IJCSCM

ESTIMATING INJURIOUS IMPACT IN CONSTRUCTION LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Author's Name:

James E McDevitt


Scion, Wellington, New Zealand and NZ Life Cycle Management Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Dave Moore


Scion, eCentre, Massey University Campus, Albany, New Zealand.

Felicity Lamm, Nadine McDonnell


Centre for Occupational Health & Safety Research, NZ Work & Labour Market Institute, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.

This paper is the result of a desire to include social factors alongside environmental and economic considerations in Life Cycle Assessment studies for the construction sector. We describe a specific search for a method to include injurious impact for construction Life Cycle Assessment studies, by evaluating a range of methods and data sources. A simple case study using selected Accident Compensation Corporation information illustrates that data relating to injury could provide a compelling evidence to cause changes in construction supply chains, and could provide an economic motive to pursue further research in this area. The paper concludes that limitations notwithstanding, the suggested approach could be useful as a fast and cheap high level tool that can accelerate the discussions and research agenda that will bring about the inclusion of social metrics in construction sector supply chain management and declarations.

Keywords: Construction, Injury, Life Cycle Assessment.