Construction Accidents in Spain: Implications for an Aging Workforce

Abstract

Construction workers are getting older. In the European Union, the percentage of workers over 50 grew from 24.7% in 2011 to 31.5% in 2018, in Spain from 20.4% to 31.2%. Objective. Identify trends and detailed patterns of accidents of older construction workers compared to other age groups. Data and Method. We analyzed construction accidents in Spain from 2011 to 2018 ( N = 455,491 ). The number of accidents and lost working days (LWD) were broken down by occupation, seniority, company size, temporal variables (weekday, hour), trigger, and body part injured and compared for different age groups. Results. Although older worker had fewer accidents, the consequences of accidents were more serious. Those over 50 years had 84% more lost working days (LWD) than those under 24 years, 48% more than those between 25 and 39 years, and 21% more than those between 40 and 49 years. (1) Occupation: the percentage of accidents grew with age for supervisors, lorry drivers, and bricklayers. (2) Seniority: the least experienced (less than 6 months) and the most experienced (more than 6 years) had the most LWD. (3) Company size: there are 24.5% of accidents in companies of less than four workers. (4) Trigger: older workers suffered more falls, both from height and at the same level. (5) Time: the percentage of accidents in those over 50 was higher on Thursdays and Fridays, in the afternoons from 4 to 7 p.m., and after four hours of work. (6) Injury: this shows the longest absences for shoulder injuries for those over 50 years, with an average of 70 LWD.

Key Factors in Crane-Related Occupational Accidents in the Spanish Construction Industry (2012–2021)

“…The results of this study (2012-2021) showed that crane operators working for micro-companies suffered 27.7% of all crane-related accidents, those working for small companies suffered 43.92% and those belonging to medium-sized companies accounted for 23.44% of the total reported cases. These data were in agreement with those of Camino-López et al [39] and Fontaneda et al [50], both related to the Spanish construction industry. The analysis of the relationship between the size of the company and the rate of crane-related occupational accidents evidences an important, largely neglected risk factor of psychological nature; namely, operating a crane is more sophisticated and mentally demanding than operating other equipment; therefore, crane operators may be more vulnerable to human error [62].…”

“…However, few published studies have used this variable in the analysis of occupational accidents in the construction industry. Among them, Camino-López et al [39] analyzed a total of 1,630,452 accidents suffered by construction workers in Spain between 1990 and 2000; Betsis et al [49] analyzed a sample of 413 notified construction accidents that occurred in the north of Greece between 2003 and 2007; and finally, Fontaneda et al (2022) [50] analyzed 455,491 construction accidents in Spain notified between 2011 and 2018. Only the mentioned study by Camino-López et al [39] included "cranes and lifting equipment" among the analyzed material agents.…”

Characteristics of fall-from-height patients: a retrospective comparison of jumpers and fallers using a multi-institutional registry

“…Globally, FFH is the leading cause of fatal injuries in construction workers [20]. Along with an aging society, the average age of construction workers is also increasing [21,22]. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of construction workers in 2022 was 42.5 years [23].…”

“…Older construction workers are generally more prone to work-related injuries. Indeed, physical decline, reduced coordination, and slow reaction times can increase the chances of accidents, musculoskeletal injuries, and falls in older construction workers [22]. Safety education, use of protective equipment, and compliance with safety guidelines should be conducted considering the increasing age of construction workers [25,26].…”

Analysis of the Severity and Cause and Effect of Occupational Accidents in South Korea

“…A safe workplace setting is important for workers' productivity [3][4][5], and a clean environment is associated with no risk of bumping into objects [6]. Additionally, working at surface level is associated with no risk of falling from height [7].…”