3 research outputs found
What causes accidents?
This paper describes aspects of the findings of a three-year
research project, Construction Accident Causality, funded by
the UK Health and Safety Executive. The project developed
a causality model, through a combination of focus groups
and detailed study of 100 construction accidents, using an
ergonomics systems approach, to identify where safety
is compromised and why. It concludes that stakeholders
responsible for the immediate accident circumstances, shaping
factors and originating influences must all work hard to remove
flaws in their safety systems to ensure that accidents are reduced
Contributing factors in construction accidents
This overview paper draws together findings from previous focus group research and studies
of 100 individual construction accidents. Pursuing issues raised by the focus groups, the
accident studies collected qualitative information on the circumstances of each incident and
the causal influences involved. Site based data collection entailed interviews with accidentinvolved
personnel and their supervisor or manager, inspection of the accident location, and
review of appropriate documentation. Relevant issues from the site investigations were then
followed up with off-site stakeholders, including designers, manufacturers and suppliers.
Levels of involvement of key factors in the accidents were: problems arising from workers or
the work team (70% of accidents), workplace issues (49%), shortcomings with equipment
(including PPE) (56%), problems with suitability and condition of materials (27%), and
deficiencies with risk management (84%). Employing an ergonomics systems approach, a
model is proposed, indicating the manner in which originating managerial, design and cultural
factors shape the circumstances found in the work place, giving rise to the acts and conditions
which, in turn, lead to accidents. It is argued that attention to the originating influences will
be necessary for sustained improvement in construction safety to be achieved
Construction tools and equipment – their influence on accident causality
This paper presents tools and equipment aspects of the results from a three-year
United Kingdom Government-funded research project investigating accident causality
(ConCA). The project has used focus groups and studied in detail 100 construction
accidents site audits, interviews with involved persons and follow-up along the causal
chain. This paper concentrates on the influence of construction tools and equipment
which were found to be important contributory factors identified by the research.
They have largely been overlooked by previous studies and are not typically
acknowledged as accident contributors. This paper argues for further work to confirm
these links and for the inclusion of tools and equipment in the list of categories in
statutory reporting procedures. This would also require an increased
acknowledgement by construction managers of their influence, leading to better
design and management of their supply and care on site