Construction sites have always been potentially dangerous environments. Things are constantly moving, heavy equipment is in use and work often takes place at heights. Many safety guidelines are necessary to decrease fatal workplace incidents.

Despite the regulations, construction sites are still hazardous. That’s why many architects, construction companies and contractors have decided to switch to prefabrication — more commonly known as modular construction.

What Is Modular Construction?

Modular construction is when a building is constructed at an off-site factory and later assembled on-site. This process involves creating structure models and later assembling the models at the desired location. Modular construction still follows the same principles and regulations as traditional building. The only difference is it is developed off-site.

When much of the building is constructed at the factory, it can save time on projects. A report released in 2019 by Mckinsey & Company states that modular construction can speed up projects by 50% and decrease overall costs by 20%. While many people think that modular construction is a new term, it has been around for years.

The Dangers Construction Workers Face

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are four major causes of death in the construction sector — falls, electrocution, being struck by objects and being caught between them. These four injuries are commonly known as the fatal four.

Another report on the fatal four by the Texas Department of Insurance shows the percentage of each incident that resulted in a fatality in 2021. Here is a quick summary of the study.

Falls resulted in 37% of deaths in the construction sector.
Electrocution caused 8% of construction worker deaths.
Being struck by objects accounted for 8% of construction deaths.
At least 5% of construction worker deaths were caused by being trapped between objects.

How Modular Construction Increases Worker Safety

One of the main benefits of constructing the building off-site is that it is done in a controlled environment. These controlled environments may be smart buildings with a focus on natural light, which can increase workers' mental health in addition to their physical safety.

With traditional construction methods, many vehicles move around, scaffolding is assembled and dissembled, heavy equipment is everywhere and the area where the workers are is unknown. Staff may become trapped between objects, stumbling over tripping hazards or workers falling off scaffolding. At an off-site factory, these risks are drastically reduced. Workers already know the area and are less likely to be caught off guard.

Another advantage is that most off-site work is done at ground level. There’s less need for staff to work at high levels. The structure — which can be a home, apartment or business building — is constructed in models and only assembled at the location. If scaffolding is required at the factory, permanent ones are used.

On-site materials often require welding, grinding or cutting, which can release harmful chemicals into the air and decrease overall air quality. If the proper equipment is not used, it can pose a severe risk to worker safety. With modular construction, the off-site location can be equipped with dust collection systems that improve air quality and increase staff safety. These systems can also reduce the chance of a stray spark causing a fire.

With traditional construction, the weather can also play a role in incidents occurring. Rain can make it harder to focus, obscures vision and can lead to workers slipping on wet surfaces. With prefabrication, the projects are built at an indoor factory. This removes this dangerous aspect from the equation.

Modular Construction Provides Safer Working Environments

Prefabrication has many advantages but mainly provides workers with a safer and more controlled environment. This method allows for projects to be completed faster and reduces overall costs. When looking at all these associated benefits, it is easy to understand why many organizations are making the switch.

Author: Jane Marsh