Causes of accidents on construction sites: the case of a large construction contractor in Great Britain

In the construction industry in Great Britain, it is estimated that workplace accidents and work-related ill-health cost society £3 billion – this is equivalent to 4% of the construction industry revenue of about £75 billion. Thus, the need to study, understand and effectively manage health and safety (H&S) on construction sites cannot be overemphasised. This paper presents an analysis of accident data recorded by a large construction contractor in Great Britain. The data cover a period of 36 months from April 2004 to March 2007. Pareto analysis was used to determine the relative importance of the causes of accidents on the basis of number of workdays lost. Differences between the four sectors (highways, infrastructure, rail and utilities) in which the company operates were investigated. The case study suggests that the main causes of accidents on construction sites relate to individual attitudes towards H&S. Ability and willingness to implement safe approaches to working and an awareness of their own and others’ H&S can contribute to safe performances. It is suggested that the company could increase awareness of H&S issues among the workforce. This should be done on a regular basis through effective training, briefing and debriefing.