2

Course Goal

The goal is to provide contractors, owners,

design/build firms, engineers, architects with
information on how to recognize and anticipate
construction hazards and how to eliminate them with
well thought out design features. Design for
Construction Safety course emphasizes permanent
design features that eliminate or reduce the risk to
hazards.
 3

Specific Course Objectives

 Identify factors which contribute to construction

injuries and fatalities
 Explain how to analyze work sites for hazards
 Discuss the hierarchy of controls for construction
hazards
 Provide methodology and examples of how
appropriate design features can eliminate or reduce
the risk of an injury
 4

Course Outline

I. Why Design for Construction Safety (DfCS) is

needed
A. Construction injury and fatality
statistics
B. “Conventional” construction
C. Design for Construction Safety (DfCS)
overview
D. Factors that contribute to construction injuries and
fatalities, and how DfCS fits in
 5

Course Outline (cont’d)

II. Design for Construction Safety Methodology

A. Identify hazards
1. Consider Human Factors
2. Recognized hazards
3. Hidden hazards-”What if”
B. Assess risk associated with each hazard
C. Apply Hierarchy of Controls
 6

Course Outline (cont’d)

III. Top Three OSHA Violations

A. Scaffolding
B. Fall Protection
C. Ladders
IV. Other 1926 Topics
A. Confined spaces
B. Noise Exposure
C. Gases, fumes
D. Excavations
E. Beams & Columns
 7

Course Outline (cont’d)

V. Other 1926 Topics (cont’d)

A. Overhead power lines
B. Sprains, strains, material handling
VI. Life cycle benefits
VII. “The Big Three”
 8

Course Material Includes

 Group case study exercises
 “What If” analysis exercise
 Risk assessment exercise
 List of standards
 List of references
 Design Solution Sheets for Fall
Prevention/Protection
 9

Design for Construction Safety

(DfCS)
 What DfCS is….
 Permanent design features that eliminate a hazard or reduce the
risk (i.e., eliminate need for fall protection)
 What DfCS is not…
 How to use safety protective devices or procedures (i.e., how to
use fall protection)
 10

U.S. Construction Accident

Statistics1
 Nearly 228,060 serious injuries and 774 deaths each
year
 4.2% of workforce but 16.5% of fatalities
 Construction has one of the highest fatality rates of
any industry sector

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics-2010

 11

Construction Fatalities By Occupation1

Total fatalities 774

146
Foundation, Structure, Exterior
89
Roofing
71
Site preparation
68
Highway, Street, Bridge
67
Utility Contractors
59
Electrical
57
Plumbing, HVAC
37
Painting, wall covering
1 BLS,2010
 12

“Conventional” Construction

Design professionals
prepare plans and
specifications so that
the finished building
complies with the
building code.
 13

“Conventional” Construction

Hazards are managed

during the construction
process. Little thought
goes into maintaining
the building after the
owner takes possession.
 14

Typical Construction Project

Arrangement
 Project owner separately contracts with a Architect/Engineer
and with a general contractor, prime contractor, construction
manager, program manager or owner’s 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

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MOVE FAST, SAFETY

RESPONSIBILITIES OFTEN GET BLURRED
 15

Designing For Construction Safety

(DfCS)
The process of addressing
construction site safety and
health, and planning for future
maintenance in the design phase
of a project.
 16

DfCS Process - It’s a Team Concept

 17

Why Is It Necessary?

 Currently there are no requirements

for construction safety in building
codes
 IBC Chapter 33 Safeguards during
Construction-Pedestrian Safety
 18

Design Can Influence Construction

Safety1,2
 22% of 226 injuries that occurred from 2000-2002 in
Oregon, WA and CA linked to design
 42% of 224 fatalities in US between 1990-2003 linked to
design
 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
 19

OSHA 1926 - Engineering

Requirements
 1926.452 Scaffolds
 1926.502 Fall Protection Anchorages
 1926.552 Material hoists
 1926.652 Excavations
 1926.703 Shoring
 1926.705 Lift Slabs
 1926.850 Demolition preparation
 1926.1410 Power lines
 1926.1435 Tower cranes
 20

Factors That Contribute to

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

 21

Where do Design Professionals Fit?

