How drones affect worker safety in construction at heights
Official title: Impacts of Drone Distractions on Working Safety at Heights in Construction
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10932091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how drones might distract construction workers who are working at heights, and it’s for anyone interested in keeping these workers safe by understanding how distractions can affect their focus and balance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $169,012 |
| NIH project number | 5R21OH012455-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are construction workers who frequently work at heights and may be exposed to drone operations on job sites.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not work in construction or do not operate at heights are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of drones on the safety of construction workers who operate at heights. It examines how the visual presence and sound of drones can distract workers, potentially leading to unsafe conditions. The study involves two experiments: one where participants use eye-tracking technology to assess their attention to hazards while interacting with virtual construction scenes, and another where they perform tasks on a roof simulator to measure their balance under different conditions. The goal is to understand how these distractions affect workers' ability to recognize hazards and maintain balance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved safety protocols in construction environments where drones are used.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on drone distractions is novel, similar studies have successfully explored the effects of visual and auditory distractions on worker safety.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Zhenhua — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Zhenhua
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.