Aboabo to include places of convenience, store rooms, etc. The rehabilitation works is expected to employ a workforce of twenty-seven (27) and its implementation will take about 8 months. 8.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Aboabo, Owusukrom, Kalongo, and Yaw Barimakrom communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (12km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 8.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 12km road may result in the pollution of the four creeks especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have minimal impacts on the creeks especially if work is carried out in the dry season leaving enough distance to these water bodies. In rainy season however, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the creeks. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Aboabo. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 2 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods will be stored at designated places at site office at Aboabo away from steep slopes and the creeks to prevent pollution from run offs. DFR 40 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the spot improvement works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance to prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 8.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 12.0km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health centers to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 8.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement works on the 12km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Aboabo, Owusukrom, Kalongo, and Yaw Barimakrom communities and the workers if work is carried out during the dry season which is usually the case. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. DFR 41 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 8.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. DFR 42 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 8.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 8.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering; DFR 43 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets decommissioning after each days work. 8.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of two culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 8.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community; DFR 44 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 45 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 9.0 ADOMFE - TANOKROM SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 9.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Asante Akim South District, about 20.0km from Juaso, the district capital. The road is 10.0km long and 4.0m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Adomfe and Tanokrom. There are schools at Adomfe and Tanokrom, market at Adomfe, health centre at Adomfe and coffee factory at Tanokrom. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, cola, cassava and plantain. The area is drained by a stream. The topography is generally hilly and undulating. 9.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very poor with lots of gullies and potholes. It received reshaping from 0.0km to 2.0km in 2009. It is earth surface with undulating and hilly sections and four water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets, coffee factory and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided inTable 9.1 below. Table 9. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Adomfe - Tanokrom Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing 0+000 -10+000 2 Formation 0+000-10+000 3 Construction of 0+900,1+200,3+500,3+800,4+500,6+200,6+500,6+800,7+200 culverts 4 Filling and gravelling 0+000 -10+000-gravelling, filling of all culvert approaches Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal the along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains.3 types of new culverts will be constructed, 15 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 2No. 900x700; b) 12No. 1200x900. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 10.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 2 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 4 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: DFR 46 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs a) Portland cement (1556bags) d) Water (56m3) b) Laterite (28,826m3) e) Sand (76m3) c) Chippings (151m3) f) Reinforcement rods (7.4tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will also be construction of Site office at Tanokrom to include places of convenience, store rooms, etc. The spots improvement works is expected to employ a workforce of thirty five (35) and implementation will take about 8 months. 9.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Adomfe and Tanokrom communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food and other services to the about 35 workers during their 8 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (10km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 9.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 10km road may result in the pollution of the streams especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have impacts on the streams especially if work is carried out in the rainy season without leaving enough distance to these water bodies. In rainy season, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the streams. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Tanokrom. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the streams especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 15 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. DFR 47 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods will be stored at designated places at site office at Tanokrom away from steep slopes and the streams to prevent pollution from run offs. The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the spot improvement works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance and to prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer 9.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 10km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health center to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 9.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. DFR 48 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 9.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. DFR 49 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 9.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 5 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 5 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 9.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering; DFR 50 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets decommissioning after each days work. 9.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 15 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 9.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site: DFR 51 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 52 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 10.0 KONA-BROFOYEDU ADENGENSUAGYA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 10.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Sekyere South District, about 8.0km from Agona, the district capital. The road is 4.2km long and 4.5m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Kona, Brofoyedru and Adengensuagya. There are schools at Kona, market at Kona and Police Station at Kona The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, cassava and plantain. The area is drained by five streams. The topography is generally hilly and undulating. 10.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very narrow, rough with lots of gullies and potholes. A culvert was constructed on it in 2007. It is earth surface with undulating and hilly sections and five water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 10.1 below. Table 10. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Kona-Brofoyedu Adengensuagya Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing 0+000-0+400,3+3150-4+200 2 Formation 0+000-4+200 3 Construction of culverts 0+000 4 Filling and gravelling Filling all culvert approaches and gravelling from 0+00-4+800 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal the along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. 1 type of new culvert will be constructed, 8 number existing culverts are on the road without filling and 600m of 600mm concrete U-drains. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 1No. 900x700; b) 5No.900mmø pipe-existing; c) 3No. 1200mmøpipe-existing. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 4.7km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 3 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: DFR 53 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs a) Portland cement (1,379bags) d) Water (49.22.m3) b) Laterite (4,725m3) e) Sand (109.9m3) c) Chippings (219.8m3) f) Reinforcement rods (1tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The spots improvement work is expected to employ a workforce of twenty-six (26) and implemented within 8 months. 10.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Kona, Brofoyedru and Adengensuagya communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food and other services to the about 26 workers during their 8 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (4.2km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 10.3.1 Potential Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 4.2km road may result in the pollution of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have impacts on the creekss especially if work is carried out in the rainy season without leaving enough distance to these water bodies. In rainy season, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the creeks. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Brofoyedru. DFR 54 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 1 additional new culverts adding the existing 8 along the road corridor to direct run offs. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 10.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4.2km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 10.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement works on the 4.2km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Kona, Brofoyedru, Adengensuagya communities . Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. DFR 55 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 10.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and DFR 56 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 10.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The road spot improvement works could be breeding grounds for the HIV/AIDS epidemic. People (mainly men) working on the road will have to be mobile; they have to spend much time away from their homes and satisfy their sexual needs on the road. Migration - short term or long term, increases opportunities to have sexual relationship with multiple partners, thus becoming a critical factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS. With communities such as Kona, Brofoyedru, Adengensuagya along the road corridor, HIV/AIDS could be an issue. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 10.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. DFR 57 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets decommissioning after each days work. 10.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 8 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 10.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. DFR 58 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 59 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 11.0 KUMAWU-DRABONSO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 11.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Sekyere-Afram Plains District, about 18km from Kumawu, the district capital. The road is 10.40km long and 5m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Drabonso, James Town, Dagomba and Winamda. There are schools at Dagomba and Drabonso, markets at Drabonso and a health centre at Drabonso. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, teek plaintation, cassava, plantain and a game reserve along the road corridor. The area is drained by one stream, called river ongwam. The topography is generally undulating. 11.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very poor with lots of gullies and potholes. It is earth surface with rolling and hilly sections and one water crossing. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of kerbs, culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 11.1 below. Table 11. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Kumawu-Drabonso Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Ch.14+000 –Ch.24+400, 2 Formation Ch.14+000 –Ch24+400 3 Construction of Ch.18+850,Ch.19+000,Ch.20+000,Ch.21+350,Ch.21+600,Ch.22+800,Ch.23+ culverts 2000,Ch.23+520,Ch.23+700 Ch23+800,Ch.24+300,Ch24+350 4 Filling and Filling of all culvert approaches and gravelling from Ch.14+000- gravelling Ch.17+800,ch.20+100-ch.21+000 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains.2 types of new culverts will be constructed, 12 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 11 No. 900x700 d) No. 1800x1250 b) 1No. 1200x900 e) No.2/1800x1250) c) No. 2/1200x900 Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 4.7km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 2 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 4 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) DFR 60 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (1,057bags) d) Water (52m3) b) Laterite (13,337m3) e) Sand (68m3) c) Chippings (137m3) f) Reinforcement rods (5.46tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The spot improvement is expected to employ a workforce of twenty-seven (27) and implementation will take about 8 months. 11.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures. The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Drabonso, James Town, Dagomba and Winamda communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (10.4km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 11.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 10.4km road may result in the pollution of the creek especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have impacts on the creek especially if work is carried out in the rainy season without leaving enough distance to these water bodies. In rainy season, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification of the creek. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Dagomba. DFR 61 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creek especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 2 a new culverts along the road corridor to direct run offs. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out; All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 11.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 10.4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health center to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to the health center will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 11.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation works on the 10.4km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Drabonso, James Town, Dagomba and Winamda communities. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. DFR 62 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 11.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and DFR 63 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 11.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 11.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will DFR 64 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets decommissioning after each days work. 11.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 12 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditc hes or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 11.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or DFR 65 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 66 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 12.0 SEKYERE-AKROKYERE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 12.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, about 21km from Kumawu, the district capital. The road is 4.7km long and 5m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Sekyere, Akrokyere and Bodwease. There are schools at Sekyere, Bodwease and Akrokyere, markets at Sekyere and Akrokyere and a health centre at Sekyere The vegetation type is light bush. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cocoa, cola, cassava and plantain. The area is drained by one stream, river ongwam. The topography is generally undulating. 12.2 Project Description The current state of the road is very poor with lots of gullies and potholes poor. It is earth surface with rolling and hilly sections and one water crossing. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed minor rehabilitation works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts, concrete U-drains and kerbs and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 12.1 below. Table 12. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Sekyere-Akrokyere Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Ch.0+250 –Ch.4+700, 2 Formation Ch.0+000 –Ch.4+700 3 Construction of Ch.0+400,Ch.0+550,Ch.0+700,Ch.2+000,Ch.2+100,Ch.2+200,Ch.2+300 culverts Ch.3+000,Ch.3+200,Ch.3+850 Ch.4+000,Ch.4+400,Ch.4+600 4 Filling and Filling of all culvert approaches and gravelling from Ch0+900- Ch.1+500 and gravelling Ch.1+700-Ch.4+700 Clearing involves weeding or vegetation removal along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. 2 types of new culverts will be constructed, 15 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 11No. 900x700 d) No. 1800x1250 b) 4No. 1200x900 e) No.2/1800x1250) c) No. 2/1200x900 Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 3.6km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 2 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 3 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 2 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) DFR 67 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (2,354bags) d) Water (116m3) b) Laterite (9,151m3) e) Sand (152m3) c) Chippings (304m3) f) Reinforcement rods (1.68tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The rehabilitation work is expected to employ a workforce of thirty (30) and implementation will take about 8 months. 12.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road has not benefited from any rehabilitation works recently. The current proposed spot improvement works of the 4.7km stretch form part of road works to enhance access to Sekyere, Akrokyere and Bodwease. The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Sekyere, Akrokyere and Bodwease communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food and other services to the about 30 workers during their 8 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (4.7km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety impacts  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS Impacts  Dust generation and air quality impacts  Waste generation and sanitation impacts  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 12.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement specific works such as vegetation clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling of the 4.7km road may result in the pollution of the creek especially during the rainy seasons resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. The project road which lies in an area with hilly and undulating topography will have impacts on the creek especially if work is carried out in the rainy season without leaving enough distance to these water bodies. In rainy season, flows may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, DFR 68 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs channel modification of the creek. Other sources of water pollution may include chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage from the site office at Sekyere. Vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 15m to the banks of the creek especially during the rainy seasons. There will be 15 culverts along the road corridor to direct run offs. The SE will be responsible to ensure observance and compliance of the following:  A separation distance of 50m for heaping construction materials from streams and channels;  Sites for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment located at a minimum distance of 100m from the stream and drainage channels;  Embankment erection around fuelling and other liquid or spillable storage sites;  Provision of toilets and urinal at locations not less than 50m away from the stream; and  Adequate worker awareness on sanitation and measures to avoid water resource contamination. 12.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4.7km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and the health centers to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to the health centers will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored by the Site Engineer. Maintenance plan for all equipments and machinery will be monitored to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. Exposure limits of workers of high noise and vibration area will also be monitored. Noise levels will be monitored at the work areas. 12.3.3 Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spot improvement works on the 4.7km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Sekyere, Akrokyere and Bodwease communities. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient DFR 69 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Visual inspection of schools and farms within the project’s area of influence will be undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of water dousing. A log book will be kept for monitoring the regularity of vehicle and machinery servicing under the supervision of the Site Engineer. Records of all monitoring activities will be contained in a quarterly report to the District Engineer. 12.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. DFR 70 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 12.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 12.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering; DFR 71 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Daily inspection of emptying of toilets after each days work. 12.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 15 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 12.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site: DFR 72 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 73 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs ROADS IN (MIDDLE) VOLTA REGION DFR 74 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 13.0 ADZOATSI-DEKPOR SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 13.