The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has funded research into the major hazards on construction sites, to help builders liability insurance customers understand the risks at work.
A number of different factors will be looked at in the study, including the risk of building collapse and major fires, how scaffolds are used on site and problems associated with using cranes.
Both Loughborough University and CIRIA, a specialist in construction industry research, will work on the project and will look at the immediate and underlying causes of these incidents.
The HSE added: "The consequences are potentially catastrophic and may include the risk of multiple casualties, possibly including members of the public, major disruption of infrastructure and services, and irreparable damage to organisation's reputation."
A recent asbestos campaign by the organisation, the Hidden Killer scheme, has recently won an award from the European Excellence Awards. The HSE was given the accolade at a ceremony in Vienna, Austria.