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Research: Construction Site Safety

  • 1.  Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 01-20-2024 11:48 AM
      |   view attached

    Introduction
    Despite efforts to eliminate serious injury and fatalities (SIFs), fatality rates have plateaued for the last 10 years,

    and the construction industry still remains as one of the deadliest industries (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020a).

    In 2019 alone there were 1,102 construction worker fatalities, the highest number of deaths in construction

    since 2011 (Brown et al. 2021; US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020b). In response to the intolerable societal, emotional,
    and financial distress associated with SIFs, the construction industry continues to increase its investment in SIF prevention.



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-18-2024 01:21 PM
      |   view attached

    In AUG23 at the Univ. of Kansas, I presented the attached slide deck.

    Until invited to speak, and then do the research, I had no idea what an ongoing disaster this was.

    Clearly "Prevention by Design" isn't productive

    Q. When will ASCE and related groups get this subject out into the daylight?

    Cheers,

    Bill



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pptx
    PPTS-2023 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY CONFERENCE.pptx   2.76 MB 1 version


  • 3.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-19-2024 12:25 PM

    Hi Bill, I'm a construction PM, and one way designers could help is to simply answer RFIs and provide submittal review in a timely fashion.  Putting contractors in a completely avoidable time crunch raises the chance of accidents happening.  So if a contractor asks for a deliverable by a certain date based on the project schedule and if a designer can deliver on that consistently, a competent contractor will have no excuse that they were under pressure to not perform adequate planning for the successor work activities.



    ------------------------------
    Eric Kelley P.E., M.ASCE
    Construction Project Manager
    San Diego CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-20-2024 01:10 PM

    Thanks Eric!

    Re: "Putting contractors in a completely avoidable time crunch raises the chance of accidents happening. "

    Please consider telling "Why?" five (5) times "time crunch raises the chance of accidents happening."

    1. Why
    2. Why
    3. Why
    4. Why
    5. Why

    The sequence of the why's will help understanding of the issue you raised.

    Cheers,

    Bill



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-22-2024 12:15 PM

    William

    Having worked both in design and construction there is a basic misunderstanding of the two disciplines. 

    Often Designers do not fully understand the method of construction to be used on a project and are not paid to do so. 

    In the case of contractors there is a limited amount of knowledge of time that is needed to provide acceptable design solutions.  Construction method decisions often are faster to make.

    Another consideration is how construction is costed.  Often it is based on material costs.  Minimizing material use can often lead to poor mehods of construction.



    ------------------------------
    David Thompson P.E., M.ASCE
    Principal
    KTA Structural Engineers Ltd.
    Calgary AB
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-23-2024 12:17 PM

    Bill,

     

    DORs providing requested input in a timely fashion gives contractors time to plan for an activity in a timely fashion and devote adequate time and resources to planning for safety.

     

    1. If requested information is provided at 4 pm the business day before an activity is scheduled to begin, the contractor does not have enough time to plan the work in an optimally safe manner.
    2. The resultant "time crunch" leads to a "fire drill" of contractor management personnel scrambling to make required changes to adhere to the DOR's direction. This takes their attention away from communicating and inspecting for safety at the crucial initial phase of a work activity.
    3. A prudent contractor may push back the start date to make sure they are ready, but will likely then have to eat the cost of that delay and possibly delay the schedule if on the critical path, or negatively affect their relationship with the client, so there are strong disincentives in place to do that.  A big part of safety in my mind is removing or overcoming disincentives to be safe.
    4. A sense of hurry is easily transmitted to the crew, pressuring them to scramble and work faster than they should and perhaps skip vital safety  planning, analysis, and situational awareness practices.
    5. A habitual habit of not getting things back to contractors in a timely fashion indicates a lack of respect for the contractor and possibly the entire project, which is poisonous to the safety culture of a project.

     

    Logo, company name Description automatically generated

    ERIC KELLEY, PE | Project Manager

    10815 Rancho Bernardo Rd Suite 320, San Diego, CA 92127

    Cell: 619-977-7868

    Email: eric.kelley@... | www.novagrp.com


          

     

     




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-25-2024 01:23 PM

    Hi Eric,

    Apology for not being clear earlier.

    The "5-Whys" comes from Deming.org and his insights.

    Example:

    "Time crunch raises the chance of accidents happening."

    • 1st Why: "the contractor does not have enough time to plan the work in an optimally safe manner."
    • 2nd Why: "The resultant "time crunch" leads to a "fire drill" of contractor management personnel scrambling to make required changes to adhere to the DOR's direction."
    • 3rd Why: 

    Once you complete the next three (3) steps it will take you to an issue or issues impacting the contractors money.

