Development of a Cost-Effective Proximity Warning System for Fall Protection
Publication: Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
ABSTRACT
Falling from heights remains a major safety concern on construction sites worldwide. In 2020, falls accounted for approximately 34.8% of the deaths in construction in the US. Previous studies have proposed a range of construction technology applications for fall hazard identification and protection. However, few technologies are applicable in real-time scenarios on construction sites, and some of them create a certain level of interruption to operations, as physical attachments to the human body or personal protection equipment are required. The objective of this study is to propose a real-time proximity warning system for fall hazard detection and protection with limited interruptions to operations. The proposed system integrates a microprocessor board, multiple ultrasonic distance sensors, and an early fall alarm with a buzzer. When the sensor unit detects a worker’s movement in a pre-identified hazard zone, the early fall alarm will activate, warning the worker to stay alert and take precautionary measures to prevent fall-related injuries. The proposed system is intended to serve as a supplementary measure for fall protection and prevention, in addition to existing measures.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
Pages: 375 - 382
History
Published online: Jan 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Construction engineering
- Construction equipment
- Construction management
- Construction sites
- Disaster preparedness
- Disaster risk management
- Disaster warning systems
- Engineering fundamentals
- Equipment and machinery
- Financial management
- Occupational safety
- Practice and Profession
- Probe instruments
- Protective structures
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Safety
- Structural engineering
- Structures (by type)
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