2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Data driven insights of Roof Work-Related Injuries: Analyzing the Impact of Time & Seasonal Effect

Presented at Construction Engineering Division: Evolving Workforce and Practices in Modern Construction

Safety in construction environments, particularly in roofing, remains a critical concern. Although many studies have investigated the root cause of falling from heights and other work injuries of roofers, very few have focused on the specified timeline when accidents occur or examined seasonal effects and its significance. This study utilizes data from Occupation Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to determine the relationship between accident timing, seasonal variations, and workers injuries in the roofing industry between 2014 to 2023. The OSHA report data includes records of roof related accidents, injuries, hospitalizations and fatalities which were analyzed to identify trends based on time of day and seasonality.

The paper aims to identify key risk periods and the impact of seasonal changes on roofers. The objective of this study is threefold: (1) to examine whether roofing accidents occur at different rates during different seasons; (2) to identify temporal characteristics of roof-related construction accidents for the past few years; and (3) to check if these fluctuations are statistically significant. Statistical methods including chi square tests were applied to determine the significance of these factors.

The results indicated that accidents occurred more frequently in specific time periods, particularly during the morning hours, with a significant peak in the summer months. The findings underscore the importance of tailored safety interventions during high-risk periods, particularly in the summer and early work hours. The study provides valuable insight into how seasonal effects and specific work periods contribute to roofing related accidents, supporting the development of more targeted safety measures to the roofing industry.

Authors

Rownoak Bin Rouf Oklahoma State University [biography]

Rownoak Bin Rouf is a Master’s student in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University, expected to graduate in December 2025. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Bangladesh. Rownoak's research interests include Construction Engineering, Concrete, BIM, Occupational Safety, and Construction Laws.

He has contributed to several publications, including studies on construction accidents and roof work-related injuries, presented at major conferences like the ASC Annual International Conference.

Professionally, Rownoak has worked as a Quality Control Engineer and Inspector of Works on key infrastructure projects, including the Hazrat Shahjalal 3rd Terminal Extension and Purbachal Elevated Expressway. His responsibilities included construction supervision, quality control, and project monitoring.
MD ABU NAEEM KHAN
Dr. Rachel Mosier http://orcid.org/https://0000-0001-8937-978X Oklahoma State University [biography]

Dr. Rachel Mosier is an Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University, with a background in structural engineering and construction project management. Dr. Mosier has received regional and international teaching awards through the Associated Schools of Construction and continues research in engineering education and construction workforce topics.
Dr. Heather N Yates Oklahoma State University [biography]

Dr. Yates joined the Oklahoma State University Construction Faculty in 2006 working her way up to the rank of Professor in 2020. She has served in multiple regional and executive roles in the Associated Schools of Construction, and is currently serving as President through 2026. Her research interests are women in STEM and construction education.
Dr. Nicholas Tymvios Bucknell University [biography]

Nicholas Tymvios received a B.S. and M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 1999, and 2002 respectively. After working in the construction industry, he was accepted into the Ph.D. program at Oregon State University and graduated with a PhD in Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering) in 2013. From 2013 till 2017 he was an Assistant Professor at UNC-Charlotte within the Engineering Technology and Construction Management Department. From 2017 till present he is an Assistant professor at Bucknell University with the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. his primary area of research is construction safety and in particular the topic of Prevention through Design.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025

« View session