Guidelines for studying the Safety Cost Optimization of Building Construction Projects

Abstract

Statistics of construction accidents and injuries in Thailand shows a high rate of occurrences in comparison to several countries.  Many researchers have tried to assess the costs of accident prevention.  Thai government also set up a policy to impose contractors to submit their safety plans together with costs for reducing the accidents but even then, lots of injuries still exist.  This research aims to propose a conceptual model of safety cost optimization of building construction projects.  Data will be collected by interviewing the contractors with regard to their safety investments and losses arising from accidents.  Then, the proper safety investment ratio, Accident loss ratio and Accident occurrence index will be calculated. By obtaining these, the relationship between Safety Performance and contract sums, percentage of safety optimization investment vs. contract sums.  A preliminary study revealed that the safety investment will be under the influence of safety supervisor, preventive measures, training and practices, safety campaigns, and accident occurrences on the jobsite.  If the optimal cost of safety investment can be estimated beforehand, it will play a vital part in helping diminish the construction accidents in Thailand.