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Ketu North District, about 10km from Dzodze, the district capital. The road is 1.10km long and 3m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Adzadzi, Dekpor Home. There are school farms bordering the road around Dekpor Home, Ehi, Lave and Weta The dominant vegetation type is savannah bush. The area is generally noted for agriculture: cultivation of cassava and cash crops such as maize, tomato, yams etc. The area has Angoe stream that crosses the road. The topography is undulating. 13.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor and has lost its formation and gravels. There has been no major rehabilitation works on the road recently. It is earth surface with low lying sections in water plains. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy seasons. The objective of the proposed rehabilitation work is to improve the road condition to reduce travel time and accidents and to improve access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The road also provides access to the Afife Rice Farms. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional re-gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 13.1 below. Table 13. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Adzoatsi-Dekpor Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Km 0+000 – 2+900 2 Formation Km 0+000 – 2+900 3 Construction of culverts 1+100, 2+900 4 Filling and gravelling Km 0+000 – 2+900 Clearing involves weeding of savannah vegetation along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. 700mmx900mm types of new culverts will be constructed, 2 in number along the road. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 2 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (130 bags) d) Coarse aggregates (10790.9m3) b) Gravel (2,191m3) e) Reinforcement rods (0.68 tonnes) c) Fine aggregates (2009.7m3) DFR 75 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The spot improvement work is expected to employ a workforce of twelve (12) and implementation will take about 8 months. 13.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Adzadzi and Dekpor Home communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food to the about 12 workers during their eight (8) months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (1.10km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 13.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The spots improvement specific works such as savannah clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional re-gravelling of the 1.10km road may result in the pollution of the Angoe Stream resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. Since the project road lies in water plains and the topography is undulating, flow may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification and siltation of the stream. Other sources of water pollution may include sedimentation, changes in biological activity in the stream and on their banks, chemicals (e.g from cement) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage, exhaust emissions and corrosion of reinforcement rods among others. Savannah clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 30m to the banks of the Angoe Stream. There will be two culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out; DFR 76 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on the Angoe Stream: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 13.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 1.1km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 13.3.3 Dust generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site and could be a source of concern for the Adzadzi and Dekpor Home communities. Tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the DFR 77 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 13.3.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done daily to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. DFR 78 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 13.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 13.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering; DFR 79 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 13.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 2 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 13.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 8 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site: DFR 80 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 81 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 14.0 AGORVE JUNCTION-DEVEGO REHABILITATION PROJECT 14.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Ketu North District, about 50km from Dzodze, the district capital. The road is 13.80km long and 4m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Agorve, Tsienu, Mantole, Xife, and Devego. There are houses (200m), farms (350m), schools (600m) and clinics (450m) from the road at Agorve. The vegetation type is savannah bush. The area is generally noted for the cultivation of cassava and cash crops such as maize, tomato, yams etc. The area has 2 streams, Angoe and Lagoo that cross the road. The topography is undulating. 14.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor and has lost its formation, with lots of soft spots with water crossings. There was a rehabilitation works on the road in 2005. It is earth surface with low lying sections in water plains. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed rehabilitation work is to improve the road condition to reduce travel time and accidents and improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional re-gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 14.1 below. Table 14. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Agorve Junction-Devego Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing km 0+000 – 13+800 2 Formation km 0+000 – 13+800 3 Construction of Kkm 0+970, 2+100, 3+800, 4+100, 4+825, 5+700, 5+750, 7+00, 7+010, culverts 8+300, 8+400, 9+700, 10+250, 11+100, 11+150, 12+950, 13+100 4 Filling and km 0+000 – 13+800 gravelling Clearing involves weeding of savannah vegetation along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Formation works includes blading and drains, 700x900 types of new culverts will be constructed 17 in number along the road. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 1 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) DFR 82 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (1,105bags) d) Coarse aggregates (32,6011.2m3) b) Gravel (70,860 m3) e) Reinforcement rods (5.78 tonnes) c) Fine aggregates (6,796.5m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The rehabilitation work is expected to employ a workforce of sixteen (16) and implementation will take about 12 months. 14.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Agorve, Tsienu, Mantole, Xife and Devego communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food to the about 16 workers during their 12 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (13.80km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 14.3.1 Water Resources/Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation specific works such as savannah clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional re-gravelling of the 13.80km road may result in the pollution of the Angoe and Lagoo streams resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes. Since the project road lies in water plains and the topography is undulating, flow may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification and siltation of the Angoe and Lagoo streams. Other sources of water pollution may include sedimentation, changes in biological activity in the stream and on their banks, chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage, exhaust emissions and corrosion of reinforcement rods among others. DFR 83 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Savannah vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 30m to the banks of the Angoe and Lagoo streams. There will be 17 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. 14.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 13.8km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from houses, schools and the health center to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 14.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation works on the 13.80km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Agorve, Tsienu, Mantole, Xife, Devego communities. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. DFR 84 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 14.3.4 Occupational/Public health and Safety Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. 14.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 12 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with DFR 85 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 3 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 3 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Quarterly monitoring of the effectiveness of awareness programmes will be in the form of questions and answers/free discussions, and the campaigns by the peer group educators, led by the SE and health team. 14.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 14.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 17 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. DFR 86 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 14.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 12 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of DFR 87 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 88 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 15.0 AVEYIME CATTLE RANCH – MAFI AKLAWAYA MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 15.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the North Tongu District, about 57km from Adidome, the district capital. The road is 12.4km long with the following communities along the stretch: Aklawaya, Brah, Xekpa, Amenorkofe. There are houses (30m) and farms (15m) from the road at Aveyime. The vegetation type is savannah bush. The area is generally noted for agriculture: cultivation of cassava and cash crops such as maize, tomato, yams etc. The area has three streams Aklakpa, Alabo and Tordje that flow wide forming a flood plain. The topography is generally flat. 15.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor and has lost its formation and with lots of soft spots. There was rehabilitation works on the road ten (10) years ago. It is earth surface with low lying sections in water plains. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed rehabilitation work is to improve the road condition to reduce travel time and accidents, and to improve access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 15.1 below. Table 15. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Aveyime Cattle Ranch – Mafi Aklawaya Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Km 0+000 – 13+000 2 Formation Km 0+000 – 13+000 3 Construction of Km 0+000, 0+200, 0+400, 0+600, 1+200(jnc culvert), 1+220, 1+500, culverts 1+530, 2+700, 3+300, 3+500, 3+700, 4+700, 4+750, 4+800, 4+800, 4+900, 5+500, 6+100, 6+400(jnc culvert) 4 Filling and gravelling Km 0+000 – 13+000 Clearing involves weeding of savannah vegetation along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Formation works includes blading and drains. 700x900 and 900x1200 types of new culverts will be constructed, 20 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 18 No. 700x900; b) 2 No. 900x1200; Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 2 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) DFR 89 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (910 bags) d) Coarse aggregates (47,101.0m3) b) Gravel (37,772 m3) e) Reinforcement rods (4.76 tonnes) c) Fine aggregates (53,982m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The minor rehabilitation is expected to employ a workforce of eighteen (18) and implementation will take about 12 months. 15.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Aklawaya, Brah, Xekpa, and Amenorkofe Aveyime communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created for the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food to the about 18 workers during their 12 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (12.4km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 15.3.1 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The minor rehabilitation specific works such as savannah clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional re-gravelling of the 12.4km road may result in the pollution of the Aklakpa, Alabo and Tordje streams in the area resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes especially during the rainy season. Since the project road lies in flood plains and the topography is flat, flow may be increased heavily resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification and siltation of the creeks especially during the rainy seasons. Other sources of water pollution may include sedimentation, changes in biological activity in the stream and on their banks, chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage, exhaust emissions and corrosion of reinforcement rods among others. DFR 90 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Savannah vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 30m to the banks of the streams. There will be 20 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. The SE will be responsible to ensure observance and compliance of the following:  A separation distance of 50m for heaping construction materials from streams and channels;  Sites for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment located at a minimum distance of 100m from the stream and drainage channels;  Embankment erection around fuelling and other liquid or spillable storage sites;  Provision of toilets and urinal at locations not less than 50m away from the stream; and  Adequate worker awareness on sanitation and measures to avoid water resource contamination. 15.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 12.4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored by the Site Engineer. Maintenance plan for all equipments and machinery will be monitored to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. Exposure limits of workers of high noise and vibration area will also be monitored. Noise levels will be monitored at the work areas. 15.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation works on the 12.4km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Aklawaya, Brah, Xekpa, Amenorkofe Aveyime communities. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the DFR 91 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Visual inspection of schools and farms within the project’s area of influence will be undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of water dousing. A log book will be kept for monitoring the regularity of vehicle and machinery servicing under the supervision of the Site Engineer. Records of all monitoring activities will be contained in a quarterly report to the District Engineer. 15.3.4 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. 15.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 12 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 3 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 3 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. DFR 92 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Quarterly monitoring of the effectiveness of awareness programmes will be in the form of questions and answers/free discussions, and the campaigns by the peer group educators, led by the SE and health team. 15.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 15.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 20 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. DFR 93 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 15.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 12 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 94 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 16.0 ODUMASE JUNCTION–ODUMASE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 16.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Biakoye District, about 15km from Nkonya Ahenkro, the district capital. The road is 3.0km long and 4.5m wide with Odumase as the only communities along the stretch. There are schools, farms and houses about 50m from the road at Odumase. The vegetation type is savannah bush. The area is generally noted for agriculture: cultivation of cassava and cash crops such as maize, tomato, yams and fishing. The topography is undulating. 16.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor and has lost its formation and gravels. There has been no major rehabilitation works on the road. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed rehabilitation work is to improve the road condition to reduce travel time and accidents and to improve access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities such as Nkonya Ahinkro, Odumase, Abotoase, and Kwamekrom. The road also provides access to Kwamekrom and Abotoase, major farming centres. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 16.1 below. Table 16. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Odumase Junction–Odumase Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Km 0+000 – 3+100 2 Formation Km 0+000 – 3+100 3 Construction of culverts Km 1+700, 2+600 4 Filling and gravelling Km 0+000 – 3+100 Clearing involves weeding of savannah vegetation along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Formation works includes blading and drains 700x900 and 900x1200 types of new culverts will be constructed, 2 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 1 No. 900x700; b) 1 No. 1200x900. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up 3 c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m ) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 2 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (130bags) d) Coarse aggregates (28,324.7m3) b) Gravel (2,191m3) e) Reinforcement rods (0.68 tonnes) c) Fine aggregates (2,473.8m3) DFR 95 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The spot improvement work is expected to employ a workforce of thirteen (13) and implementation will take about 12 months. 16.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Odumase community will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. Jobs will be created the nearby communities indirectly by the services they will render such as selling of food to the about 13 workers during their 12 months stay on the road. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (3km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 16.3.1 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Since there are no water bodies or creeks along/near the road corridor, impact on surface water resources will not be an issue. Impact on ground water sources could however be chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage, exhaust emissions and corrosion of reinforcement rods among others. Impacts on ground water sources will be prevented by ensuring that fuels and other sources of raw materials such as cements and iron rods are stored at designated places at site office at Odumase away from bare ground. The bulldozer, vibratory/static roller, tipper trucks, motor loader and grader to be used for the rehabilitation works will be serviced regularly (two months interval) for better engine performance to prevent fuel leakages into the water bodies. The Site Engineer (SE) of the Contractor will monitor the storage areas at the site office at Odumase for fuel, cement, iron rods etc to ensure the appropriateness or otherwise of these sites in the prevention of run off into the streams and seepage into ground water sources. All monitoring will be on weekly basis and the findings reported in the monitoring report to the Regional EPA. The SE will also monitor the maintenance log of vehicles to ensure they follow the two monthly servicing schedules and report to the DE. DFR 96 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 16.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 3km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored by the Site Engineer. Maintenance plan for all equipment and machinery will be monitored to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. Exposure limits of workers of high noise and vibration area will also be monitored. Noise levels will be monitored at the work areas. 16.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation works on the 3km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for the Odumase community and the workers. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Visual inspection of schools and farms within the project’s area of influence will be undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of water dousing. A log book will be kept for monitoring the regularity of vehicle and machinery servicing under the supervision of the Site Engineer. Records of all monitoring activities will be contained in a quarterly report to the District Engineer. DFR 97 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 16.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. 16.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 12 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 2 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 2 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Quarterly monitoring of the effectiveness of awareness programmes will be in the form of questions and answers/free discussions, and the campaigns by the peer group educators, led by the SE and health team. 16.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by DFR 98 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 16.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 2 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. DFR 99 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 16.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 12 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 100 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 17.0 WUTE – SASEKPE - KUTIME MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 17.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the North Tongu District, about 35km from Adidome, the district capital. The road is 16.5km long and 5m wide with the following communities along the stretch: Wute, Sesekpe, Deveme, Amegakope, Kutime. There are houses (20m) and farms (100m), schools (60m) and clinics (200m) from the road. The vegetation type is savannah bush. The area is generally noted for agriculture: cultivation of cassava and cash crops such as maize, tomato, yams etc. The area has four streams that cross the road. The topography is generally flat. 17.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor and has lost its formation and with lots of soft spots with water crossings. There was a rehabilitation works on the road three (3) years ago. It is earth surface with low lying sections in water plains. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed rehabilitation work is to improve the road condition to reduce travel time and accidents and improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centres as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 17.1 below. Table 17. 