Quantitative Assessment of the State of Threat of Working on Construction Scaffolding

Abstract

Working at height, and especially on construction scaffolding, is one of the most accident-prone situations on a construction site. The article attempts to assess the state of threat of working on scaffolding on the basis of the proposed coefficients concerning the possibility of an occupational accident occurring. The article presents the analysis of 10 parameters, which were classified into three groups of factors that cause accidents: technical, organizational, and human factors. In order to assess the state of threat of working on scaffolding, partial hazard factors and a simplified and accurate factor of the state of threat of working were proposed. The coefficients were determined on the basis of the data collected from post-accidental control reports on occupational accidents occurring on scaffolding in the construction industry that took place in Poland in five voivodeships in the years 2008–2017, and also on the basis of the obtained results of research on 120 scaffoldings conducted in the years 2016–2018. Based on the determined factors, it was possible to determine the probability of an undesirable event, in other words, an occupational accident. In addition, the developed test method proposed numerical scales for assessing the state of threat of working on scaffolding. The form proposed in the article for assessing the state of threat of working on scaffolding, which was developed using a spreadsheet, can provide support for people managing work at workstations involving scaffolding, for example, construction directors, construction engineers, work managers, or construction managers.

Comparative Analysis of Degree of Risk between the Frequency Aspect and Probability Aspect Using Integrated Uncertainty Method Considering Work Type and Accident Type in Construction Industry

“…Second, research about the investigation of fatal incidents at a construction work site was reviewed [12,19,20,27,28]. Sawicki and Szóstak (2020) assessed quantitative analysis about an accident at a scaffold work site in Poland.…”

“…Second, research about the investigation of fatal incidents at a construction work site was reviewed [12,19,20,27,28]. Sawicki and Szóstak (2020) assessed quantitative analysis about an accident at a scaffold work site in Poland. The scaffold work site was assessed as dangerous the more the worker lacked experience, the higher the height of the work, and the smaller the company size [12].…”

“…Sawicki and Szóstak (2020) assessed quantitative analysis about an accident at a scaffold work site in Poland. The scaffold work site was assessed as dangerous the more the worker lacked experience, the higher the height of the work, and the smaller the company size [12]. Suárez-Cebador et al (2014) analyzed 2776 accidents involving electrical construction in Spain from 2003 to 2008.…”

“…Before taking action to reduce and eliminate fatal incidents in the construction business, the degree of risk should be evaluated in advance. When identifying the degree of risk in consideration of work types and accident types, the prevention action can be conducted to reduce and eliminate the occurrence of fatal incidents [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The degree of risk can be assessed by quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis, simultaneously [2].…”

A Framework for Systematic Assessment of Human Error in Construction Sites – A Sustainable Approach

“…Construction sites have been overwhelmed by a large number amount of work-related accidents and injuries [12]. This is mainly due to the lack of safety and ignorance among the workers [13,14]. Statistically, construction industries record a huge number of fatal & non-fatal injuries throughout the world and are considered to be one of the highly hazardous occupations [15].…”