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Analysis of Business Cycle Factors and Occupational Accidents in Construction Industry

건설업 산업재해 발생의 경기적 요인 분석 연구

  • Myungjoong, Kim (Safety & Health Policy Research Department, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute) ;
  • Sunyoung, Park (Safety & Health Policy Research Department, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute)
  • 김명중 (산업안전보건연구원 정책제도연구부) ;
  • 박선영 (산업안전보건연구원 정책제도연구부)
  • Received : 2022.08.17
  • Accepted : 2022.10.06
  • Published : 2022.12.31

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between occupational accidents in the construction industry and business cycle factors. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to achieve the research purpose; additionally, time-varying parameter estimations were performed to interpret the results. The results obtained for the construction industry revealed a statistically significant relationship between occupational accidents and wage increase rate, unemployment, construction starts, and other factors. The wage increase rate plays a role in reducing occupational accidents because efforts are made to prevent accidents owing to the increase in income loss due to accidents and the demand for increased safety levels. The number of construction starts affects occupational accidents with a time lag of 1 to 2 or 4 months; therefore, it is likely to be used as a leading indicator for estimating fatal accidents in the construction industry. This study highlighted the importance of monitoring socioeconomic changes that could affect the working conditions of workers and workplaces, and production activities in the workplace for the effective prevention of occupational accidents. This study also reveals the necessity of developing a method to operate prevention projects flexibly and the seasonality of industrial characteristics, particularly those of the construction industry where the highest number of fatal occupational injuries occur.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute Research Fund, 2021.

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