Construction Ergonomics: Can the Challenges Be Overcome?

Historical H&S challenges, in terms of a range of issues, continue to be experienced, namely not following procedures, unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, non-compliance, untrained workers undertaking work, commencement of activities without conducting hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA), data gathering and recording, monitoring, and ultimately the experience of injuries. Given the abovementioned, and the advent of Industry 4.0, an exploratory quantitative study, which entailed a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted among registered professional (Pr) Construction H&S Agents to determine the H&S challenges experienced, H&S performance, and the potential of Industry 4.0 to contribute to resolving the former cited challenges. The findings indicate that a range of historical challenges, which negatively impact H&S performance, continue to be experienced in construction, and that Industry 4.0 technologies can contribute to resolving the H&S challenges experienced in construction. Conclusions include that Industry 4.0 technologies have the potential to contribute to resolving the H&S challenges experienced in construction. Recommendations include: employer associations, professional associations, and statutory councils should raise the level of awareness relative to the potential implementation of Industry 4.0 relative to H&S in construction; case studies should be documented and shared; tertiary construction management education programmes should integrate Industry 4.0 into all possible modules, especially H&S-related modules, and continuing professional development (CPD) H&S should address Industry 4.0.