A Complex Network Approach to Modeling the Causations of Major Construction Safety Accidents

Learning from past accidents and experiences is a major path for the avoidance of future accidents. Despite accidents occur through the combination of multiple causal factors, few studies have examined the interconnection of causal factors from a network perceptive. Thus, this research develops a complex network model using 67 major construction accident cases in China. First, a total of 29 causal factors were identified from four dimensions, namely human factor, construction management, industry factor, and construction environment. Then, the complex network was established based on the cause-effect connections among causal factors and accidents. Finally, based on topological parameters, including degree, betweenness centrality, and average path length, this research found that illegal operations, defects of equipment and materials, and insufficient safety duties of the supervision were critical causal factors. This research will provide meaningful insights into the accident analysis from a network perspective as well as the prevention measures to promote construction safety.