Hazard Mitigation Through Design

The intent of this article is to start a dialog for exploring the concepts of PtD as applied to the hazards in construction. This article summarizes the scope and potential impact the NIOSH PtD initiative could have on electrical safety for all crafts in construction work environments. Based on NIOSH analysis, the construction industry represents 7% of the U.S. workforce but accounts for 45 % of occupational fatalities due to electrical hazards in the workplace. This article summarizes the goals and offers input in developing digital object identifier 10.1109/MIAS.2010.936122 strategies to be apart of the PtD initiative. Practical examples are provided to further stimulate expansion of these concepts in construction work environments.