Designing for Construction Designing for Construction Safety:Safety:

Concepts and PracticeConcepts and Practice

John Gambatese, PhD, PEJohn Gambatese, PhD, PESchool of Civil and Construction EngineeringSchool of Civil and Construction Engineering

Oregon State UniversityOregon State University

2009 DOE ISM Conference2009 DOE ISM ConferenceKnoxville, TNKnoxville, TN

August 24-27, 2009August 24-27, 2009

Bio – John GambateseBio – John Gambatese John Gambatese is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Construction John Gambatese is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Construction

Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr. Gambatese’s educational background Engineering at Oregon State University. Dr. Gambatese’s educational background includes Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from the includes Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley with emphases in structural engineering, and a University of California at Berkeley with emphases in structural engineering, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in the area of Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in the area of construction engineering and management. He has worked in industry as a structural construction engineering and management. He has worked in industry as a structural engineer, and as a project engineer for a construction management firm. Dr. engineer, and as a project engineer for a construction management firm. Dr. Gambatese has taught courses on construction contracts and specifications, Gambatese has taught courses on construction contracts and specifications, construction safety and productivity improvement, planning and scheduling, structural construction safety and productivity improvement, planning and scheduling, structural analysis and design, temporary construction structures, and engineering economics. analysis and design, temporary construction structures, and engineering economics. He has performed research and published numerous articles on construction worker He has performed research and published numerous articles on construction worker safety, constructability, innovation, construction contracting, and life cycle properties safety, constructability, innovation, construction contracting, and life cycle properties of civil engineering facilities. He is a member of the American Society of Civil of civil engineering facilities. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), and actively Engineers (ASCE) and American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), and actively participates on ASCE’s Construction Site Safety Committee, Constructability participates on ASCE’s Construction Site Safety Committee, Constructability Committee, and Construction Research Council. He is a licensed Professional Civil Committee, and Construction Research Council. He is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California. Engineer in California.

Prevention through Design Prevention through Design (PtD)(PtD)

““Addressing occupational safety and Addressing occupational safety and health needs in the design process to health needs in the design process to prevent or minimize the work-related prevent or minimize the work-related hazards and risks associated with the hazards and risks associated with the construction, manufacture, use, construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, materials, and equipment.” materials, and equipment.”

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/PTD/)

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

Application of Prevention through Application of Prevention through Design concepts to construction Design concepts to construction worker safetyworker safety The process of addressing The process of addressing

construction site safety and health in construction site safety and health in the design of a projectthe design of a project

Recognizes construction site Recognizes construction site safety as a design criterionsafety as a design criterion

““Safety Constructability”Safety Constructability”

Why Design for Construction Why Design for Construction Safety?Safety?

22%22% of 226 injuries that occurred from of 226 injuries that occurred from 2000-2002 in Oregon, WA, and CA2000-2002 in Oregon, WA, and CA11

42%42% of 224 fatalities in US between of 224 fatalities in US between 1990-20031990-200311

In Europe, a 1991 study concluded that In Europe, a 1991 study concluded that 60%60% of fatal accidents resulted in part of fatal accidents resulted in part from decisions made before site work from decisions made before site work beganbegan22

11 Behm, M., “Linking Construction Fatalities to the Design for Behm, M., “Linking Construction Fatalities to the Design for Construction Safety Concept” (2005)Construction Safety Concept” (2005)

2 2 European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Ability to Influence SafetyAbility to Influence Safety

Conceptual Design

Detailed Engineering

Procurement

Construction

Start-up

High

Low

Ability to Influence

Safety

Project Schedule

(Source: Szymberski, 1987)

1.1. Eliminate the hazard (Eliminate the hazard (Design for SafetyDesign for Safety))2.2. Reduce the hazardReduce the hazard3.3. Isolate the hazardIsolate the hazard4.4. Use engineering controlsUse engineering controls5.5. Use administrative controlsUse administrative controls6.6. Use personal protective equipment (PPE)Use personal protective equipment (PPE)

Hierarchy of ControlsHierarchy of Controls

(Sources: Manuele, 1997; Andres, 2002)

Design ExamplesDesign Examples

Example Tools and ProcessesExample Tools and Processes

Begin Concept Design

Commence Construction

CHAIR-2

CHAIR-3

Project Phase

CHAIR-1

Review of Concept Design

Review of Detailed Design

Construction Hazard Assessment and Implication Review (CHAIR) process

Design for Construction Safety ToolBox

Example Tools and ProcessesExample Tools and Processes

Design Kickoff Design Internal

ReviewIssue for

ConstructionExternal Review

Trade contractor involvement

• Establish design for safety expectations

• Include construction and operation perspective

• Identify design for safety process and tools

• QA/QC

• Cross-discipline review

• Focused safety review

• Owner review

(Source: Hecker et al., 2005)

Example Training and Safety Alert Example Training and Safety Alert SystemSystem

All A/E’s attend training courses for:All A/E’s attend training courses for: Construction site safetyConstruction site safety Designing inherently safe buildingsDesigning inherently safe buildings

Safety Alert System (SAS):Safety Alert System (SAS): Safety reviews during document preparationSafety reviews during document preparation Safety symbols placed on drawings at Safety symbols placed on drawings at

locations of potential hazardslocations of potential hazards

(Source: The Haskell Company, 2004)

Integration of Product and Process Integration of Product and Process DesignDesign

ManufacturingTaxonomy Levels Construction

Project

Division

Activity

Basic Task

Elemental Motion

Orthopedics

Cell

Design-Fabrication Interface

Machine

Design-Fabrication Interface

Pro

duct

De

sign

Pro

cess

Des

ign

Fab

rica

tion

Pro

duct

Des

ign

Pro

cess

De

sign

Fab

rica

tion

Technology

(Source: Everett, J.G. and Slocum, A.H. , 1994. “Automation and Robotics Opportunities: Construction versus Manufacturing.” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol. 120, No. 2, pp. 443-452).

