Occupational Accidents:A Comparative Study of Construction and Manufacturing Industries

At present, several developing countries show interest in safety-related issues as a way to reduce occupational accidents in the workplace. The literature depicts that safety culture is a multidimensional idea. Occupational accidents significantly affect human capital, and have a negative impact on productivity and competitiveness of the workers in particular and project in general. There is still a shortage of preventive practices and commitment to satisfactory management for occupational accidents and paucity of safety culture within companies. Construction and manufacturing industries are considered to be risky, having a higher rate of occupational accidents resulting in higher temporary and permanent injuries and fatalities. Both have the highest occupational accident rates recorded throughout the world after the agriculture industry. This study provides a comparative analysis of various kinds of occupational accidents and their causes in both industries in Pakistan. A qualitative study has been carried out on the occupational accidents frequently occurring in both industries. The significant impacts of accidents are also evaluated in this study. The input has been received from professionals working in both industries for a long time. Relative importance weight and quadrant distribution methods is used for information analysis. The study shows that ‘fall from elevation, electrocution from defective tools, snakebite, caught between and fall at floor level’ are the most common types of occupational accidents in both industries. Poor site condition and equipment are the common causes for occupational accidents. This study helps in developing proactive measures in both industries to prevent occupational accidents. This will result in saving compensation costs as well as working hours, safe and successful completion of projects and maintaining the reputation of the companies.