Design for Construction Safety

Lee Anne Jillings

U.S. Dept. of Labor-OSHA

John W. Mroszczyk,

PhD, PE, CSP Northeast Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Marvin Oey,

PhD, PE ASCE Construction Institute

OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Design for Safety Workgroup • Purpose of Alliance Roundtables • Success of Construction Roundtable: Design for Safety (DfS) Workgroup • Next Steps for DfS Workgroup

OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable: DfS Workgroup Members      American Society of Civil Engineers Construction Institute American Society of Safety Engineers Independent Electrical Contractors ADSC: International Association of Foundation Drilling Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America

DfS Workgroup Members, continued      Mason Contractors Association of America National Fire Protection Association National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute Washington Group International

DfS Workgroup Products      DfS PowerPoint presentation Presentations at National Conferences 2 to 4 hour course for design professionals (under development) 10 hour OSHA Outreach Training Program (under development) www.designforconstructionsafety.org

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Designing for Construction Safety (DfCS) – What is it?

An extension of DfS to cover construction projects  Recognizes construction site safety as a design criterion  The process of addressing construction site safety and health in the design of a project

U.S. Construction Accident Statistics

1  Nearly 200,000 serious injuries and 1,200 deaths each year  7% of workforce but 21% of fatalities  Construction has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry sector 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics-2005

Typical Construction Project Arrangement

 Project owner separately contracts with a Architect/Engineer and with a general contractor, prime contractor, construction manager, program manager or owner’s agent  Above entities may subcontract out some or all of the work to specialty trade contractors  Project owners occasionally contract with a design-build firm to perform both design and construction

Root Causes for Construction Accidents

1        Inadequate construction planning Lack of proper training Deficient enforcement of training Unsafe equipment Unsafe methods or sequencing Unsafe site conditions Not using safety equipment that was provided 1 Toole, “Construction Site Safety Roles”, 2002

Accidents Linked to Design

1,2  22% of 226 injuries that occurred from 2000-2002 in Oregon, WA and CA  42% of 224 fatalities in US between 1990-2003  In Europe, a 1991 study concluded that 60% of fatal accidents resulted from decisions made before site work began 1 Behm, “Linking Construction Fatalities to the Design for Construction Safety Concept”, 2005 2 European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Where Do Design Professionals Fit In?

 Considering safety issues during the design stage  Designing out anticipated hazards

Considering Safety During Design Offers the Most Payoff

1 High Ability to Influence Safety Low Conceptual Design Detailed Engineering Procurement Construction Project Schedule Start-up

1 Szymberski 1987

What Types of Design Decisions?

 IBC paragraph 704.11.1 requires that a parapet wall be at least 30 inches high  OSHA 1926 Subpart M requires a 42 inch guardrail or other fall protection  If the design professional specifies a 42 inch high parapet wall, fall protection would not be required

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Establish design for safety expectations

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Include construction and operation perspective

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Identify design for safety process and tools

DfCS Process

1

Design Kickoff Design Internal Review External Review Issue for Construction

1 Gambatese

Trade contractor involvement

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QA/QC

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Cross discipline review

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Focused safety review

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Owner review

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Barrier: Designers' Fear of Liability

Barrier: Fear of undeserved liability for worker safety.

Solution: Clearly communicate the DfCS initiative does NOT suggest designers should be held responsible for construction accidents.

Solution: Develop revised model contract language and legislation that encourage DfCS.

Solution: Propose legislation is facilitate designing for construction safety without inappropriately shifting safety duties and liability onto designers.

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Barrier: Increased Designer Costs Associated with DfCS

While DfCS results in decreased total project life cycle costs for the owner, DfCS processes will increase both direct and overhead costs for designers. Increased direct costs will result from more time spent on many design tasks. Increased overhead costs will result from providing safety training and perhaps increased insurance premiums.

Solution: Educate owners that they must be willing to pay slightly higher design fees to save themselves money in the long run.

Barrier: Designers' Lack of Safety Expertise

   Barrier: Few design professionals possess sufficient expertise in construction safety.

Solution: Promote including construction safety in construction, engineering and architectural curricula.

Solution: Develop and promote 10 hour and 30-hour OSHA courses for design professionals.

DfCS Examples:

Prefabrication

Steel stairs Concrete Wall Panels Concrete Segmented Bridge

DfCS Examples:

Anchorage Points

Skylights

DfCS Examples:

Roofs

Upper story windows and roof parapets

DfCS Examples:

Steel Design

 Avoid hanging connections; design to bear on columns instead using safety seats  Require holes in columns for tie lines 21” and 42” above each floor slab  Specify shop welded connections instead of bolts or field welds to avoid dangerous positions during erection  National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel Erectors Association of America. Detailing

Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Safety.

2001 Consider approximate dimensions of connection tools to prevent pinches or awkward assemblies

Example of the Need for DfCS

   Worker electrocuted when his drill rig got too close to overhead power lines.

Design engineer specified groundwater monitoring wells were to be dug directly under power lines.

Engineer could have specified wells be dug away from power lines and/or better informed the employer of hazard posed by wells’ proximity to powerlines through the plans, specifications, and bid documents.

Other DfCS Design Examples

 Design underground utilities to be placed using trenchless technology 1  Specify primers, sealers and other coatings that do not emit noxious fumes or contain carcinogenic products 2  Design cable type lifeline system for storage towers 3 1 2 3 Weinstein, “Can Design Improve Construction Safety”, 2005 Gambatese, “Viability of Designing for Construction Worker Safety”, 2005 Behm, “Linking Construction Fatalities to the Design for Construction Safety Concept”, 2005

DfCS Practices Around the Globe

 Designers first required to design for construction safety in the United Kingdom in 1995  Other European nations have similar requirements  Australia also leading in DfCS

http://www.ascc.gov.au/ascc/HealthS afety/SafeDesign/Understanding/

DfCS Tools

    Construction Industry Institute database • www.construction institute.org/scriptcontent/more/rr101_11_more.c

fm United Kingdom Health & Safety Executive designer guides • www.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers/index.ht

m CHAIR • www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/Saf etyGuides/chairsafetyindesigntool.htm

OSHA Website • www.osha.gov

Summary

   Designing for safety can improve safety and health on construction sites Many countries require or promote designing for safety A number of national organizations are working to create tools, eliminate barriers and facilitate adoption of this important process in the United States

 Questions?

 Comments?