Electronic Safety Devices For Construction Workers

Purpose

Develop two electronic safety devices: (1) a moving hazard warning device to protect construction workers from being struck by or trapped between or beneath construction equipment and (2) an edge detector device to prevent worker falls from roofs and open-sided floors and platforms.

Research Summary

The U.S. construction industry, with 6.0% of total employment, accounts for 8% of the total number of injuries and illnesses and 17% of the total number of fatalities. ?Struck-by a moving object? and ?caught in, under, or between? type accidents account for 13.6% of the total number of accidents at construction worksites and cost $297 million annually. Falls through floor openings, shafts, decks, and open platforms account for 6.2% of the total number of construction accidents and cost about $227 million annually. At present, engineering controls to prevent these accidents do not exist.

To reduce these accidents, tow devices that feature the use of ultrasonic sensors powered by small rechargeable batteries and controlled by microchips are being developed. Each safety device will be the size of a pager and built into the back of a tool belt. The devices will warn a worker via an audible and/or vibration alarm whenever he or she is too close to approaching equipment or the edge of a roof or open-sided floor.

A prototype device for detecting floor openings and the edges of platforms has been developed. The batteries to power the device for one full work-week of 50 hours are still being investigated. Worker acceptability will be tested after a final design of the device is produced.

A prototype of the moving hazard warning device, which will warn a construction worker if a heavy equipment is approaching from behind, is currently being tested in both the laboratory and the field. Limitations in the distance over which the ultrasonic sensors can detect moving equipment have been a major factor impeding the progress on the device. It may be necessary to customize the ultrasonic sensor. However, if the sensor fails to detect an object at an adequate distance under all weather conditions, we may evaluate the use of radio-frequency sensors.

Status

Point of Contact

Edward Coonly, ViTech Systems, Inc. Phone: (716) 689-4025.

References

Disclaimer Statement

This research is a part of "A Compendium of NIOSH Construction Research 2002" published by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH Publication No. 2003-103). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this research are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Construction Safety Alliance.

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