Prevention through design: Promising or Perilous? American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law’s “Hot Topic” November 3, 2015 T. Michael Toole, PhD, PE, F. ASCE Assoc. Dean of Engineering and Professor, Civil and Env. Engineering Bucknell University Based on past presentations with John Gambatese, PhD, PE Professor, Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University Design and construction is evolving, with new types of contracts requiring new types of entities following new processes. Such changes may be motivated by reasonable project goals but bring unanticipated risks. The increased focus on construction site safety and the increased recognition of integrated design and construction has led to an innovative safety management technique called Prevention through Design (also known as Design for Construction Safety and Safety by Design). Prevention through Design (PtD) calls for design professionals to explicitly consider the safety of construction (and sometimes maintenance) workers during the design process. This process has been required in Europe for nearly a decade and is now being adopted within the U.S. by large, safety-conscious owners. Is PtD an effective application of social sustainability principles that will diffuse through the U.S. construction industry, or is PtD a dangerous innovation that should be resisted by risk management professionals until critical issues are resolved? A proponent of PtD will summarize and provide examples of the concept and answer questions about the recognized and unrecognized challenges to this emerging safety management method.

Overview Concept Motivation Examples Leaders and Processes Prevention through Design = Design for Safety = Safety by Design Concept Motivation Examples Leaders and Processes Potential Barriers and Solutions Processes Tools and equipment Products Work methods and organization of work Work premises and facilities

Prevention through Design (PtD) “Addressing occupational safety and health needs in the design process to prevent or minimize the work- related hazards and risks associated with the construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, materials, and equipment.” (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ptd/)

PtD in Construction is… Explicitly considering construction safety in the design of a project. Being conscious of and valuing the safety of construction workers when performing design tasks. Making design decisions based in part on a design element's inherent safety risk to construction workers. “Safety Constructability”

Why PtD? Annual Construction Accidents in U.S. Nearly 200,000 serious injuries Nearly 900 deaths

Why PTD? Design-safety links 22% of 226 injuries that occurred from 2000- 2002 in Oregon, WA, and CA1 42% of 224 fatalities in US between 1990- 20031 60% of fatal accidents resulted in part from decisions made before site work began2 63% of all fatalities and injuries could be attributed to design decisions or lack of planning3 1 Behm, M., “Linking Construction Fatalities to the Design for Construction Safety Concept” (2005) 2 European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions 3 NSW WorkCover, CHAIR Safety in Design Tool, 2001

Why PTD? Professional Ethics National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics: Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Code of Ethics: Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general public are dependent upon engineering decisions ….

Why Ptd? Sustainability

Ptd’s tie to sustainability Definition of Sustainable Development in Brundtland Commission Report (1987) Focus on people as much as on the environment Meet the needs of people who can’t speak for themselves

Corporate Social Responsibilities “Commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development; “Improve quality of life of the local community and society at large.” “Improve quality of life of the workforce and their families; Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Ptd and Social sustainability/Equity Do not our duties include minimizing all risks that we have control over? Do not we have the same duties for construction, maintenance, line workers as for the “public”? Is it ethical to create designs that are not as safe as they could (practically) be?

Design has major leverage The Right thing to do and… The Smart thing to do

Why Ptd? Bang for the buck Ability to influence safety is greatest early in the project schedule during planning and design (Szymberski, 1997)

Administrative Controls Hierarchy of Controls PtD Elimination Eliminate the hazard during design Higher Substitution Substitute a less-hazardous material or form during design Engineering Controls “Design-in” engineering controls, Incorporate warning systems Reliability of Control Administrative Controls Well-designed work methods & organization PPE Available, effective, easy to use Lower

Why ptd? Tangible benefits Reduced site hazards Fewer worker injuries and fatalities Reduced workers’ compensation premiums Increased productivity and quality Fewer delays due to accidents Improved operations and maintenance safety

Work methods and organization of work Work premises and facilities Overview Concept Motivation Examples Leaders and Processes Potential Barriers and Solutions Processes Tools and equipment Products Work methods and organization of work Work premises and facilities

Example of the Need for PTD Design spec: Dig groundwater monitoring wells at various locations. Wells located directly under overhead power lines. Accident: Worker electrocuted when his drill rig got too close to overhead power lines. Engineer could have: specified wells be dug away from power lines; and/or better informed the contractor of hazard posed by wells’ proximity to powerlines through the plans, specifications, and bid documents.

