Identification of Factors Causing Fatal Construction Accidents By Yang Miang Goh Associate Professor David Chua Department of Civil Engineering National University of Singapore

Research Title & Objective Safety Knowledge Management System- Integrating Construction Incident Investigation and Safety Planning Research Objective: To research and develop a SKMS that can facilitate abstraction of construction incident investigation information and usage of the knowledge in safety planning.

Overview of Presentation Research Background Modified Loss Causation Model (MLCM) Results based on 140 fatal cases Application of incident investigation information Current developments

Introduction Poor safety performance of construction industry Need to learn from mistakes- feedback of incident investigation information Research aims to facilitate this feedback through the SKMS

Feedback of Safety Knowledge SKMS

SMS Failures Inadequate: (A) System (B) Standards (C) Compliance Underlying Factors Personal Factors Job Factors Immediate Factors Substandard Acts Substandard Physical Conditions Breakdown Event Incident Accident sequence- undesired points of loss of control Loss Unintended Harm or Damage Situational Variables Modified Loss Causation Model

(1) (2) (3) (4)

Taxonomy Framework

Immediate Factors Consequence At least one fatality Accident Process Type of Incident Fall of person (55%) Struck by falling objects (19.3%) Type of Breakdown Event Lost of balance (31.3%) Collapse of temporary structure (22.1%) Type of substandard acts Omission of safety measures (42%) Improper equipment usage (22%) Type of substandard physical conditions Substandard structures/parts of structure (70%) Underlying Factors Job Factors Site Management: Failure to ensure proper work practices/ monitor site work (13.9%) Inadequate inspection (13.1%) Failure to obtain/allocate adequate/proper physical resources (11.5%) Personal Factors Inadequate initial/update training (22.5%) Improper attempt to save time/effort/avoid discomfort (15%) SMS Failures Lack of information on SMS failures Type of Work Structural work (33.8%) Architectural/ Renovation/ Finishing work (25.2%) Results Based on 140 Accident Cases

Possible Feedback Channels Training material Training needs analysis Guide inspection, enforcement and promotional efforts Evaluate effectiveness of safety measures Facilitate safety planning (Risk assessment and risk control selection)

Lifting Platform Mobile access scaffold Unknown/ Others Slipped Painting Work10 Type of Tasks Collapse of temporary structure Loss control of transport/plant Lost balance Breakdown Events Fall of person Caught in or between objects Type of incidents

Recent and Current Developments Further improved MLCM to suit the purpose of the SKMS To apply Case Based Reasoning (CBR) in SKMS To apply Bayesian statistics in risk assessment

Case Based Reasoning (CBR)

Conclusion MLCM aims to facilitate feedback of incident investigation information Feedback to SMS that had failed Feedback to SMS of future projects SKMS will be based on the MLCM Requires application of CBR and Bayesian statistics

End of Presentation Thank You!