 Considering safety issues related to the

construction and maintenance of the permanent
facility and addressing them during the design
stage

 Designing out anticipated hazards

 22

Considering Safety During Design Offers

the Most Payoff1
High Conceptual
Design Detailed
Engineering
Ability to Procurement
Influence
Safety Construction
Start-up
Low

Project Schedule
1
R. Szymberski, “Construction Project Safety Planning” TAPPI Journal, 1997.
 23

DfCS Methodology
 24

Step #1

Identify/Anticipate
Potential Hazards
 25

Consider Human Factors

 Sequencing of work (can create unplanned
hazards)
 Worker misjudges a situation
 Deficient management
 Distractions
 Perception errors
 Lack of training
 Lack of equipment (for example, no place to tie
off, worker makes do)
 26

Recognized Hazards
 27

Visit Similar Facilities

 28

Recognized Hazards - Sources

Industry Standards
 ANSI
 ASTM
 NFPA
 National Safety Council
 MSHA
 SAE
 NIOSH
 US Army Corps of Engineers
 ACI
 29

Recognized Hazards - Sources

Government Regulations
 OSHA 1910 General Industry
 OSHA 1926 Construction
 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
 30

Hidden Hazards
 31

Examples of Hidden Hazards

 Underground utilities
 Electrical wire buried in a wall
 Asbestos
 Rot/Decay of structural members
 Gas lines
 Any hazard uncovered during project execution
 32

”What If” Analysis

 33

Hidden Hazards -”What If” Analysis

 A “What If” analysis is a structured brainstorming

methods of uncovering hidden hazards
 Select the boundaries of the review

and assemble an experienced team

 Gather information-video tapes of operation,
design documents, maintenance procedures, etc.
 34

“What If” Situation Questions

 Failure to follow procedures

 Procedures are followed, but are incorrect
 Equipment failure
 Utility failure
 Weather
 Operator not trained
 35

“What if” Analysis Template

What if? Answer Likelihood Consequences Recommendations

 36

Hidden Hazards -”What If” Analysis

Example
Highway Construction Project-
 What if workers have to access drains? Are drains a possible confined

space?
 What about the power lines? Will equipment be operating near power

lines?
 What about worker/public injury from traffic accidents? Do trucks have

enough turning space? Is there signage/barriers to re-direct pedestrians?

 Will construction vehicles have enough shoulder space to stop on road
 What if worker attempts to manually pick up drain covers? Are they

lightweight? Do they have handles?

 37

Hidden Hazards - Other Methods

 Fault Tree Analysis

 Design Check Lists
 Plan review, if your gut feeling tells you that something
is unsafe, it probably is.
 Read case studies on construction accidents
 “Fatal Facts”
 NIOSH “FACE” reports
 38

Fatal Facts
 39

Fatal Facts
 40

Step #2

Assess the Risk for

Each Hazard
 41

DfCS - Risk Assessment Estimate

Injury Severity
Severe-Death or serious debilitating long-term injury
such as amputation or coma

Serious-Permanent or nonreversible injury that

severely impact enjoyment of life and may require
continued treatment
 42

DfCS - Risk Assessment Estimate

Injury Severity
Moderate-Permanent or reversible minor injury that
does not significantly impact enjoyment of life, but
requires medical treatment.

Slight-Reversible injury requiring simple medical

treatment with no confinement
 43

DfCS - Risk Assessment Estimate

Probability of Hazardous Event
High- Very likely to occur, protective measures are
nearly worthless

Medium-Occurrence is likely. The frequency of

control measures is significant or control measures
are inadequate
 44

DfCS - Risk Assessment Estimate

Probability of Hazardous Event
Moderate-Occurrence is possible, but not likely

Low- Occurrence is so unlikely as to be considered

nearly zero.
 45

DfCS - Risk Assessment Matrix

Probability Severity
Severe Serious Moderate Slight
High High High Medium Low
Medium High Medium Low Low
Moderate Medium Low Low Negligible
Low Low Low Negligible Negligible
 46

