A Blockchain-Enabled Relational Data-Driven Model and Framework for Safety Performance Evaluation in Offsite Construction

Date of Award

8-2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Civil and Construction Engineering

First Advisor

Osama Abudayyeh, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Hexu Liu, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Ying Thaviphoke, Ph.D.

Keywords

Blockchain, construction safety, data envelopment analysis (DEA), experience modification rate (EMR), offsite construction, workers’ compensation insurance

Abstract

Offsite construction has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional construction methods, offering the potential to improve productivity, reduce project duration, enhance quality, and minimize environmental impacts. Despite these advantages, offsite construction introduces unique safety challenges across its major phases of fabrication, transportation, and assembly, which can impact workers’ compensation insurance premiums and add additional costs to the construction process. The Experience Modification Rating (EMR), a widely used insurance metric in traditional construction, remains the primary method insurance carriers use to adjust workers' compensation premiums for offsite firms. However, the industry’s reliance on an outdated method that depends on lagging safety indicators, broad classifications, and other non-safety criteria raises significant concerns over its applicability in reflecting the distinct safety risks and operational contexts of offsite work. The research presented herein aims to address this critical gap by developing a secure, data-driven framework for evaluating safety performance in offsite construction as a more robust alternative to EMR. Through a comprehensive literature review and a structured survey of offsite contractors and insurance professionals, the study identified and validated key leading and lagging safety indicators across the three major phases. These validated factors form the basis for the proposed novel Safety Modification Rating (SMR) model, which uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to objectively benchmark firm-level safety performance. To ensure transparency, security, and trust in data management, the SMR framework is implemented within an optimal relational database model and a blockchain-enabled platform using Hyperledger Fabric, integrating automated DEA computation and immutable storage of safety data. The resulting system provides a scalable, equitable, and tamper-proof alternative to EMR, supporting more equitable and evidence-based workers’ compensation premium decisions in offsite construction. Overall, this research contributes theoretically by advancing safety assessment models and practically by offering the construction and insurance industries a secure, transparent mechanism for promoting data-driven safety improvements in offsite construction.

Comments

Osama Abudayyeh, Ph.D., Chair

Hexu Liu, Ph.D., Co-Chair

Access Setting

Dissertation-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

8-1-2036

This document is currently not available here.

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