1 Locations with Specific Works along the Wute – Sasekpe - Kutime Road Specific Works Location/Distance 1 Clearing Km 0+000 – 5+300, Km 7+200 – 15+500 2 Formation Km 0+000 – 16+500 3 Construction of culverts Km 2+550, 3+100, 4+500, 7+580, 8+500(B/S), 9+200, 12+400, 12+900, 13+000, 15+900, 8+700, 14+100, 14+800 4 Filling and gravelling Km 0+000 – 16+500 Clearing involves weeding or savannah vegetation removal the along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Formation works includes blading and drains 700x900 and 900x1200 types of new culverts will be constructed, 14 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 11 No. 700x900; b) 3 No. 900x1200. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 2 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 4 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: DFR 101 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs a) Portland cement (1,105bags) d) Coarse aggregates (355,500m3) b) Gravel (43,484 m3) e) Reinforcement rods (5.78 tonnes) c) Fine aggregates (39,000m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The rehabilitation is expected to employ a workforce of eighteen (18) and implementation will take about 12 months. 17.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Wute, Sesekpe, Deveme, Amegakope and Kutime communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (16.5km) activities. These will include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 17.3.1 Water Resourses /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The minor rehabilitation specific works such as savannah clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and sectional re-gravelling of the 12.4km road may result in the pollution of the Wute, Sesekpe, Deveme, Amegakope, Kutime streams in the area resulting in deteriorating the water quality and modifications in the flow regimes especially during the rainy season. Since the topography of the area is flat, flow may be increased heavily resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification and siltation of the four streams especially during the rainy seasons. Other sources of water pollution may include sedimentation, changes in biological activity in the stream and on their banks, chemicals (cement/concrete) spillage, and contaminated run off from petroleum product seepage, exhaust emissions and corrosion of reinforcement rods among others. Savannah vegetation clearing, blading and gravelling will be restricted to the right of way. Heaps of sand and gravel from excavation will not be kept less than 30m to the banks of the streams. There will be 14 culverts and drainage channels along the road corridor to direct run offs. DFR 102 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The SE will be responsible to ensure observance and compliance of the following:  A separation distance of 50m for heaping construction materials from streams and channels;  Sites for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment located at a minimum distance of 100m from the stream and drainage channels;  Embankment erection around fuelling and other liquid or spillable storage sites;  Provision of toilets and urinal at locations not less than 50m away from the stream; and  Adequate worker awareness on sanitation and measures to avoid water resource contamination. 17.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 16.5km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and clinics to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored by the Site Engineer. Maintenance plan for all equipments and machinery will be monitored to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. Exposure limits of workers of high noise and vibration area will also be monitored. Noise levels will be monitored at the work areas. 17.3.3 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The rehabilitation works on the 16.5km stretch of the feeder roads construction will cause air pollution which could adversely affect the people engaged directly or indirectly in road sector activities. This could be one of the major issues for Wute, Sesekpe, Deveme, Amegakope, Kutime communities and the workers. Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the DFR 103 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Visual inspection of schools and farms within the project’s area of influence will be undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of water dousing. A log book will be kept for monitoring the regularity of vehicle and machinery servicing under the supervision of the Site Engineer. Records of all monitoring activities will be contained in a quarterly report to the District Engineer. 17.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. 17.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 12 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 3 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 3 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. DFR 104 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Quarterly monitoring of the effectiveness of awareness programmes will be in the form of questions and answers/free discussions, and the campaigns by the peer group educators, led by the SE and health team. 17.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 17.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 14 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. DFR 105 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 17.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration 12 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 106 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs ROADS IN THE CENTRAL REGION DFR 107 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 18.0 WAMASO-ACQUAKROM MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 18.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyira District, about 48km from Twifo- Praso, the district capital. The road is 600m long and 3.4m wide, linking Wamaso to Acquakrom. There are three farms located at chainages: 0+100, 0+350, and 0+500 along the road corridor and covering a total area of 2,400m² and about 2.8m from the roadside. The vegetation type is a lush forest. The area is generally noted for timber logging, small-scale mining, and agriculture (crop cultivation and livestock rearing). The area is drained by 3 drainage channels that cross the road. The topography is generally flat. 18.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, and unengineered. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy seasons. The objective of the proposed minor rehabilitation is to facilitate the transportation of goods and persons, as well as the interconnection between communities such as Wamaso and Acquakrom at chaianges: 0+00 and 0+600. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing of vegetation, construction of culverts and sub-base. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 18.1 below. Table 18. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Wamaso-Acquakrom Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing of vegetation 0+00 – 0+600 2 Construction of culverts 0+000, 0+200, 0+300 3 Sub-base 0+00 - 0+600 Sub-base will involve sectional gravelling of the entire road stretch. Two types of new culverts will be constructed, along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: c) 2 No. 900x700; ‘U’ Culvert d) 1 No. 1200x900; ‘U’ Culvert The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 2 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (14.07m³) b) Chippings (22.50m³) c) Gravel chippings (4208m³) DFR 108 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of thirty (30) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 8 months. 18.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Wamaso, Acquakrom, and Twifo Tema communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. It is expected that the rehabilitation works will generate employment and inject funds into the rural economy, through direct employment and increased income from commerce for those in the catchment communities. There will be a few localized potential adverse impacts due to the rather limited and small-scale nature of the project activities. These include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety impacts  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS Impacts  Dust generation and air quality impacts  Waste generation and sanitation impacts  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 18.3.1 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Visual inspection of schools and farms within the project’s area of influence will be undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of water dousing. A log book will be kept for monitoring the regularity of vehicle and machinery servicing under the supervision of the Site Engineer. Records of all monitoring activities will be contained in a quarterly report to the District Engineer. DFR 109 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 18.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 600m road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition persons who may be working on farms (at 0+100, 0+350, and 0+500) close to the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and clinics to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). The static machines will be sited at least 100m away from farm workers to reduce their impacts. Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored by the Site Engineer. Maintenance plan for all equipments and machinery will be monitored to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. Exposure limits of workers of high noise and vibration area will also be monitored. Noise levels will be monitored in the work areas and sensitive areas like schools and clinics. 18.3.3 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The minor rehabilitation works may result in deterioration in water quality of the three drainage channels that cross the road especially in the rainy seasons. Since the project will last for about eight months, delay in construction works after the vegetation has been cleared will lead to siltation of water bodies from particle laden run-offs. Other potential sources of impacts are heaping of materials, earthworks, blocking and narrowing the river flow at the crossing point (located at chainages: 0+000, 0+100, and 0+200) to make way for construction of culvert. Other sources of water pollution include sedimentation, changes in biological activity in the drainage channels, due to chemicals spillage, contaminated run off from the leakage of petroleum product, among others. Culverts have been designed for construction along drainage channels to prevent erosion and subsequent siltation of water bodies. It will be ensured that vehicle washing, servicing, fuelling and refuelling are carried out at designated places away from the drainage channels and under trays to avoid oil spills. Drains will be designed to direct stormwater and other run-offs away from the water courses. The site clearing activities will be restricted to the right of way to prevent dust and loose soil straying into the drainage channels, thereby blocking the channels. DFR 110 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out. All material storage areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run- offs. Inspection of these surfaces would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. The monitoring activities will also aim at capturing relevant sources of impacts on the three drainage channels:  Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road;  Contaminants in run-off from fuel and oil residue, etc);  Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and 18.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. 18.3.5 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 8 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. DFR 111 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Quarterly monitoring of the effectiveness of awareness programmes will be in the form of questions and answers/free discussions, and the campaigns by the peer group educators, led by the SE and health team. 18.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 18.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 3 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. DFR 112 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 18.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 12 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 113 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 19.0 JUKWA-KROBO MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 19.1 Project Environment Information The project road is located in the Twifo-Heman-Lower-Denkyira District, about 51km from Twifo- Praso, the district capital. The road is 7.0km long and 6.0m wide, serving the following communities: Jukwa, Anwiam and Krobo at chainages: 0+00, 5+700 and 7+00. There are seven (7) farms located along the stretch at chainages: 0+800, 1+300, 1+900, 2+400, 3+000, 6+000, 6+300, and covering a total area of 5,600m2. The vegetation type is a lush forest. The area is generally noted for timber extraction, small-scale mining, and agriculture (crop cultivation and livestock rearing). The area is drained by 15 drainage channels at chainages: 1+100, 1+300, 1+600, 2+300, 3+700, 4+600,4+650, 5+250 and 6+650. The topography is generally hilly. 19.2 Project Description The current state of the road is fair. It is engineered. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed minor rehabilitation is to improve the road condition and access to farming areas, as well as the interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing and sub-base. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 19.1 below. Table 19. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Jukwa-Krobo Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+000, 7+000 2 Sub-base 0+000, 7+000 3 Culvert construction 1+300, 4+650, 5+250 Clearing involves weeding along the road corridor to widen the width of the road, while sub-base involves sectional gravelling of the entire road stretch. Three new culverts are to be constructed on the road at chainages: 1+300, 4+650 and 5+250. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1 No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent f) 1 No. Vibratory or static roller (10 tonnes) b) 1 No. Motor grader 140G or equivalent g) 1 No. Pick-up c) 1 No. Pay loader (1m3) h) 1 No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3) d) 2 No. Tipper trucks (6m3) i) 1 No. Poker vibrator e) 1 No. Water tanker (9000litres) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the DFR 114 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of about thirty-five (35) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 12 months. 19.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers at Jukwa, Anwiam and Kyirayewa will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. It is expected that the rehabilitation works will generate employment and inject funds into the rural economy, through direct employment and increased income from commerce for those in the catchment communities There will be a few localized potential adverse impacts due to the rather limited and small-scale nature of the project activities. These include:  Water resources impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 19.3.1 Dust Generation and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Dusty conditions will be created due to haulage of construction materials from source to project site; tipping, loading and spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM 10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 50km/h when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Visual inspection of schools and farms within the project’s area of influence will be undertaken to ascertain effectiveness of water dousing. A log book will be kept for monitoring the regularity of vehicle and machinery servicing under the supervision of the Site Engineer. Records of all monitoring activities will be contained in a quarterly report to the District Engineer. 19.3.2 Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 7km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. DFR 115 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition persons who may be working on farms (at 0+800, 1+300, 1+900, 2+400, 3+000, 6+000 and 6+300) close to the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. The static machines will be sited at least 100m away from farm workers to reduce their impacts. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from schools and clinics to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quiet periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored by the Site Engineer. Maintenance plan for all equipments and machinery will be monitored to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. Exposure limits of workers of high noise and vibration area will also be monitored. Noise levels will be monitored in the work areas and sensitive areas like schools and clinics. The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection and maintenance schedule for all equipment and machinery will be monitored. Working hours of workers of high noise areas will also be monitored. 19.3.3 Water Resources /Erosion/Flooding Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Minor Rehabilitation works may result in deterioration in water quality of the six streams that crosses the road at the following chainages: 1+100, 1+600, 2+300, 3+700, 4+600 and 6+650. Since the project will last for about twelve months, delay in construction works after the vegetation has been cleared will lead to soil particles being put in suspension in the streams, especially after a downpour. Other potential sources of impacts are heaping of materials, earthworks, and restricting of the flow of streams for culvert construction. In some cases the speed of flow may be increased resulting in flooding, ponding, soil erosion, channel modification and siltation of the river. Other sources of water pollution include sedimentation, changes in biological activity in the streams and on their banks, due to chemicals spillage, contaminated run off from the leakage of petroleum product, among others. It will be ensured that vehicle washing, servicing, fuelling and refuelling are carried out at designated places away from the river. Drains will be designed to direct stormwater and other run-offs away from the stream. The bulldozer and grader for land clearing and site preparation will be restricted to the right of way, and directed away from the streams as much as possible to prevent dust and loose soil straying into the streams. Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out. All material storage areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind, rain or areas of run- offs. Inspection of these surfaces would be continuously done by the Site Engineer. The monitoring activities will also aim at capturing relevant sources of impacts on the six streams: DFR 116 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road;  Contaminants in run-off from equipment servicing and vehicle washing (fuel and oil residue, etc); and  Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 19.3.4 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 50km/h at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. 19.3.5 HIV/AIDS Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The setting up of Site Offices for the 12 months duration of the project will create a temporary convergence point. People may converge for instance, for purposes of selling/buying food and other items. The opportunity to converge and interact with and among workers presents conditions for indulgence in sexual relationships. HIV/AIDS and other infection risks are likely to increase if workers engage multiple sexual partners. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select 4 members from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate 4 members to form a peer group team. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. Quarterly monitoring of the effectiveness of awareness programmes will be in the form of questions and answers/free discussions, and the campaigns by the peer group educators, led by the SE and health team. DFR 117 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 19.3.6 Waste Generation and Sanitation Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 19.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 3 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed DFR 118 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Effective traffic flow and vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily. Appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits and the role of traffic attendants will be monitored. Accidents and near misses will be recorded and reported to the contractor and the DE on daily basis for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accidents the first aid team will attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health center. 19.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration of 12 months for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 119 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 20.0 KWAME ALERT JUNCTION-KWAME ALERT-AMUZU SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 20.1 Project Environment Information The Kwame Alert Road is located in the Twifo-Heman-Lower-Denkyira District, about 26.0km from Twifo-Praso, the district capital. The road is 4.0km long and 6.0m wide, with the following communities along the stretch: Betimor, Kwame Alert and Amuzu at chainages: 0+00, 3+200 and 4+00. There are 6 farms located at chainages: 0+700, 1+700, 1+000, 1+300, 2+000, 2+100, and 2+900, covering a total area of 3,800m2. The vegetation type is a lush forest. The area is generally noted for timber extraction, small-scale mining, and agriculture (crop cultivation and livestock rearing). The area is drained by 12 drainage channels that cross the road. The topography is generally undulating. 20.2 Project Description The current state of the road is fair, though engineered. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to improve some sections on the road, access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centers, as well as the interconnection between neighbouring communities such as Hemang, Bukrusu and Betimore. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, raising of low lying areas, and construction of culverts. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 20.1 below. Table 20.1 Locations of Specific Works along the Kwame Alert Junction-Kwame Alert-Amuzu Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+000-3+700 2 Raising of low lying areas 0+150-0+250, 1+650-1+750 3 Construction of culverts 0+200, 1+700 4 Laying of sub-base 0+000-3+700 Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Some low-lying sections along the road will be raised to prevent the road from being washed during the raining season. Filling will also be done mainly in the approaches of culverts. Sub-base, involving sectional gravelling of the entire road stretch would be carried out. One type of new culvert would be constructed along the road. The size and numbers are as follows: a) 2 No. 900x700; The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 1No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000litres); DFR 120 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (7.22 m³) b) Chippings (11.53 m³) c) Gravel chippings (12304 m³) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of about thirty (30) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 12 months. 