Development of Causal Model of Construction Accident Causation

Abstract

Accidents occur in all types of construction activities. The accident causation process is complex. Accident prevention requires a comprehensive understanding of this complex process. This paper proposes a conceptual, but practical, model of accident causation for the construction industry, highlighting the underlying and complex interaction of factors in the causation process. The model describes the constraints and responses experienced by the parties involved in project conception, design, and construction, which may affect accident causation. This paper details theoretical findings of research currently being conducted at UMIST. Both proximal and distal factors are considered (for example, operative factors, site environment and systems of work, and project management and organizational issues). A study of 500 accident records provided by the U.K. Health and Safety Executive shows that accidents in construction projects involve inappropriate construction planning (28.8%), inappropriate construction control (16.6%), inappropriate construction operation (88.0%), inappropriate site condition (6.0%), and inappropriate operative action (29.9%). Data currently available are, in some respects, inadequate and will need to be supplemented, in the future, by extended accident investigations.