A Physical demand-driven design system in modular construction

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Construction is predominantly physical in nature, with activities typically executed in uncomfortable environments and at a fast pace. In construction, traditional theories and practices focus mainly on improving Project Management (PM) to assist in project planning and control for productivity improvement. This tends to overlook the physical demands of production tasks during the lifecycle of a project—tasks which can exceed the physiological capability of the worker. This issue results in construction workers being exposed to an approximately 50% higher risk of suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) than workers in other industries. WRMSDs account for approximately 34% of nonfatal injuries in the construction industry, resulting in a median of 8 days per person per year away from work, compared with 6 days for all nonfatal injury and illness cases in the construction industry. By considering their origin upstream, construction accidents can be reduced by 60% through appropriate design changes. In this respect, the development of physical demand-driven design models and tools can contribute to productivity and safety improvement, with the result of reducing waste of motions (non-value-adding activities) and risk (due to awkward activities performed by the workers).