20.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers at Betimor, Kwame Alert and Amuzu will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. There will be a few localized potential adverse impacts due to the rather limited and small-scale nature of the project activities. These include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impact 20.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring: DFR 121 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 20.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring This section of the road is prone to erosion during the rainy season when the stream flow increases. Severe erosion leads to this section of the road becoming unmotorable. Culverts construction activities and earthworks such as excavation could generate some amount of silt into the stream. Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 20.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition persons who may be working on farms (0+700, 1+700, 1+000, 1+300, 2+000, 2+100, and 2+900) close to the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. DFR 122 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 20.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select four (4) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate four (4) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 20.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and DFR 123 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes.Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites; Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achievi ng it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 20.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by DFR 124 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 20.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 2 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and DFR 125 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 20.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 12 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 126 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 21.0 NTONTON-KONA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 21.1 Project Environment Information The Ntonton-Kona Road is located in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality, about 22.0km from Dunkwa-on-Offin, the municipal capital. The road is 5.0km long and 3.7m wide, with the following communities along the stretch: Ntonton, Yaw Nkromakrom, and Kona. There are Cocoa and Oil Palm plantations located along the entire stretch of road. The vegetation type is a lush forest. The area is generally noted for timber extraction, cocoa/ oil palm production and general agriculture (crop cultivation and livestock rearing). The area is drained by 5 drainage channels. The topography is generally undulating. 21.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor. It was worked on about ten years ago. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season which will require the construction of an extra culvert. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to link Kyekyewere, Djamase and Abudu, as well as interconnects neigbouring communities such as Kyekyewere and Praprababida. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, rising of low lying areas, construction of culverts and blading. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in the Table 21.1 below. Table 21. 1 Locations/Distances of Specific Works along the Project Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+000-5+000 2 Raising of low lying areas 3+280-3+400, 3+450-3+550, 3 Construction of culverts 3+350, 3+500, 4+200, 4+700 4 Blading 0+000-5+000 Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culverts construction. Some low-lying sections along the road will be raised to prevent the road from being washed during the raining season. Filling will also be done mainly at the culvert approaches. Three types of new culverts will be constructed, along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 2 No. 900x700; b) 1 No. 1250x1800; c) 1 No 2/1800x1800 The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; 3 e) 1No. Loader (1m ); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 1No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000litres); DFR 127 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (132.81 m³) b) Chippings (212.35 m³) c) Gravel chippings (16958 m³) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of about forty (40) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 8 months. 21.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The current state of the road has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Ntonton, Yaw Nkromakrom, and Kona will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. There will be a few localized potential adverse impacts due to the rather limited and small-scale nature of the project activities. These include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impact 21.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring: DFR 128 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 21.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring This section of the road is prone to erosion during the rainy season when the stream flow increases. Severe erosion leads to this section of the road becoming unmotorable. Culverts construction activities and earthworks such as excavation could generate some amount of silt into the stream. Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on the any waterbody; - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 21.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 5km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. DFR 129 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 21.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select five (5) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate five (5) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 21.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and DFR 130 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 21.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by DFR 131 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 21.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 3 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or inv olved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and DFR 132 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 21.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 8 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 133 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 22.0 NSUTA-BEPOKOKOO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 22.1 Project Environment Information The Nsuta-Bepokokoo Road is located in the Assin South District, about 22.2km from Nsuaem- Kyekyewere, the district capital. The road is 6.7km long and 2.5m wide, with the following communities along the stretch: Nsuta and Bepokokoo. Mehane and Ankaase are also villages within the area that uses the road but are not along the road corridor. There are farms located along the entire stretch of the road covering a total area of 13,500m2. The vegetation type is forest with patches of grassland and shrubs. The area is generally noted for timber extraction, farming and charcoal burning. The area is drained by 7 drainage channels and the road crossed by some 3 rivers namely: Aniakra, Amoraa and Simon at chainages 1+200, 2+600 and 4+300 respectively. The topography is generally undulating. 22.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor. It was worked on about eight years ago, and would require replacement of culverts. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. During the rainy season, sections are rendered unmotorable thereby resulting in inadequate transportation services for the haulage of food items and other goods. This has increased the incidence of post harvest losses. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to ensure all-year-round accessibility at optimum cost, improving access to markets and health centers, farming areas, etc, as well as interconnection between communities such as Nsuta, Anyinabrim and Bepokokoo. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation and lying of sub-base. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in the Table 22.1 below. Table 22. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Nsuta-Bepokokoo Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+000 – 6+700 2 Formation 0+000 – 6+700 3 Laying of sub-base 0+000 – 6+700 4 Culvert Construction 0+600,1+00,1+400, 1+600, 2+200, 2+300, 3+300 Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works include blading and compaction of road surface, while laying of sub-base to be undertaken on this road will involve sectional gravelling of culvert points and others. Three types of new culverts will be constructed, 7 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 3 No. 900x700; b) 3 No. 1200x900; c) 1No 2/1800x1800 The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and DFR 134 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs g) 1No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (4157 m³) b) Chippings (211.52 m³) c) Gravel chippings (19585 m³) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of seventy (70) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 12 months. 22.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impact 22.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. DFR 135 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 22.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The road is crossed by some 3 rivers namely: Aniakra, Amoraa and Simon. The tunnelling provided to drain the rivers across the road is inadequate and as such the river floods sections of the road to about 20m during heavy rains. This usually results in the road being damaged due to erosion, most times beyond usage. Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the rivers. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 22.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 6.7km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive DFR 136 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 22.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select five (5) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate five (5) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. DFR 137 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 22.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routesNoise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. DFR 138 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 22.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. . 22.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 7 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened DFR 139 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 22.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 8 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 140 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 23.0 SENCHEM-ASENSUHU-AGAVE MINOR REHABILITATION PROJECT 23.1 Project Environment Information The Senchem-Asenuhu-Agave Road is located in the Assin North Municipality, about 38.0km from Assin Fosu, the municipal capital. The entire length of the road is 4.0km, whilst the width is 3.0m from Senchem to Asensuhu and 5.0m from Asensuhu to Agave. It has the following communities along the stretch: Senchem, Asensuhu and Agave. There are other farming villages Yakahya Kope, Maame Toro Kope, Repairer Kope, Mesa Kope, Kwabila Kope, Padi Kope within the road corridor. There are farms located along the entire stretch of the road and covering a total area of 13,500m2. There is a school at chainage 1+00. The vegetation type is forest with patches of grassland and shrubs. The area is generally noted for timber extraction, farming and charcoal burning. The area is drained by 13 drainage channels. The topography can be described as alternating between flat and undulating. 23.2 Project Description The current state of the road is deplorable. It is un-engineered and earth surface without any formation works. There are no drainage structures and during the rainy season, sections are rendered unmotorable. Transportation services are severely affected especially, the haulage of food items and other goods, leading to increased incidence of post-harvest losses. The objective of the proposed minor rehabilitation works is to ensure all-year-round accessibility at optimum cost, improving access to markets and health centers, farming areas, etc, as well as interconnection between communities such as Senchem, Asensuhu, Agrave Camp, and Mafi. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, cutting of drains, construction of culverts and formation of road. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in the Table 23.1 below. Table 23. 1 Locations of Specific Works along Senchem-Asenuhu-Agave Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+00 – 4+00 2 Road Formation 0+00 – 4+00 3 Construction of culverts 0+500, 0+600, 1+00, 1+300, 1+650, 1+900, 2+00, 2+100, 2+200, 2+400, 3+100, 1+800, 3+00 Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Cutting of drains along the road will be done to accommodate stormwater in order to prevent the road from being washed away by storm water/run-off. Formation works include blading of drain materials and compaction onto road surface, while lying of sub-base on this road will involve gravelling of entire length. Two new culverts will be constructed, 13 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 11 No. 900x700; b) 2 No. 1200x900; The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; DFR 141 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 1No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (48.52 m³) b) Filling material (4725m3) c) Chippings (77.15m3) d) Sub-base material (12000m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of thirty six (36) will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 12 months. 23.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 23.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. DFR 142 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 23.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the rivers. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 23.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition a school (chainage 1+00) will also be a receptor of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the DFR 143 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Works close to the school would be done after school hours. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays.. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 23.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select five (5) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate five (5) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 23.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. DFR 144 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 23.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. DFR 145 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels, and from marshy and low lying areas to prevent potential pollution of ground and surface water. The sanitary facilities will be decommissioned at the completion of the maintenance project. In a case where any community expresses interest in the facility (through its chief), the DE will be duly informed and required to hand over the facility to the community. It is only under such a circumstance that the contractor will be absolved from the obligation to decommission the facility. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 23.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 13culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and DFR 146 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 23.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 12 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 147 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 24.0 KWANYARKO-NAMAWORA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 24.1 Project Environment Information The Kwanyarko-Namawora Road is located in the Agona East District, about 54.4km from Agona Nsaba, the district capital. The road is 4.0km long and 2.8m wide, linking Kwanyako to Namawora. The vegetation type is lush forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture (crop cultivation). The area is drained by 12 drainage channels. The topography is generally undulating. 24.2 Project Description The state of the road is poor. Some improvement works were carried out on it about 5 years ago. The road has low lying sections and water crossing points, which will require the construction of culverts. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce to market centres, and also provide easy access to health centres. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, blading, and construction of culverts. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in the Table 24.1 below. Table 24. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Nsuta-Bepokokoo Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+000-4+000, 2 Blading 0+000-4+000 3 Construction of culverts 0+000, 0+250, 0+400, 1+00, 2+500, 2+900, 3+600, 0+600, 0+800, 1+300, 1+500. Vegetation along the road corridor will be cleared to widen the width of the road, and also allow enough space for other works such as the construction of drains and culverts. Certain sections will receive blading, while some low-lying sections along the road will be raised. 4types of new culverts will be constructed, eleven (11) in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 5 No. 900x700 b) 2No 2/900x1200 c) 2 No. 1200x900 d) 2No 1250x1800 The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer b) 1No. Water tanker; c) 1No. Motor Grader d) 1No. Roller; and e) 1No. Wheel Loader f) 1No. Concrete mixer. g) 1No. Tipper trucks The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (69.70 m³) b) Chippings (106.67 m³) c) Gravel chippings (3057 m³) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary DFR 148 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of 50 people will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 12 months. 24.3 Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 24.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. DFR 149 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 24.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 24.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring: DFR 150 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 24.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select five (5) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate five (5) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 24.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management); DFR 151 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly;and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 24.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring: DFR 152 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 24.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 11 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 24.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 12 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. DFR 153 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 154 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 25.0 ABOWINIM-NKODWO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 25.1 Project Environment Information The Abowinim-Nkodwo Road is located in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District, about 6.4km from Ajumako, the district capital. The road is 4.0km long and 2.5m wide, with the following communities along the stretch: Enyan Amoanda, Eyiakrom, and Nkodwo. The vegetation type is lust forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture (crop cultivation). The area is drained by 9 drainage channels and the road crossed by some two (2) streams, namely Otowaraba and Bruku. The topography is generally undulating. 25.2 Project Description The road is narrow and in a deplorable state. It benefitted from some improvement works about 12 years ago. There are water crossing points which will require the construction of culverts. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce to market centres, provide easy access route to health centres and to interconnect communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, raising, blading, and construction of culverts. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in the Table 25.1 below. Table 25. 1 Locations Specific Works along the Abowinim-Nkodwo Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 0+000-4+000, 2 Blading 0+000-4+000 3 Construction of culverts 0+200, 0+500, 0+600, 1+200, 2+00, 2+100, 2+600, 2+900, 3+500 Vegetation will be cleared along the road corridor to widen the width of the road, and also allow enough space for other works such as the construction of culverts. Certain sections will receive blading. One (1) type of new culverts will be constructed, nine (9) in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 9 no. 900x700 The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer b) 1No. Water tanker; c) 1No. Motor Grader d) 1No. Roller; and e) 1No. Wheel Loader f) 1No. Concrete mixer. The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (26.63 m³) b) Chippings (42.60 m³) c) Gravel (2501 m³) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. DFR 155 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase.It is estimated that a workforce of 35 will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 25.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers at Enyan Amoanda, Eyiakrom, and Nkodwo will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 25.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. DFR 156 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 25.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The road crossed by some two (2) streams, namely Otowaraba and Bruku.The tunnelling provided to drain the streams across the road is inadequate and as such the streams floods sections of the road. This usually results in the road being damaged due to erosion, most times beyond usage. Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the streams. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 25.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. DFR 157 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 25.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select four(4) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate four(4) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 25.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities: DFR 158 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 25.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. DFR 159 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 25.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 9 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 25.