PTD Example: Anchorage Points

PTD Example: Roofs and Perimeters Parapet walls Skylights Upper story windows

PTD Example: Prefabrication Concrete Wall Panels Concrete Segmented Bridge Steel Stairs

PTD Example: Structural Steel Design Detailing Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Safety Published by the National Institute for Steel Detailing and the Steel Erectors Association of America

The Erector Friendly Column Include holes in columns at 21” and 42” for guardrail cables and at higher locations for fall protection tie-offs Locate column splices and connections at reasonable heights above floor Photo: AISC educator ppt

Provide enough space for making connections

Work methods and organization of work Work premises and facilities Overview Concept Motivation Examples Leaders and Processes Potential Barriers and Solutions Processes Tools and equipment Products Work methods and organization of work Work premises and facilities

URS Corp. PtD Process

DfCS in Practice: Owners USACE Southern Co. BHP Billiton

USACE FACILITY SYSTEMS SAFETY To incorporate systems safety engineering and management practices into a facility life cycle process used in the conceptual phase, planning stages, construction of facilities, and facility reduction (demolition).

FACILITY SYSTEMS SAFETY PATH FORWARD FY 2004 2007 - Present FY 2011 - 2012 FY 2012 FASS Budget Established FASS Training SOH/Designers FASS #2 Goal for USACE Create FASS Program Manual FY 2015 FY 2014 FY 2013 FY 2013 Create a Second FASS Pilot Program Create a FASS Pilot Program at one Districts Review Design Draws with FASS Create FASS Procedures (QMS) FY 2015 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2016/2017 Review Progress with FASS Pilot Programs FASS Mandatory Training to all Employees Implement a FASS Contract to conduct reviews Implement FASS Across USACE

Southern Co.’s Design checklists

BHP BILLITON’S PtD INITIATIVES PtD staff embedded in procurement and design Communication and training PtD in technical specifications Design reviews includes 3D models

PtD Embedded in processes

PtD tools 1) PtD online training 2) PtD flashcards The PtD Program was executed in a staged approach, starting with the roll-out of training modules for the engineering design teams participating in the project. A third-party training firm was contracted to develop three modules that would explain the fundamental concepts of PtD and engage trainees with interactive examples. Over 700 design engineers, and vendors have been trained to date Developed the PtD Flashcard to act as a memory aid: While the initial training course proved effective in teaching designers the fundamentals of PtD, the principle concepts were often forgotten over time. A flashcard was devised and distributed as a quick reference guide for the Hierarchy of Controls and common risk mitigation techniques

PtD tools, Continued 3) PtD posters Increased PtD program exposure: numerous posters and slide presentations were developed and distributed to promote active involvement with the PtD program.

ELIMINATE Hazards

National Initiatives and Activities NIOSH PtD National Initiative PtD Workshops: July 2007 and August 2011 NORA Construction Sector Council CHPtD Workgroup OSHA Construction Alliance Roundtable ANSI/ASSE PtD Standard (Z590.3-2011) ANSI PtD Workgroup/White Paper

USGBC LEED PtD Pilot Initiative

Overview Potential Barriers and Solutions Concept Motivation Examples Prevention through Design = Design for Safety = Safety by Design Concept Motivation Examples Leaders and Processes Potential Barriers and Solutions Processes Tools and equipment Products Work methods and organization of work Work premises and facilities

Potential Barriers to PtD Designer’s lack of safety expertise Increased design fees Designer’s fear of liability

Barrier: Designers' Lack of Safety Expertise Barrier: Few design professionals possess sufficient expertise in construction safety. Potential solutions: Involve construction professionals in design review. Develop and distribute PtD tools. Add safety to design professionals’ curricula. Develop training modules for design professionals.

Barrier: Increased Design Costs Barrier: PtD processes will increase both direct and overhead costs for designers. Potential solution: Educate owners that total project costs and total project life cycle costs will decrease.

Barrier: Designers' Fear of Liability Barrier: Fear of undeserved liability for worker safety. Potential solutions: Communicate designers should not be held responsible for construction accidents. Develop revised model contract language. Work with insurance carriers and attorneys. Start with lowest level of PtD activity.

Levels of PtD implementation Level 1: Invisible PtD Process PtD not mentioned during AE selection. AE considers safety constructability input during design progress reviews. Level 2: Added PtD Process PtD not addressed in RFP proposal documents but AE verbally agrees to participate in a PtD process if appropriate disclaimer included in contract. AE sends designers to PtD training given by owner or CM. AE is given PtD design tools by owner or CM and uses them. AE considers safety constructability input during design reviews.

Levels of PtD implementation, Cont. Level 3: Most Embedded PtD Process AE PtD capability explicitly included in AE section. AE has internal PtD training program. AE chooses and uses PtD tools. AE has internal safety design reviews. Safety constructability input from Owner and Contractor incorporated into design. AE actively solicits feedback on safety of final design and uses lessons learned system.

Summary Barriers to PtD include fear of litigation PtD is design safety constructability PtD offers cost, time and quality benefits PtD is tied with sustainability, CSR, ethics PtD implemented by successful organizations

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST Mike Toole ttoole@bucknell.edu www.designforconstructionsafety.org