Occupational Health and Safety in Modular Integrated Construction projects: The case of crane operations

Abstract

Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) has recently grabbed the attention of numerous researchers and practitioners across the globe, even though their adoption on construction sites has led to some critical safety hazards that differ from those of common construction projects. In this regard, cranes are the most widely utilized equipment used in MiC projects; however, there have not been any studies carried out on the safety issues of cranes in such projects. Lack of such consideration not only leads to overshadowing the greater adoption of MiC-based technologies, but also worsens the safety and health of related workers. Considering this, a Crane Safety Index (CSI) is developed in this study to improve the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of such projects, which is based on experts’ interviews together with the exploitation of the analytical hierarchy process. To validate the efficacy of the proposed CSI, its application to the case of three MiC-constructed projects was considered. Applying the CSI developed to the selected projects, the following contributions are noted: (1) identification of safety factors playing role in the safety of crane operations that are peculiar to the MiC projects, (2) obtaining a specific safety score for crane operations in MiC projects, and (3) determination of fruitful technologies improving the OHS of related operations. The outcomes of this study provide the related safety decision-makers with an inclusive plan for promoting the embracement of sustainability at a greater pace by improving the well-being of workers.