Analysis of Safety Risk in the Design of Multistorey Buildings

Ajina Elsa Chacko, Rinu Mary Varghese

Abstract: The design of the permanent structure being constructed is influenced by construction worker safety and health. Architects and design engineers affect construction worker safety and health through the decision they make in the design process. Inhibitors to implementation of the design for construction safety (DfCS) concept can be considered as lack of designer knowledge about construction processes and limited availability of tools to assist in assessing the safety risk associated with a design. This research involves the quantification of the construction safety risk of each of the design elements present in typical multistory buildings. Absolute safety risks were quantified for all design elements and construction activities using the survey-analytical research method. A Risk Analyzing Tool (RAT) will be designed which will assist building designers to assess the level of construction safety risk associated with their designs and is intended for use by designers during the design phase to create buildings that are safer to construct. The research will contribute to the construction industry body of knowledge by providing quantitative values that link specific design features to construction safety.

Keywords: Risk, DfCS concept, Risk factors, Risk Analyzing Tool, Quantification