Indicator on the performance of barriers against fatal accidents in construction

Abstract

The paper presents work to develop a safety performance indicator suitable for real-time management of major accident hazards in construction. Data on 60 fatal accidents in the period 2011–2016, resulting in 63 fatalities, have been analysed. About 70% of the accidents belonged to three main categories: fall from height, driver or person outside the cabin killed by moving construction machine/ vehicle, and person killed by load or equipment during material handling. The three main categories have been further divided into subcategories (seven in all) and analysed to identify barriers to prevent adverse consequences. This analysis has resulted in checklists, one for each subcategory. They list observable conditions at a construction site that, if found substandard, will indicate that one or more of the important barriers are seriously deteriorated. The paper highlights the results of the accident concentration and barrier analyses. It also reviews remaining work to develop and test the performance indicator.