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How Prefabrication and Modularization Can Improve Safety

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How Prefabrication and Modularization Can Improve Safety How Prefabrication and Modularization Can Improve Safety solution for thousands of families ‘bombed out’ during A World War II, offsite construction is becoming more popular today. The benefits of offsite construction include saving time, money and the number of workers required. The Safety The safety benefits involved are the most important reason why the usage of offsite construction should be encouraged. Some of the causes of accidents (falling from heights, perhaps) can be reduced, others like flooding from heavy rainfall can be completely prevented. Benefits Most construction companies are found to use some method of prefabricated construction. The modular construction of an entire property offsite is now becoming more popular. of Offsite Prefabricated vs Modular Construction Any building can be referred to as a prefab if one or more of its’ sections are constructed offsite and carried onsite as part of the building. For a prefab to be described as a modular building, the main components used to create the complete building are Construction made offsite. Unlike panelized or component levels of prefabrication, in modular construction most of the interior and exterior finishes are put into place in the factory. They are up to 80-95% complete when they leave the factory. For example, a plumbing system may be assembled offsite through prefabrication. Through modular construction, a Request a Demo 2 complete bathroom pod could be put together, including an professionals in the US were surveyed online, some involved in installed plumbing system. or introducing offsite construction. Between 2010 and 2016, figures from a survey taken by the FMI/ • 58% who were already involved in offsite construction, BIM (Building Information Modeling) Forum show that project and said safety was the number one reason for its’ work using prefabrication has almost tripled during this time. importance. Also, contractors are now spending 20% of their working hours • 49% of those not involved, said safety was the main in prefabrication, compared to 12% in 2010. reason that they wished to introduce offsite construction. Reasons why offsite construction has become more popular, Looking at the number of worker fatalities in the construction include: industry, it is easy to see why safety is such an important issue. • Time saved In 2015, 4,379 worker fatalities were recorded in the US. 1 in 5 of • Money saved these were in construction. The Fatal Four are recorded as the most common causes of death. • Lower waste levels • Ability for deconstruction and rebuilding The Risk of Constructions’ Fatal Four • Higher quality In 2015, 937 or 21.4% of all American worker fatalities occurred • Safety in the construction industry. 602 of these were caused by one of the Fatal Four: The Importance of Safety 1. Falls 2. Struck by an Object The improvement of safety conditions, working in a controlled, 3. Electrocution permanent environment is an important reason why offsite 4. Caught in Between Objects construction is becoming more popular in the US. Offsite modular construction is important in the UK, since modular construction accounts for 15-20% of the houses built there”. In 2011, 100s of AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) Request a Demo 3 The risk of these hazards causing injury or worse, is significantly • Struck by a falling object reduced through offsite construction. • Hit by a construction vehicle Prevention of the Fatal Four Through Offsite Construction • Crushed or caught in a cave-in of heavy material • Caught in-between cramped machinery 1. Falling From Heights Being provided with a lot more space, a job will be easier to When modular buildings are transported onsite, up to 90% carry out safely in a cooler location, usually with more available of the building could already be constructed. Through offsite oxygen. A cluttered workspace could also obstruct a workers’ construction, more work takes place at ground level. This could view onsite, maybe not even hearing nearby construction reduce the need to work at heights by as much as 80%. vehicles or machinery. Of the hospitalized accidents and fatalities occurring in the 3. Electrocution construction industry, the most common cause of death is falling from heights. These falls are usually the result of The three most common causes of death through electrocution falling from a roof, as well as unstable scaffolding or ladders. are: Permanent scaffolding remains in place offsite, without the need for scaffolding or ladders onsite. • Contact with overhead power lines The danger of falling from heights is even greater in unsafe • Contact with an energized source weather conditions, like a strong wind or thunderstorm. Falling from heights due to weather conditions can be completely • Incorrect use of extension cords prevented through offsite construction. In offsite construction, there is less danger of workers hitting 2. Struck by or Caught in Between Objects an overhead powerline. Most of their onsite construction will take place at a low, safe level. Power tools are more likely to With less machinery, construction vehicles, heavy materials, have a permanent location, without extension cords being and construction workers onsite at any time, there is a lower accidently left across a walking space. They should be kept risk of workers being: in a dry area without exposure to moisture. This could be the cause of wet weather conditions. Request a Demo 4 The Risk of Unsafe Weather Conditions • Delays, if areas need to be pumped dry • Washing away important equipment Weather conditions can often be the reason for losing time onsite, on a day when it could be too dangerous to work in: Ice on a cold construction site can be a dangerous trip hazard, • Strong winds sometimes damaging pipes and other equipment. Fog and heavy rain are two weather conditions that can make visibility poor. A • High or low temperature direct lightning strike could even result in fire. • Lightening • Heavy rain • Fog Strong winds can make it more dangerous to work at heights. The winds have the chance of blowing away important tools or damaging moveable scaffolding. They can also make hearing difficult, even if a large vehicle is moving close by. If construction occurs during times of high temperature; dehydration and tiredness are two common effects. Important Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves could feel too warm to wear. Too much rain can cause problems, such as: • Contaminating certain material • Collapsing of earth moving jobs • Blocking roads and pathways Request a Demo 5 Prevention of Other Safety Risks Local Community disruption There are other safety risks in construction that could be the With less noise and heavy vehicles around, modular construction cause of a minor, sometimes serious injury. causes less disruption for onsite workers, as well as local residents or workplaces. This is more important when extensions Manual handling injuries are being made for schools, hospitals, or active businesses that are still in use and is one of the reasons why the NHS has With repeated jobs taking place in a modern and permanent welcomed modular construction. factory setting; lifting, arranging, and securing different sections of a building can be done using light machinery. Concrete is one Case Study: NHS Adopting Modular Construction of the biggest causes of carbon emission. Materials used such as wood and steel are more popular in modular construction, much The UK National Health Service (NHS) began modular building lighter to carry and easier to recycle. framework in January 2017, when studies showed modular construction could occur 50% faster and cost 30% less. Slips, Trips, and Falls Sometimes extensions are required for buildings that are decades old and needed as soon as possible. Months of onsite Cleaner working conditions, more likely to be maintained in work could cause disruption, especially for hospitals that are in a factory setting, make it less likely for common accidents to use. occur. For example, slipping on a surface where water has been For example, at Croydon hospital a temporary ward space spilled or maybe tripping over objects such as buckets or other was required. ‘Elite Systems’, one of the companies within equipment left outside. Weather conditions could also be the this building framework, craned each constructed single-story reason for slipping on a wet or frozen surface. modular unit over the top of the hospital and into a courtyard. A Comparing offsite to onsite construction areas, studies have week later, the ward was ready for use. shown that the safety of the workstation is considered more important offsite. Designated storage areas are provided for Mike Twizell, the sales director at Elite ‘Systems’ states: equipment and other materials. Also, color coding walkways prevents workers from walking in an unsafe space or leaving any “One of the big bonuses of working with us is that we have equipment on the walkways. used the same subcontractors for many years. They know what is expected of them in terms of performance and workmanship. Request a Demo 6 We have formed a strong bond of trust.” the same time, 30-50% is a common amount of time recorded Benefits for the NHS include: to be saved. Work will not have to be postponed in unsafe weather conditions. • One point of contact for the project involved • Costs are unlikely to change While buildings are constructed offsite, work occurring onsite at • Less onsite work, which could cause disruption in the same time could include: occupied
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