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 8 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. DFR 160 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction DFR 161 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 26.0 MFUOM-APONKWAA-ONOMAKWAA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 26.1 Project Environment Information The Mfuom-Aponkwaa-Onomakwaa Road is located in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District, about 35.5km from Twifo Praso, the district capital. The road is 6.0km long and 5m wide, with the following communities along the stretch Mfuom, Apokwa and Onomakwaa. The vegetation type is lush forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture (crop cultivation). The area is drained by fourteen (14) drainage channels. The topography is generally undulating. 26.2 Project Description The road is narrow and in a deplorable state. It benefitted from some improvement works about 6years ago. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce to market centres, provide easy access route to health centres and to interconnect communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly, clearing of the road, formation of road, provision of culverts and the filling and gravelling of critical sections. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 26.1. Table 26. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Mfuom-Aponkwaa-Onomakwaa Road Specific Works Location or Distance Clearing 0+00 – 6+00 Formation Of Road 0+00 – 6+00 Culvert Construction 0+450, 1+100, 1+300, 1+600, 1+800, 2+400, 2+900, 3+600, 3+950, 4+100, 4+400, 5+00, 5+600, 5+900 Filling/Gravelling of Sections 0+350-0+500, 1+050-1+175, 1+250-1+350 etc Vegetation will be cleared along the road corridor to widen the width of the road, and also allow enough space for other works such as the construction of culverts. The entire road would be formed bringing on to the material from the drain and compacted. Five (5) types of new culverts will be constructed, 14 in number along the road. The sizes and numbers are as follows: a) 6 No. 900x700; b) 2No 2/1250x1800 c) 3 No. 2/1200x900; d) 1No 1/1800x1800 e) 2No 3/1200x900 The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer b) 1No. Water tanker; c) 1No. Motor Grader d) 1No. Roller; and e) 1No. Wheel Loader f) 1No. Concrete mixer. The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Sand (244.56 m³) b) Chippings (395.87 m³) c) Gravel (6077 m³) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source DFR 162 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of 40 will employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 12 months. 26.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers at Enyan Amoanda, Eyiakrom, and Nkodwo will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The right of way (RoW) already exist. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road (10km) activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 26.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and DFR 163 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 26.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 26.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 6km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. DFR 164 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 26.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select five (5) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate five (5) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 26.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities: DFR 165 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 26.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. DFR 166 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 26.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 14 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 26.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 8 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. DFR 167 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 168 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs ROADS IN THE EASTERN REGION DFR 169 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 27.0 ABEKOASE-SUBRISO SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 27.1 Project Environment Information The Abekoase-Subriso Road is in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region, about 20km from Kwabeng the district capital. The road stretches over a distance of 8km and it passes through the Abekoase, Subriso and Sekyere communities. There are mainly farms at Abekoase and subriso communities along the road corridor, located about 20m from the road. Farming is a main economic activity in the area and the few markets (at Sekyere which is adjacent the main Accra Kumasi Highway) serving the communities are highly patronized during market days. The vegetation of the project area is forest. The landscape is undulating. The River Mame is the main water body which together with 7 other minor streams and creeks drains the area. 27.2 Project Description The road condition is poor. Reshaping works was carried out in 2006. The situation gets worse during the rainy season when, due to the inadequate drainage, numerous potholes develop. The road width of 6m has been reduced to 3m at various sections due to encroachment by weeds and washing away at the edges. The objective of the rehabilitation works is to reduce the travelling time along the stretch thereby improving access to the adjoining communities and other social facilities such as schools and hospitals (in Abekoase and subriso). The specific works to be carried out are mainly clearing, shaping, filling, sectional gravelling and culvert construction. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 27.1. Table 27. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Abekoase-Subriso Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 8.0km 2 Formation 8.0km 3 Construction of 8/700*900 U- culverts at culverts 0+200,0+350,0+400,2+900,4+850,4+900,5+100,5+300 4 Filling and Filling -7,339 m3 gravelling Gravelling -3.5km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to restore the width of the road. It will also allow enough space for other works. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (480bags) b) Coarse aggregates (80m3); and DFR 170 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs c) Fine aggregates (48m3); d) Reinforcement timber (2.4tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of between 20 and 30 will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 27.3 Potential Impact, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Abekoase and subriso communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 27.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season; DFR 171 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 27.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The River Mame is the main water body which together with 7 other minor streams and creeks drains the area. The tunnelling provided to drain the river across the road is inadequate and as such the river floods sections of the road to about 20m during heavy rains. This usually results in the road being damaged due to erosion, most times beyond usage. Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the river. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 27.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 8km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 20m from the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. DFR 172 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 27.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 27.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and DFR 173 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routesNoise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 27.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by DFR 174 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 27.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 8 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. DFR 175 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 27.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction DFR 176 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 28.0 ABENASE-AKOKOASE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 28.1 Project Environment Information The Abenase-Akokoase Road is located in the Akyemansa District, about 15km from Ofoase, the district capital. The road is 17.1km long with Abenase and Akokoase communities along the stretch. There are a number of schools and a health center at Abenase and some markets at Akokoase. Various farms are located along the corridor, about 35m from the road. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture. The area is drained by 5 drainage channels. The topography is generally undulating. 28.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some reshaping works in 2007. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced from 6.0m to about 3.0m due to washing away at the edges. The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centers and enhancing inter-connectivity between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 28.1. Table 28. 1 Locations or Distances of Specific Works along the Abenase-Akokoase Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 17.1km 2 Formation 17.1km 3 Construction of 5/700*900 u culvert culverts 4 Filling and gravelling Filling-2,063m3 Gravelling-4.6km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and construction of drains. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also laying of 1.0km of gravel sub-base. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (300 bags) b) Gravel (460m3) DFR 177 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs c) Chippings (259m3) d) Sand (162m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of between 20 and 30 persons will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 28.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Abenase and Akokoase communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 28.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust; DFR 178 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 28.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the river. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 28.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 17.1km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 35m at some points of the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be DFR 179 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays.. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 28.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 28.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes.Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. DFR 180 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 28.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be DFR 181 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 28.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 1 culvert during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 28.7.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road DFR 182 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 183 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 29.0 AGAVENYA JUNCTION-BRUKUM AGAVENYA SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 29.1 Project Environment Information The Agavenya Junction-Brukum Agavenya Road is located in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region, about 25km from Somanya, the district capital. The road is 3.7km long with the Agavenya, Sutawa and Mgomi communities along the stretch. Other adjoining communities such as Nsutapong and Agogo also use the road. There are 15 schools within Agavenya and Sutawa and various farms along the road. These facilities and farms are usually about 40m away from the road. The vegetation type is Forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture. The topography is undulating. The area is devoid of any water bodies. 29.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some reshaping works in 2008. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections of the road are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced to 4.0m on the average (instead of 6.0m). The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools, markets and health centers as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 29.1. Table 29. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Agavenya Junction-Brukum Agavenya Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 3.7km 2 Formation 3.7km 3 Construction of 1/1800x1250 culvert 4 Filling and Filling-1780 m3 gravelling Gravelling-1.0km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and construction of a culvert (1 no. 1800x1250). Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of the culvert and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base will be laid. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (120 bags) b) Chippings (301.5m3); and DFR 184 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs c) Sand (188m3) d) Gravel (390 m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of 20–30 persons will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 29.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Agavenya, Sutawa and Mgomi communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 29.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season; DFR 185 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 29.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 29.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 3.7km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 40m at some points of the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set DFR 186 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs work schedule to avoid delays.. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 29.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 29.3.5 Occupational/Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes.Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls DFR 187 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 29.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable DFR 188 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. . 29.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction 1 culvert during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 29.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and DFR 189 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction DFR 190 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 30.0 AKORABO JUNCTION – KROMANENG SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 30.1 Project Environment Information The Akorabo Junction-Kromaneng Road is in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District of the Eastern Region, about 10.3km from the district capital, Suhum. The road stretches over a distance of 2.4km and it passes through the Akorabo and Kromaneng communities. Other communities that use the road are Kroekyia and Water Works. There are farms along the road corridor, located about 20m from the road. Farming is a main economic activity in the area and the few markets serving the communities are highly patronized during market days. The vegetation of the project area is forest set on an undulating landscape. Seven (7) minor streams and creeks drain the area. 30.2 Project Description The road condition is poor. Reshaping works was carried out in 2005. The situation gets worse during the rainy season when, numerous potholes develop due to the inability of rainwater to drain off. The road width is also narrowed due to washing away at the edges and also encroachment by weedy vegetation. The objective of the rehabilitation works is to reduce the travelling time along the stretch thereby improving access to the adjoining communities and other social facilities such as schools and hospitals. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, shaping, filling, sectional gravelling and culverts (8 in number) construction. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 30.1 Table 30. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Akorabo Junction – Kromaneng Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 2.4km 2 Shaping 2.4km 3 Construction of 8/700*900mm u-culvert 0+250,0+380,0+600,1+200,1+400,1+475,1+800,2+050 culverts 4 Filling and Filling-1.450km gravelling Gravelling-1.080km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road. It will also allow enough space for other works. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (480 bags) b) Coarse aggregates (86m3); c) Fine aggregates (48m3) d) Reinforcement rods (2.5 tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source DFR 191 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of between 20 and 30 will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 30.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Akorabo and Kromaneng communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 30.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and DFR 192 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 30.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Seven (7) minor streams and creeks drain the area. The tunnelling provided to drain the streams during heavy rains is inadequate. This could usually results in the road being damaged due to erosion, most times beyond usage. Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the waterbodies Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 30.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 2.4km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 20m at some points of the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, DFR 193 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 30.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 30.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes. Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers DFR 194 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 30.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. DFR 195 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 30.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 8 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or in volved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 30.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and DFR 196 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 197 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 31.0 AKORADARKO-BOMODEN SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 31.1 Project Environment Information The Akoradarko-Bomoden Road is located in the Fanteakwa District, about 15km from Begoro, the district capital. The road is 9.5km long with the Duapolice and Tadeso communities along the stretch. There are schools and markets at Akoradarko and Tadeso and cemetaries at Duapolice; all located about 20m from the road. The vegetation type is Semi-deciduous Forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture. The area is drained by 2 drainage channels. The topography is undulating. 31.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some reshaping works in 2007. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections with water crossings are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced to 4.0m on the average (instead of 6.0m). The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas, schools and markets within the communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts, filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 31.1. Table 31. 1 Locations of Specific Works along the Akoradarko-Bomoden Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 9.5km 2 Formation 9.5km 3 Construction of culverts 2/700*900mm u culverts at 2+500and4+720 4 Filling and gravelling Filling-6800m3 Gravelling-5.9km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and construction of drains. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base will be laid. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (120 bags) b) Chippings (765m3); and 3 c) Sand (485m ) d) Gravels (3540m3) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source DFR 198 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of 20-30 persons will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 31.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Impact Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in the Akoradarko, Duapolice and Tadeso communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 31.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer; DFR 199 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 31.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 31.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 9.5km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 20m at some points of the road and also a school and a market at Akoradarko and Tadeso repectively will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Works close to schools would be done after school hours. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to DFR 200 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non-compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 31.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 31.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers DFR 201 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues;  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly; and  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 31.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. DFR 202 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 31.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 2 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 31.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and DFR 203 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 204 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 32.0 ANUM APAPAM – KOFIPARE SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 32.1 Project Environment Information The Anum Apapam-Kofipare Road is located in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District of the Eastern Region, about 22.2km from Suhum, the district capital. The road is 3.8km long with Anum Apapam and Kofipare communities located along the stretch. There are farms along the corridor usually situated about 20m from the road. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture. The area is drained by 6 drainage channels. The topography is hilly and undulating. 32.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some spot improvement works in 2008. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced to 4.0m on the average (instead of 6.0m). The objective of the proposed spot improvement works includes improving access to farming areas as well as interconnection between communities. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts, filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 32.1. Table 32. 1 Specific Works and their Locations along the Anum Apapam – Kofipare Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 3.8km 2 Formation 3.8km 3 Construction of 6/700*900 u culverts at ch 1+800, 1+900,2+250,2+300,2+400,2+700 culverts 4 Filling and Filling-5,650 m3 gravelling Gravelling-1.0km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and construction of drains. