Accident trends involving construction plant: an exploratory analysis

An investigation into accident trends involving plant operating within the UK construction industry over the previous decade (1989 to 1999) is presented. The work commences with a description of plant and equipment purchased within the UK construction sector, with specific reference to the size of the market and the types of plant item purchased. Pertinent European plant legislation is briefly reviewed before an analysis of health and safety statistics is undertaken (obtained from the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Environment, Trade and the Regions). Accident rates involving plant are analyzed not only across the total workforce but also for construction "employees" and "subcontractors" separately. Principal findings reveal that the plant related accident rate for employees is four times that for subcontractors. Moreover, despite recent legislation (such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment (LOLER)), plant related accident rates across the construction workforce remain largely unchanged. Hypothesized reasons for this finding are attributed mainly to a lack of satisfactory practitioner understanding of plant legislation, combined with a failure by the industry to impose mandatory plant operator training certification. Guidance is also provided to practitioners on new UK government proposals that aim to hold companies and individuals "criminally" responsible for health and safety breaches.