Construction Workers Research Articles

Assessment of displacements of retaining walls and surrounding buildings when constructing a deep excavation in dense urban areas

A comparison of the results of geodetic monitoring of displacements of existing buildings and retaining wall structures and numerical simulation of the stress-strain state (SSS) of the system ‘soil - retaining walls - existing buildings’ during excavation in dense urban construction is presented. Numerical simulation of the SSS system ‘soil - retaining walls - existing buildings’ was performed in a three-dimensional formulation, which makes it possible to correctly assess the system's SSS by taking into account the spatial stiffness of the structures. It is shown that the direct use of soil parameters given in the report on engineering and geological surveys for numerical simulation of the SSS system ‘soil - retaining walls - existing buildings’ without their verification can lead to a significant 2-3.5 times higher error in determining the calculated values of displacements of structures and soils. Accordingly, there is a need to verify soil parameters. The verification of soil parameters allows for good agreement between numerical simulation data and actual monitoring data. A back analysis and verification of the soil model parameters were performed to ensure the convergence of the results of numerical simulation and field observations. It is recommended to refine the parameters of the soil model on the basis of laboratory studies of soil parameters in a wide range of loads/unloads using axial and triaxial soil compression. An alternative method for verifying the design parameters of the soil model is to perform test pits to determine the actual values of retaining wall displacements and, based on the back analysis, refine the design parameters of the soil model to match the results of numerical simulation and actual measurements of structural displacements. The implementation of these recommendations makes it possible to bring the values of structural displacements predicted by numerical simulation closer to the actual values during construction work.

Implementation of construction water reduction in areas with difficult hydrogeological condi-tions

Urbanized areas are an example of a powerful and unbalanced impact on the geological environment of technogenic factors that disrupt the hydrogeological and geoecological conditions of the territory. In built-up areas, changes in the conditions for the formation of surface and groundwater runoff are observed, the nature of the hydraulic connection of surface and groundwater, as well as aquifers between themselves, is disrupted. When performing work on the construction of buried structures and the arrangement of excavations, the engineering and geological hydrogeological conditions of the construction site should be taken into account. The construction of foundations on piles, tunnels, and underground parking lots in most cases leads to the barrage of the flow of groundwater, and as a result, to flooding. The underground space of a modern city is saturated with water-bearing communications that have unpredictable leaks. Water leaks from communications cause a significant rise in groundwater levels in the upper aquifer, which are random and difficult to predict. Design and construction of new buildings and structures of increased responsibility in difficult engineering and geological conditions and in conditions of dense development requires additional measures that should ensure the possibility of safe execution of construction work, limit the impact on surrounding structures and networks and protect new buildings and surrounding development from the manifestation of dangerous engineering and geological processes. The article considers the option of arranging a pit during the reconstruction of a sewer collector D=2280 mm in Kyiv on the left bank of the Dnieper River. Currently, the performance of such work is not regulated by current modern regulatory documents in force in Ukraine. The standards that were developed during the USSR are used, but they are currently in force in our country [1, 2]/ Based on the above, when designing and constructing facilities, a set of measures should be provided for protection against the impact of groundwater on the construction and operational periods.

DIGITALIZATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AS A FACTOR IN MODERNIZATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN UKRAINE

The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the digitalization of public administration as a key factor in the modernization of the construction industry in Ukraine. In the current conditions of global challenges, in particular, a full-scale war, destroyed infrastructure, the need for rapid economic recovery and strengthening of management institutions, the construction industry plays a strategic role in ensuring the sustainable development of the country. However, the effectiveness of its functioning largely depends on the quality of public administration, the level of transparency of procedures, digital openness and the ability to adapt to new technologies. The study focuses on the essence of the digitalization of public administration as a systemic process that encompasses not only the introduction of information and communication technologies into the activities of state bodies, but also the transformation of the management paradigm - from manual intervention to automated, analytically based and transparent regulation. It is shown that digital tools create new opportunities for project management, control over construction activities, maintaining registers, accounting for permits, risk assessment and attracting investments. The article analyzes the problems that hinder the development of the construction industry, in particular, the fragmentation of regulatory and legal support, duplication of functions of government bodies, the complexity of permit procedures, the lack of integrated digital platforms, as well as the insufficient level of training of personnel to work with digital systems. The need to build a holistic digital construction management ecosystem is substantiated, which would include the developer's electronic offices, automated project approval procedures, models for assessing the effectiveness of public investments in construction, and real-time control mechanisms. The potential of digitalization in the field of risk management, financing, and strategic planning of projects is separately considered. It is proven that the digital environment contributes to increasing trust in regulatory authorities, reducing corruption, reducing project implementation times, and improving the quality of final construction results. The article also raises issues of interaction between the public and private sectors within the framework of digital platforms, the development of public-private partnerships, and the creation of a unified system of state monitoring of construction works. The result of the study is the justification of the digitalization of public administration as an indispensable tool for the modernization of the construction industry, which allows moving to a new management model - transparent, effective, innovative and result-oriented. As a result, the need to form a strategic vision for the digital transformation of the construction sector, agreed between the central government, local governments, business and the public, is emphasized.

