Priority of Accident Cause Based on Tower Crane Type for the Realization of Sustainable Management at Korean Construction Sites

Ju Yong Kim,Jin Dong Kim,Don Soo Lee,Gwang Hee Kim

doi:10.3390/su13010242

Abstract

Construction safety is a key factor among the many factors related to the sustainable management of construction sites. Although research is underway to reduce potential accidents in the construction industry in Korea, the number of tower crane (T/C) accidents is consistently increasing based on the increased use of such cranes. In this study, the priorities of accident causes for each T/C type were derived and utilized for the sustainable management of construction sites. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) questionnaire was completed by experts such as construction engineers, construction managers, safety engineers, and T/C operators with more than ten years of field experience. The results of the AHP questionnaire revealed that the leading cause of cab-control T/C accidents is poor operator visibility, while the leading cause of accidents related to remote-control T/Cs is the poor management of lifting objects and control of surroundings. The high-ranking causes derived in this study should be managed and priority measures should be implemented to reduce the number of T/C accidents.

Highlights

The crane has become a major symbol of building construction sites and is often the most prominent piece of equipment at a building construction site based on its size and the key role that it plays at many construction sites [1]
CC tower crane (T/C) are used for lifting objects weighing three tons or more and RC T/Cs are used for lifting objects weighing less than three tons
As the number of T/Cs used at construction sites has increased steadily, there has been an increase in fatalities and accidents because T/Cs are relatively dangerous and various risk factors are inherent to assembly, lifting, and disassembly works [4]

Summary

Introduction

The crane has become a major symbol of building construction sites and is often the most prominent piece of equipment at a building construction site based on its size and the key role that it plays at many construction sites [1]. The use of tower cranes (T/Cs) at construction sites has consistently increased since their introduction into the Korean construction industry in the 1980s. One of the major causes of fatalities is the usage of cranes during lifting operations in the construction phase of the construction project lifecycle [3]. As the number of T/Cs used at construction sites has increased steadily, there has been an increase in fatalities and accidents because T/Cs are relatively dangerous and various risk factors are inherent to assembly, lifting, and disassembly works [4]. Reyes et al [7] stated that when quantifying the sustainable value of a construction project, health and safety indexes should be considered.

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion