Edwards, D J and Holt, G D (2014) Antecedents of health and safety issues relating to plant trailer wheels. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 140(7): 04014027, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Wheel detachment from plant trailers used on public highways represents a significant health and safety hazard and major financial risk, especially for construction and utility companies that rely on these type of trailers to transport machinery such as miniexcavators or road rollers. This study uncovers the antecedents of plant trailer wheel detachment and suggests pragmatic guidance for mitigating this risk. A case study using elements of action research studies the problem in the field through direct observation and stakeholder interviews. Analysis of resulting qualitative data conceptualizes antecedents on which guidance is formulated. Risks are found to result from a combination of physical failure underpinned by inadequate human interventions and poor risk management. The primary contributions of the study are that it describes entirely novel research on trailer wheel detachment, produces new safety guidance for businesses and practitioners that operate plant trailers, and resultantly contributes to lowering the risks identified.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | business costs; guidance; organizational issues; plant trailers; risks; transport; workplace safety |
| Index terms: | direct observation, health and safety, case study, action research, practitioner, organizational issue, risk management, interview, workplace safety, health and safety issues |
| Subjects: | practitioner, risk assessment, business, health safety and environment, data collection methods, occupational health and safety management, occupational health |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Organizational Design, Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here