Application of Emerging Technologies to Promote Sustainable Workforce in Construction

Abstract

The construction industry has been one of the most hazardous and waste-generating industries in the United States for decades, due to the unique nature of work and high degree of organizational complexity on jobsites. A number of citations against OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) 29 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 1926 Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, primarily in sections that address fall protection and safety training in construction, appear in OSHA’s annual top 10 list of most frequently cited violations consistently. Innovative, science-based, and technology-driven solutions become more and more utilized in the construction industry. Examples of these solutions include: situated learning approach to improve the effectiveness of training, wearable technology to enhance personal protection, remote-controlled drones to perform various functions specially to improve site security, prevention through design concept to minimize risks, total worker health initiative to advance worker well-being, etc. It is imperative that safety, health, and environmental professionals should attempt to clearly understand the impact of these emerging technologies on construction safety and health, and be able to apply scientific principles to anticipate, identify, analyze, and control workplace hazards within the construction industry. Specifically, the pros and cons of each solution need to be examined and compared in order to identify effective methods to promote sustainable workforce and improve safety and health in construction.