Emuze F, S J (2013) Construction motor vehicle accidents in South Africa: Causes and impact. In: Smith, S D and Ahiaga-Dagbui, D D (eds.) Proceedings of 29th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2013, Reading, UK.
Abstract
The focus of health and safety (H&S) in South African construction has resulted in a decrease in all classes of injury. However, approximately 40% of fatalities are attributable to MVAs in the course of employment and MVAs contribute a substantial percentage to the other classes, in particular, non-fatal permanent disabling injuries. Given the limited extent of public transport, the location of many construction sites, and the general use of non-enclosed light delivery vehicles (LDVs) and flat-bed trucks to transport workers, which are not secured to secured seats with seat belts when being transported, a study was initiated to determine the nature of transport used to convey workers, the incidence of MVAs and the resultant injuries, and the causes of such MVAs. The study entailed the completion of a self-administered questionnaire by contractors registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Findings include: workers sitting on sides / or beds of vehicles predominates in terms of unsafe transport / traffic practices contribution to injuries arising from MVAs; lack of secured seats, lack of seat belts, and lack of roll over protection exacerbate the injuries incidental to MVAs, and fall from vehicle in motion predominates in terms of the cause of MVA related injuries. Recommendations include: the implementation of a comprehensive traffic safety programme in all construction organisations and on all projects; conveyance of workers in appropriate vehicles, and banning of mixed transportation of materials, plant and equipment, and workers.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accident; fatality; South Africa |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, fatalities, South Africa, implementation, plant and equipment, public transport, construction organization, injury, health and safety, construction site, employment, programme, construction industry development |
| Subjects: | organization, data collection methods, work location, contractual arrangements, manufacturing engineering, health risk and incident analysis, management, development economics, health safety and environment, Geography, health conditions and diseases, project controls, infrastructure and transport systems |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Procurement, International Construction, Human Resources, Urban Studies, Time Control, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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