OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable: DfS Workgrou

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Design for Construction SafetyLee Anne
JillingsU.S. Dept. of Labor-OSHAJohn W.
Mroszczyk, PhD, PE, CSPNortheast Consulting
Engineers, Inc.Marvin Oey, PhD, PEASCE
Construction Institute
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OSHA Alliance Program Construction
RoundtableDesign for Safety Workgroup

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Typical Construction Project Arrangement

• Project owner separately contracts with a
  Architect/Engineer and with a general contractor,
  prime contractor, construction manager, program
  manager or owners 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

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Root Causes for Construction Accidents1

• 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

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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 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

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Where Do Design Professionals Fit In?

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

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Considering Safety During Design Offers the Most
Payoff1
High
Conceptual Design
Detailed Engineering
Procurement
Construction
Ability to Influence Safety
Start-up
Low
Project Schedule
1 Szymberski 1987
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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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DfCS Process1
1 Gambatese
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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.

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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.

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DfCS Examples Prefabrication
Concrete Wall Panels
Concrete Segmented Bridge
Steel stairs
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DfCS Examples Anchorage Points
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DfCS ExamplesRoofs
Upper story windows and roof parapets
Skylights
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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
• Consider approximate dimensions of connection
  tools to prevent pinches or awkward assemblies

National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel
Erectors Association of America. Detailing Guide
for the Enhancement of Erection Safety. 2001
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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.

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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

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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/SafeDesi
  gn/Understanding/

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DfCS Tools

• Construction Industry Institute database
• www.construction-institute.org/scriptcontent/more/
  rr101_11_more.cfm
• United Kingdom Health Safety Executive designer
  guides
• www.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers/index.htm
• CHAIR
• www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/SafetyGu
  ides/chairsafetyindesigntool.htm
• OSHA Website
• www.osha.gov

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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

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• Questions?
• Comments?