Consequence of Industrialized Construction Methods on the Working Environment

Peter Simonsson¹ & Romuald Rwamamara²

Abstract

Traditionally, the working environment has been poor especially when it comes to steel reinforcement and concrete casting on construction sites. Industrialised construction methods such as self compacting concrete (SCC) casting and prefabricated steel reinforcement are creating a basis for an improved working environment. By using these methods, it is assumed that the cost for sick leaves due to ergonomic injuries and accidents are reduced as health and safety risks inherent to the traditional working methods are decreased. Observations along with video filming and informal interviews were performed. With a sequence-based activity method ErgoSAM, an ergonomic risk analysis was conducted. The analysis showed that industrialised methods reduced ergonomic workload on concrete workers. The industrialisation of the production process through the introduction of innovative construction methods has benefited the construction workplace environment as well as the customer value in terms of improved material handling, elimination of additional adverse affect on health of handling vibrating tools, reduced on site congestion and reduced over all material costs.

Keywords

Working environment, Steel reinforcement, Concrete casting, Industrialisation, Lean construction.

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Reference

Simonsson, P. & Rwamamara, R. 2007. Consequence of Industrialized Construction Methods on the Working Environment, 15th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 302-311. doi.org/

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