Step #3

Apply Hierarchy of
Controls
 47

Hierarchy of Controls

Ref: Peterson JE , 1973. Principles for controlling the occupational environment. The industrial
environment—its evaluation and control. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS
(NIOSH), p 117.
 48

DfCS Template
Practical Practical All Practical
Controls
Significant To Eliminate To Isolate Steps to Minimize

Hazard Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Required

 49

Top Ten 1926 OSHA Violations

1) Subpart M .501(b)(13) – Fall Protection – Residential Construction
2) Subpart X .1053(b)(1) – Portable ladders not extended 3 feet above
landing
3) Subpart M .501(b)(1) – Fall Protection – Unprotected Sides & Edges
4) Subpart M .503(a)(1) – Fall Protection – Training
5) Subpart E .102(a)(1) – Eye and Face Protection
6) Subpart E .100(a) – Head Protection
7) Subpart L .451(g)(1) – Scaffolds – Fall Protection
8) Subpart L .453(b)(2)(v) – Aerial lifts – Fall Protection
9) Subpart L .451(e)(1) – Safe Access
10) Subpart M .501(b)(10) – Fall Protection – Low-sloped Roofs
 50

1926.501 Fall Protection

 Falls consistently account for the greatest number

of fatalities in the construction industry each year
 In 2013 the falls, slips, or trips resulted in 699
fatalities. Falls to lower level accounted for 82%
of those fatalities.
 Approximately 1 in 4 of those fatalities occurred
from a fall of 10 feet or less.

Source: www.bls.gov/new.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf
 51

Fatal Falls Most Often From

Source – BLS Data, 2010

 52

Consider Parapets
A parapet that can function
as a perimeter guard also
eliminates the need to
provide temporary fall
protection for construction
and maintenance activities on the
roof thus reducing total costs over
the building life cycle.
 53

Specify Window Sills at 42 inches

If window sills are specified at

a height of 42 inches plus or
minus 3 inches… temporary
guardrails would not be
required
 54

Skylights
Specify products that can
withstand the live load
associated with a construction or
maintenance worker inadvertently
stepping on or falling on a skylight.
An alternative approach is
to specify that guards or
screens designed to handle these loads be
attached over each skylight
 55

Skylights

Consider specifying skylights So that this does not

that can withstand human impact happen
loads.
 56

Permanent Roof Anchors

Permanent anchors provide a convenient,

safe place to tie off when personal fall
arrest systems are needed. They also
reduce the chance a worker will not use a
personal fall arrest system because there is
no approved place to anchor, or the
worker connects to something that may
not be structurally sound or certified by a
registered Professional Engineer (PE).
 57

Permanent Roof Anchors

Consider permanent roof So that a roofer has a convenient

anchors anchor to tie off
 58

Stairways and Floor Openings

Cast-in sockets can be specified

around floor openings and
stairways. The sockets make it easy
for contractors to install temporary
guardrails during the construction
phase. The sockets can then be
used for permanent railings or
filled in.
 59

Floor Openings/Open-Sided Floors

Consider imbedded steel plates that can So that this does not happen
be used for temporary guardrails and
later used for permanent wall systems.
 60

Falls Through Roof Surface

Anticipate materials that

may be stored on a roof
during construction.
Specify roof structure to
support the dead load of
construction materials.
 61

Falls Through Roof Surface

Consider adding a safe

catwalk to your plans so that
workers and future
maintenance personnel with
have a structurally sound
and safe surface to walk on
when on the roof.
 62

Falls from Open Sided Floors

Specifying holes in
columns at 42 inches
plus or minus 3 inches
and 21 inches above
each floor slab make it
easy to install cable or
wire perimeter cables.
 63

Reduce Work at Elevations

Specifying roofs built on So that workers don’t have

the ground and hoisted into to stick build them at
position elevation
 64

Reduce Work at Elevations

Segmented
Bridge sections
 65

1926.1053 Ladders

Designers should consider

specifying fixed ladders or
stairways whenever possible.
This would eliminate the
need for a portable ladder
when
accessing a roof, work
platform, mezzanine, or
upper level.
 66

