Transcript Engineering Construction Site Safety

Designing for
Construction Safety
Lee Anne Jillings
U.S. Dept. of Labor-OSHA
John Mroszczyk, PhD, PE, CSP
ASSE / Northeast Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Mike Toole, PhD, PE
Civil & Env. Engineering, Bucknell University
Overview
• OSHA Alliance Program
• What is Designing for Construction Safety?
• Why is it important?
• How do Design Professionals fit in?
• Potential Barriers
• Examples
• Resources
OSHA Alliance Program
• Purpose of Alliance Roundtables
• Success of Construction Alliance
Roundtable:

Fall Protection Workgroup

Design for Safety (DfS) Workgroup
OSHA Alliance Program Construction
Roundtable: DfS Workgroup Members









American Society of Safety Engineers
Independent Electrical Contractors
ADSC: International Association of Foundation Drilling
Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America
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





DfCS PowerPoint presentation
Presentations at National Conferences
2 to 4 hour course for design
professionals
www.designforconstructionsafety.org
Collaboration with NIOSH Prevention
through Design initiative
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 Statistics1

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
Construction Fatalities By Occupation1









1
Total fatalities
Construction laborers
Carpenters
Construction Managers
Roofers
First-line supervisors
Electricians
Painters/paper hangers
Truck drivers
BLS,2004
1,234
283
107
95
94
93
70
57
56
Why Is DfCS Necessary?


Currently there are no requirements for
construction safety in building codes
IBC Chapter 33 Safeguards During
Construction-Pedestrian Safety
Typical Construction Project
Arrangement



Project owner contracts separately with a
architect/engineer and with a general
contractor or a construction manager
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
Accidents1







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
Toole, “Construction Site Safety Roles”, 2002
Accidents Linked to Design1,2

22% of 226 injuries that occurred from
2000-2002 in Oregon, WA and CA

42% of 224 fatalities in US between 19902003

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 related to the
permanent facility during the design
stage
Designing out anticipated hazards
Considering Safety During Design
Offers the Most Payoff1
High
Conceptual Design
Detailed Engineering
Procurement
Ability to
Influence
Safety
Construction
Start-up
Low
Project Schedule
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 36-42 inch
guardrail or other fall
protection
If the design professional
specifies a 36-42 inch high
parapet wall, fall protection
would not be required
DfCS Process1
• Establish design for
safety expectations
• Include construction and
operation perspective
• Identify design for safety
process and tools
Design
Kickoff
Design
Trade contractor
involvement
1
Gambatese
Internal
Review
• QA/QC
• Crossdiscipline
review
External
Review
• Focused safety
review
• Owner review
Issue for
Construction
DfCS Barriers


Like many good ideas, DfCS faces a
number of barriers that will likely
slow its adoption.
Potential solutions to these barriers
involve long-term education and
institutional changes.
Barrier: Risk of Additional Designer Liability


Barrier: Designers’ concerns about
additional undeserved liability for worker
safety.
Potential solutions:
• Clearly communicate we are NOT
suggesting designers should be held
responsible for construction accidents.
• Develop revised model contract language
to facilitate DfCS without inappropriately
shifting liability onto designers.
Barrier: Increased Designer Costs
Associated with DfCS


Barrier: DfCS processes will increase both
direct and overhead costs for designers.
Potential solution:
• Educate owners that total project costs
and total project life cycle costs will
decrease
Barrier: Designers' Lack of Safety
Expertise


Barrier: Few design professionals possess
sufficient expertise in construction safety.
Potential solutions:
• Add safety to design professionals’
curricula.
• Develop and promote 10-hour and 30hour OSHA courses for design
professionals.
DfCS Examples: Prefabrication
Concrete
Wall Panels
Concrete Segmented Bridge
Steel stairs
DfCS Examples: Anchorage Points
DfCS Example: Residential Roofs
DfCS Examples: Roofs
Skylights
Upper story windows
and roof parapets
DfCS Examples: Steel Design




National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel
Erectors Association of America. Detailing
Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Safety.
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
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 technology1
Specify primers, sealers and other
coatings that do not emit noxious fumes
or contain carcinogenic products2
Design cable type lifeline system for
storage towers3
1 Weinstein, “Can Design Improve Construction Safety”, 2005
2 Gambatese, “Viability of Designing for Construction Worker Safety”, 2005
3 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/HealthSafety
/SafeDesign/Understanding
DfCS Success Spurs Collaboration



OSHA Alliance Roundtable Success has led
to collaboration with NIOSH
NIOSH NORA Construction Sector Council
DfCS Workgroup
NIOSH Prevention Through Design
National Workshop in July 2007
DfCS Resources


www.designforconstructionsafety.org
Construction Industry Institute database
• www.constructioninstitute.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
2 to 4 Hour Course for Design
Professionals1
To provide design and construction
professionals with skills to identify
construction safety hazards
 To provide design and construction
professionals with skills to eliminate or
reduce the risk of a serious injury in the
design phase

1www.designforconstructionsafety.org
2 to 4 Hour Course for Design
Professionals1



Safety Engineering-skills to recognize
hazards and uncover “hidden” hazards
Design features to eliminate or reduce
the risk of an injury due to a hazard
OSHA resources for DfCS
1www.designforconstructionsafety.org
Summary



Designing for safety can improve safety and
health on construction sites
Many countries require or promote designing
for safety
National organizations are working to create
tools, eliminate barriers and facilitate adoption
of this important process in the United States
Thanks for listening!

Questions?

Comments?