Analysis of fatal building construction accidents: cases and causes

Abstract

Inclusive in the engineering factors of growth of the economy of any country is the construction industry, of which Malaysia as a nation is not left out. In spite of its significant contribution, the industry is known to be an accident-prone consequent upon the dangerous activities taking place at the construction stage. However, occupational accidents of diverse categories do take place on the construction sites resulting in fatal and non-fatal injuries. This study was embarked upon by giving consideration to thirty fatal cases of accident that occurred in Malaysia during a period of fourteen months (September, 2015–October, 2016), with the reports extracted from the database of Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) in Malaysia. The research was aimed at discovering the types (categories) of fatal accident on the construction sites, with attention also given to the causes of the accidents. In achieving this, thirty cases were descriptively analysed, and availing a revelation of falls from height as the leading category of accident, and electrocution as the second, while the causative factors were discovered to be lack of compliance of workers to safe work procedures and nonchalant attitude towards harnessing themselves with personal protective equipment (PPE). Consequent upon the discovery through analysis, and an effort to avert subsequent accidents in order to save lives of construction workers it is recommended that the management should enforce the compliance of workers to safe work procedures and the compulsory use of PPE during operations, while the DOSH should embark on warding round the construction sites for inspection and giving a sanction to contractors failing to enforce compliance with safety regulations.