Computer Vision Process Development regarding Worker’s Safety Harness and Hook to Prevent Fall Accidents: Focused on System Scaffolds in South Korea

Abstract

In South Korea, industrial accidents continue to increase in frequency, with construction accidents accounting for more than a third of all industrial accidents. Specifically, by preventing fall accidents, the death rate from accidents can be reduced by 50%. Fall protection is required to prevent fall accidents, and investigating the reinforcement of the worker’s safety harness and hook fastening becomes imperative. This requires automation of computer vision confirmation of the safety harness and hook fastening. As the accident risk can be reduced by an effective safety culture in the system, it is necessary to monitor safety on site through a construction safety automation system. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop a computer vision process for safety harness and hook for preventing fall accidents in South Korea’s construction industry. This study focuses on system scaffolds that are widely used at construction sites. The application of this methodology to sample sites and field cases established its applicability. The proposed computer vision application methodology will serve as the foundation for visualization research in the construction industry, and image recognition will help reduce the safety accident rate. Accidents caused by failure to use a safety harness and hook can be reduced in South Korea as well as globally. Additionally, this methodology is applicable to roof construction, tower crane installation and dismantling work, as well as steel tower installation and dismantling.