Measurement and Risk Scales of Crane-Related Safety Factors on Construction Sites
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 135, Issue 10
Abstract
This paper addresses quantitative measurement and risk scales of safety hazards on construction sites due to the work of tower cranes. Hazard measurement and risk scales are essential components of an integrated model aimed at quantitatively determining the safety level of individual construction sites, on a comparative basis. The paper focuses on two factors identified in earlier studies as considerably affecting safety on sites with tower cranes, “overlapping cranes” and “operator proficiency.” These two factors are inherently different from each other in their characteristics and therefore also in the methods used to measure both the factors and the risk resulting from them. A probability-based method was prescribed for the measurement of overlapping cranes, while the analytical hierarchy process method and knowledge elicitation from experts were applied to develop metrics for operator proficiency. In both cases, an intimate understanding of the crane work environment is necessary. The uniform format and specific methodologies presented here can be used in the development of measurement techniques and risk scales for other safety factors concerning crane operation on construction sites.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the equipment and safety professionals who were interviewed for this study, and particularly Shlomo Carmel (Solel Boneh Ltd.), Yaakov Gutenberg (Ashtrom Ltd.), and Shaul Carmel (Danya Cebus Ltd.). This research was supported by the Manof Fund for Safety and Hygiene at the Workplace, National Insurance Institute of Israel.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 135 • Issue 10 • October 2009
Pages: 979 - 989
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 2, 2008
Accepted: Mar 9, 2009
Published online: Apr 30, 2009
Published in print: Oct 2009
Authors
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