Causal factors and prevention strategies of accidents in residential construction: perspectives from construction managers

The construction industry is identified as one of the sectors with the highest occupational accident rate, representing a challenge for managers and workers. In the construction of residential buildings, accident risk mitigation requires effective strategies developed by construction managers. Despite significant progress in identifying and characterizing the causal factors of construction-related accidents, there remains a notable lack of studies focusing on the perceptions and mitigation strategies of these factors from the perspective of construction managers. This study examines construction managers’ perceptions of the frequency and severity of accident-causing factors in residential construction and potential mitigation strategies. The research method included a systematic literature review, a questionnaire applied to 52 construction managers, and the analysis of 36 residential construction projects. This allowed data collection on the most relevant risk factors and mitigation strategies. Twenty-nine accident causal factors were identified, and seven strategic mitigation lines were proposed. An influence analysis identified critical factors associated with accidents, such as poor use of personal protective equipment, hazardous working conditions, and inadequate temporary support structures and assemblies. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was adopted to propose seven strategy lines for accident prevention. The mitigation strategies identified include workspace planning and adopting digital simulations in the early stages. This study provides valuable information on improving construction safety and reducing the occurrence of occupational accidents.