Building a Sustainable Future: Enhancing Construction Safety through Macro-Level Analysis

Accidents are events that occur unexpectedly during production or daily activities, causing personal injury or property damage. Analyzing accident trends and their influencing factors is crucial for policymakers to develop effective management systems and preventive measures, thereby significantly enhancing accident prevention strategies and promoting sustainability in construction practices. This study focuses on accidents in China’s construction industry from 2008 to 2020, examining the macro factors that influence the growth rate of construction accidents and their underlying mechanisms. By employing a system dynamics model with incorporated delay functions, this study simulates the impact of 15 macro factors on the accident growth rate. The findings reveal that improvements in factors such as the power equipment rate and safety investments not only substantially reduce accident frequency, but also contribute to the sustainable development of construction practices by promoting safer and more resource-efficient methods. Furthermore, the introduction of delay functions validates the lag effects of various factors, emphasizing their long-term cumulative impact on both safety and sustainability. The simulation results demonstrate that the system dynamics model accurately reflects the actual growth trends of construction accidents, providing robust scientific evidence for policymakers. This study enhances the understanding of the mechanisms driving construction safety accidents and offers theoretical support for the formulation of effective and sustainable safety management policies.