Construction Equipment and Motor Vehicle Related Injuries on Construction Sites in Turkey

Abstract

Research on occupational accidents on construction sites in Turkey is very few. Moreover, research on motor vehicle and equipment accidents also do not exist. Investigation in the scope of this study shows that after falls and contact with electricity, accidents involving heavy equipment and motor vehicles rank third and fourth, respectively. This study aims to reveal the characteristics of these types of accidents, deduct the prominent causes that lead to fatalities as well as permanent disabilities using the present data. With the aid of obtained results, recommendations are made for safety experts on how to derive data from insufficient sources in Turkey and to evaluate these data for prevention and mitigation of the risks that construction workers are exposed to. 168 fatal and 38 non-fatal traffic accident-caused incidents as well as 206 fatal and 97 non-fatal construction equipment accidents, which were selected from official statistics and expert reports, were taken into consideration. Analysis and classification of these accidents were done according to the way they happened, the type of construction site and the occupation of the victims. Moreover, the leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injuries, to which drivers, operators and co-operators are exposed, are presented. Critical findings concerning prominent ways of occurrence, type of construction work and occupation are presented; and a number of measures for reducing the present risks are suggested. Some approaches for analysing relevant data are proposed for further research.

Work conditions and health risks of persons employed in construction in Latvia

“…After an accident, to prevent or reduce repeating of such accidents, the employer must carry out occupational safety activities 36.2% employers admitted that work organisation was changed, 26.8% replaced or improved equipment, in 60.4% cases employees were additionally instructed and trained, in 13.4% -additional personal protective equipment was provided, and 16.8% carried out other activities (more exact data on the construction sector are not available). Similar problems in injuries were observed in a case study in Turkey, where the highest risks were construction site equipment and motor vehicles (Gürcanli et al, 2008).…”

“…Dangerous equipment is connected with an increased number of accidents, resulting in the loss of work time as well as very serious, often fatal health disorders. Manual tools cause numerous accidents at work; however, these are mostly light accidents without a fatal result (Roja and Kaïíis, 2001;Anonîms, 2003;Gürcanli et al, 2008).…”

“…-work at height, in closed premises; -risk factors causing traumatism; -the work with dangerous equipment (lifts, cranes, hoists, pulleys, lifts), power equipment and pressure equipment (for example, compressed gas cylinders in welding works) (Grausenth et al, 2006;Gürcanli et al, 2008).…”

Risky work: Accidents among Nepalese migrant workers in Malaysia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

“…Nepalese people in the Middle East worked in building and construction, whereas those in Malaysia worked in factories. The literature on migrant workers indicates that the construction industry is a very dangerous business globally and compared to other industries (14,17,25,46). The second possible reason for higher numbers of accidents in the Middle East could be due to heat exposure.…”

“…This wider literature also shows that construction and manufacturing industries are among the most dangerous sectors to work-in globally (13,14). Poor work environment, including an absence of safety measures and equipment are the leading causes of accidents and injuries [15][16][17].…”