scholarly journals Construction health and safety: A topic landscape study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 2472-2483
Author(s):  
Xiaorui Cao ◽  
Ruodan Lu ◽  
Liang Guo ◽  
Jianya Liu
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Topic Modeling ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Development Trajectories ◽  
And Training

Abstract We aim to draw in-depth insights into the current literature in construction health and safety and provide perspectives for future research efforts. The existing literature on construction health and safety is not only diverse and rich in sight, but also complex and fragmented in structure. It is essential for the construction industry and research community to understand the overall development and existing challenges of construction health and safety to adapt to future new code of practice and challenges in this field. We mapped the topic landscape followed by identifying the salient development trajectories of this research area over time. We used the topic modeling algorithm to extract 10 distinct topics from 662 abstracts (filtered from a total of 895) of articles published between 1991 and 2020. In addition, we provided the most cited references and the most popular journal per topic as well. The results from a time series analysis suggested that the construction health and safety would maintain its popularity in the next 5 years. Research efforts would be devoted to the topics including “Physical health and disease”, “Migrant and race”, “Vocational ability and training”, and “Smart devices.” Among these topics, “Smart devices” would be the most promising one.

EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT IN CONSTRUCTION: A REVIEW OF ISSUES

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alazzaz Faisal ◽  
Andrew Whyte
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Employee Empowerment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Independent Contractor ◽  
Work Systems ◽  
Traditional Approaches

The construction industry is a high-risk commercial sector. As such, concerns regarding performance, waste, health and safety, insurance, legal/budgetary and cost compliances, and client satisfaction levels are an ongoing challenge. An increasing area of focus is human resources and, in particular, productivity. In place of traditional approaches to dealing with employee performance concerns, better job design and work systems are increasingly being seen as essential in alleviating poor employee/ independent-contractor performance. Academic research on employee empowerment in the construction industry has so far been limited and/or haphazard, despite advocates presenting it as a means to deal with worker dissatisfaction, absenteeism, turnover, poor quality work, and sabotage. This paper reviews the literature concerning the utility of employee empowerment in the construction industry, with particular emphasis on its practical benefits. The aim is to provide direction for future research and development in the construction and civil engineering fields.

Sensing and warning-based technology applications to improve occupational health and safety in the construction industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1534-1552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari ◽  
Heng Li ◽  
Johnny Kwok-Wai Wong ◽  
Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin ◽  
Janet Xin Ge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Topics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Technology Applications

Purpose Sensing- and warning-based technologies are widely used in the construction industry for occupational health and safety (OHS) monitoring and management. A comprehensive understanding of the different types and specific research topics related to the application of sensing- and warning-based technologies is essential to improve OHS in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to examine the current trends, different types and research topics related to the applications of sensing- and warning-based technology for improving OHS through the analysis of articles published between 1996 and 2017 (years inclusive). Design/methodology/approach A standardized three-step screening and data extraction method was used. A total of 87 articles met the inclusion criteria. Findings The annual publication trends and relative contributions of individual journals were discussed. Additionally, this review discusses the current trends of different types of sensing- and warning-based technology applications for improving OHS in the industry, six relevant research topics, four major research gaps and future research directions. Originality/value Overall, this review may serve as a spur for researchers and practitioners to extend sensing- and warning-based technology applications to improve OHS in the construction industry.

scholarly journals Promotion of Vocational Education and Training Career Pathways in the Australian Construction Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 393-399
Author(s):  
Richard Skiba
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Career Pathways ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Aging Workforce ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Younger Workers ◽  
And Training

This discussion paper considers the benefits of promotion of qualification pathways related to individual career pathways for new entrants and current workers in the Australian construction industry. Benefits are considered from an individual, organisational and social view accounting for licencing and health and safety obligations in the industry.  The paper condones the promotion of training pathway programs, particularly those that increase in level and stimulate upskilling. Increases in uptake of pathways programs linked to career objectives can have a positive impact on recognised skill shortage occupations and enhance skills in younger workers in an industry subject to an aging workforce. Registered Training Organisations and government agencies are encouraged to develop innovative ways to increase the uptake of pathways and to ensure retention through the range of qualifications completed.

Role of wireless body area networks in intelligent transportation systems: A survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishu Chhabra ◽  
S. Beski Prabaharan ◽  
Rashmi Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Transportation Systems ◽  
Intelligent Transportation System ◽  
Intelligent Transportation ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Body Sensors

: The employment of wireless body sensors for different applications like healthcare and transportation systems has been a key research area. The hybrid systems that combine the wearable wireless sensor technology for safety applications in transportation infrastructure to save the life of the drivers and Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) like cyclists and pedestrians is another step towards the aim of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to improve safety on roads. The systems in the literature involve the use of sensors fixed on or around the body of the driver and/or pedestrian, sensors embedded in smart devices like smartphone, smartwatch, and tablets etc. to alert the drivers and pedestrians in advance to prevent the probability of collision and prevent road accidents. The sensors are able to detect the behavior of the driver and identify whether he/she is fit for driving a vehicle. The presence of a distracted pedestrian is another cause of collision and the nearby vehicles should be informed about the same. In this paper, different systems in the literature that employ wireless body sensors to improve safety of the commute have been reviewed. The techniques reviewed in this paper focus on safety of the driver, VRU/pedestrian and both. The paper concludes by presenting key challenges and future research directions to prevent accidents by the integration of wireless body sensor network as a part of intelligent transportation system.