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base will be laid. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (360 bags) b) Coarse aggregates (301.5m3); and c) Fine aggregates (188m3) d) Reinforcement rods (1.8tonnes) DFR 205 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of twenty-four (24) persons will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 32.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitroing Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers in Anum Apapam and Kofipare communities will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 32.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust; DFR 206 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 32.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 32.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 3.8km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 40m at some points of the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be DFR 207 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays.. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 32.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 32.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes.Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. DFR 208 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be done to ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 32.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be DFR 209 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 32.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 6 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 32.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite DFR 210 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction DFR 211 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 33.0 FRANKADUA-ALABO RIVER SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 33.1 Project Environment Information The Frankadua-Alabo Road is located in the Asuogyaman District, about 11.5km from Atimpoku, the district capital. The road is 5.2km long from Frankadua to the Alabo River. There are a number of farms along the road corridor usually sited 20m from the road. The vegetation type is forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture. The area is drained by 6 drainage channels. The topography is undulating. 33.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some reshaping works in 2008. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossings. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced to 4.0m on the average (instead of 6.0m). The objective of the proposed rehabilitation works includes improving access to farming areas and to facilitate conveyance of farm produce during harvest seasons. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 33.1. Table 33. 1 Locations or Distances of Specific Works along the Frankadua-Alabo River Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 5.2km 2 Formation 5.2km 3 Construction of 6/700*900 u culvert 1+100,1+600,2+400,2+650,2+900and4+600 culverts 4 Filling and Filling-1950m3 gravelling Gravelling-1.0km Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1.0km of gravel sub-base will be laid. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (360 bags) b) Coarse aggregates (66m3); and c) Fine aggregates (42m3) d) Reinforcement rods (1.8 tonnes) Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. DFR 212 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. The project is estimated to employ a workforce of 20-30. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 33.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers at Frankkadua will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 33.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust;  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. DFR 213 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 33.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on any waterbody: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 33.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 5.2km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 20m at some points of the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays.. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring: DFR 214 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 33.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 33.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes.Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management); DFR 215 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, method of achievi ng it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 33.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring: DFR 216 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 33.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 6 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 33.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. DFR 217 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 218 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 34.0 SUTAPONG – SUTAPONG FALL SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 34.1 Project Environment Information The Sutapong-Sutapong Fall Road is located in the Upper Manya District of the Eastern Region, about 16km from Asesewa, the district capital. The road is 2.8km long with Sutapong, Teguenya and Popornya being beneficiary communities. A good number of farms border the road and are usually located about 20m from the road. The vegetation type is Semi-deciduous Forest. The area is generally noted for agriculture. The area is drained by 5 drainage channels. The topography is undulating. 34.2 Project Description The current state of the road is poor, though it benefited from some reshaping works in 2004. It is earth surface with low lying sections and water crossing points. Sections are rendered almost unmotorable in the rainy season. The width of the road is reduced to 4.0m on the average (instead of 6.0m). The objective of the proposed spot improvement works is to improve access to farming areas. The specific works intended to be carried out are mainly clearing, formation, construction of culverts and filling and gravelling. The specific works (according to mileage (location) and/or distance) are provided in Table 34.1. Table 34. 1 Specific Works and their Locations along the Sutapong – Sutapong Road Specific Works Location or Distance 1 Clearing 2.8km 2 Formation 2.8km 3 Construction of 5/700*900mm u culverts at 0+500,0+650,1+080,1+950 and 2+200 culverts 4 Filling and Filling-1600m3 gravelling Gravelling-1.0km Clearing involves weeding along the corridor to widen the width of the road to 6.0m. It will also allow enough space for other works such as culvert construction. Formation works includes blading and construction of drains. Filling will be done mainly in the approaches of culverts and also 1km of gravel sub-base will be laid. The list of types and numbers of equipment/machinery to be used include: a) 1No. Bulldozer D7 or equivalent, b) 1No. Vibratory or Static roller (10 tonnes); c) 1No. Motor Grader 140G or equivalent, d) 1No. Pick-up; e) 1No. Loader (1m3); f) 1No. Concrete mixer (0.5m3); and g) 2No. Tipper trucks (6m3); h) 1No. Poker vibrator i) 1No. Water tanker (9000 litres); The type of raw materials and the estimated quantities will include: a) Portland cement (300bags); b) Fine aggregates (36m3); c) Coarse aggregates (64m3) DFR 219 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Construction materials (e.g. sand, laterite and gravel) will be obtained from approved sources, certified by the EPA as fully compliant with the Environmental Assessment Regulations. Where no such source is available, it is the obligation of the contractor to identify potential sources and obtain the necessary Environment Permit (through a Preliminary Environmental Assessment - PEA) to develop and restore borrow pits. Chippings will be sourced from EPA approved quarry sites. There will be a Site Office (SO) erected at a strategic location, of not more than 1 acre in size, along the road corridor which will serve as a place for meeting and keeping equipment and machinery during the construction phase. It is estimated that a workforce of twenty-four (24) persons will be employed for the project. The project implementation will take about 6 months. 34.3 Potential Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Measures The road currently has poor surface and structure conditions which impede transport of farm produce and general movement, especially during the rainy season to health and market centres, etc. With road improvement from the maintenance works, farmers will be able to move their farm produce easily, reducing post harvest losses. Other benefits include improved access to market centres, reduced vehicle operating cost (VOC), reduced travel time and reduced transportation cost. It will also ease movement, for instance, school attendance, to seek medical care, especially for pregnant women and also enhance trade. Unskilled labourers would be employed from the local communities and this could serve as an employment opportunity for unemployed local community members. The potential adverse impacts will be few and localized due to the relatively small-scale nature of the project road activities. These will include:  Water resource impacts  Occupational health and safety risks  Noise and vibration impacts  Potential HIV/AIDS spread  Air quality impacts  Waste generation  Potential road diversion impacts  Temporary site office impacts 34.3.1 Potential Dust and Air Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Generation of dust will occur during haulage of construction materials on site, trips to the stockpile depot and haulage from the borrow pit to the feeder road construction site, spreading of gravel, sand and chippings are all activities that could add to the ambient dusty conditions. Workers are the most exposed to the effects of dust (PM10) which include upper respiratory tract infection, irritation of the eyes, etc. Dousing of the active sections of the road with water at scheduled intervals (twice daily in the dry season) will be used to control dust. Speed of 40km/hr when approaching the school area will be observed by construction vehicles. Drivers of vehicles that transport materials will be trained on impacts of dust. Speed ramps will be constructed at least 200m from either side of the road from the location of the school. PPEs such as nose masks and safety goggles shall be provided for all workers at project site. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Twice daily inspection of water dousing will be conducted on the road in the morning and afternoon, especially during the dry season;  Twice daily inspection of PPE use by workers exposed to dust; DFR 220 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Twice weekly checks on adherence to speed limit (40km/hr) within the catchment communities by the Site Engineer;  Weekly inspection of records on servicing of project vehicles and equipments; and  The use of tarpaulin to cover haulage trucks will also be checked daily. Local communities will be sensitized on the need to report non-compliant contractor to the DE. 34.3.2 Potential Water Quality Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Excavation activities for U-drain and culvert construction will lead to increased turbidity and siltation. Oil leaks, rubber and metal components resulting from machinery and vehicular wear and tear and servicing as well as human and other wastes could end up contaminating the waterbodies. Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from the streams and will have spill containment structures such as drains, oil trap, sump and bins in the site office to prevent seepage of oil. Locations for heaping construction materials (e.g. sand and other aggregates) will not be less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels. The provision of toilets and urinals will be at locations not less than 100m away from the stream and creeks. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of equipment and vehicles such as the bulldozer, grader, etc for potential failures of any hydraulic component or leaks, and operational integrity would be carried out;  All heaped material areas would be monitored weekly to ensure that they are not exposed to the wind rain or areas of run-offs. Inspection of these would be continuously done by the Site Engineer; and  There will be weekly monitoring on the following relevant sources of impacts on water: - Sediment-laden run-off from cleared areas of road; - Contaminants in run-off from plantation and farms (fuel and oil residue, etc); - Oil and grease waste from equipment servicing and vehicle washing; and - Construction of drainage channels and culverts. 34.3.3 Potential Noise and Vibration Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of noise will be from the use of:  Bulldozers and grader in clearing the 2.8km road;  Concrete mixers to mix concrete for culvert construction; and  Vibratory roller for sectional filling and gravelling. These machines generate noise levels of between 78dB – 95dB at 15m and 96dB – 111dB at 1.5m. Though the nature of the works will be such that noise generation will be intermittent, the noise levels by the machinery far exceed 85dB, above which hearing impairment can occur. The effects of excessive noise and vibration on humans include stress, hearing impairment, communication problems, etc. Workers, especially those working with or close to these equipments will be badly exposed. In addition people working in farms located about 20m at some points of the road will also be receptors of noise due to their relative distances from the road. Noise protection devices such as ear muffs and plugs will be provided to all workers on site. Additionally workers exposed to loud noise and vibration will not be allowed to work with the machines for more than 3 hours in a day. Maintenance of machinery and equipment schedule will be observed and made available for inspection to ensure minimal noise generation. Static machines will be sited at least 100m away from homes, schools and clinics and to reduce their impacts. Construction works close to schools would be carried out after close of school while works close to clinics will be DFR 221 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs restricted to the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00pm to avoid the relatively quit periods (mornings evenings, and nights). Impacts from machines such as bulldozers would be transient and their use will be to a set work schedule to avoid delays.. The operators would be made conscious of working in sensitive locations. The Contractor or designated supervisor will be accountable for any instance of non- compliance. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  The use of appropriate PPEs for noise protection will be closely monitored twice a day;  Weekly checks with school and clinic authorities to ascertain possible noise impacts affecting the school and clinc by the District Engineer; and  Maintenance records for all equipment and machinery will be inspected weekly to ensure that regular maintenance is followed to reduce noise from operations. 34.3.4 Potential Spread of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Monitoring The threat of potential spread of HIV/AIDS and other STIs arises since the introduction of the projects could also lead to an increase in sexual promiscuity. The provision of jobs to local people would enhance their financial status, which may create the condition to engage multiply sexual partners and hence increase the risk of HIV/ AIDS infection. Continued education on the issues of transmission and prevention has been recommended by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and some HIV prevention and control organizations as an efficient means of getting the message across to the populace. Management of the contracting firm in collaboration with the District Health Directorate will ensure that workers are briefed on the nature, transmission mode and the implication of HIV at two months interval. Since there is apathy toward the reality of the disease even among groups of people who are privy to the seriousness of the pandemic, regular sensitization of the workers will emphasize the deadly effects of the disease. The contractor will select three (3) from the workforce while the nearby communities nominate three (3) members to form a peer group team. There will be free condom supplies to workers and community members. Private discussions, counselling and testing will be promoted. This team will undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at two months interval. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  There will be quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness workshops, to be held by qualified health personnel, to assess the level of awareness and understanding of workers and townsfolk. Assessment will be done at each workshop in the form of questions and answers, where the participants will be required to respond to questions designed to elicit particular views;  Records on the training of Peer Educators would be checked every two months; and  There would be monthly checks on records of condoms distributed. 34.3.5 Occupational\Public Health and Safety Risks, Mitigation and Monitoring Accidents constitute an important risk in road maintenance works resulting in injuries. Operations of the concrete mixer, bulldozer, grader and the use of rollers have the potential to cause injury to workers. Accidents risks would arise from attempts to save haulage time and cost by overloading vehicles and speeding, as well as poorly shaped haul routes.Noise and vibration of machinery as well as dusty conditions created by moving vehicles and machinery could affect the health of workers and the public. The public could be affected through poor reinstatement of borrow pits which could serve as grounds for breeding of mosquitoes. DFR 222 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Four (4) workers shall be trained (by a health team from the District Health Centre) on first aid and other safety procedures. The trained first aid team will be in charge of educating their fellow workers on safety and first aid procedures. PPEs such as nose masks, ear plugs, gloves, goggles and overalls will be provided for all works. Enforcement of health measures and safety regulations in the operation of vehicles and machinery and use of PPEs will be performed by the SE, in addition to the following activities:  Incidence of injuries and ailments of workers and the public will be kept on record (and prevalent injuries or ailments identified and reported for remedial action by management);  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to works sites;  Routine checks to ensure workers are in their complete PPEs before the commencement and during work, non-compliant staff will be appropriately reprimanded and subsequently a fine of GH¢5 and then outright dismissal;  DFR’s reinstatement/ restoration plan, giving details of final shape, met hod of achieving it, drainage and sediment control, re-soiling and re-vegetation measures would be implemented to cater for developed borrow pits;  Toolbox meetings held on regular basis to address new developments on health and safety issues; and  Monitoring to ensure the first aid team undertakes education exercise regularly. Monitoring activities will be carried out in order to maintain the health and safety of the public and all workers. These include:  Sanitary facilities such as mobile toilets and wash rooms will be checked whether they have been provided before the start of the project;  Weekly checks would be doneto ascertain that the mobile toilets are provided at designated distances;  Weekly review of records of incidents (injuries, cuts, falls, knockdowns), their investigation and implementation of recommended actions;  The Site Engineer will monitor the use of appropriate PPEs by workers twice daily;  Records of appropriate training for each worker will be inspected monthly to ensure that all workers have the appropriate training needed for their work;  Reinstatement plan burrow pits will be reviewed at the beginning of the project by the DE to check for compliance;  Tool box meeting records will also be reviewed weekly to further identify training needs of workers and address them appropriately;  Adherence to stipulated speed limit (40km/hr) will be checked twice weekly by the Site Engineer; and  The education exercises of first aid team will be recorded and inspected monthly by the contractor to ensure they undertake the education exercise regularly. 34.3.6 Waste Generation, Mitigation and Monitoring The main sources of waste will include cleared vegetation and construction debris (e.g. removed old culverts), packaging materials (e.g. cement bags), plastics and organic wastes from activities at the sites, and also sanitary waste. Improper handling of waste generated can become a source of nuisance, disease and infections, e.g. breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. Indiscriminate defecation by workers could lead to health problems, e.g. cholera and other diarrhoea diseases among workers and in nearby communities. Waste may also be carried by run-off into the stream contaminating it. Waste bins will be provided at all working sites and at the SOs. Waste will be segregated at source into two – organic and then waste plastics and glass. Organic wastes and cleared vegetation will be DFR 223 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs composted near the work site to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass will be taken to the nearest district’s dump sites or sold. Zoomlion will be contracted to provide the waste disposal services. Workers will be trained on the need and benefits of waste segregation for full cooperation. Suitable construction debris will be used as part of the filling materials. Sanitary facilities (including toilets) will be provided. Mobile toilets and urinals will be located at a minimum distance of 100m away from any stream or drainage channels. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Daily monitoring of waste segregation and littering;  Weekly monitoring of emptying of bins at waste dump sites;  Weekly monitoring of waste composting;  Daily inspection of work site to detect indiscriminate defecation; and  Toilets decommissioning on project completion. 