Prevention through Design Practice and Research: A U.S. Construction Industry Perspective John A. Gambatese Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA T. Michael Toole Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, USA Michael G. Behm East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

What is Prevention through Design (PtD)? The process of addressing construction site safety and health in a project’s design. The process of addressing construction site safety and health in a project’s design. Construction site safety as a design criterionConstruction site safety as a design criterion Focus on the design of the permanent facilityFocus on the design of the permanent facility “Safety constructability”“Safety constructability” Designing for construction safety (DfCS)Designing for construction safety (DfCS) PtD is not: PtD is not: Specifying means and methods of constructionSpecifying means and methods of construction Control of, or responsibility for, safety on the construction siteControl of, or responsibility for, safety on the construction site

PtD in the U.S. Interest in PtD is growing, but PtD is currently not part of standard practice Interest in PtD is growing, but PtD is currently not part of standard practice Barriers: Barriers: OSHA’s placement of safety responsibilityOSHA’s placement of safety responsibility Designer education and trainingDesigner education and training Lack of design tools, guidelines, proceduresLack of design tools, guidelines, procedures Designer’s limited role on the project teamDesigner’s limited role on the project team Designer’s traditional viewpoint on construction worker safetyDesigner’s traditional viewpoint on construction worker safety Lack of understanding of the associated liabilityLack of understanding of the associated liability Absence of legislative mandateAbsence of legislative mandate

National Initiatives OSHA OSHA Construction Alliance Roundtable DfCS WorkgroupConstruction Alliance Roundtable DfCS Workgroup NIOSH NIOSH NORA Construction Sector Council CHPtD WorkgroupNORA Construction Sector Council CHPtD Workgroup Prevention through Design National Workshop (July 2007)Prevention through Design National Workshop (July 2007)

Kick-off for national PtD initiative Kick-off for national PtD initiative Gathered together leaders in PtD in all industries Gathered together leaders in PtD in all industries 225 participants225 participants Results to form strategy for national initiative Results to form strategy for national initiative Focus groups organized by: Focus groups organized by: Industry (Construction, Manufacturing, etc.)Industry (Construction, Manufacturing, etc.) Function (Research, Policy, Practice, Education)Function (Research, Policy, Practice, Education) NIOSH Workshop

Construction Sector Needs PtD Practice: PtD Practice: Availability of tools and resourcesAvailability of tools and resources Address liability exposureAddress liability exposure Increased awarenessIncreased awareness Case studies Case studies Link to sustainability Link to sustainability

Construction Sector Needs PtD Policy: PtD Policy: Define what PtD means to constructionDefine what PtD means to construction Modify standard contractsModify standard contracts Regulatory changes not desiredRegulatory changes not desired

Construction Sector Needs PtD Education: PtD Education: Continuing educationContinuing education Offered through professional organizations Offered through professional organizations University educationUniversity education Need to engage faculty Need to engage faculty Industry Advisory Board input Industry Advisory Board input Development of teaching and educational resourcesDevelopment of teaching and educational resources

Research Needs Economic/business case for PtD Economic/business case for PtD Determine economic impact of PtDDetermine economic impact of PtD Determine impact on other project criteria:Determine impact on other project criteria: Productivity, quality, etc. Productivity, quality, etc. Assessments should consider human, environmental, and social costs and benefitsAssessments should consider human, environmental, and social costs and benefits Development of cost-benefit modelDevelopment of cost-benefit model

Research Needs Design-related causality of occupational injuries and illnesses Design-related causality of occupational injuries and illnesses How to assess design-related causalityHow to assess design-related causality Connection between specific design features and worker safety and healthConnection between specific design features and worker safety and health Needed to conduct the research:Needed to conduct the research: Better surveillance data Better surveillance data Consider both injury frequency and severity Consider both injury frequency and severity

Accidents Linked to Design 1,2 22% of 226 injuries that occurred from in Oregon, WA, and CA 22% of 226 injuries that occurred from in Oregon, WA, and CA 42% of 224 fatalities in the U.S. between % of 224 fatalities in the U.S. between In Europe, a 1991 study concluded that 60% of fatal accidents resulted in part from decisions made before sitework began. In Europe, a 1991 study concluded that 60% of fatal accidents resulted in part from decisions made before sitework began. 1 Behm, “Linking Construction Fatalities to the Design for Construction Safety Concept”, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Research Needs Development of PtD devices, tools, and processes Development of PtD devices, tools, and processes Investigate and develop new designsInvestigate and develop new designs Include input from:Include input from: Workers Workers Manufacturers Manufacturers

Research Needs Worker, machine, structure, and environment interaction Worker, machine, structure, and environment interaction How to design to account for human interaction with machines and their work environmentHow to design to account for human interaction with machines and their work environment Address workplace dynamics and organizational cultureAddress workplace dynamics and organizational culture Can be conducted through ethnographic studiesCan be conducted through ethnographic studies Investigate maintenance through lifecycleInvestigate maintenance through lifecycle

Research Needs Diffusion, sustainability, and communication of design innovations Diffusion, sustainability, and communication of design innovations What avenues are available for diffusionWhat avenues are available for diffusion How to measure effectivenessHow to measure effectiveness Determine what drives design communityDetermine what drives design community Incorporate global perspectiveIncorporate global perspective

Research Needs Methodologies for PtD research Methodologies for PtD research How to account for confounding factorsHow to account for confounding factors Develop metrics and measures of performanceDevelop metrics and measures of performance Identify performance benchmarksIdentify performance benchmarks

Research Needs Leveraging methods and technologies from other industry sectors Leveraging methods and technologies from other industry sectors Identify PtD practices in each industry sectorIdentify PtD practices in each industry sector Evaluate transferabilityEvaluate transferability Create clearinghouse of PtD informationCreate clearinghouse of PtD information

Roadmap for PtD Input from all affected parties Input from all affected parties Design, construction, clients, professional organizations, legal counsel, regulatory agencies, etc.Design, construction, clients, professional organizations, legal counsel, regulatory agencies, etc. Look outside construction and U.S. Look outside construction and U.S. Communication of need for PtD Communication of need for PtD Resources to support PtD Resources to support PtD Training and education Training and education Change in mindset/culture Change in mindset/culture

Prevention through Design Practice and Research: A U.S. Construction Industry Perspective Questions? Comments? Questions? Comments? For more information: For more information: