Safety Analysis of Construction Projects in Kabul Using the FMEA Method with a Worker Behavioral–Psychological Approach

Abstract

Construction safety in developing countries such as Afghanistan is a major concern due to weak regulations and cultural influences that significantly increase risks. This field-based study employed the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method to identify hazards, with particular emphasis on both technical and behavioral aspects.An analytical investigation was conducted across ten construction projects, including governmental, residential, and commercial buildings, to identify, assess, and prioritize hazards. Initially, the primary risk factors within the projects were identified. For each hazard, three parameters—severity, occurrence probability, and detectability—were determined. Subsequently, prioritization criteria were applied, and hazards were ranked based on the Risk Priority Number (RPN).The findings revealed that the highest RPN value (560) was associated with work at heights. Contributing factors included discomfort caused by personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of safety harnesses, rushing, and a culture of indifference, along with managerial negligence driven by cost reduction and underestimation of worker health. Conversely, the lowest RPN value (180) was linked to disregard for PPE, stemming from weak work culture, lack of incentive and penalty systems, and insufficient training. The results also highlighted significant risks posed by crane operations, temporary electrical work, and the absence of a reporting culture. The RPN findings suggest that Afghan authorities should implement supervisory controls, enforce regulations, provide crane operation training, ensure the use of PPE, and strengthen the reporting culture to mitigate critical hazards and enhance the culture of construction safety in Kabul.