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Article
Publication date: 16 October 2023

Dongqiang Cao and Lianhua Cheng

In the evolution process of building construction accidents, there are key nodes of risk change. This paper aims to quickly identify the key nodes and quantitatively assess the…

179

Abstract

Purpose

In the evolution process of building construction accidents, there are key nodes of risk change. This paper aims to quickly identify the key nodes and quantitatively assess the node risk. Furthermore, it is essential to propose risk accumulation assessment method of building construction.

Design/methodology/approach

Authors analyzed 419 accidents investigation reports on building construction. In total, 39 risk factors were identified by accidents analysis. These risk factors were combined with 245 risk evolution chains. Based on those, Gephi software was used to draw the risk evolution network model for building construction. Topological parameters were applied to interpret the risk evolution network characteristic.

Findings

Combining complex network with risk matrix, the standard of quantitative classification of node risk level is formulated. After quantitative analysis of node risk, 7 items of medium-risk node, 3 items of high-risk node and 2 items of higher-risk nodes are determined. The application results show that the system risk of the project is 44.67%, which is the high risk level. It can reflect the actual safety conditions of the project in a more comprehensive way.

Research limitations/implications

This paper determined the level of node risk only using the node degree and risk matrix. In future research, more node topological parameters that could be applied to node risk, such as clustering coefficients, mesoscopic numbers, centrality, PageRank, etc.

Practical implications

This article can quantitatively assess the risk accumulation of building construction. It would help safety managers could clarify the system risk status. Moreover, it also contributes to reveal the correspondence between risk accumulation and accident evolution.

Originality/value

This study comprehensively considers the likelihood, consequences and correlation to assess node risk. Based on this, single-node risk and system risk assessment methods of building construction systems were proposed. It provided a promising method and idea for the risk accumulation assessment method of building construction. Moreover, evolution process of node risk is explained from the perspective of risk accumulation.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 October 2024

Lianhua Cheng, Huina Ren, Huimin Guo and Dongqiang Cao

Safety cognitive ability is a key factor influencing unsafe behavior. However, the existing achievements have not yet involved the division of the hierarchical relationship of…

Abstract

Purpose

Safety cognitive ability is a key factor influencing unsafe behavior. However, the existing achievements have not yet involved the division of the hierarchical relationship of factors influencing safety cognition and lack a quantitative evaluation system of safety cognitive ability. The purpose of this paper is to find out the deficiencies in the safety cognition of workers in high-risk construction positions and to provide practical suggestions for improving their safety cognitive ability and reducing unsafe behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the iceberg model, the factors influencing the safety cognitive ability of workers in high-risk construction positions and their hierarchical relationship were determined, and an evaluation index system consisting of four primary indicators and 20 secondary indicators was constructed. The game theory algorithm was used to optimize the subjective and objective weights of the indicators calculated by the sequential analysis method (G1) and the entropy weighting method (EWM) to obtain the optimal combination weight value. The Matlab software was used for cloud mapping and similarity calculation to determine the safety cognitive ability level of the object to be evaluated.

Findings

The research results indicate that the comprehensive level of safety cognitive ability of scaffolders in this construction project is at “Level III”, the fundamental factors and compliance factors are at “Level IV”, the auxiliary factors and driving factors are at “Level III”. This conclusion aligns with the situation learned from the previous field investigation, which validates the feasibility and scientificity of the proposed evaluation method.

Research limitations/implications

Considering that the safety cognitive ability of construction workers is constantly changing, this study has not yet delved into the specific impacts of various influencing factors on the level of safety cognitive ability. Future research can utilize simulation software, such as MATLAB and Vensim, to construct dynamic simulation models that accurately simulate the changing rules of construction workers’ safety cognitive ability under the influence of different factors.

Practical implications

This research broadens the application scope of the iceberg model, enriches the analysis model of the factors influencing the safety cognitive ability of workers in high-risk construction positions and provides a novel perspective for similar research. The safety cognitive ability evaluation method proposed in this paper can not only accurately evaluate the safety cognitive ability level of workers in high-risk positions such as scaffolders but also provide practical suggestions for improving the safety cognitive ability of workers, which is of great significance to improve the safety management level and reduce unsafe behavior in the construction field.

