--- title: "Causes of accidents and how to minimise" subject: "Construction Management" chapter: 11 key: "semester_8/construction_management:accident-causes-prevention" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/accident-causes-prevention site: BCT Engineering --- # Causes of accidents and how to minimise Construction Management · Chapter 11: Regulatory Requirements - Asked in: 2078 Kartik, 2 marks; 2071 Bhadra, 2+2 marks; 2068 Bhadra (old course), 6 marks (asked 3 times) - Video: [What Causes Accidents - Safety Training Video - Preventing Accidents & Injuries](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBf6BTX1bmM) — Safety Memos - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/accident-causes-prevention - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-11 ## Question What are the causes of accidents in the construction site? How can they be minimized (including factors to reduce accidents while working with machines)? ## Short answer Accidents arise from unsafe acts (e.g., no PPE, carelessness), unsafe conditions (poor scaffolding, electrical faults), and management failures. Prevention requires a safety plan, training, PPE, safe scaffolds, electrical safety, regular inspections, and machine-specific measures: trained operators, maintenance, guards, and clear zones. ## Answer #### Causes of accidents on a construction site **Unsafe acts (human causes)** - Not using PPE; carelessness; horseplay; working under the influence of alcohol. - Lack of training or skill; fatigue and haste. - Ignoring instructions and safety rules. **Unsafe conditions (physical causes)** - Poor scaffolding and formwork, unprotected edges and openings. - Unsafe excavation without shoring; slope failure. - Faulty electrical wiring, no earthing; exposed live wires. - Poor housekeeping; slippery or cluttered floors. - Poor lighting, noise, dust and bad weather. - Defective tools, machines and cranes; unguarded moving parts. - Fire hazards, bad storage of materials. **Management causes** - No safety policy or officer; poor supervision. - Time pressure and cost cutting; lack of training and induction. - Poor planning of the site layout. #### Minimising accidents 1. Prepare and follow a site safety plan; appoint a safety officer. 2. Train workers (induction, toolbox talks) and supervise them. 3. Compulsory PPE. 4. Safe scaffolds, formwork, shoring, guard rails and nets. 5. Electrical safety: earthing, RCCB, trained electricians. 6. Good housekeeping, lighting and clear access. 7. Fire protection and first aid. 8. Regular inspections and quick correction of hazards; accident record and analysis. 9. Safety rewards and discipline. #### Factors to reduce accidents when working with machines - Only trained, licensed operators and helpers. - Regular maintenance and checks (brakes, hooks, ropes, hydraulics) before each use. - Guards on moving parts; warning horns and lights; reversing alarms. - Do not exceed the rated load or work on unstable ground; use outriggers. - A signaller for crane and heavy equipment movements; clear zone with barricades. - Keep workers outside the swing radius and under no suspended load. - Safe fuelling, and locked-out power when repairing. - Proper parking, wheel chocks and a ban on carrying passengers. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is an unsafe act (human cause)? A. Poor lighting B. Faulty wiring C. Defective crane D. Not using PPE Answer: D. Not using PPE is a human cause; others are physical conditions. (Key point: Unsafe acts) 2. Which is a management cause of accidents? A. Slippery floors B. No safety policy or officer and poor supervision C. Bad weather D. Horseplay Answer: B. Lack of policy and supervision are management causes. (Key point: Management cause) 3. For machines, to reduce accidents: A. Allow passengers B. Repair while powered C. Overload when in a hurry D. Do not exceed rated load and use outriggers on unstable ground Answer: D. Respect load limits and use outriggers. (Key point: Machines: load) 4. Around cranes, workers should: A. Stand under the load B. Ride on the load C. Ignore signals D. Stay outside the swing radius and never under a suspended load Answer: D. Keep outside the swing radius and out from under loads. (Key point: Machines: area) ## Related in Construction Management - [Factors in selecting construction equipment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aequipment-selection-factors) — Construction Management, chapter 4, asked 6× - [Job layout and site planning factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ajob-layout-site-planning-factors) — Construction Management, chapter 6, asked 2× - [Responsibilities of a site engineer](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Asite-engineer-responsibilities) — Construction Management, chapter 8, asked 6× - [Short note: Tunnel boring machines](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Atunnel-boring-machine-note) — Construction Management, chapter 4, asked 3× - [Site order book](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Asite-order-book) — Construction Management, chapter 8, asked 5× - [Labour productivity: causes, measures, control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Alabour-productivity-control) — Construction Management, chapter 7, asked 5× ## Related in other subjects - [Factors while routing signal traces on PCB](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Aroute-factors) — Instrumentation II, chapter 8, asked 4× - [Why a canal fall; site selection factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Acanal-fall-purpose-site-selection) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 7 - [Intake site factors; spring intake](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aspring-intake-site-factors) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 5 - [Bridge site factors and tunnel drainage](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Abridge-site-factors-tunnel-drainage) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 5