Journal of Construction Engineering, Management & Innovation

Yusuph Bakari Mhando

Abstract: Inefficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is generally seen by many construction industries around the world as a catalyst for increasing accidents, diseases, illness and fatalities at workplaces. The study investigates on the factors inhibiting efficient use of PPE among construction workers at Arusha urban. Data used in this study was derived from both primary and secondary sources. Secondary data was collected from a detailed review of relevant literature to the theme investigated. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire aimed at 60 respondents (engineers, technicians and tradesmen) who have knowledge and experience of construction activities. And 42 questionnaire forms were received constituting 70 per cent response rate which was considered adequate for data analysis. The rated variables were ranked with regard to their importance and occurrence. Findings revealed that business as usual and violations of work ethics were issues of concern related to factors of inefficient use of PPE. The critical factors included lack of awareness on OHS issues, inappropriate use of PPE and negligence to provide PPE respectively. It was also found that Poor supervision on the use of PPE could be significant factor inhibiting efficient use of PPE. Though thermal discomfort was ranked the lowest with regard to inefficient use of PPE, it could be significant to some parts of the country with high temperature. The study suggests that there should be routine revision of OHS governing rules to respond to emerging challenges related to health and safety in the construction industry.

https://doi.org/10.31462/jcemi.2021.01001011

Gözde Tantekin Çelik Serkan Aydınlı Siamak Bazaati

In this study, safety net applications, which are used as a collective protection measure in high-rise building constructions, in small and medium sized enterprises were investigated. For this purpose, safety net inspection form has implemented to building construction sites in Turkey and Iran. Study is focused on not only the presence of safety measures, but also the importance of correct application. In addition, it is aimed to draw attention to both the failures in the safety net applications and the general approaches to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measures and awareness levels of the practitioners. Results show that there are many shortcomings in the safety nets in construction sites. The prominent shortcomings are determined as testing and labeling of safety nets. Moreover, factors that reduce the effectiveness of the safety net are observed frequently. The level of deficiencies varies by the level of detail of legal regulations and standards in the country. This paper makes important contributions to research field on the effectiveness of working at height measures.

https://doi.org/10.31462/jcemi.2021.01012021

Muizz Oladapo Sanni-Anibire Rosli M. Zin Sunday O. Olatunji

The construction industry is witnessing a rapid rise in tall building projects due to an anticipated urban population explosion. However, this building typology has been subject to time overruns and total abandonment due to an underestimation of the project duration. Consequently, this paper presents the development of a model to predict the construction duration of tall building projects. In developing the model, a suite of machine learning algorithms were adopted including Multi-Linear Regression Analysis (MLRA), k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Ensemble Methods. Thus, twelve models were developed in the process, and the most efficient model was selected. The procedure described in this study presents researchers and practitioners with a strategy to enhance the time performance of tall building projects through the adoption of modern digital technologies such as machine learning. The proposed model was based on an ensemble method using ANN as the combiner, with a Correlation Coefficient (R2) of 0.69, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 301.72 and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 18%.

https://doi.org/10.31462/jcemi.2021.01022036

Aynur Kazaz İkbal ERBAS Ridvan SIMSEK

Occupational accidents have become a globalized problem not only in certain countries but also all over the world. The structure of the construction sector developing in integration with technological change shaped by the necessity of meeting the human needs reaching serious dimensions emerges as a result of globalization and for this reason, it makes occupational health measures more important every passing day. Thus, the construction sector which is the leading sector with regards to the cause of occupational accidents, needs the required field works and academic studies in order to take indispensable measures and precautions in terms of occupational health and safety culture and discipline. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the trends of occupational accidents on city basis and to obtain risk ranking. In this direction, the contributions of cities to occupational accidents have been evaluated by multi-criteria decision-making methods, which cities required the most measures in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) have been determined and the data have been evaluated specific to the construction industry. ENTROPY weighting method has been used to determine the significance of interaction between years and occupational accident years. According to the results of PROMETHEE II, GRA and OCRA MCDM (Multi Criteria Decision Making) methods, the cities where occupational accidents are of the highest importance have been identified as Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, respectively.

https://doi.org/10.31462/jcemi.2021.01037051

Semra Comu Ayça Yetişkin Elibol Büşra Yücel

Commercial real estate investments play a direct role in economic welfare, yet they are high-risk investments, especially in developing countries. If the risk factors directly affecting the project objectives are not analyzed correctly, financial losses are inevitable in Commercial Real Estate Development (CRED) projects. In this respect, this study aims to identify and prioritize the risk factors and introduce an Analytic Network Process (ANP) model to assess the risks in CRED projects in developing countries. The findings of this study reveal the importance of “Exchange rate and inflation rate fluctuations,” “Political instability,” and “Location selection” risk factors for CRED projects in developing countries. Five case studies are also conducted to test and support the effectiveness of the proposed model. The proposed model provides a clear perspective for decision-makers or stakeholders of the CRED projects to assess their risk criteria in order to take proper actions.

https://doi.org/10.31462/jcemi.2021.01052067