Dong, Z; Qin, R; Zou, P; Yao, X; Cui, P; Zhang, F and Yang, Y (2025) Occupational health risk assessment of PC production-caused pollution based on damage assessment and cyclic mitigation model. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(6), pp. 3679-3699. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The occupational health risk associated with the production of prefabricated concrete components is often overlooked. This paper will use a damage assessment and cyclic mitigation (DACM) model to provide individualized exposure risk assessment and corresponding mitigation management measures for workers who are being exposed. Design/methodology/approach: The DACM model is proposed based on the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA). The model uses Monte-Carlo simulation for uncertainty risk assessment, followed by quantitative damage assessment using disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Lastly, sensitivity analysis is used to identify the parameters with the greatest impact on health risks. Findings: The results show that the dust concentration is centered around the mean, and the fitting results are close to normal distribution, so the mean value can be used to carry out the calculation of risk. However, calculations using the DACM model revealed that there are still some work areas at risk. DALY damage is most severe in concrete production area. Meanwhile, the inhalation rate (IR), exposure duration (ED), exposure frequency (EF) and average exposure time (AT) showed greater impacts based on the sensitivity analysis. Originality/value: Based on the comparison, the DACM model can determine that the potential occupational health risk of prefabricated concrete component (PC) factory and the risk is less than that of on-site construction. It synthesizes field research and simulation to form the entire assessment process into a case-base system with the depth of the cycle, which allows the model to be continuously adjusted to reduce the occupational health damage caused by production pollution exposure.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; dust; occupational health; prefabricated concrete; risk assessment |
| Index terms: | risk assessment, damage assessment, construction industry, duration, pollution, methodology, mitigation, exposure, disability, health risk, sensitivity analysis, life cycle assessment, occupational health |
| Subjects: | environmental hazards, research methods, structural engineering, financial risk, environmental impact, health conditions and diseases, project controls, occupational health and safety management, environmental health, industry analysis, public and environmental health |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Cost Management, Time Control, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here