TOOL TO DESIGN FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKER SAFETY

An Article Written byGambatese, Hinze and Haas1997

OUTLINE

Introduction Literature Review Research Methodology Results Conclusions Recommendations Q & A

INTRODUCTION

Escalating costs of workers’ compensation insurance Rise in the number of liability (legal responsibility) suits Intensification (increase) of safety regulations Owners mandate addressing construction worker injuries Project design has no effect on safety at that time Designers lack of training to address worker safety No knowledge in recognizing safety hazards Design tool or aid to improve worker safety CII focused (express the need) on creating computer a

database of safety ideas and a design tool that help designers for safer construction

LITERATURE REVIEW

The role of designers was addressed on 1990 study (Hinze and Wiegand) based on questionnaire results

The study shows legal counsel has advised designers not to address safety in order to avoid any liabilities

The study revealed that only design-build firms who address safety hazards

Another study asked owners “Do you review the safety performance records of contractors before permitting them to submit bids on your projects?” the majority was affirmative (positive), where 52% (1991) 54%(1993) 57%(1994) which shows owners are increasing in safety interest

LITERATURE REVIEW, cont

In 1993 and 1994, owner studies were asked about the designers role as shown

Worker safety not considered

45%

Occasionaly address safety for specific

items29%

Worker safety is addressed

16%

May address safety in future

10%

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Design suggestions: All safety applicable suggestions to the design phase of

any type and size of project were considered relevant No design suggestions were discarded based on cost,

schedule, or other design or construction performance criteria

Safety suggestions were taken from two resources: Literature search Interviews and written questionnaires with different

construction industry personnel

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, cont

Research also included steps to develop new designsuggestions by targeting three resources:

Companies safety design manuals Worker safety manuals and checklists Researchers and CII Design for Safety Research team

members

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, cont

Incorporating such knowledge into multimedia computer software design tool provides a number of advantages:

More efficient utilization of the tool by designers The ability to frequent update the database Easy management and control of the review process Ability to incorporate analytical functions like (risk

assessment and decision analysis)

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, cont

The following extensive requirements for the authoring tool were identified:

Graphic capabilities to help demonstrate key points Multimedia support Ability to support data structures for users records A user friendly, mouse driven windows environment

Through independent industry evaluations of available authoringtools, Asymetrix’s Multimedia Tool-Book was chosen for thedevelopment of the design tool

RESULTS (Design Suggestions)

430 design suggestions were collected Subsequently organized and input into the design tool

database

RESULTS, cont

Personnel in architectural and consulting engineering firms were found not as knowledgeable concerning safety design suggestions

Construction industry’s interest and willingness OSHA does not place any great responsibility for safety on

designers

RESULTS, cont

Most design suggestions reveals addressing both the structuraland architectural scopes of work

RESULTS, cont

Suggestions can also be sorted according to project components,construction hazards, and project systems that are affected.

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

Sample of recording safety suggestion:Suggestion: Do not allow schedules with sustained overtimePurpose: Workers will not be alert if overtime is maintained over a sustained period.Suggestion: Rote piping lines that carry liquids below electrical cable trays.Purpose: Prevent the chance of electrical shock due to leaking pipesEtc…

RESULTS (Design for Construction Safety ToolBox)

Mandatory Features and Functions: A variety of approaches for reviewing a project Identification of safety hazards Presentation of suggestions to eliminate or reduce the

likelihood of occurrence of hazards Documentation and generation of the results into reports in

usable format The ability for other design suggestions to be input and

saved within the tool for future references

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

RESULTS, cont

CONCLUSIONS

Owners interested on safe jobsites High cost of accidents and injuries Construction worker safety is expanding Although this expanding but designer still behind, except for

those working on design-build firm Designers safety consideration will enhance project safety

and reduce hazards and injuries. Majority of design suggestions came from interviews Workable software package is developed This tool can be also used during startup, maintenance,

decommissioning phases.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Designers must be educated regarding construction worker safety

Owners must insist on applying such tool for safer projects Future versions will be adding more suggestions This tool can be also used on university

Q & A

Thank you