Reducing Construction Accidents in the UK - Dissertation Example

Running Head: Reducing Construction Accidents in the UK: The Relationship between Reported Accidents and the Lengths of Employee Contracts REDUCING CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS IN THE UK: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REPORTED ACCIDENTS AND THE LENGTHS OF EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS By Student’s Name Code+ course name Professor’s name University name City, State Date Reducing Construction Accidents in the UK 1) Focus for the project and rationale This project is about lowering the number and frequency of construction of accidents in the UK. The construction sector needs to reduce onsite accidents to improve construction activity and the expansion of the sector. Additionally, the sector has been employing unskilled labourers, which contributes to the rise in injuries at construction sites largely caused unprofessional or reckless operation of equipment. 2) Background Information GCU (Glasgow Caledonian University) conducted a review of several qualitative studies and appraisals to determine the effectiveness of measures undertaken to lower construction accidents in the UK. The GCU report asserts that the UK makes up for 5% of workers in the construction industry but 27% of critical onsite injuries and 9% of reported key accidents (GCU 2013). The report is brief but succinct in the sense that it proves why the ensuing human and economic expenses of damages of accidents at construction sites in the UK are significant. Additionally, the report’s researchers concentrate on overseeing OSH’s (Occupational Safety and Health) role in regulating accident sin the UK’s construction sector (GCU 2013). I consider this report suitable for this project because it highlights the concern for the safety and health of workers in this industry. Applying the regulations established by the OSH will also be helpful for this project since they reflect the state of measures in place and underway to lower accidents at constructions sites in the UK. Elizabeth Paton explores courses of action undertook by the UK to respond to high-profile injury cases recorded in the construction industry. The article cites recent accidents reported in construction sites within London’s financial district. Statistics included in the report include the demise of over 50% of construction workers because of falling, the hiring of inexperienced workers, communication barriers, and highly demanded equipment. Paton considers this combination a recipe for “fresh hazards” that the UK, along with construction unions need to check and decrease (Paton, 2015). In 2014, the UK’s HSE (Health and Safety Executive) published a document that outlined the state of health and safety in the construction sector. An overview of the injuries reported from this industry noted that that this sector made up for 5% of injured UK workers. Out of 31% of all serious accidents, only 10% were reported, and 6% of over-a-week old accidents injured contracted construction site workers (HSE 2015). An inquiry conducted by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions outlined approaches that could lower accidents in the UK’s construction sector. The inquiry’s report indicated that approaches that tackled the macro, mezzo, and micro aspects of accidents in the construction industry was necessary (HSE, 2013). This report is highly valuable for his project because it offers a systematic point of view of the precise way that strategies devised by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions could lower accidents in the construction sector. The inquiry’s “potential improvement strategies” are systematic since they are theme-based and stipulate categorized aspects of accidents that occur in the UK’s construction industry (HSE, 2013). The proposed areas of further study that I will include in my project are the Risk Acceptor theory, the relationship between reported accidents and the lengths of employee contracts, efforts made by safety leaders to encourage good practice, and economic options to hierarchies of local and minor construction projects. A qualitative research should allow my project to delve into these areas and add to the existing literature on this issue. The Society wrote an article in late 2014 discussing Western and Eastern paradigms employed to ensure safety in the construction industry. Minimizing the risk of accidents on construction sites is a priority for both paradigms. However, the ways both models oversee safety are different and crucial for this project (The Society, 2014). The article would enable my project to compare the effectiveness of existing and prior models of guaranteeing safety in constructions sites across the world with those in the UK. The article notes how the Western model considers accidents in construction sites commonplace while the Japanese one isolates such cases since they are intolerable. The Japanese model for safety in the construction sector dedicates to absolute quality, thereby implying that the UK construction sector is far from a similar devotion to safety (HARGRAVE, 2010, p. 6). I need to carry out my proposed research because the HSE expects the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from construction accidents to rise in 2015 from 2014. In 2013, the HSE reported 42 deaths in construction sites in the UK, and more than 5,000 related critical injuries (HSE 2014, p. 7). According to London-centric Berkeley Homes, the salvage of the real estate market has put increasing tensions on onsite labourers and managers. Deficits of experienced labourers and planning postponements have worsened these tensions (Construction Division of HSE, 2009, p. 79). Coming up with ways to mitigate these risks in the construction sector is imperative and urgent. My project can help in producing these ways systematically and saving lives by raising the quality of safety measures in place at construction sites. 