An expert system for the quantification of fault rates in construction fall accidents. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Talat Birgonul, M.; Dikmen, Irem; Budayan, Cenk; Demirel, Tuncay
• Is Part Of: International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics. Volume 22:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 20
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: construction fall accidents -- expert systems -- safety; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Human Engineering -- Periodicals; Occupational Health -- Periodicals; Ergonomie -- Périodiques; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; Human engineering; Industrial safety; Periodicals; 620.8
• DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2015.1123516
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-3548

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction . Expert witness reports, prepared with the aim of quantifying fault rates among parties, play an important role in a court's final decision. However, conflicting fault rates assigned by different expert witness boards lead to iterative objections raised by the related parties. This unfavorable situation mainly originates due to the subjectivity of expert judgments and unavailability of objective information about the causes of accidents. As a solution to this shortcoming, an expert system based on a rule-based system was developed for the quantification of fault rates in construction fall accidents. The aim of developing DsSafe is decreasing the subjectivity inherent in expert witness reports. Methodology . Eighty-four inspection reports prepared by the official and authorized inspectors were examined and root causes of construction fall accidents in Turkey were identified. Using this information, an evaluation form was designed and submitted to the experts. Experts were asked to evaluate the importance level of the factors that govern fall accidents and determine the fault rates under different scenarios. Based on expert judgments, a rule-based expert system was developed. The accuracy and reliability of DsSafe were tested with real data as obtained from finalized court cases. Result . DsSafe gives satisfactory results.