Design for
Construction Safety
Lee Anne Jillings
U.S. Dept. of Labor-OSHA
John W. Mroszczyk, PhD, PE, CSP
Northeast Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Marvin Oey, PhD, PE
ASCE Construction Institute
OSHA Alliance Program
Construction Roundtable
Design for Safety Workgroup
• Purpose of Alliance Roundtables
• Success of Construction
Roundtable: Design for Safety
(DfS) Workgroup
• Next Steps for DfS Workgroup
OSHA Alliance Program Construction
Roundtable: DfS Workgroup Members
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American Society of Civil EngineersConstruction Institute
American Society of Safety Engineers
Independent Electrical Contractors
ADSC: International Association of
Foundation Drilling
Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North
America
DfS Workgroup Members, continued
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Mason Contractors Association of
America
National Fire Protection Association
National Institute for Occupational
Safety & Health
Sealant, Waterproofing and
Restoration Institute
Washington Group International
DfS Workgroup Products
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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
Designing for Construction Safety
(DfCS) – What is it?
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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
U.S. Construction Accident Statistics1
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Nearly 200,000 serious injuries and 1,200
deaths each year
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7% of workforce but 21% of fatalities
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Construction has one of the highest fatality
rates of any industry sector
1
Bureau of Labor Statistics-2005
Typical Construction Project
Arrangement
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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
Root Causes for Construction
Accidents1
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1
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
Toole, “Construction Site Safety Roles”, 2002
Accidents Linked to Design1,2
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22% of 226 injuries that occurred from 2000-2002
in Oregon, WA and CA
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42% of 224 fatalities in US between 1990-2003
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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
Where Do Design Professionals
Fit In?
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Considering safety issues during the
design stage
Designing out anticipated hazards
Considering Safety During Design
Offers the Most Payoff1
High
Conceptual Design
Detailed Engineering
Procurement
Ability to
Influence
Safety
Construction
Start-up
Low
Project Schedule
1
Szymberski 1987
What Types of Design Decisions?
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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
DfCS Process1
• Establish design for
safety expectations
• Include construction and
operation perspective
• Identify design for safety
process and tools
Design
Kickoff
Design
Trade contractor
involvement
1
Gambatese
Internal
Review
• QA/QC
• Crossdiscipline
review
External
Review
• Focused safety
review
• Owner review
Issue for
Construction
Barrier: Designers' Fear of
Liability
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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.
Barrier: Increased Designer
Costs Associated with DfCS
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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.
Barrier: Designers' Lack of
Safety Expertise
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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 10hour and 30-hour OSHA courses for
design professionals.
DfCS Examples: Prefabrication
Concrete
Wall Panels
Concrete Segmented Bridge
Steel stairs
DfCS Examples: Anchorage Points
DfCS Examples:
Roofs
Skylights
Upper story windows
and roof parapets
DfCS Examples: Steel Design
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National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel
Erectors Association of America. Detailing
Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Safety.
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
Example of the Need for DfCS
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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.
Other DfCS Design Examples
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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
DfCS Practices Around the Globe
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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/HealthS
afety/SafeDesign/Understanding/
DfCS Tools
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Construction Industry Institute database
• www.constructioninstitute.org/scriptcontent/more/rr101_11_more.c
fm
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United Kingdom Health & Safety Executive
designer guides
• www.hse.gov.uk/construction/designers/index.ht
m
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CHAIR
• www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/OHS/Saf
etyGuides/chairsafetyindesigntool.htm
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OSHA Website
• www.osha.gov
Summary
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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?
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Comments?