Dual Mediation Mechanisms of Ownership Climate on Safety Behavior in Construction Workers: Evidence from China

As a high-risk industry characterized by persistently high accident and casualty rates, the construction sector has been extensively studied in terms of individual behavioral safety, organizational safety culture, and safety climate. However, existing research remains fragmented, lacking an integrative perspective to systematically explore the interconnections between these interrelated dimensions. This study investigates the mechanisms through which the ownership climate influences safety behaviors among construction workers in China. Applying self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), we propose a dual-mediation model with team building and risk perception as parallel mediators. Empirical data were collected from 312 frontline workers through structured surveys and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping techniques. The results demonstrate that a sense of ownership climate not only directly enhances the safety behaviors of construction workers but also functions via dual mechanisms: strengthening team building to improve both compliance with and the execution of safety protocols and heightening risk perception awareness to reduce the propensity for risk-taking behaviors. These findings highlight the need for strategies integrating ownership climate cultivation, team collaboration, and risk awareness training to optimize safety outcomes. This study extends the existing literature by bridging motivational (SDT) and cognitive (TPB) frameworks, offering culturally grounded solutions for transient workforce management in high-risk industries.

IOT Based Smart Helmet for Construction Workers

Abstract- Day by day the death rate of the construction workers at the construction site is increasing. But still there are no such remedies to reduce this fatality rate. To provide continuous monitoring of the workers and to prevent them from any health hazards during working, this system proposes a smart flexible helmet for the construction workers to provide security and rescue measures in case of any emergency conditions. The proposed system describes a smart inexpensive helmet for the construction workers made up of chromium embedded with Accelerometer and Gyroscope sensor.

An Empirical Study on the Economic Conditions, Legal Safeguards and Welfare Provisions for Female Domestic Workers in Urban Area of Bengaluru, India

Domestic women workers are those who engage in cleaning the house, cooking, washing, and taking care of children, elderly, or sick members of a family, they work on a full-time, part-time, or hourly basis, and sometimes on a contract basis in private households (ILO-2020). In the informal workforce, most women are employed as domestic workers. Low wages, long working hours, and low social status characterize domestic women workers. It is estimated that the third-largest category of informal workers consists of domestic workers, followed by agriculture and construction workers; most of them work in urban areas. Domestic work is the primary source of income for people who are semi-literate or illiterate in India. According to various reports, there is an increased demand for domestic help as the country’s per capita income increases. Despite the need for domestic help, they continue to be deprived of protection and are left vulnerable to various kinds of abuse, like human trafficking, bonded labour, etc. The paper aims to examine the present legal framework protections and a few landmark case laws regarding their rights, and to analyze the impact of social security schemes introduced by the government on the informal sector on domestic workers in Bengaluru urban. The study is designed with empirical analysis, and collected 100 respondents from different parts of Bengaluru urban through random sampling from Bengaluru Urban, The secondary data is collected from journals, ILO reports, NSS reports, and articles. The study reveals a huge demand and ample opportunities for domestic workers because Bengaluru is its hub, people are busy with their office work schedule, and hardly get time to do the household chores. The regression method is used to analyze the hypothesis that the model indicates age, education, and Experience influence the awareness of social security schemes provided by the Government for women informal workers. The percentage method is also used to analyze the data. The study also portrays that most domestic women workers belong to the middle age group, have long working hours, and are happy with the social security measures introduced by the government. Many of the domestic women workers are migrant workers.

Enhancing heatstroke safety for construction workers: Assessing visibility and contrast of thermochromic pigment.

BackgroundHeat-related illness is a significant occupational hazard requiring effective prevention. The World Health Organization emphasizes that reducing a worker's ability to perform tasks due to extreme heat or cold is a "health effect" of climate conditions. This study proposes a novel safety management approach in construction to prevent heatstroke among workers using thermochromic fibers that change color in response to body temperature, enabling the visual detection of rising heat levels.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the visibility and contrast of blue and pink (red spectrum) fibers at different distances. The hypothesis was that workers could help prevent heat-related illnesses by monitoring the color changes in their clothing.MethodsThe study involved visibility and contrast tests of garments dyed with thermochromic pigments, observed at different distances. Data analysis was conducted using ANOVA and regression analysis.ResultsThe findings indicate that while blue fibers initially have higher visibility, their visibility diminishes more rapidly with distance than pink fibers. Owing to psychological associations, pink fiber may be more effective in heat stroke safety management.ConclusionsSelecting appropriate colors for thermochromic fibers enhances their effectiveness as safety indicators. Additionally, empowering workers to monitor each other through visual cues may improve safety outcomes, representing a shift from traditional management methods.

