Spatiotemporal Network-Based Model for Dynamic Risk Analysis on Struck-by-Equipment Hazard

Abstract

Having an approach that can analyze and identify safety risks in the dynamic and hazardous construction environment is one of the key steps to the success of health and safety plans. Struck-by-equipment hazard is one of the leading causes of construction injuries and fatalities. Therefore, the primary objective of this paper is to investigate and provide an effective method of safety risk analysis on struck-by-equipment hazard. A spatiotemporal network-based model is developed in this paper which performs dynamic risk analysis on the struck-by-equipment hazard at both entity and network levels. The developed model performs safety risk analysis in a real-time and proactive manner by considering the spatiotemporal interactions among all construction entities (equipment and workers on foot) across the jobsite. Three risk factors of struck-by-equipment hazards were selected, including proximity, blind spots, and velocity. The interactions of the selected factors between entities are quantified and used to generate the network. Three safety leading indicators—degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, and relative risk score—are adopted to represent the risk levels of individual entities and jobsites. The implementation and evaluation of the network-based model with the three leading indicators are conducted and illustrated based on four simulated jobsites. Accordingly, the derived practical applications for risk analysis and hazard identification and prevention are described. The work presented in this paper enables the quantification and analysis of struck-by-equipment risk for both individual entities and jobsites from multiple perspectives. Further insight into the temporal aspects of risk and the safety performance of entities, as well as jobsites, is gained to proactively identify and prevent hazards.