Simulation-based safety evaluation model integrated with network schedule

Abstract

Construction accidents often lead to project delays. However, in practice, construction safety and schedule control are managed separately. This work develops an innovative simulation-based model, SimSAFE, that assesses the hazard (or expected accident costs) for each activity in a network schedule. Thus, at any time point, safety managers can pay considerable attention to activities (or paths or working zones) with high expected accident costs. Additionally, by breaking down the uncertainty of an accident cause occurring, SimSAFE provides factor-sensitivity information to support safety risk management. Enhancing knowledge of the safety factors (such as safety training and site environment) to which an activity (or path or zone) is sensitive, and also of the activities (or paths or zones) that are most sensitive to a particular factor can provide management with a better sense of what factors and activities (or paths or zones) need to be controlled for reducing construction accidents, especially for a large project or multiple projects. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.