34.3.7 Potential Road Diversion Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring Construction of 5 culverts during the maintenance works can obstruct road traffic. The options considered for maintaining road access to vehicular traffic during culvert construction included:  A temporal diversion of access completely from the existing road by by-passing the culvert section; and  Closing one lane of the road for culvert construction, while the other lane (restricted access) is opened to traffic. While the latter alternative (with restricted access), avoids potential ‘trespassing’ farmlands, etc and therefore eliminates the need to pay compensation; it nevertheless exposes workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. Since only one lane will be accessible at any one time, vehicles traveling in opposite directions may be involved in accidents at or near the culvert crossing (construction site). Speeding vehicles are likely to fall into ‘culvert trenches’ or ditches or involved in head-on collision at the culvert site. Construction workers will be operating close to moving vehicles, at the risk of falling vehicles or objects on them or even knockdowns. The current road width has reduced to between 3 and 4m, although the RoW is 6m. Thus adequate space is available to allow for construction works without affecting any adjoining land. Before closing one lane for culvert construction, a temporary structure will be installed on the other lane to be opened to traffic. The closed lane will be blocked at a location 100m away from the culvert, with appropriate warning signals and reflectors, with speed limit of 20km/h, but 10km/h at the narrow crossing, speed control ramps and traffic attendants directing vehicular movement. The actual working areas will be secured with barricades. The construction period will be effectively scheduled and strictly followed. Monitoring will cover the following parameters and their frequency of monitoring:  Effective traffic flow as well as vehicular and worker safety will be monitored daily;  Daily inspection of appropriate positioning of road signs, reflectors, speed ramps, control limits, and the role of traffic attendants; and  Daily inspection of records on accidents and near misses by contractor and the DE for immediate remedial action. In the event of any accident the first aid team would attend to the victims and convey them to the nearest health centre. 34.3.8 Temporary Site Office Impacts, Mitigation and Monitoring The site office required for the project will have to be strategically located along the road corridor. The selected site may however affect farm crops, physical assets or other properties of land owners, in spite DFR 224 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs of the short duration (of 6 months) for which the site office will be in use. Though the proposed road works will be of benefit to the land owner, it is important that he/she does not suffer any social and economic loss from the temporary use of the land for project office. In the arrangement with the contractor for use of the land, the land owner may not have the negotiation skills to secure a fair deal or may end up being cheated. The contractor may also fail to deliver any agreed terms and disappear after the project to the detriment of the land owner. As a common practice, a site for use as field office is usually identified during site visit by bidders, before submission of bids. The contractor (winning bidder) will however, be required to observe the following conditions in selecting the site:  Identify a potential site, which must not be a farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Identify the landowner through the Assembly member and/or Chief of the community;  Seek the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office on the land for the specified duration of the road project;  Agree with the landowner to hand over the agreed structure to be erected to the landowner; and  Agree on other measures to render the site safe and usable to the satisfaction of the landowner. The agreement will be documented and signed by the contractor and the owner with the District Engineer and Assembly member or Chief of the community as witnesses. In addition to periodic visits (twice a month) to the site office, the District Engineer will be in communication with the land owner to ascertain whether the conditions agreed on between owner and contractor are being met. The contractor will be required to include the state of fulfilment of the agreement terms in the quarterly report to be submitted to the District Engineer. It will be required of the contractor (by the DE) to reinstate the site and hand over the structure to the owner after completion of construction. DFR 225 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 35.0 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION The plan for implementation of enhancement and mitigation measures and monitoring activities in the ESMP is presented in this chapter. The plan highlights the relevant institutional roles/responsibilities for monitoring and reporting on the environmental and social safeguards performance and results, as well as a proposed capacity building provision to facilitate the ESMPs implementation. Cost estimates for implementation of the various measures, monitoring plan and capacity building are also given. The implementation budget will enable financing for the ESMPs to be an integral part of financing for the rehabilitation/maintenance projects. 35.1 Implementation Stages, Safeguard Measures and Institutions The general outline of the ESMP implementation by the various actors will involve the following stages:  ESMP preparation and approval;  Contract specifications on E&S safeguards obligations;  Rehabilitation/project contract award;  E&S safeguards implementation plan and schedule;  Rehabilitation/project commencement;  Capacity building on E&S safeguards (and other awareness programme);  E&S safeguards and mitigation implementation;  Monitoring of safeguard/mitigation measures;  Reporting; and  Compliance and other periodic verification monitoring. The main environmental and social safeguard measures in the ESMPs cover the following:  Water resources, erosion control and flood prevention management;  Noise and vibration exposure management;  Dust control management;  Public and occupational health and safety management;  HIV/AIDS and health awareness management;  Waste management;  Road diversion and accident prevention; and  Temporary office site reinstatement. The key actors in the implementation of the ESMPs include:  The contractor- to be awarded the rehabilitation contract and be required to implement the environmental and social safeguard measures;  DFR - to ensure that E&S safeguards and other mitigation measures are duly implemented;  EPA - to ensure compliance with the ESMP and other relevant approval conditions;  MRH - to oversee the effective implementation of the road works and related E&S safeguards;  MEST - to address complaints of any aggrieved parties on E&S safeguards, especially with respect to any ‘unfavourable’ decision (action or inaction) by the EPA. The other components of the ESMPs include capacity building for the relevant actors and a proposed budget to facilitate implementation. The specific E&S safeguard obligations of the contractor that can be incorporated into the contract specifications are provided in Appendix 2. This is in addition to other contractual provisions made in the General Items of the Bills of Quantities, such as the following:  Reinstatement of borrow pits (Item no. E790.1); DFR 226 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Safe drinking water for site employees including storage facilities (Item no. A420.1);  Protective clothing, safety equipment for use by site employees (Item no. A420.2);  Temporary latrines, relocate as necessary, remove and backfill on completion (Item no. A420.3); and  Assistance to and facilitate site visits by MoH personnel to educate workers and local communities in STDs, HIV/AIDS awareness and consultation meetings (Item no. A420.5). 35.2 Institutional Roles The key actors in the implementation of the ESMPs whose specific roles are listed below are DFR, EPA, MRH and MEST, as well as the contractor. Department of Feeder Roads The DFR is responsible for ensuring that all the environmental and social safeguards associated with the projects are implemented. The system for addressing E&S safeguards comprise of DFR District Engineers, Environmental Desks at Head office and Regional offices and the Planning and Policy Unit. The National Environmental Desk (NED) facilitates preparation of the ESMPs and ascertains the quality for necessary approvals; takes custody of the final ESMPs and makes copies available to the Regional and District offices. The NED also plays a lead role in E&S safeguards capacity building at Regional and District offices as well as for contractors. 35.2.1 District Engineer (DE) The DEs are the first line of contact with the contractors awarded the rehabilitation works and for implementing the project E&S safeguards. The DEs:  Have custody of copies of ESMPs;  Obtains contractors work plan and E&S implementation schedule;  Adopts a monitoring plan and schedule;  Conducts bi-weekly site inspection and monitor implementation of E&S safeguards;  Receives and reviews reports from the contractor;  Prepares and submits monthly and subsequent quarterly and annual reports to the Regional Environmental Desk. 35.2.2 Regional Environmental Desks (RED) The RED serves as a link between the District DFR offices and the NED and provides back stopping on safeguard issues for DEs. The RED:  Conducts bi-monthly monitoring on implementation of project E&S safeguards;  Receives and reviews reports from the districts;  Collates performance on the implementation of E&S safeguards in the district; and  Submits monthly and subsequent quarterly and annual reports to the NED. 35.2.3 National Environmental Desk The NED:  Notifies EPA on commencement of the rehabilitation works/project;  Reviews and collates reports from the REDs;  Collates quarterly reports on E&S safeguards performance for the attention of Director (DFR) and submission to EPA head office;  Shares lessons/recommendations with the Policy and Planning Unit (DFR), in order to incorporate E&S safeguards adaptive management in road project designs; and  Submits quarterly and annual reports to the Ministry of Roads and Highways. DFR 227 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 35.2.4 Environmental Protection Agency EPA is the lead regulator on E&S safeguards and has the mandate to determine the form an ESMP should take. Other specific roles include:  Review and verify ESMPs in order to grant environmental approval for the ESMPs (with accompanying schedule of conditions);  Receive quarterly monitoring reports (EPA Head office) from DFR;  Act on the DFR quarterly monitoring reports (Regional EPA office);  Conduct quarterly compliance monitoring (Regional offices);  Submit quarterly monitoring (compliance) reports to EPA Head Office;  Collate and submit sector (feeder roads) annual report to Head office; and  Include the sector E&S performance in the overall EPA annual report 35.2.5 Ministry of Roads and Highways MRH is the supervising ministry for the DFR and the other road sector agencies. It is responsible for road sector policy formulation. The Ministry:  Receives quarterly reports on the E&S safeguards from DFR during the project works as well as post-rehabilitation lifecycle of the road; and  Conducts various impromptu and one annual end of year monitoring of the project sites. 35.2.6 Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) MEST is responsible for policy formulation relating to the environment. In respect of the ESMPs, the Ministry may carry out grievance redress or act on complaints by DFR on decisions or actions by the EPA to which DFR may not be in agreement. 35.2.7 Contractor The E&S safeguards will be included in the contract specification and costed as appropriate, in order that there will be budget to implement the safeguards and other mitigation measures. The contractor will be required to:  Develop a plan of work which incorporates schedule for E&S safeguards implementation;  Submit the plan of work and schedule of E&S safeguard implementation to the DE;  Implement all E&S safeguards and other mitigation measures as planned;  Train/create awareness of all personnel/workers on relevant E&S safeguard measures and on their obligations; and  Submit implementation reports on E&S safeguards to DE. . DFR 228 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 35.3 Institutional Arrangements The implementation of this ESMP requires the collaboration and involvement of the key institutions. The Figure 35.1 below illustrates the institutional roles and arrangement in the implementation of the ESMPs. EPA determines the form the ESMP takes DFR prepares and submits ESMP to EPA/ WB EPA / WB review ESMP DFR appeals to MEST if aggrieved by EPA’s decision (action or inaction) EPA grants Environmental Approval (fees paid by DFR) / WB clears & discloses ESMP E&S safeguards specifications included in contract document DFR awards contract Contractor mobilizes (provides work plan and E&S safeguards implementation schedules to DFR) DFR notifies EPA of project commencement Contractor commences project (E&S safeguards implementation) DFR conducts monthly monitoring on E&S safeguards implementation DFR submits quarterly/annual DFR submits quarterly report to MRH monitoring report to EPA MRH conducts impromptu and annual monitoring EPA conducts quarterly compliance monitoring Figure 35. 1 Institutional Arrangement Flow Chart DFR 229 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 35.4 Environmental and Social Management Measures The environmental and social management measures presented below will be implemented or adhered to by the Contractor (Site Engineer), and will also serve as the basis for monitoring. 35.4.1 Water Resources, Erosion Control and Flood Prevention Management Management measures for affected water resources, erosion control and flood prevention include:  Location (heaping) of construction material (e.g. sand and other aggregates) not less than 50m from water bodies and drainage channels (i.e. a separation distance of 50m will be observed);  Site for fuelling of machinery and servicing of equipment will be located at a minimum distance of 100m from water bodies, wetlands and drainage channels;  Embankment erection around fuelling and other liquid or spillable storage sites in order to limit or contain such material from escape to potentially pollute water resources;  Side drains (where appropriate) will be provided with settling basins near water bodies to remove silt and debris from road surface and construction site run-off, before discharge to adjoining streams or rivers;  Adequate side drains provided to carry run-off into drainage channels to prevent erosion;  Culverts of suitable capacity constructed to contain and direct flow, especially at peak flow and run-off;  Road maintenance works to be carried out off peak rainy season;  Provision of toilets and urinal at locations not less than 50m away from water bodies; and  Adequate worker awareness on sanitation and measures to avoid water resource contamination. 35.4.2 Noise and Vibration Exposure Management Use of machinery in clearing vegetation, earth (soil) movement and other concrete works such as culvert construction and movement of trucks will be the main sources of noise and vibration.  Equipment servicing plan will be prepared and strictly followed to ensure efficient machinery performance and optimum noise generation.  Stationary equipment shall be sited at safe distances from sensitive areas to minimise noise impacts  Workers operating noisy equipment will not be exposed continuously for more than 3 hours a day.  Workers will be provided with ear plugs.  Workers handling vibrating equipment or parts will be given pads to absorb the vibrations and will not be exposed continuously for longer than 3 hours a day.  Sanctions (ranging from a fine to dismissal) will be instituted by the contractor against workers who do not observe the use of appropriate PPEs 35.4.3 Dust Management Dust generation will be controlled mainly by the use of water, especially in the dry season. The contractor will acquire a water tanker for purposes of water dousing to control dust emission. Others measures will include:  Erection of speed control signals and ramps mounted in communities;  Covering of hauling trucks carrying sand and other aggregates;  Covering of heaped material e.g. sand will be covered: and  Use of nose masks by all workers at road maintenance/works sites. Surfaces of vegetation along the maintenance road will be monitored to verify the effectiveness of dust suppression method. DFR 230 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 35.4.4 Public and Occupational Health and Safety Management Public occupational health and safety management will include:  Erection of warning signals and use of reflective tapes at approaches to excavations, heaped materials, stationary equipment, etc.  Posting of speed limits of 40km/hr at approaches to construction sites;  Tool box (safety) meetings held twice a week and documented accordingly;  Inductions and awareness programmes held for all employees on occupational health and safety practices;  A First Aid team formed to provide first aid services to workers and where appropriate make referrals to the District Health Centre;  First Aid team to be trained by a medical team from the District Health Centre;  Accident records at construction site and neighbourhoods to be maintained both for workers and the public;  Stocks of PPEs to be maintained and supplied to workers regularly as needed; and  Workers required to wear the appropriate PPEs e.g. helmets, ear plugs, nose masks, vibration pads, hand gloves, etc. 35.4.5 HIV/AIDS and Health Management The work place HIV/AIDS and general health maintenance plan will include the following:  Quarterly HIV/AIDS awareness programmes for workers and nearby communities;  Health and HIV awareness team arranged from the District Health Centre for the quarterly programmes;  Sponsored educational package put together by the team to be implemented to enlighten both workers and communities;  Training of peer educators within the work force and in communities by the team; and  The company to provide free condom supplies and encourage free discussions, counselling and testing. 35.4.6 Waste Management The following waste management measures will be implemented:  Waste bins to be provided for the disposal of waste generated;  Waste will be segregated into two at source - organic and plastic and glass wastes;  Organic waste to be composted near the site office to enrich the soil, while plastics and glass are taken to the district dump-sites;  Topsoil removed from the right of way for maintenance work to be spread on the land to avoid disrupting drainage network; and  Toilets and urinals to be sited at least 100m from any stream or drainage channel and decommissioned at the end of project. 35.4.7 Road Diversion and Accident Prevention Closing one lane of the road while keeping the other open during construction of culverts would expose workers and the general public to imminent accident risks. The following management measures will be taken:  A temporary structure to be constructed on one lane to allow for traffic flow while work is on- going on the other lane;  Traffic wardens to be posted at positions 100m from the construction points on either side of the road to ensure orderly movement of traffic;  Actual working areas to be secured with barricades; DFR 231 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs  Adequate road warning signs to be posted at vantage points to warn and direct traffic;  All measures shall be effectively monitored by Contractor to ensure their implementation. 35.4.8 Temporary office site reinstatement The plan will require the following:  Identification of a potential site with no farmland with crops or any physical asset;  Seeking the consent of the landowner to erect the proposed site office; and  Reinstatement of the site and agreement to handover structure to the landowner. Table 35. 1 Summary of Environmental Management Plan Management Impact Areas Mitigation/Monitoring Implementation Responsibility Area Actions & Requirements & reporting Schedule Dust and Air  Dust generation due to  Dousing with water Twice daily Contractor/ SE Quality construction activities Continuous  Erection of speed control Management signals and ramps Daily  Covering of sand (both heaped and in haulage trucks) DE  Inspection of surfaces of Monthly vegetation Water Resources,  Siltation of water  Completing work on schedule Continuous Contractor/ SE Erosion Control bodies resulting from  Deposition of construction and Flood excavation works and materials at least 50m from Continuous Prevention material deposition water bodies Management  Contamination of  Embankment erection around water by oil from fuelling and servicing area for Continuous vehicle vehicles  Awareness creation Continuous Noise and  Noise from machine  Controlling exposure of Daily Contractor/ SE Vibration clearing of vegetation workers to noisy and vibrating Exposure  Culvert excavation, equipment Management construction and other  Regulating distance of maintenance works stationary noisy equipment Daily  Concrete mixing from public places machines Occupational  Accidents resulting in  Tool box (safety) meetings will Bi-weekly Contractor/ SE Health and injury be held twice a week Safety  Noise from  Awareness creation Monthly machinery  Training of first aid team Quarterly  Maintenance of accident book Weekly  Provision and use of PPE Daily HIV/AIDS and  Spread of infection due  HIV/AIDS and STIs Awareness Quarterly Contractor/ SE STIs to neglectful sexual workshops Management attitudes  Provision of free condoms Weekly  Peer group education Twice monthly Waste  Indiscriminate waste  Segregation of waste Daily Contractor/ SE Management dumping and defecation Weekly  Composting of organic waste  Emptying of waste bins at waste dump sites provided by Daily Zoomlion Waste Management  Decommissioning of toilets after DFR 232 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs project Road diversion  Risk of accidents to  Posting of traffic wardens to Daily Contractor/ SE and accident workers and general direct traffic flow prevention public Daily  Mounting of road signs  Protecting actual working area with barricade Daily  Monitoring implementation of above measures Office site  Effect on crops and  Avioding crops and physical Project Contractor/ DE reinstatement physicals assets assets commencement  Seeking landowner consent Project commencement  Reinstating site and agreeing to hand over structure Project completion 35.5 Capacity Building Capacity building in environmental and social impact management will be essential. Personnel at the forefront of the various road rehabilitation projects need to understand the purpose of the ESMP implementation and their expected roles. This will stimulate the required collaboration. The target groups for the training will include:  DFR District Engineers;  Contractors;  Construction workers; and  Selected members from the nearby communities. The district engineers and contractors will require capacity building in the implementation of the projects’ environmental and social safeguards and general project planning and management inter-faced with E&S components. Capacity requirements are also in the areas of environmental and social management and reporting as well as monitoring of adherence to required environmental and social principles, standards and commitments. The construction workers and selected members of the project communities will undergo training on public awareness creation/educational techniques (on environmental, social and health issues) and first aid procedures. 