A major Australian study of more than 10,000 construction incidents conducted by the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Construction Safety and Wellbeing, the study analysed over 10,000 incidents in NSW from 2014 to 2020. The study undertaken amidst an injury surge identified the top 10 causes of construction incidents involved falling objects and working at heights as being the most frequent hazard. The study analysed over 10,000 incidents in NSW from 2014 to 2020.
Incident Trends identify that despite preventative efforts, serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry are increasing, with their data indicating the number of incidents increased by an average of 13.7 per cent every year over the study period.
The research identified:
1 in 5 incidents involved falling objects from roofing, crane operations or scaffolding.
The 2nd most common cause being working from heights – uneven or slippery surfaces, inadequate fall protection and fatigue.
50% of incidents were directly attributed to the use of tools and equipment
21% of incidents accounted to the workplace conditions – heights, extreme temperatures, confined spaces, inadequate ventilation
17% of incidents involved tasks such as trenching, excavation, demolition and installation of heavy concrete panels.
Researchers emphasize an urgent need for rethinking current preventive interventions including the need for new safety technologies and better workplace design to address these hazards effectively. They also categorised the studied incidents as being associated with the construction process, equipment and tools, humans, materials, or workplace conditions. 1
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