The cost of construction accidents: An exploratory study

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study to establish the actual accumulated costs of construction related health and safety accidents given that occupational accidents and their associated costs are a serious concern, fundamentally for management and the construction industry at large. Further, accidents have huge cost implications that potentially affect not only overall project performance but the sustainability of the enterprise. The study builds on the premise that all accidents are preventable, accompanied by positive performance impacts and outcomes. The findings of a pilot study are presented in this paper. They suggest that the costs of accidents are under calculated and in reality only represent the figurative “tip of the iceberg.”