Fall Risk Assessment for Vertical Formwork Activities in Construction
Publication: ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
Volume 9, Issue 4
Abstract
Vertical formwork in construction accounts for many fatal falls and injuries, among all other activities. Experts believe that an effective risk assessment could enhance safety performance by preventing accidents and injuries at the site. Despite the fact that little research has focused on quantifying the overall safety risks of formwork operations, vertical formwork activities that pose the risk of falls have been uncharted. This study aimed to assess the activity-based fall risks associated with vertical formwork. First, the formwork activities that pose the risk of falls were identified through observations, and industry professionals validated the descriptions of the resulting activities. Next, the Delphi method was employed with a panel of 13 construction experts. The identified activities were presented to experts to quantify each formwork activity based on probability and severity scales developed in prior research. Results indicated that the formwork panel stripping and erection have the highest risk of falls during vertical formwork operations. The findings of this study could help contracting companies target high-risk activities associated with vertical formwork for fall prevention safety programs.
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Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Published In
ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
Volume 9 • Issue 4 • December 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 11, 2022
Accepted: Jun 6, 2023
Published online: Jul 18, 2023
Published in print: Dec 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Dec 18, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Accidents
- Business management
- Concrete construction
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Construction methods
- Disaster risk management
- Formwork (concrete construction)
- Geotechnical engineering
- Geotechnical investigation
- Occupational safety
- Practice and Profession
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Risk management
- Safety
- Site investigation
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