Work Accidents Correlation Analysis for Construction Projects in Northern Greece 2003–2007: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Construction project related accidents are critical events and it is imperative that they are analyzed in order to understand and identify their root causes. Therefore, the present study analyzes work accidents on construction projects in northern Greece. The methodological approach firstly includes the collection of accident related data from the “Greek Work Inspection Organization”, which is followed by a descriptive analysis and corresponding codification of available data. The next step includes the creation of an appropriate database in SPSS to accommodate all relevant data and subsequent correlation analysis that aims to identify potential trends and tendencies within the accidents’ sample. The findings highlight the most frequent occurrences regarding construction work related accidents and at the same time identify correlations among the various parameters associated with them. The majority of accidents include inexperienced personnel and workers in the age range of 24–44 years old. Moreover, most accidents occur during the summer and are not fatal. Falls are by far the dominant type of accident, and as a consequence, fractures are the most frequently occurring type of injury. Finally, most accidents occur in the morning, with injuries focusing on the lower parts of the body, and in the presence of general use equipment. The current paper also identified associations among various accident characteristics. These findings could help towards reducing the number and severity of work-related accidents. Improved construction site organization, accompanied by the dedication of management towards health and safety and more frequent inspections, could decrease the number and severity of accidents.