ABSTRACT
The UK has a large and exciting construction industry, which contributes over £100 billion annually to the gross domestic product (HSE, 2009). The construction industry has been recognised internationally as one of the most dangerous industries in which to work, with the statistics often explained in terms of the industry’s inherently hazardous nature (Lingard & Rowlinson, 2005). There have been considerable efforts over many years directed at understanding accident causes (e.g. Haslam et al., 2005) reducing the numbers of accidents and injuries through prevention. However, there is recognition that construction still has one of the highest rates of fatal and major injuries of all industries in the UK (HSE, 2009) and further improvement needs to be sought. In late 2008, the Secretary of State (SoS) at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) commissioned an inquiry into the underlying causes of construction fatal accidents. (The full findings of the inquiry can be found at: www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/policy-publications/fatal-accidentsinquiry.shtml and the details of the work presented in this paper can be found in Brace et al., 2009). This paper presents findings from a time-limited, independent research project reviewing non-HSE (Health and Safety Executive) evidence about underlying causes of construction accidents and levers within and beyond health & safety systems that could be applied to make further improvements. The aims of this
research were to explore the extent of complementary evidence about underlying or root causes of construction (fatal) accidents generated by parties outside HSE and to determine some practical strategies (levers) that might be adopted for accident reduction.
