The assumption that top management of construction firms (in Israel) can be motivated by economical interests to become actively involved in accident prevention of their firms, prima facie through the uninsured accident costs, is investigated. However, findings show that the average uninsured accident costs only 100 man hours, equivalent to merely 0. 76% of a project's labor cost. Size of site, type of construction and cause of accident do not affect accident costs while nature of injury, injured organ and the casualty's occupation do affect it. The correlation between lost days and uninsured accident costs is low. A methodological discussion exploring various approaches to the study of accident costs as a source for management motivation, is followed by recommendations with practical implications.