Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Occupational Injuries: Presenting an Analytical Tool

Background: Occupational injuries are considered to be of great concern in all workplaces and industries, especially in the construction field. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the factors contributing to occupational injuries by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Materials and Methods: This developmental analytical study was implemented based on occupational accidents that occurred within a five-year time frame (2009 to 2013) in 13 large Iranian construction workplaces. Modeling and data analysis were conducted by implementing the structural equations model (SEM) and CFA approaches with the use of statistical software IBM SPSS AMOS version 22.0. Results: The results have shown that the individual and demographic factor (IDF), organizational factor (OF), H & S training factor (TF), workplace-human factor (WHF), factor related to type of accident occurrence (TAF), H & S risk management system factor (RMSF), and accident time factor (ATF) were considered as effective and significant independent latent factors in the advent of occupational injuries. Conclusions: Analytical modeling of structural equations with respect to the CFA approach has shown that occupational injuries are due to the combination of underlying indicator variables and different groups of latent factors. Hence, to determine and analyze such injuries, the role of each factor, its underlying components, and its relation with others should be considered, which will make it possible to develop a more structured approach that considers all relevant factors in order to prevent occupational injuries.