Evaluating critical factors contributing to occupational accidents among small-scale construction firms: empirical evidence from Ghana

Occupational accidents in construction, particularly among small-scale firms, remain a significant concern in developing countries like Ghana. Despite their dominance in the sector, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding accident causation factors among these firms. This study investigates critical factors contributing to occupational accidents among small-scale construction firms (D3K3 and D4K4) in Ghana. The study employs a quantitative approach using structured questionnaires to collect data from 135 construction professionals using purposive sampling. Data analysis comprised reliability testing, mean score ranking, exploratory factor analysis, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE). Near-miss incidents emerge as the most prevalent accident type, followed by cuts from handy tools and electrical shocks. Factor analysis reveals four principal components: safety management and training deficiencies, unsafe work practices and environmental hazards, organizational and worker-level safety barriers, and supervision and regulatory compliance gaps. FSE shows supervision and regulatory compliance as the most critical factor group. This research provides robust empirical evidence of accident causation factors in Ghana’s small-scale construction sector, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners. The integration of factor analysis and FSE offers a framework for assessing safety challenges in resource-constrained environments, contributing to both theoretical understanding and practical application in construction safety management.