scholarly journals Occupational Health and Safety in the Kuwait Construction Industry: The Rationale for Research

1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Robertson ◽  
Felicity Lamm
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Workplace Health

Over half of all construction businesses in Kuwait are small firms employing fewer than 10 employees, most of whom are contingent, migrant workers. There is also anecdotal evidence that the practice of employing illegal migrant labour in the Kuwaiti construction industry, particularly amongst sub-contracting firms, is rife. There are disturbing indications that the injury and illness rate amongst construction workers is extremely high. The paper will present the rationale for the proposed study and highlight the characteristics of the Kuwaiti construction industry. A brief review of the literature outlined in the paper will also attempt resolve (or not) the following questions: what are the intersections between the literature on contingent workers and the literature on OHS in the construction industry? In addition, what does the research literature say on the extension to which cultural factors shape employers' practices and attitudes toward employment relations and workplace health and safety? Finally, areas for future research on the topic will he identified and mapped out.

scholarly journals The structural reuse of Pinus Radiata in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Nicholas Henry David Forbes
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Pinus Radiata ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Bending Test ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Material Strength ◽  
Timber Frame ◽  
Treated Timber

<p>Masses of used Copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber is deposited into landfill from light timber framed building deconstruction every year. This research explores the structural integrity of CCA treated timber and the feasibility of its re-use within the construction industry. To answer this question an appropriate methodology has been designed to achieve quality results. The first part of the methodology was to identify the profit margin for pinus radiata through communicating with individuals in the current market. This market all works around the concept that to reuse there needs to be a significant buying community as it needs to generate MONEY. Through doing this it was identified that only a few companies in New Zealand reuse CCA treated timber and the ways of which it is re-used varies greatly between companies. Some firms pull the nails out due to health and safety reasons, while others leave them in due to the overall cost of the sale. This gives a good understanding on what everyone is doing across the country and allows for the sale market to be set at $2.00 a meter, which if done correctly comes in at around $0.16 a meter of profit.  The next part of the methodology required a physical assessment of material itself in order to establish its structural integrity and identify other potential barriers to its reuse. This section covered all other possibilities to pinus radiata focusing on the different timber which have the same properties, and focus on separate treatments which will also conduct the same issues as CCA. This all found that there is much research to consider, which placed New Zealand in an area of profit, as any of these documents could be the focus point and all could eventually relieve CCA from the industry.  Existing research identifies how the use of CCA treated timber can be prevented, but does not consider the diversion of existing treated timber being deposited into landfill. The lack of research into the re-use of CCA treated timber is the main barrier found in this thesis. This required the series of events which occur between building deconstruction and deposition into landfill to be clearly defined, before they could be changed. The changes to how CCA treated timber is processed after deconstruction has the potential to divert the material from landfill for re-use. The primary addition to this process was an assessment of the strength which it holds. To accomplish this a three point bending test was carried out on each member, finding the alternate strength and the modulus of elasticity (MOE). These two figures could then be directly compared to NZS 3603:1993 timber structural standards allowing their long term history of testing to be the comparative point (New Zealand Government, 1993).  With the two figures it was found that all of this material strength was 91% above the minimum strength grading of SG6, and 55% above the next area of SG8, which is the most commonly used framing timber. Although through doing this there was hope for the material to present themselves with a way of finding the general strength with minimal tools, this is not present in the research.  The most important finding of this research is that CCA treated timber is strong enough to be placed straight back into the construction industry and re-used for light timber frame construction. Future research is needed into the additional education required of builders in order for them to confidently re-use the timber in construction.</p>

scholarly journals The effect of OHS costs on accident severity rate in the construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1076-1087
Author(s):  
Zeynep Feride Olcay ◽  
Gülümser Ünkaya ◽  
Gunay Deniz Dursun
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Unit Costs ◽  
Accident Severity ◽  
Work Accidents ◽  
Lost Time ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Training

Due to its dynamic nature, rapid technology change, uneducated employees, harsh working conditions, many work accidents, and heavy consequences of accidents, occupational health and safety (OHS) practices are essential in the construction industry. However, occupational Health and Safety measures in the construction industry come with additional costs. Therefore, employers who have to bear a cost to take OHS measures may consider OHS costs unnecessary without considering the costs they will bear after work accidents and occupational diseases. This research aims to estimate the optimal costs of OHS budgets to reduce the number of accidents with lost time injury and whether the carried costs for occupational health and safety in the construction industry impact the lost time injuries. Therefore, OHS costs in the construction industry are grouped into eight categories: fire, work equipment, electricity, health, personal protective equipment, general equipment, training and occupational health and safety service costs. This research is based on the standard unit costs set for the 8 OHS criteria required by the OHS laws, accident severity rates and actual unit costs that the projects have carried for five years for the construction of 15 buildings with 220.000 m2- 500.000 m2 indoor space which is located in Istanbul Turkey, started in 2013 and completed in 2017. Since the research was conducted before January 1, 2020, there is no requirement for an ethics committee permission document. According to the research results, as the costs of occupational health and safety services, fire and training increased, accident severity rates has decreased. However, the impact of other variables on accident severity rates was not statistically significant. Thus, construction enterprises that want to decrease the accident severity rates in their projects need to emphasise occupational health and safety services, fire, and training criteria.

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