Data flow analysis of plant and equipment health and safety management

Abstract

Purpose

Construction plant and equipment accident statistics suggest constant re‐evaluation of health and safety (H&S) systems is beneficial. This paper aims to process analyse plant and equipment H&S management systems on UK construction sites, with a view to applying information and communication technology (ICT) to them as an improvement mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Five construction project case studies drawn from members of the former Major Contractors Group yield rich H&S process data. These are analysed using data flow diagram (DFD) techniques, to evaluate processes and proffer system improvements incorporating ICT.

Findings

Causes of unsafe practice regarding management of construction plant and equipment are found to include: aspects of the plant itself, management processes and operator competence. A new ICT “process paradigm” is suggested, the architecture of which incorporates mobile computing, automatic identification and data collection and a management information system.

Research limitations/implications

Findings contribute particularly to the fields of plant and equipment; and managing H&S.

Practical implications

Suggested ICT direction might form the basis of commercial interest in developing an all‐embracing H&S control mechanism for plant and equipment operations.

Originality/value

Application of DFD analysis in this setting is quite new.

Citation

Riaz, Z., Edwards, D.J., Holt, G.D. and Thorpe, T. (2011), "Data flow analysis of plant and equipment health and safety management", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 178-203. https://doi.org/10.1108/17260531111151069