35.6 ESMPs Implementation Budget The cost estimates provided in the Table 35.2 is for the implementation of mitigation measures, monitoring plan and capacity building requirements. DFR 233 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Table 35. 2 Proposed Budget for the ESMPI No. E&S Mitigation Measures/ Expected Outcome/ Rate Estimated Management Capacity Gaps Capacity Building Cost ($) Area/ Identified Measures Institution 1. Water  Construction of  Limitation and  $1000 31,000 resources, embankments containment of spilled oil per road erosion control  Construction of side at site offices and flood drains with settling  Reduction of siltation in  $2000 62,000 prevention basins nearby water bodies per road Sub-Total 93,000 2. Dust and air  Water dousing  Reduction in dust  $5000 155,000 quality  Covering of sand generation per road (heaped and during transportation)  $2000  Erection of road per road 62,000 signals and ramps Sub-Total 217,000 3. Public and  Provision of PPEs  Reduction in the exposure  $3000 per 93,000 occupational (nose masks, gloves, of workers to hazardous road health and ear plugs etc.) for conditions safety workers Sub-Total 93,000 4. HIV/AIDS  Awareness campaigns  Reduction in the spread of  $7000 per 217,000  Distribution of HIV road condoms Sub-Total 217,000 5. Waste  Waste segregation  Ensuring proper waste  $10,000 310,000 management  Provision of toilets management per road  Carting of waste to designated dumpsites Sub-Total 310,000 6. Department of  Capacity  Training in environmental Feeder Roads enhancement in and social management for  $ 100/p/d 6,200 (DFR) environmental and DEs (31) for 2 days social safeguard measures implementation, monitoring and reporting 7. Contractors  Inadequate knowledge  Training in environmental of staff in and social management  $ 40/p/d 2,480 environmental & implementation for the 31 social management contractors. (1 SE each) implementation (2 days for 31 persons) 8. Peer group  Inadequate know-how  Training on HIV awareness  $8/p/d 5,952 educators and on HIV management creation methods and first first aid team and first aid aid procedures for 372 procedures persons (8 for HIV and 4 for first aid) for 2 days DFR 234 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 9. Training N/A  Training of DEs & SEs for Consultants a total of 4 days (by 4  $1,000/p/d 16,000 Consultants including T&T, accommodation & meals)  Training of peer group  $200/p/d 800 educators and first aid team for 2 days (by 2 specialists) Sub-Total 31,432 TOTAL 961,432 DFR 235 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 36.0 CONSULTATIONS In gathering information for the ESMPs for the selected roads a number of relevant stakeholders were consulted for their inputs. These stakeholders included the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Minstry of Health (MoH) and the Department of Feeder Roads (DRF) in selected districts. The responses provided by these stakeholders are given below in Tables 36.1-36.3. Figures 36.1-36.8 also show the consultations that took place with the stakeholders stated. Table 36. 1 Reponses from the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) Asante-Akim South District Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Mr. Gideon Osafo Area Engineer 0244787438 Capacity Building 1 How limiting and/or available is the capacity in - Capacity available, the only gap is strict the District Office to perform environmental enforcement/compliance monitoring and reporting? - Currently District Engineer advises and checks Contractors on Environmental Compliance 2 Is there any relationship between the district - Yes, the Head Office at the Regional level has and the headquarters to monitor environmental oversight responsibility and they report to the and social safeguard issues? National Headquarters 3 What capacity needs would have to be built and - Road engineers of DFR can be trained to better what estimated budget would be required? handle environmental and social issues pertaining to feeder roads construction and rehabilitation Consultations with the Department of Feeder Roads, Asuogyaman District Figure 36. 1 Consultation with DFR, Asante-Akim South District DFR 236 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) Date: 14th December 2010 Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Mr. Kingsford Nyame District Director 0244433489 2 Mr. P.K Gyapong Crops Officer 0243878873 Importance of Road to Agriculture 1 What is the use of the road in terms of agriculture? - It connects the area which is an important maize and vegetable cultivation area 2 Is the current state of the road good enough for the - No, the area is cut off by the Alabo River which has no promotion of agriculture in the area? culvert 3 What other agriculture related problems are associated - with the current state of the road? Benefits of the Road Rehabilitation to Agriculture 1 What will be the immediate benefits of the - It will open up the place for the transportation of harvested rehabilitation of the road to agriculture? cereals/maize and vegetables to market centres and reduce post harvest losses 2 What other benefits will it bring to the District - MOFA could carry out small dug-outs for maize and cassava MOFA? inter-cropping in the area - It will facilitate the agricultural extension services by the officers of the ministry Figure 36. 2 Consultations with MOFA, Asante-Akim South District DFR 237 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Ministry of Health (MoH) Date: 14th December 2010 Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Ms. Beatrice Adjei Deputy Director of Nursing 0243136180 Service Disease Prevalence 1 What are the predominant diseases in the district? - Malaria, Diarrhoea, Schistosomiasis, Yaws, etc 2 How does the road contribute to health delivery? - Used by health workers for immunization and educational programmes - Used to combat guinea worm as the area was endemic Importance of the Road Rehabilitation to Health Delivery 1 What are the benefits of the road rehabilitation to - Will open up the area on more follow ups on the eradication of health delivery? guinea worm and facilitate immunization programmes Figure 36. 3 Consultations with the District Health Directorate, Asante-Akim South District Table 36. 2 Responses from DFR, Mfantsiman Municipal Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Christian Kwaku Gameli District Engineer 0208300364 Capacity Building No Issues Responses 1 How limiting and/or available is the - Capacity available among the District Engineer capacity in the District Office to perform - Currently District Engineer advises and checks Contractors on environmental monitoring and reporting? Environmental Compliance 2 Is there any relationship between the - Yes, the district ensures that all tenders include adequate district and the headquarters to monitor measures on environmental compliance and reported to the environmental and social safeguard issues? Regional officer and headquarters. DFR 238 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 3 What capacity needs would have to be - Additional in-house capacity for the District Engineer is welcome built and what estimated budget would - Budget of about GH¢200 if training is to be conducted at be required? Koforidua Centre for the Department. Figure 36. 4 Consultation with DFR, Mfantisman Municipal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Diana Isabella Appiah Secretary/ Administrative 0276822163/ 02084369 Assistant 2 John Kojo Baidoo Agric Extension Agent 0242685231 3 Justina Mireku Accountant 0244171151 Importance of Road to Agriculture 1 What is the use of the road in terms of agriculture? - It connects the area which is an important maize and vegetable cultivation area 2 Is the current state of the road good enough for the - No, the area is cut off by the Alabo River which has no promotion of agriculture in the area? culvert 3 What other agriculture related problems are - associated with the current state of the road? Benefits of the Road Rehabilitation to Agriculture 1 What will be the immediate benefits of the - It will open up the place for the transportation of harvested rehabilitation of the road to agriculture? cereals/maize and vegetables to market centres and reduce post harvest losses 2 What other benefits will it bring to the District - MOFA could carry out small dug-outs for maize and cassava MOFA? inter-cropping in the area - It will facilitate the agricultural extension services by the officers of the ministry DFR 239 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Figure 36. 5 Consultations with MOFA, Mfantsiman Municipal Table 36. 3 Reponses from the Department of Feeder Roads (DFR) Asuogyaman District Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Mr Alex Nuamah District Engineer 0242359166 Capacity Building 1 How limiting and/or available is the capacity in - Capacity available, the only gap is strict the District Office to perform environmental enforcement/compliance monitoring and reporting? - Currently District Engineer advises and checks Contractors on Environmental Compliance 2 Is there any relationship between the district - Yes, the Head Office at the Regional level has and the headquarters to monitor environmental oversight responsibility and they report to the and social safeguard issues? National Headquarters 3 What capacity needs would have to be built and - Road engineers of DFR can be trained to better what estimated budget would be required? handle environmental and social issues pertaining to feeder roads construction and rehabilitation DFR 240 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Figure 36. 6 Consultations with the Department of Feeder Roads, Asuogyaman District Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Mr. Sylvester Nani Kartey District Director 0244017549/025120059 Importance of Road to Agriculture 1 What is the use of the road in terms of agriculture? - It connects the area which is an important maize and vegetable cultivation area 2 Is the current state of the road good enough for the - No, the area is cut off by the Alabo River which has no promotion of agriculture in the area? culvert 3 What other agriculture related problems are associated - with the current state of the road? Benefits of the Road Rehabilitation to Agriculture 1 What will be the immediate benefits of the - It will open up the place for the transportation of harvested rehabilitation of the road to agriculture? cereals/maize and vegetables to market centres and reduce post harvest losses 2 What other benefits will it bring to the District - MOFA could carry out small dug-outs for maize and cassava MOFA? inter-cropping in the area - It will facilitate the agricultural extension services by the officers of the ministry DFR 241 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Figure 36. 7 Consultations with MOFA, Asuogyaman District Ministry of Health (MoH) Name of Respondent(s) Designation Contacts 1 Mr. Rober O. Yeboah Assistant Chief Technical 0244088149 Officer-Disease Control 2 Mr. Ampah Isaac Nutrition Officer 0246202481 Disease Prevalence 1 What are the predominant diseases in the district? - Malaria, Diarrhoea, Schistosomiasis, Yaws, etc 2 How does the road contribute to health delivery? - Used by health workers for immunization and educational programmes - Used to combat guinea worm as the area was endemic Importance of the Road Rehabilitation to Health Delivery 1 What are the benefits of the road rehabilitation to - Will open up the area on more follow ups on the eradication of health delivery? guinea worm and facilitate immunization programmes DFR 242 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs Figure 36. 8 Consultation with the DHD of the Asuogyaman District DFR 243 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs REFERENCES Dickson, K.B. and Benneh, G. (1988). A New Geography of Ghana. London longman Environmental and social Management Framework (2007)- Transport Sector Development Program Road Sub-sector Strategy and Investment Programme, 1997 Review Report, Ministry of Roads and Transport, Accra 1997. World Bank Operational Policy 4.12: Involuntary Resettlement, 29 June 1990. World Bank Operational Policy 4.01: Environmental Assessment, 30 October 1991. World Bank Environmental Assessment Sourcebook, Vol. II, 1991. Republic of Ghana (2003): Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) Republic of Ghana (1994): Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) Republic of Ghana (1999): Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999 (LI 1652) Republic of Ghana (2002): Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002 (LI 1703) Uprety, B K (2003) Environmental Impact Assessment: Process and Practice. Mrs Uttara Uprety, Koteshwor, Kathmanda http:// www.ghanadistricts.gov.gh. Retrieved 18th June, 2010 DFR 244 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs APPENDICES APPENDIX I A Project Description No Project Features Response 1 Name of project road 2 District and distance (of road to the District Capital) 3 Region 4 Length of road (and also width of road) 5 Objective of proposed road work Current state and relevant features of the road that call for 6 the proposed works History of Rehab/maintenance works (e.g. last time worked 7 on) 8 Importance or potential importance of the road 9 Communities and areas served by the road Benefits to be derived from the road works(i.e. improved 10 road) List the specific works intended to be carried out(according 11 to chainage mileage where applicable) 12 Indicate what each specific work involves 13 List the types and number of equipment to be used 14 Work force (numbers) Type of raw materials and sources( e.g. aggregates and 15 gravel ect.) and distance from the project road 16 Estimated quantity of raw materials 17 Duration of road the works 18 Type of waste( substances) to be generated 19 Work/Camp site (area) and facilities to be provided B Project Corridor and Adjoining Area (Base line) Information No Project Features Response 1 Number and names of communities locate along the road 2 Other communities and main towns served by the road 3 Land cover and land use of the area (e.g. vegetation ,farming,grazing/rserve,communities/settlements) 4 Facilities/resource located along the road corridor(e.g school,clinic,houses,cemeteries,secred groves, farms) and proximity (how close) to the road DFR 245 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs 5 Number of water bodies (river, strems, ect. And other drainage channels crossing the road 6 Name of water bodies(if known) indication of size and seasonal flow pattern (e.g extent of flooding) 7 Elevation and topography of the area-corridor (flat,hilly,valley,undulating,flood plain) 8 Existing conditions of the potential borrow pit area (vegetation, farms, ect.) 9 Regional baseline information on feeder roads 10 Features /characteristics of feeder roads common to the region or peculiar 11 State of feeder roads statistics 12 Importance of feeder roads to the District and the Region C. Potential Impacts (Environmental & Social) of the Project (Road Works & Borrow Pts) 1. Air Quality-Will the proposed Project: i Emit during construction Dust √ Smoke VOCs ii. Expose workers or the public to substantial emission? Yes No iii. Result in cumulative increased emissions in the area? Yes No iv. Create objectionable odour affecting workers / people? Yes No 2. Biological Resource-Will the proposed Project: i. Have adverse effect on any reserved (Wildlife / Forestry / area). Yes No ii. Have adverse effect on wetland areas through removal, filling Yes No hydrological interruption or other means? iii. Interfere substantially with the movement of any wildlife species Yes No of organism? iv. Be located within 100mm common Environmentally Sensitive Area? Yes No 3. Cultural Resources-Will the proposed Project: i. Disturb any burial grounds or cemeteries? Yes No ii. Cause substantial adverse effect on any archeological Yes No or historic site? iii. Affect the existing visual character and sensibilities of Yes No communities e.g. through trees and rock removal? 4. Water Quality and Hydrology-Will the proposed Project: i. Generate and discharge during the works: Liquid waste Liquid with only substance Liquid with human or animal Liquid with odour/smell ii. Lead to changes in the drainage patterns of the area, resulting Yes No in erosion or siltation? iii. Lead to increase in surface run-off, which could result in floating Yes No on or off-site? iv. Increase run-off, which could exceed the capacity of existing Yes No storm water drainage? 5. Noise Nuisance-Will the proposed Project: i. Expose workers and other persons to excessive vibration Yes No DFR 246 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs and noise 6. Farm, Houses and Community Property-Will proposal Project affect: i. Farms? Yes No ii. How many farms will be affected and at what chainage mileage? iii. How much farmland (total area of farms) will be affected? iv. How many farmers will be involved and from which communities? v. Houses Yes No vi. How many houses and at what chainage mileage? vii. In what communities will houses be affected? viii. How many families will be affected? ix. Community Property / Facility / Resource? Yes No x. What community proper / facility / resources? xi. In which communities and at what chainage / mileage? Any other potential Environmental and Social Impacts DFR 247 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs APPENDIX II Contract Specifications for Contractor 1.0 General a. All Environmental and Social (E&S) safeguards associated with the contract shall be complied with by the contractor. The Contractor shall also update himself about such issue in the ESMP, and prepare his work strategy and plan to fully take into account relevant provisions of the ESMP. b. The Contractor shall develop a plan of work indicating all Environmental and Social safeguards at the various stages and indicate the period within which site will be ma intained to it’s original state after completion of works to ensure that significant E&S safeguards have been addressed appropriately. c. The Contractor shall adhere to the proposed plan implementation schedule and the monitoring plan to ensure effective feedback of monitoring information to the DFR district Engineer (DE). d. The Contractor shall implement all measures to avoid undesirable adverse environmental and social impacts wherever possible, restore site officess to acceptable standards, and abide by all environmental performance requirements specified in the ESMP 2.0 Dust Mitigation Measures e. The contractor shall minimize the effect of dust on the surrounding environment resulting from site clearing, vibrating equipment and temporary access roads. f. During the rehabilitation project, the contractor shall carry out proper and efficient measures, such as water dousing, whenever necessary to reduce the dust nuisance, and to prevent dust originating from the operations. 3.0 Noise Due to Construction Activities g. The contractor shall ensure the noise levels emanating from machinery, vehicles and noisy construction activities (e.g. excavation) are kept at a minimum for the safety, health and protection of workers within the vicinity of high noise levels and nearby communities. 4.0 Waste Management h. Construction waste shall not be left in stockpiles along the road, but removed and disposed of/or reused where needed. i. All waste shall be segregated into organic waste and plastic and glass. The organic waste will be composted near the site office to enrich the soil while plastics and glass will be taken to the district dump sites j. All sanitary facilities (e.g. garbage collection and disposal, drinking water facilities, etc.) shall be k. provided by the contractor in site offices or project sites. 5.0 Water Resource Management k. No construction water containing spoils or site effluent, especially cement, oil and fuel, shall be allowed to flow into natural water drainage courses. l. The contractor shall take all possible steps to prevent pollution of streams and other water supplies. m. Entry of runoff water to the site shall be restricted by constructing diversion channels or culverts to reduce the potential of soil erosion and water pollution. DFR 248 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs n. Waste water from washing out of equipment shall not be discharged into water courses. 6.0 Material Excavation and Deposit o. Vegetation clearing shall be restricted to the area required for safe operation of the rehabilitation work. Vegetation clearing shall not be done more than two weeks in advance of rehabilitation. 7.0 Contractor's Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) p. Within 6 weeks of signing the Contract, the Contractor shall prepare a work plan to ensure the adequate management of E&S aspects of the works, including implementation of the requirements of these general conditions and any specific requirements of an E&S safeguards for the works. The Contractor's work plan will serve two main purposes: i. For the Contractor, for internal purposes, to ensure that all measures are in place for adequate E&S management, and as an operational manual for his staff. ii. For the Client, supported where necessary by SE, to ensure that the Contractor is fully prepared for the adequate management of all E&S safeguards issues. q. The Contractor's E&S document shall provide at least:  A description of procedures and methods for complying with these general environmental and social conditions, and any specific conditions specified in the ESMP;  A description of specific mitigation measures that will be implemented in order to minimize adverse impacts;  A description of all planned monitoring activities and the reporting thereof; and  The internal organizational, management and reporting mechanisms put in place. 8.0 Health and Safety r. In advance of the construction work, the Contractor shall mount an awareness and hygiene campaign. Workers and local residents shall be sensitized on health risks particularly of HIV/AIDS. s. b) Adequate road signs to warn pedestrians and motorists of rehabilitation activities, diversions, etc. shall be provided at appropriate points. 9.0 Reporting The Contractor shall prepare monthly progress reports to the SE on E&S monitoring with these general conditions, the project E&S safeguards. It is expected that the Contractor's reports will include information on:  E&S management actions/measures taken, including approvals sought from DFR, DE and EPA  Problems encountered in relation to E&S aspects (incidents, including delays, cost consequences, etc. as a result thereof);  Lack of compliance with contract requirements on the part of the Contractor;  Changes of assumptions, conditions, measures, designs and actual works in relation to E&S aspects; and  Observations, concerns raised and/or decisions taken with regard to E&S management during site meetings. 10.0 Cost of Compliance It is expected that compliance with these conditions is already part of standard of good workmanship and state-of-the-art as generally required under this Contract. The item "Compliance with Environmental and Social Management Conditions" in the Bill of Quantities covers these costs. No DFR 249 August 2011 Wet-Semi Equatorial Zone ESMPs other payments will be made to the Contractor for compliance with any request to avoid and/or mitigate an avoidable E&S impact. DFR 250 August 2011