1926.1053 Ladders

Specify a safe fixed ladder Eliminate the need for portable

ladders
 67

1026.451 Scaffolding

Gantry systems can be

designed to maintain
atriums and skylights

Davits can be installed to

provide a permanent
suspension system.
 68

1026.451 Scaffolding

Consider eliminating the need for

scaffolding or design permanent
anchor systems so that this does
not happen
 69

1926.21(b)(6) Confined Spaces

Try to avoid
designing
confined spaces
 70

1926.21(b)(6) Confined Spaces

So that a worker’s life

does not depend on
confined space entry
permit
 71

1926.52 Noise Exposure

Specify sound barriers at the site.

Sound barriers can be constructed
on site from scrap materials such as
plywood. Commercial sound panels
that are lined with sound absorbing
material can also be used.
 72

1926.52 Noise Exposure

Specify quiet equipment such as

pumps, generators, and
compressors that don’t require
hearing protection when working
around them.
 73

1926.52 Noise Exposure

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Design cast crack inducers in concrete to avoid the

need to saw cut joints
Design cast-in anchors instead of drill and fix
Avoid vibro compacting
Detail mesh reinforcement to suit bay sizes, rather than
cutting to fit on site
Specify non standard blocks to be cut off site under
controlled conditions
 74

1926.55 Fumes

Specify primers, sealers and other

coatings that do not emit noxious
fumes or contain carcinogenic
products
 75

1926.652 Excavations

Design underground utilities

to be placed using trenchless
technology
 76

1926.652 Excavations

Why take the

chance of a
trench collapse?
 77

1926.756 Beams & Columns

Designers can specify features that
make it safer and easier to erect
structural steel. For example, hanging
connections should be avoided. Safety
seats at column connections would
eliminate this by providing support for
girders during the connection process.
 78

1926.756 Beams & Columns Cont’d

Specify bracing on the So that this does not

bid documents happen
 79

1926.756 Beams & Columns Cont’d

 Non composite beam design

during construction for
construction live loads
 Composite beam design for
final condition
 80

1926.756 Beams & Columns Cont’d

Show rebar details at

beam column joints to
avoid congestion of
rebars and to prevent
honeycombing (voids)
into concrete
 81

1926.955 Overhead Power Lines

Consider the use of cranes and

drilling rigs near power lines.

Do not specify ground water

monitoring wells or other facilities
near or under power lines.
 82

Sprains, Strains, Material Handling

Consider specifying
lightweight concrete
block whenever
structurally feasible
 83

Sprains, Strains, Material Handling

Which pump installation is easier to maintain?

 84

Other Benefits of DfCS

Positioning equipment at
least 15 feet back from the
roof edge will reduce the
risk of falling when
installing and servicing the
equipment
 85

Other Benefits of DfCS

Specify building ties that are easier to remove and can be

reused.
 86

Other Benefits of DfCS

Specify quieter
equipment and/or
noise control in
mechanical rooms
so that hearing
conservation
Programs will not be
required
 87

Other Benefits of DfCS

Specify this… ...So that you don’t have to do

this later
 88

Other Benefits of DfCS

Specify Arc
Resistant
Switchgear

Floyd, H. (2011) Progress in impacting policy in workplace safety NIOSH PtD conference , 2011 .
 89

Other Benefits of DfCS

Specify “smart” substations

So that you can do this…..

Instead of this…….

Floyd, H. (2011) Progress in impacting policy in

workplace safety NIOSH PtD conference, 2011.
 90

Course Summary

During this session, you have been introduced to:

Factors which contribute to construction injuries and

fatalities
How to analyze work sites for hazards
Hierarchy of controls for construction hazards
Methodology and examples of how appropriate design

features can eliminate or reduce the risk of an injury

 91

Always Consider the “Big Three”

 Fall - Design the building so that fall protection is

not needed
 Scaffolds - Design building so that scaffolds are
not needed or provide solid structures from which
scaffolds can be suspended
 Ladders - Design the building so that portable
ladders are not needed.
 92

OSHA Resources
 93

Thanks for Your Participation