Attribute-Based Risk Model for Measuring Safety Risk of Struck-By Accidents

Abstract

Struck-by injuries are a leading proximal cause of fatal injuries and are usually caused by a falling or suspended objects and contact between workers and heavy equipment. As with other injuries, struck-by risks are most effectively mitigated early in the planning phases of a project. Among different methods of preconstruction safety management, safety risk modeling and integration has been shown to be highly effective. To enhance the current preconstruction safety management methods, the authors utilized an attribute-based risk identification and analysis method that helps designers and preconstruction planners to identify and model safety risk independently of specific activities or building components. In order to identify the attributes that contribute to struck-by incidents and quantify their relative risks, over 300 injury reports from the National databases reviewed. In total, 34 attributes were identified and their risks were then quantified. It was found that working under or near lifted loads (15.6%), working with heavy equipment (17.1%), workers on foot and moving equipments (13.5%) are the most hazardous attributes that lead to struck-by accidents. The results can be used by practitioners to integrate robust safety risk data into project designs, schedules, building information models, and pre-task plans.