Originality/value

This research fills the research gap of workers in high-risk construction positions and the quantification of safety cognitive ability. The iceberg model is used to realize the hierarchical division of the factors influencing safety cognitive ability. Additionally, an evaluation method for the safety cognitive ability of workers in high-risk construction positions based on the game theory combination weighting method and cloud model is proposed, which realizes the quantitative evaluation of safety cognitive ability.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 September 2022

Lianhua Cheng and Dongqiang Cao

Clarifying the risk evolution mechanism of housing construction for work-safety management is essential. Existing studies have inadequately discussed the risk-accumulation process…

Abstract

Purpose

Clarifying the risk evolution mechanism of housing construction for work-safety management is essential. Existing studies have inadequately discussed the risk-accumulation process in housing construction. Therefore, this study aimed to use the complex network theory and risk allocation mechanisms to explore the evolution of risk factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed a database of housing construction accidents in China from 2015 to 2020 to identify risk factors. Moreover, the causal relationship between risk factors was determined through a systematic analysis of the logical sequence of risk factors. A complex network was used to construct a risk network for housing construction accidents (RNHCA).

Findings

The risk matrix method was used to define the factor risk threshold, and a risk value was assigned based on the correlation between risk factors. This contributes to the examination of the evolution mechanism of risk networks in the process of risk factor transmission. The case verification results show that the RNHCA quantitative assessment model can better evaluate the system risk status of housing construction accidents. Furthermore, this model can identify the key risk factors and risk chains with high risk in the evolution of the risk network.

Research limitations/implications

Accident investigation reports need to be classified and processed to analyse the evolution law of risk networks under different scales of construction project, such as high-rise buildings, middle-rise buildings, and low-rise buildings.

Practical implications

This study clarified the risk evolution process of complex systems in housing construction and provided a new method for analysing accidents.

Originality/value

This study clarifies the risk value allocation of risk factors in the transmission process and reveals the process of risk factor evolution in housing construction. This study explains the individual risk factors that form a systemic risk through the transmission chain. Moreover, this paper clarified the transformation relationship between system risk and accidents. The paper also provided a new perspective for risk analysis.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Wei Chen, Zhuzhang Yang, Hang Yan and Ying Zhao

The construction industry is widely recognized as one of the most hazardous sectors in the world. Despite extensive research on safety management, a critical issue remains that…

Abstract

Purpose

The construction industry is widely recognized as one of the most hazardous sectors in the world. Despite extensive research on safety management, a critical issue remains that insufficient attention is devoted to safety practices in rural areas. Notably, accidents frequently occur during the construction of rural self-built houses (RSH) in China. Safety management tends to be overlooked due to the perceived simplicity of the construction process. Furthermore, it is essential to acknowledge that China currently lacks comprehensive laws and regulations governing safety management in RSH construction. This paper aims to analyze the behavior of key stakeholders (including households, workmen, rural village committee and the government) and propose recommendations to mitigate safety risks associated with RSH construction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies evolutionary game theory to analyze the symbiotic evolution among households, workmen and rural village committee, in situations with or without government participation. Additionally, numerical simulation is utilized to examine the outcomes of various strategies implemented by the government.

Findings

Without government participation, households, workmen, and rural village committee tend to prioritize maximizing apparent benefits, often overlooking the potential safety risks. Numerical simulations reveal that while government involvement can guide these parties towards safer decisions, achieving the desired outcomes necessitates the adoption of reasonable and effective strategies. Thus, the government needs to offer targeted subsidies to these stakeholders.

Originality/value

Considering that during the construction phase, stakeholders are the main administrators accountable for safety management. However, there exists insufficient research examining the impact of stakeholder behavior on RSH construction safety. This study aims to analyze the behavior of stakeholders about how to reduce the safety risks in building RSH. Thus, the authors intend to contribute to knowledge in this area by establishing evolutionary game model. Firstly, this study carried out a theoretical by using tripartite evolutionary game to reveal the reasons for the high safety risk during building RSH. Practically, this research points out the important role of households, workmen and rural village committee in improving safety management in rural areas. Besides, some suggestions are proposed to the government about how to reduce construction safety risks in rural areas.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

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