Abstract
The challenges of improving efficiency and safety is a daunting task as workers are squeezed with an ever-dwindling resource pool and yet expected to deliver construction projects at optimum capacity. Improving efficiency and safety using telescopic cranes for the construction of Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) timber kit homes is a viable option for the speedy delivery of new homes. An action research evaluated the maximization of the build and process efficiency and safety using a crane to erect wall panels, floors, and roofs. Data collection through direct observation assessed the labor uptime and downtime, including crane usage. A balanced score card was used by management for strategic organizational decision-making regarding the crane erection. The use of the crane reduced workplace manual handling of OSM panels, minimized the exposure of operatives to work at height risks, and eliminated alterations to scaffolds. However, the manual loading of thermal-insulated plasterboards to floor decks impacted the process efficiency and speed of installing the fixtures and increased the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. High labor downtimes were associated with the adverse weather conditions, which slowed the efficiency of the workforce during construction. The management’s inability to adequately plan the work program further hindered aspects of lifting operations and the speed and number of houses built.
Highlights
The UK house building sector faces significant challenges in the timely delivery of new cost-effective homes of satisfactory quality and quantity and that are environmentally sustainable
The study evaluated the onsite Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) timber kit construction readiness plan with build program and kit erect methodologies for detached, terraced, and semi-detached houses and how telescopic crane deployment can be optimized based on operational data
The balanced score card approach was a useful visualization of the overall holistic perception of the workers regarding adopting the OSM timber kit and telescopic crane erection for the housing development and the build processes
Summary
The UK house building sector faces significant challenges in the timely delivery of new cost-effective homes of satisfactory quality and quantity and that are environmentally sustainable. There are ongoing considerations regarding fully adopting non-volumetric preassembled timber kit homes using telescopic crane-erect methodology by UK house builders to successfully deliver affordable homes and prevent or reduce many of the site safety hazards associated with the build process This is important, because the OSM timber kit with telescopic crane construction has been evaluated to include reductions in time, defects, site health and safety risks, environmental impact, and whole-lifecycle cost and a consequent increase in predictability, efficiency, whole-lifecycle performance, and profitability when satisfactorily implemented [2,3,5,6,10]. Maximizing efficiency and safety using an OSM timber kit with telescopic crane construction could lead to on-site stability, which could possibly mitigate work-related accidents, injuries, or fatalities whilst delivering on the project with minimal quality defects, time delays, or associated cost overruns and deliver on innovative and integrated solutions
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