Spatial analysis of construction accidents in Kampala, Uganda

Construction work is one of the leading sources of occupational injuries and fatalities in Uganda. This paper set out to investigate the causes of construction accidents in Kampala, Uganda using ordinary least squares regression and spatial regression modeling. A cross-sectional survey of 201 large-size building projects commissioned by Kampala City Council in 2008 was undertaken. Data collected from the survey was supplemented by building records from Kampala City Council, safety statistics from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, and accident investigation reports. The injury rate for Kampala is deduced to be 3797 per 100,000 workers and the fatality rate is 84 per 100,000 workers. The three most prevalent causes of accidents in Kampala are mechanical hazards (i.e. struck by machines, vehicles, hand tools, cutting edges, etc.), being hit by falling objects and falls from height. Congestion, a phenomenon which arises when there is evidence of high building density amidst many fulltime workers on site, is discussed. Through spatial statistical analysis, construction accidents that occur at one location were found to be related to those that occur in the neighborhood. To mitigate accidents occurrence, policies on regulating working hours, provision of safety equipment, equipment maintenance and on standards of acceptable building densities are suggested.