PLS-SEM assessment of the effect of using standardized blocks on artisans’ health in the construction industry

ABSTRACT Construction work is physically demanding and poses significant health risks to artisans. This study investigates the impact of masonry units on artisans’ health and work lives. The study used partial least squares structural equation modeling to model the cause and effect of standardized blocks on artisans’ work lives. A quantitative approach was used in this study. The purposive sampling technique played a role in selecting artisans in Kumasi. The sample size led to the selection of 425 masons with a 95% response rate of 402 responses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the results. The findings revealed that lifting, falling, and weather conditions significantly influenced health problems. Bending, twisting, pushing, and pulling negatively affected their health. The model’s predictive power indicated that health problems associated with artisan life recorded Q2 prediction was 0.158 > 0.15, and the R2 value for the effect of health problems was 0.192. This study contributes to health and safety theories in construction. Construction firms and product suppliers should develop a suitable lightweight sandcrete block to minimize potential health risks for workers in the construction industry. The government should also reduce taxes on modern machinery to curb the more physically demanding work in construction.

Influencing mechanism of optimism bias on construction worker’s unsafe behavior: the role of risk perception and risk propensity

PurposeUnsafe behaviors among construction workers have been a critical topic in research on construction safety. As a prominent predictor of unsafe behaviors, optimism bias has received increasing attention. However, the mechanism by which optimism bias affects unsafe behaviors remains inadequately explored. To fill in the research gap, this study aimed to empirically investigate the influence of optimism bias on construction workers’ unsafe behaviors through two variables: risk perception and risk propensity.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 262 Chinese construction workers by questionnaire, and the structural equation model and PROCESS macro were employed to test the research hypothesis.FindingsThe results demonstrated that optimism bias positively influences workers’ unsafe behaviors through the mediating variable of risk perception. In other words, respondents believed that a bad outcome would not happen to them, which is a sign of optimism bias. This would lead them to underestimate the risks of surroundings and weaken their motivation to take safety precautions. In addition, risk propensity positively moderated the effect of optimism bias on unsafe behaviors, that is, the higher the level of workers’ risk propensity, the stronger the effect of optimism bias on unsafe behavior.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a deeper understanding of the potential intermediate mechanism and boundary condition by which optimism bias affects workers’ unsafe behaviors, and provides effective guidance to managers in taking de-biasing measures, which is of great significance in decreasing safety accidents in the construction industry.

Applying Work Domain Analysis to a Healthcare Control Centre for Patient Flow Management

Staff in hospital departments often focus on local goals for capacity management and patient coordination. Recently, centralised healthcare control centres (HCCs) have been developed that provide co-location of interdisciplinary teams who coordinate patient flow across a healthcare system with the goal of improving patient capacity and outcomes, patient and staff experience, and reducing costs. However, coordination problems may emerge with the implementation of HCCs and new models are needed to gain insight into the HCC’s working environment. In this study, we investigated constraints with the work of an HCC of a large healthcare service using work domain analysis and object worlds. We conducted field work in the HCC and used the data to construct work domain analysis models across key object worlds. Analysis focused on three challenges: (1) lack of integration of information systems within the HCC, (2) non-compatible information systems for transfer of patient records from the HCC to private hospitals, and (3) a reduction in service quality from commercial taxi services contracted by the HCC to transport non-urgent patients. Findings allow the sources of coordination problems to be examined, potentially helping workers coordinate their work more effectively. As demands on healthcare systems escalate, effective patient flow coordination becomes increasingly important for the quality and timeliness of patient care.

Developing A Work-Related Accident Prevention Program for Onshore Pipeline Construction Workers in Thailand

Background: Work-related accidents in construction are not only the cause of significant human suffering and loss; they are also complex phenomena involving multiple risk factors and stakeholders. Accordingly, numerous protocols and regulations have been developed to prevent construction work-related injuries in various settings. However, a specific accident prevention program has not been thoroughly investigated for construction workers in onshore oil and gas pipeline construction in Thailand. This study aims to develop and assess the effectiveness of an accident prevention program among onshore pipeline construction workers in Thailand. Methodology: Mixed-methods research was conducted from March 2022 to March 2023 among 577 workers and 30 stakeholders in construction projects. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and brainstorming. Multiple linear regression analyses, paired samples t-test, Safe-T-Score (STS), and content analysis were applied to analyze the data. Results: The work-related accident prevention program, consisting of six steps with five proactive activities, effectively improved worker health and safety performance (P < 0.001). When compared to past performance, STS was less than -2 (STS = -2.18), which indicates an improved accident record. Worker health and safety performance was associated with poor environment (β = -0.146; P = 0.003), unsafe worker behaviors (β = -0.123; P = 0.026), unsafe workplace conditions (β = -0.466; P <0.001), and organizational psychology factors (β = 0.272; P < 0.001). Conclusions: We recommend extending this program to other construction workers in related contexts to improve accident prevention and promote safe work practices.

