CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems ConCA Accident Causality Preliminary Results Alistair Gibb, Roger Haslam, Diane Gyi, Sophie Hide, Sarah Hastings Loughborough University Roy Duff, UMIST, Manchester

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems 25 (of 100) incident studies Method covered in detail elsewhere (Hide et al, cib W99, London, 2000) Focus Groups Review Incident identification Site inspection Site interviews Prelim report Follow-up Independent review Analysis Incorporation

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Model of Construction Accident Causation PROJECT BRIEF PROJECT DESIGN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION PLANNING CONSTRUCTION CONTROL SITE CONDITION INJURY and/ or DAMAGE ENVIRONMENT OPERATIVE ACTION INCIDENT ACCIDENT CONSTRUCTION OPERATION Adapted from Suraji & Duff, 2000

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Project Type

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Project Phase

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Worker ‘trade’

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Incident type

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems IP Age

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems IP Experience

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Key aspects Accident investigation Time, cost & work pressure Management / supervision Method statements / risk assessments Communication, language & instructions Abilities, skills transfer & training Tools, equipment, materials, PPE & task execution Working environment, ergonomics & health Individual factors, motivation, culture & tradition Legal & contractual Design

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Accident investigation Incorrect or insufficient detail entered in the accident book Insufficient exploration of peripheral factors Concentration on blame Assumptions on causes Unwillingness to confront reality - method statements veracity / non PC issues

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Time, cost & work pressure ‘Time’ not given as a cause But clear evidence of time pressures Even though ‘piece-work’ was not the norm ‘Out of hours’ work on ‘job and knock’ Cost linked to time but not seen as such by operatives

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Management / supervision Relationships varied considerably from site to site Some good examples of supportive, proactive management Some ‘them and us’ examples Safety role seen as ‘referee’ or ‘police’ Reactive safety performance monitoring

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Method statements / risk assessment Rarely cover the incident activity Often ‘standard’ wording Little consultation in preparation Updates done ‘after the event’ Exact on process sequence but imprecise on work techniques Assume optimal conditions Volume, presentation & style do not suit training or information transfer role Often read out or given to read as worker’s brief Signing to record MS issued seeks to transfer responsibility

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Communication, language & instructions Often communication breakdown - lack of consultation or information not reaching ‘at- risk’ persons Poor sense of common ownership Lack of ‘English’ ability was a factor Poor or non-existent info from manufacturers

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Abilities, skills transfer & training High dependence on core skills Determining new-starter competence is ad-hoc Most training is ‘sitting with nellie’ Trainers are untrained as trainers Inductions almost completely seen as a waste of time

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Tools, equipment, materials, PPE & task execution Not acknowledged as problems Ad hoc purchase of tools and equipment Poor equipment design cf other industries Operatives reluctant to complain No clear responsibility chain for materials, tools or equipment

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Working environment, ergonomics & health Work environment not seen as important by most operatives and supervisors Acceptance of poor conditions Housekeeping and welfare expose poor health & safety culture No evidence of ergonomic assessments (e.g. manual handling)

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Individual factors, motivation & tradition Evidence of prejudice, conflict, relationships and attitude to work Poor morale and motivation endemic Strong ‘macho’ culture pervades ‘That’s just the way things are done’

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Legal & contractual aspects No specific issues raised by operative interviewees

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Design issues Surprisingly, design problems were rarely raised by IPs There are so many other obvious proximal causes that design doesn’t seem to be considered Design of tools and equipment IS a key issue but not normally considered as design

CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Conclusions Accident investigation Time, cost & work pressure Management / supervision Method statements / risk assessments Communication, language & instructions Abilities, skills transfer & training Tools, equipment, materials, PPE & task execution Working environment, ergonomics & health Individual factors, motivation, culture & tradition Legal & contractual Design The following factors influence accident causality: