Occupational accidents and influencing factors in the railway superstructure and electromechanical construction sector

This research aims to contribute to the prevention of occupational accidents and the establishment of positive working conditions by conducting a retrospective evaluation of accidents in the railway superstructure construction. The overall framework of the study emphasizes the complexity of occupational health and safety concepts, focusing specifically on the challenges arising in the construction sector. The study examines the factors influencing the occurrence of work-related accidents, such as age, occupation, seniority, shift of occurrence, season, accident type, and injured body part, among employees engaged in railway superstructure construction. In the research involving a total of 172 male participants, it was observed that accidents mostly occurred among employees in the 20-34 age group, and older workers tended to receive fewer accident reports. Furthermore, statistical analyses were conducted by examining accidents based on factors such as occupational groups, shift conditions, seasonal characteristics, professional seniority, and the preventability of accidents through education. The results of the analysis indicate that factors such as the injured body part, accident type, and seasonal characteristics are significant factors influencing the incidence of accident reports. In conclusion, recommendations focusing on important variables such as age, accident type, and seasonal factors were developed to reduce accidents and improve working conditions in railway superstructure construction. The research is believed to contribute to the literature by emphasizing the importance of sector-specific analyses in occupational health and safety. Keywords: Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Sector, Railway Superstructure Construction, Occupational Accidents, Retrospective Evaluation