An Evaluation of Construction Equipment Design on Operator Visibility

One-fourth of construction industry fatalities are caused by worker collisions with construction equipment. Non-visible areas (blind spots) for equipment operators are contributing factors to many of these fatalities because equipment operators are unable to see ground personnel at certain locations. This research project implements a unique blind spot measurement method to demonstrate that design of construction equipment impacts the visibility of the operator. An automated blind spot detection tool was developed to evaluate different equipment models and design characteristics. The blind spot measurement data provides design suggestions that increase operator visibility. By increasing operator visibility through equipment design, safety can be promoted on construction jobsites.