3) Provisional Overall Aim of the Project The aim for the overall outcome of this piece of research is to supplement the existing evidence acquired from the U.K.’s HSE studies and operations and private researchers. Part of the overall outcome of this research is collecting and scrutinizing the understanding of the measures in stay for reducing construction accidents in the UK. I divided the overall outcome of this research into two phases: Phase I entails examining the degree to which supplementary proof about fundamental causes of critical injuries resulting from construction accidents perpetrated by individuals or groups of individuals outside the HSE. Examples of such parties are construction firms, labour unions, insurance companies, and trade groups. The second phase involves examining controls inside and past health and safety structures to design additional enhancements in construction safety. Phase 2 consolidates the entire research with other studies conducted under this subject to offer complementary knowledge. 4) Specific Research Objectives I will fulfil a series of detailed objectives to achieve the overall aim. I will divide these objectives into primary and secondary ones. Primary objectives until the examination and ensuing merging of knowledge concerning: i. The fundamental causes of accidents at construction sites, as ascertained by individuals or groups of individuals outside the U.K.’s HSE ii. Strategies that could be undertaken to hinder accidents, as ascertained by individuals or groups of individuals outside the U.K.’s HSE Secondary objectives involved the examination and ensuing merging of knowledge concerning: i. The level to which the HSE presently captures additional evidence for existing measures undertaken to mitigate the risk of accidents at construction sites in the UK. ii. The way the HSE gathers additional knowledge concerning ways to reduce construction accidents and the way organizations learn this process The secondary objectives will entail an analysis of organization-related activities for probing accidents, the degree, and depth of information gathered about accidents. Where possible, we will use this project’s results to show how and to what degree the HSE could apply this information to enhance health and safety practice and culture in the construction sector. In effect, these objectives should allow for the prevention of future incidents and identification of areas that need additional action. 5) Research Methods to be Used I will obtain and analyse information to gain research data by employing a two-sided research method. The first side entails the analysis of existing literature about the background of policies in place for reducing the risk of construction accidents in the UK. The second side involves quantitative techniques of gathering information about ways to reduce construction injuries in the UK. More specifically, the first side will involve: 1. a literature review that offers an overview of the universal challenges pertaining to construction accidents in the UK. Examples of challenges I will tackle using this method are contract lengths, migrant labourers, and prevention actions. 2. consultation with ten local construction sector professional stakeholders. I will conduct this consultation through either through the phone, email, or face-to-face. These techniques of consultation should allow me to collect stakeholder views on fundamental causes of accidents and approaches for prevention. This consultation should also allow me to acquire the case study examples of proper practice concerning accident investigation and learning from them from a variety of different cities in the UK. The second side will involve: 1. Email interviews with 15 senior construction sector professional patrons in the UK. I should collect patron views on approaches for prevention of fatal and critical construction accidents centred on their experience. 2. Exhaustive face-to-face interviews with eight practitioners from the UK construction sector. This method should allow me to collect patron views about primary approaches for preventing accidents in construction sites centred on their experience with severe and critical injuries resulting from accidents at the construction site. 3. Telephone interviews with ten employees who represent the UK’s smallest and difficult to reach companies or sole proprietors. This method would enable me to collect patron views about fundamental approaches for preventing accidents in construction sites centred on their experience with severe and critical injuries resulting from accidents at the construction site. 6) Possible Conclusions That May Be Reached I think the research might deduce that the manner in which the construction sector oversees accidents is not uniform. The lack of uniformity arises from pressure noted between recognizing developments in health and safety practice over the past decades. As a result, there is a real fear about the lingering bad practice and inability to get rid of serious accidents from the construction sector. Poor working practices are common in many construction and construction-related firms, which are the mere beginnings of a negative health and safety tradition. The research might also deduce that there is a lot of undone work since health and safety in the UK’s construction sector is a key concern. The need to balance accurate anticipations with a lucid vision for the future of safety in the construction sector to hinder complacency should be a priority. As a result, enactment and compliance, competency and training, and culture and attitude are potential improvement approaches for alleviating accident risks in the UK’s construction sector. 