Niskanen, T (1993) Accident risks and preventive measures in materials handling at construction sites. DrTech thesis, Teknillinen Korkeakoulu (Helsinki), Finland.
Abstract
The general purpose of the present study was: (1) to analyze the factors that cause deviations and accidents in materials handling, (2) to develop an integrated model of materials management and safety, (3) to describe the interplay of technology, organization and human behaviour as a process in a dynamic context of the integrated model, and (4) to present practical implications in accident prevention. The production system of a construction company is seen as an integrated system, according to the sociotechnology approach. The present study suggests that in accident prevention, the integration of technology, organization and human behaviour are interrelated. Factors detrimental to occupational safety in materials handling were detected at all planning levels of the construction project and from the operations at the construction sites. To locate problem areas, the results were grouped in the integrated model in the form of a problem tree. The methodology to classify accidents, minor accidents and deviations was developed. The accident reports on the accidents in materials handling at building construction sites were analyzed in detail. During the framework phase, relatively more accidents took place during mechanical lifting than during the other phases of construction. Despite the fact that the mechanical handling of materials has increased, as many as three-fourths of the classified accidents fell into the category of manual handling at the moment of the accident. Accidents and minor accidents that had affected the musculoskeletal system were examined closely to determine the role of materials handling in the origin of these accidents; e. g. , the reinforcement workers (heavy construction work) had significantly more accidents and minor accidents than the painters (light construction work). Materials management and occupational safety should be designed and managed systematically, and developed as one of the basic segments of the building construction project. In the design phase of a construction project, occupational safety may be affected by eliminating individual risk factors or by developing the entire design process. In practice, the latter means that the design aids are developed, that utilisation of feedback from the construction site is expanded, and that more attention is paid to coordination of cooperation between the different parties to the project.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction site; coordination; feedback; heavy construction; human behaviour; integrated system; integration; materials management; safety |
| Index terms: | deviation, integrated model, integrated system, occupational safety, heavy construction, coordination, reinforcement, construction work, risk factor, design phase, construction site, building construction, human behaviour, construction company, accident prevention, design process, production system, cooperation, design aid, materials management, construction project, integration, methodology, lifting |
| Subjects: | analytical methods, professional practice, operations management, psychology, health behaviours and lifestyles, organization, environmental hazards, building construction, production management, research methods, manufacturing engineering, financial and cost management, building materials, work location, design methods, environmental health, infrastructure and transport systems, occupational health and safety management, organizational analysis, management |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Construction Materials, Information Management, Construction Technology, Design Practice, Site Management, Organizational Design |
| 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