Benefits of DfCSBenefits of DfCS Safer jobsitesSafer jobsites

Safety hazards eliminated/reducedSafety hazards eliminated/reduced Fewer injuries and fatalitiesFewer injuries and fatalities

Reduced workers’ compensation premiumsReduced workers’ compensation premiums Increased productivity and qualityIncreased productivity and quality Fewer delays related to accidents during Fewer delays related to accidents during

constructionconstruction Allows for continued focus on qualityAllows for continued focus on quality

Designer-constructor collaborationDesigner-constructor collaboration

Challenges/Barriers to DfCSChallenges/Barriers to DfCS Change in project team mindsetChange in project team mindset

CollaborationCollaboration Upfront involvement of all Upfront involvement of all

stakeholdersstakeholders Contracting:Contracting:

Revised model contractsRevised model contracts Alternative contracting methodsAlternative contracting methods

Availability of visualization and Availability of visualization and work flow toolswork flow tools

Education and training:Education and training: From separate to integratedFrom separate to integrated

DfCS Research StudyDfCS Research Study

Response# of

Respondents

% of Respondent

s

Interested / Willing 7 37%

Neutral 9 47%

Not interested / Not willing 3 16%

Designer willingness to design for safetyDesigner willingness to design for safety

(Source: Gambatese, Behm, and Hinze, 2005)

DfCS Research StudyDfCS Research Study

Barrier # of Times Mentioned

% of Respondents

Interferes with the constructor’s means and methods 7 37%

Increased liability 5 26%

Designers have limited or no construction experience 4 21%

Time constraints; “Have enough to deal with” 4 21%

No control over who gets the bid 4 21%

Barriers to designing for safetyBarriers to designing for safety

(Source: Gambatese, Behm, and Hinze, 2005)

DfCS Research StudyDfCS Research Study

1.5

2.1

2.7

3.84.2

5.7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

AverageRank*

Qu

ality

Fin

al

oc

cu

pa

nt

sa

fety

Pro

jec

t c

os

t

Pro

jec

t

sc

he

du

le

Ae

sth

eti

cs

Co

ns

tru

cti

on

wo

rke

r

sa

fety

*Ranking:1 = Highest priority6 = Lowest priorityA smaller number represents higher priority.

Priority of project criteriaPriority of project criteria

(Source: Gambatese, Behm, and Hinze, 2005)

Expected Impacts: “Trajectories”Expected Impacts: “Trajectories” Increased prefabricationIncreased prefabrication Increased use of less hazardous Increased use of less hazardous

materials and systemsmaterials and systems Increased construction engineeringIncreased construction engineering Increased spatial investigationIncreased spatial investigation Increased collaboration and Increased collaboration and

integrationintegration(Source: Toole, T.M. and Gambatese, J.A., 2008. “The Trajectories of Prevention through Design in Construction.” Journal of Safety Research, Special issue on Prevention through Design, Elsevier and the National Safety Council, 39, 225-230).

Designers need knowledge of construction safety Designers need knowledge of construction safety and construction processesand construction processes More safety in architectural and engineering curriculaMore safety in architectural and engineering curricula Engineering licensure requirementsEngineering licensure requirements

Designers need to become better gatherers and Designers need to become better gatherers and communicators of project safety informationcommunicators of project safety information For example: existing site utilities, availability of For example: existing site utilities, availability of

prefabricated components, likely methods to be used, prefabricated components, likely methods to be used, working clearances.working clearances.

ImplicationsImplications

Implications for Education of Implications for Education of Design EngineersDesign Engineers

Shift in mindsetShift in mindset Holistic viewHolistic view Exposure to DfCS fundamentalsExposure to DfCS fundamentals Training in system-specific DfCS Training in system-specific DfCS

opportunitiesopportunities Engineering course-specific DfCS Engineering course-specific DfCS

modulesmodules

Implications for ContractingImplications for Contracting

New contract terms neededNew contract terms needed Design-bid-build process typically hinders Design-bid-build process typically hinders

collaboration during designcollaboration during design Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) methods Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) methods

better facilitate collaborationbetter facilitate collaboration

Implications for Use of Implications for Use of Information TechnologyInformation Technology

IT represents efficient means for providing IT represents efficient means for providing designers with information needed to designers with information needed to perform DfCSperform DfCS

Manufacturers must make DfCS Manufacturers must make DfCS information availableinformation available

All entities will need IT to facilitate All entities will need IT to facilitate communication, collaboration, integrationcommunication, collaboration, integration

DfCS ResourcesDfCS Resources Construction Industry Institute (CII) databaseConstruction Industry Institute (CII) database

www.construction-www.construction-institute.org/scriptcontent/more/rr101_11_more.cfm institute.org/scriptcontent/more/rr101_11_more.cfm

CHAIRCHAIRwww.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/SafetyGuidwww.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/SafetyGuides/chairsafetyindesigntool.htmes/chairsafetyindesigntool.htm

United Kingdom Health & Safety Executive design United Kingdom Health & Safety Executive design guidesguides

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers/index.htmwww.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers/index.htm Detailing Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Detailing Guide for the Enhancement of Erection

SafetySafety (NISD/SEAA): (NISD/SEAA): www.seaa.net/store/product_info.htmwww.seaa.net/store/product_info.htm

DfCS website: DfCS website: www.designforconstructionsafety.orgwww.designforconstructionsafety.org

Thanks for ListeningThanks for Listening

Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?

For more information:For more information: john.gambatese@oregonstate.edujohn.gambatese@oregonstate.edu