    Cheers,

    Bill



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-22-2024 12:16 PM

    Prevention through Design is one method, that has yet to be fully embraced in the United States.  I have also been involved in efforts to formalize the RFI process to address safety issues head on.  The system in place relies on contracts that define responsibilities and limit liability.  Within the ASCE Construction Institute there is widespread acknowledgement of the problem and serious discussions on how to push the statistics in the right direction.  I think disruptions due to the pandemic have an impact on recent data and have hope that trends continue in the right direction going forward.  How does the current system work?  How can it best be changed?  The starting point is engagement of stakeholders to realize what they can do in their capacity to promote safety, this includes owners, insurance carriers, designers, contractors, educators, and regulators.  Open communication on the topic is the first step.  Whether a discussion post here or an RFI submitted in good faith, the subject should not be seen as a third rail.  



    ------------------------------
    Chad Morrison P.E., F.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Greenville RI
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-25-2024 01:23 PM

    Hi, William 

    Let me share something about Safety in Construction in Mexico: 

    Safety in Mexico Construction: An Urgent Call for Improvement

    🚧 Safety in Mexico Construction: An Urgent Call for Improvement 🚧

    Safety in construction is critical worldwide, and Mexico is no exception. Despite the rapid growth in Mexico's construction industry, safety challenges persist. In 2022, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) reported over 13,000 workplace accidents in the construction sector, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures.

    Current Challenges:

    1. Inadequate Training: Many workers lack proper safety training.
    2. Insufficient PPE: Some employers fail to provide necessary protective gear.
    3. Lax Inspections: Safety regulations are not consistently enforced.

    Common Hazards:

    • Falls from heights
    • Electrical accidents
    • Machinery injuries

    Illustrative Data:

    • 2,500 construction-related fatalities in 2022 (INEGI)

    Notable Incidents:

    1. Electrocution on a Construction Site in Monterrey (2022): In August 2022, a worker was electrocuted while installing electrical wiring in a building under construction in Monterrey. The incident was attributed to inadequate safety training and failure to de-energize electrical circuits during maintenance.

    2. Fall from Scaffolding in Guadalajara (2021): A construction worker fell from a scaffold on a high-rise building project in Guadalajara in November 2021. The worker was not wearing a safety harness, and the scaffold lacked proper guardrails, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to safety protocols.

    3. Machinery Accident in Tijuana (2022): In June 2022, a worker operating a concrete mixer in Tijuana suffered severe injuries when the machine malfunctioned. The investigation revealed that the machinery had not been properly maintained, and the worker had not received adequate training on its operation.

    Potential Improvements:

    • Enhanced Training: Comprehensive safety training for all workers.
    • Technological Advancements: Using drones for site inspections and VR for safety training.
    • Stricter Enforcement: Regular safety inspections and stringent regulations.

    Call to Action: Government bodies, construction companies, and workers must collaborate to create a safer working environment. Prioritizing safety will protect lives and boost industry productivity.

    Ensuring safety in the construction industry is crucial. Let's work together to make construction in Mexico safer for everyone. πŸ¦ΊπŸ‘·β€β™‚οΈπŸ‘·β€β™€οΈ



    ------------------------------
    Javier Herrera Ing., M.ASCE
    Mexico
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 07-25-2024 02:13 PM
      |   view attached

    Thanks so very much Javier for your fact-based report on construction site safety in Mexico.

    Perhaps others can contribute a similar post with the same categories for the USA and Canada.

    My guess?

    Not much will change from your list.

    Chad's post above states:

    "The starting point is engagement of stakeholders to realize what they can do in their capacity to promote safety, this includes owners, insurance carriers, designers, contractors, educators, and regulators."

    In my experiences, while the concept seems right, it eventually boils down to self-defensive posturing.

    Recently I stumbled across the attached.

    Perhaps , if adopted by the parties noted, success will be within reach.

    Cheers,

    Bill 



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    docx
    Types of Irrational Thinking.docx   711 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Research: Construction Site Safety

    Posted 11-03-2024 01:08 PM

    Thanks to each and all for your insights.

    While conceptually to engineers "Prevention By Design" sounds/feels great,

    it simply doesn't work when confronted with the contractor's need to meet a schedule or lose money.

    • Example:

    Some years ago at a construction site in Connecticut for a tall building, with poured concrete floors, to  "Move it along"

    the contractor had a bonus plan for the number of floors poured per day.

    So, on a Friday, the foreman said "Hey guys if we make just one more pour, the bonus goes up!"

    So, of course the workers moved faster, resulting in the previously poured floor, not yet set, to collapse killing some 12 or more workers.

    Cheers,

    Bill



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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