7) Structure of the Dissertation I. Table of Contents II. Abstract A. Background Information 1. The current working environment for construction workers in the UK. 2. The health and safety of the construction sector. B. Basis and scope of the general review and context for this dissertation C. Overall Purpose and objectives 1. Overall Purpose i. Phase 1 ii. Phase 2 2. Objectives i. Primary objectives ii. Secondary objectives D. Research boundaries and limitations III. Summary of research strategy A. Introduction B. Approach and theoretical framework 1. Side one i. Literature review ii. Consultation 2. Side two i. Email interviews ii. Face-to-face interviews iii. Telephone interviews 3. Reflections in interpreting the results IV. Reducing construction accidents in the UK A. Introduction B. Risk-Acceptor Theory 1. Implementation and compliance 2. Aptitude and Training 3. Behaviour and attitude C. Relationship between reported accidents and the lengths of employee contracts 1. Implementation and Compliance 2. Aptitude and Training 3. Behaviour and Attitude D. Efforts made by safety leaders to encourage good practice 1. Implementation and Compliance 2. Aptitude and Training 3. Behaviour and Attitude E. Economic options to hierarchies of local and minor construction projects 1. Implementation and Compliance 2. Aptitude and Training 3. Behaviour and Attitude F. Summary V. Conclusions A. Analyses of purpose and objectives B. Sector-wide developments and targets C. Key results 1. Potential risk-reduction strategies VI. References VII. Appendix 8) Work Schedule I will finish the proposed research in three stages over a four-month period. The following timescale and plan of action outlines my work schedule throughout the research period. Specifically, the following timescale is planned, presuming a beginning date on or near 7 October 2015. Milestones Target Completion Dates PHASE I 06-10-15 1. Deliver draft dissertation proposal to professor 06-16-15 2. Hand over Proposal To UK’s HSE 06-18-15 3. Projected day for proposal approval 06-25-15 4. Conclude interview questions 07-15-15 PHASE II 07-18-15 5. Collect data for background information and literature review 07-18-15 6. Record interviews 08-01-15 7. Write-up results 08-10-15 PHASE II 08-11-15 8. Develop appraisals 08-11-15 9. Conclude industrial sample 08-17-15 10. Data gathering - Phase 2 (industrial sample) 08-25-15 11. Data cleaning 08-28-15 PHASE III 09-01-15 12. Data analysis 09-01-15 13. Write-up results 09-19-15 14. Submit to professor 10-05-15 15. Submit to HSE 10-07-15 i. Week One to Week Four of Month one, 06-10-15 to 07-15-15 = 160 hours Mondays and Tuesdays = 10 hours per day, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays = 7.5 hours per day, a total of 40 hours a week ii. Week One to Week Four of Month Two, 07-15-15 to 08-01-15 = 160 Hours Mondays and Tuesdays = 10 hours per day, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays = 7.5 hours per day, a total of 40 hours a week iii. Week One to Week Four of Month Three, 08-01-15 to 09-01-15 = 160 hours Mondays and Tuesdays = 10 hours per day, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays = 7.5 hours per day, a total of 40 hours a week iv. Week One to Week Four of Month Four, 09-01-15 to 10-07-15 = 160 hours Mondays and Tuesdays = 10 hours per day, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays = 7.5 hours per day, a total of 40 hours a week 9) Risks/Contingencies A brief timescale of the data-gathering period and the dependence on numerous construction sector patrons in the UK serve as risks necessary for making this project successful. The data I expect to make is limited in terms of its sampling and consecutively its scientific consistency. I can reduce this contingency by providing a detailed and categorized appendix section for the reader to get a spatial insight into my mind as a researcher of this subject. References Construction Division of HSE 2009, ‘Phase 1 Report: Underlying causes of construction fatal accidents-A comprehensive review of recent work to consolidate and summarize existing knowledge,’ Health and Safety Executive, July, pp. 135. GCU 2013, Reducing Construction Accidents, Glasgow Caledonian University, viewed 7 June 2015, https://www.gcu.ac.uk/isetr/researchimpact/impactcasestudies/reducingconstructionaccid ents/ Hale, A., Walker, D., Walters, N., and Bolt, H. 2012, Developing the understanding of underlying causes of construction fatal accidents. Safety Science Vol. 50, No. 10, Pp. 2020–7 HARGRAVE, S., 2010, Feb 16. Reducing accidents makes good business sense. The Daily Telegraph, 6. Haslam, R.A., Hide, S.A., Gibb, A.G.F., Gyi, D.E., Pavitt, T., Atkinson, S., and Duff, A.R. 2005, Contributing factors in construction accidents. Applied Ergonomics, Vol. 36, No. 4, Pp. 401–15. HSE 2013, Management failings on construction accident site, Health and Safety Executive, viewed 7 June 2015, http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-richardmorgan.htm HSE 2014, ‘Health and safety in construction in Great Britain, 2014,’ Health and Safety Executive, p. 1-14. HSE 2015, Construction industry, Health and Safety Executive, viewed 7 June 2015, http://www.hse.gov.uk/Statistics/industry/construction/index.htm Ikpe, E, Hammon, F, & Oloke, D 2012, Cost-Benefit Analysis for Accident Prevention in Construction Projects, Journal Of Construction Engineering & Management, 138, 8, pp. 991-998, Computers & Applied Sciences Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 7 June 2015. OPOKU, A. and AHMED, V., 2014. Embracing sustainability practices in UK construction organizations. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 4(1), pp. 90-107. Paton, E 2015, UK Construction Sites See Rise in Deaths, Financial Times, UK, viewed 7 June 2015, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b0dca9f4-a5f2-11e4-9bd3-00144feab7de.html PM urges Qatar to follow UK construction safety record. 2013. The Safety & Health Practitioner, 31(11), pp. 8. SEARLE, D., 2015. Construction safety focus for UK industry. Cranes Today, (483), pp. 13. Sherratt, F, Farrell, P, & Noble, R 2013, UK construction site safety: discourses of enforcement and engagement, Construction Management & Economics, 31, 6, pp. 623-635, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 7 June 2015. The Society 2014, Towards Zero Accidents, The Facilities Society, UK, viewed 7 June 2015, http://www.facilities.ac.uk/j/free-cpd/210-towards-zero-accidents Read More