Investigating the Impact of Virtual Reality Accident Experience on Construction Workers’ Risk Habituation through Individual Behaviors

Investigating the Impact of Virtual Reality Accident Experience on Construction Workers’ Risk Habituation through Individual Behaviors

Fiberglass-induced Pseudo-Angioedema and Dermatitis in a Construction Worker

Fiberglass-induced Pseudo-Angioedema and Dermatitis in a Construction Worker

Sharing Psychological Safety Climate at the Group Level among Construction Workers: The Roles of Group Identification and Interactional Justice

Sharing Psychological Safety Climate at the Group Level among Construction Workers: The Roles of Group Identification and Interactional Justice

Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Mechanisms of Open Globe Injury in the United States: A Multi-Center Study.

We sought to examine the demographic and clinical risk factors associated with specific mechanisms of open globe injuries (OGIs) and identify predictors of Zone III injuries across multiple tertiary eye care centers. 1570 patients with OGIs presenting to the Wilmer Eye Institute, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, and Wills Eye Hospital between 2018-2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Multinomial and binomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between demographic and clinical risk factors with injury mechanisms and Zone III injuries. Among the study population (74.2% male, mean age 48.2 years), falls (21.3%), construction work (16.2%), and assaults (10.0%) were the most common injury mechanisms. Black patients had higher risk of assault-related OGIs (relative risk ratio [RRR], 6.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06-19.93; p<0.001) and elderly patients >61 years showed increased risk for falls (RRR, 10.45; 95% CI, 2.22-49.10; p=0.003). Eyelid laceration was significantly associated with assaults (RRR, 5.58; 95% CI, 1.59-19.65; p=0.007) and falls (RRR, 4.81; 95% CI, 1.61-14.34; p=0.005), while iris prolapse was associated with assaults (RRR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.12-9.32; p=0.03) and construction work injuries (RRR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.12-3.52; p=0.02). Zone III injuries were independently associated with eyelid laceration (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.20-2.18; p<0.001), relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) (PR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.71-3.43; p<0.001), and retrobulbar hemorrhage (PR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.76-4.36; p<0.001). This multi-institutional study identified distinct demographic risk profiles for different OGI mechanisms and clinical predictors of severe injuries. These findings suggest opportunities for targeted prevention strategies and may aid in early identification and triage of severe OGIs.

Theoretical model for droplet self-motion in hydrophilic and hydrophobic microchannels with wettability gradient surfaces

Spontaneous liquid transport in microchannels driven by wettability gradient surfaces has received considerable interest for microfluidic applications. In this paper, a theoretical model was developed to investigate the self-motion behaviors of droplet in square microchannels featured by wettability gradient surfaces using 3D (three dimensional) morphological construction and virtual work principle. The effects of wettability gradient and contact angle range on droplet movement were compared and evaluated. A larger wettability gradient contributes to a higher droplet velocity, and the droplet velocity could reach several centimeters per second. In a wettability-gradient microchannel, the droplet velocity increased and decreased along the channel length in the hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels, respectively. For a droplet moving in a microchannel with its surface wettability continuously changing from hydrophobic to hydrophilic zones, the maximum droplet velocity appears at the contact angle of 90°, and it could be about 2.7 cm/s in the 100 μm width channel under a wettability gradient of 4°/mm. At a same wettability gradient, a lower initial contact angle is associated with higher droplet velocity for hydrophobic channels, while it is opposite in hydrophilic channels. Dimensionless correlations were developed to predict the self-motion velocities in hydrophobic and hydrophilic microchannels, and droplet self-motion characteristics at different wettability gradient conditions were elucidated. The droplet velocities obtained from the theoretical model are in good agreement with that from a 3D numerical simulation, but featured by tens of times smaller in time consumption of computation, showing the reliability and high computation efficiency of the theoretical model.

Moderating Effects of Coping Behaviors on Stressor–Stress Relationships of Ethnic Minority Construction Workers

Moderating Effects of Coping Behaviors on Stressor–Stress Relationships of Ethnic Minority Construction Workers

LiDAR-Based Framework for Accurate Positioning and Robust Tracking of Multiple Construction Workers

LiDAR-Based Framework for Accurate Positioning and Robust Tracking of Multiple Construction Workers

Determining the optimal recovery time for fatigued construction workers: Machine learning approach based on physiological and environmental measurements

Determining the optimal recovery time for fatigued construction workers: Machine learning approach based on physiological and environmental measurements

A Voxel-Based 3D reconstruction and action recognition method for construction workers

A Voxel-Based 3D reconstruction and action recognition method for construction workers