CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/mjce.v20.15769Keywords:
Accident Prevention, Causes, Construction Accident, SafetyAbstract
The statistic of accidents at construction sites give us a picture that Malaysian construction industry is one of the critical sectors that need a huge and fast overhaul from the current site safety practices. Accident don’t just happen, they are caused by unsafe acts, unsafe conditions or both. Most accidents result from a combination of contributing causes and one or more unsafe acts and unsafe condition. In order to improve the overall safety performance we need to investigate the root causes of construction accidents. That knowledge could be utilised in formulating more conducive working conditions and environments at construction sites. Therefore, a study has been conducted to identify the causes of accident at construction sites. This study was started out by reviewing literature from journals, books and web pages. Then reported accidents cases kept by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia (DOSH) were examined to investigate causes of accidents. Surveys using questionnaire forms were carried out to obtain data from respondents who are mainly contractors and the rest are developers and consultants firms all around countries that are well versed with the construction safety. The finding of this study reveals that accidents are the result of many contributing factors, causes, and sub causes. Some of the critical factors are unsafe method, human element, unsafe equipment, job site conditions, management, and unique nature of the industry. The causes of accidents in Malaysia were found to be similar to that mentioned in literature review. However, some of the causes are low in frequency of occurrence. The main cause of construction accidents found are the workers’ negligence, failure of workers to obey work procedures, work at high elevation, operating equipment without safety devices, poor site management, harsh work operation, low knowledge and skill level of workers, failure to use personal protective equipments and poor workers attitude about safety.References
Abdelhamid, T.S. and Everett, J.G. (2000) Identifying of Root Causes of Construction Accident. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, January/February 2000, pp.52 – 60.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. (2001) Teks Ucapan Kempen Bulan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan
[online]Availablehttp://www.dosh.gov.my/maklumat/ucapan/10200019tpmukempe n.html
Everett, J.G. and Frank, P.B. (1996) Costs of Accidents and Injuries to the Construction Industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, Vol 122, No. 2, Paper No. 10616.
Fong Chan Onn - Minister Of Human Resources (2003) Speech in National Conference & Exhibition On Occupational Safety & Health (COSH 2003)Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, [online] Available http://www.mohr.gov.my
Fong Chan Onn - Minister Of Human Resources (2004) Speech in Majlis Penyampaian Faedah
PERKESO Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, [online] Available http://www.mohr.gov.my
Heinrich, H.W., Petersen, D. and Roos, N. (1980) Industrial Accident Prevention – A Safety Management Approach. Fifth Edition. USA: McGraw Hill.
Hinze, J.W.(1997). Construction Safety. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.
HSE (1999) Press Release E207:99 Work Accident and Ill Health Cost Society Billions – New HSE Report Estimates [online] Available
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/e99207.htm
HSE. (2001) Levels and Trends in Workplace Injury: Reported Injuries and the Labour Force Survey 1997/1998 [online] Available http://www.hse.gov.uk/laborsurvey
Huang, X. and Hinze, J. (2003) Analysis of Construction Worker Fall Accidents. Journal of Construction Engineering And Management, ASCE, pp. 262-271
ILO. (1996) Press Release: ILO Highlights Growing Risks to Worker Health and Safety. [online] Available http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/96-13.htm
Kartam N., A., Flood I., and Koushki P., (2000) Construction Safety in Kuwait: procedures, problem, and recommendation. Journal of Safety Science 36, pp. 163 – 184.
Lubega, H. A., Kiggundu, B. M. and Tindiwensi, D. (2000) An Investigation into the Causes of Accidents in the Construction Industry in Uganda – 2nd International
Conference On Construction In Developing Countries: Challenges Facing The Construction Industry In Developing Countries, 15-17 Nov 2002, Botswana, pp1-12 [online] Available http://buildnet.csir.co.za
NSTP (2000) No Induction Course Attendance, No Construction Workers, Developers, Contractors Have Until July 1 to Comply. 9 April 2001.[online] Available http://www.aboutsafety.com/article.cfm?id=683
NSTP (2002) Appeal to Re-Hire the Indonesian Construction Workers. Malaysia.
Pipitsupaphol, T. and Watanabe, T. (2000) Identification of Root Causes of Labor Accidents in the Thai Construction Industry. Proceedings of the 4th Asia Pacific Structural Engineering and Construction Conference (APSEC 2000) 13-15
September 2000 Kuala Lumpur, pp193-202.
Ridley, J. (1986) Safety at Work, 2nd Edition. London: Butterworth Ltd.
Schriver, W. (1997) An Analysis of Fatal Events in the Construction Industry 1997 [online] Available http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0600/d000645/d000645.html
SOCSO (2001) Statistik Kemalangan Industri [online] Available.
Tam C.M., Zeng S.X. and Deng Z. M. (2004) Identifying elements of poor construction safety management in China. Safety Science, 42 (2004) 569–586
Toole, T. M. (2002) Construction Site Safety Roles. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, 12(3) , pp.203-210.
