Brian Kleiner
Director and Professor, Myers – Lawson School of Construction
Virginia Tech
ON ZOOM - Meeting ID: 892 6733 6129
Password: 805393
Abstract:
Like healthcare, the U.S. construction is one of the last industry sectors to adopt industrial engineering and human factors methods and techniques. This industry is characterized by excessive safety, health, and well-being issues. By way of example, falls from heights account for most fatalities, silicosis and musculoskeletal injuries plague workers’ health, and suicide rates are exceedingly high. In addition, construction is one of the least diverse industries, with less than 10% women and underrepresented professionals. Workforce shortages exist at all levels. At the same time, increasingly, the construction industry is adopting automation in the context of Construction 4.0 and is adapting industrial engineering production systems and methods. In short, the dynamic construction industry is one of the last frontiers that desperately needs human factors and ergonomics for performance in general, and safety, health, and well-being, in particular. From the challenges to the prospective solutions, this talk will focus on how graduate students can provoke transformative change.
Bio:
Brian M. Kleiner, Ph.D. is an HFES Fellow and Director and Professor of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. He has infused human factors and ergonomics-based safety, health and well-being interventions across a broad range of activities. Virtually all faculty research in the schools have a safety component in their portfolio. In addition to his university research, Dr. Kleiner’s safety, health and wellness consulting/expert witness practice, “Safety by Design”, is focused on occupational and non-occupational safety, health, and well-being. In 2022, Dr. Kleiner was honored by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society by receiving the A.R. Lauer Safety Award. In 2014, Dr. Kleiner received the Distinguished Professor Award from the Construction Industry Institute (CII). In 2013, he was awarded a U.S. Department of Defense for facilitating graduate degree pursuit for active service men and women. In 2012, he was recognized for his commitment to diversity and inclusion by being awarded the McPherson Memorial Award for Achievements in Diversity, awarded by the Black Student Association. He has served on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Sector Council for Construction for over a decade and is the immediate past director for North America for the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB). Kleiner has authored or co-authored more than 175 peer-reviewed papers and has led more than $10 million in funded research projects. He was the founding director of the Center for Innovation in Construction Safety, Health, and Well-being (IC-SAFE). Dr. Kleiner received his Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Ph.D. from the State University of New York (SUNY) system. His M.S. and Ph.D. Advisor was the distinguished Colin G. Drury.
