A review of accident types and accident causes can aid in minimizing the number of construction accidents

The construction industry is considered one of the most hazardous industries due to the high fatality rates from construction accidents (CAs). This situation directly leads to substantial financial losses and long-term economic instability for construction stakeholders, particularly construction workers. This work provides a new perspective to decrease accidents and increase safety levels in construction activities. A comprehensive systematic review of 54 SCI/SCIE/SSCI-indexed articles with a focus on accident types (ATs) and accident causes (ACs). The results show that AT1 to AT6 are the main concerns for ATs, and AC1, AC2, AC16, AC18, and AC20 are the main causes of ACs. Furthermore, identifying the interrelationship between ACs facilitates a more profound understanding of underlying risk factors and suggests actionable safety improvements based on causal loop analysis. In conclusion, an integrated safety strategy that combines management, technology, and regulation is proposed for minimizing CAs. This study provides valuable guidance for industry professionals, policymakers, and researchers to foster a proactive safety culture and reduce the number of CAs.