Analysis of the Causes of Falling Accidents on Building Construction Sites in China Based on the HFACS Model

In order to explore the causative factors of falling accidents at high-rise building construction sites, this study collected 207 reports of these accidents from 2014 to 2024. We used the Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) during sample collection, from the four perspectives of organizational impact, unsafe supervision, prerequisites for unsafe behavior, and unsafe behavior. In total, 21 important causal factors were identified, and the samples were classified according to these factors. Descriptive statistics, chi-square testing, and limit matrix analysis were mainly used. SPSS 27.01 was used to analyze the samples, and Super Decisions software was used to normalize the limit supermatrix and calculate the weight. Subsequently, innovative and comprehensive application of chi-square testing and correlation coefficients was applied to determine the correlation of factors, and ANP was used to determine the weight of the factors. According to the weight, we determined the key factors, levels, and paths, and the relationship between the causes of falling accidents in building construction was systematically studied. Finally, based on the key causal path and key factors, a corresponding pre-control strategy was proposed. The results show that the key factors are a lack of awareness of personnel safety, safety education and training, and on-site safety management and an absence of safety inspections and routine maintenance. The key causes are that labor companies are not qualified, there is a lack of on-site safety oversight, and personnel do not have a permit to work at significant heights and do not wear safety protection equipment properly. This study explores the shortcomings of safety management in the construction industry. In order to reduce the accident rate, it is very important to improve the level of decision-making regarding safety management by the government and construction industry. This study has the following limitations: firstly, the information obtained from the investigation report of high-rise building construction accidents is not adequate to fully reflect the situation of workers on-site, which inevitably leads to some deviations. Secondly, due to the high mobility of construction workers, it is very difficult to investigate psychological or physiological states that may have a potential impact on unsafe behavior.