The use and abuse of safety indicators in construction

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1188-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Oswald ◽  
Rita Peihua Zhang ◽  
Helen Lingard ◽  
Payam Pirzadeh ◽  
Tiendung Le
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a critical review of the use of safety performance indicators in the construction industry. The authors consider the strengths, limitations and managerial consequences associated with commonly used indicators. Design/methodology/approach The authors combine two separate data sets in this critical review. These include 32 semi-structured interviews with construction industry representatives involved in the collection and reporting of safety indicators, as well as a multi-level safety climate survey that was conducted at 12 construction sites across Australia. Findings The analysis provides new evidence that, in their current use, commonly used H&S indicators are subject to manipulation and misinterpretation. Their usefulness as tools to support safety management activities in construction projects and organisations needs to be understood in the context of their limitations. In particular, safety indicators do not reflect the full set of factors that affect workplace safety and there will always be disagreement about what should be counted and how. Originality/value As a result of the substantial shortcomings of safety indicators, great care needs to be taken when using them to determine or evaluate organisational safety policy and practices.

Development of waste occurrence level indicator in Vietnam construction industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 715-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Duy Khanh ◽  
Soo Yong Kim
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Level Indicator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the waste occurrence level in the construction industry. It includes: first, identifying the mean value of frequency of waste occurrence according to respondents’ characteristics; second, identifying the main predictive factors for waste occurrence based on latent relationships between initial waste factors; and third, identifying the waste occurrence-level indicator (WOLI) for the construction industry based on the main waste measurement factors. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 19 waste factors were sorted from the literature review. A structured questionnaire was adopted to carry out the survey. The respondents are professionals who have much experience in construction and management of project. Shapiro-Wilk test of normality, Levene’s test, ANOVA test, and factor analysis technique were used to analyze the collected data. Findings – Frequency of waste occurrence in construction projects is quite high. There was no statistically and practically significant difference in means for waste occurrence between selected population categories. Based on factor analysis technique, there were five principal components extracted with 56.7 percent of total variance. The WOLI in the construction industry was found as 61.55 per the scale of 100. Research limitations/implications – The non-probability sampling was applied to collect data because of several certain limitations and difficulties. The number of data sets is relatively small. This study has only examined the frequency of waste occurrence without quantitative information. Practical implications – This is another study of waste factors in the construction industry, which is different from traditional waste studies. Originality/value – The contribution of this study to the practical project management is that a proposed evaluation sheet for WOLI could be applied for any construction firm.

scholarly journals Strategic framework for implementing smart devices in the construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-243
Author(s):  
Manuel Alexander Silverio-Fernández ◽  
Suresh Renukappa ◽  
Subashini Suresh
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Framework ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The decentralisation of information and high rate of mobile content access in the construction industry provide an ideal scenario for improvement of processes via the implementation of the paradigm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Smart devices are considered as the objects interconnected in the IoT; therefore, they play a fundamental role in the digital transformation of the construction industry. Currently, there is a lack of guidelines regarding the implementation of smart devices for digitalisation in the construction industry. Consequently, this paper aims to provide a set of guidelines for implementing smart devices in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was performed in the UK and the Dominican Republic (DR). Following a systematic approach, qualitative data collection and analysis was performed based on semi-structured interviews involving professionals from construction companies in the UK and the DR. Interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed using Microsoft Word and exported to the software NVivo, where the software was used to find common thematic nodes across all interviews. Findings The findings encompass drivers, challenges and critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing smart devices in construction project. For both countries, the top five CSFs were leadership, staff training, culture, technology awareness and cost of implementation. These findings were used to develop a strategic framework for implementing smart devices in construction companies. The framework establishes the actors, elements and actions to be considered by construction companies when implementing smart devices. Originality/value This paper provides a richer insight into the understanding and awareness of implementing smart devices. A strategic framework for implementing smart devices in the construction industry and providing guidelines for adopting smart devices in construction projects was developed and validated. This study provides a better understanding of the key factors to be considered by construction companies when embedding smart devices into their projects.

Status of lean construction implementation among small and medium building contractors (SMBCs) in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1691-1709
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Nsiah Ankomah ◽  
Joshua Ayarkwa ◽  
Kofi Agyekum
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Lean Construction ◽  
The Body ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Status

Purpose The purpose of this study is to ascertain the extent to which the practices of small and medium building contractors (SMBCs) conform to lean construction (LC) principles. Ultimately, practical results encourage a discourse on the true potentials and challenges to the holistic uptake of LC principles in the Ghanaian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on a qualitative case study approach. The data was obtained through face-to-face structured interviews. Findings Across the cases, it was realized that there is a low-level application of LC principles among SMBCs. There was no indication that lean concepts were used on a company-wide basis in the Ghanaian construction industry. Furthermore, the study revealed that the traditional wasteful approach to managing construction projects was still prevalent among the firms. Practical implications This paper uses the 4P model as a foundation for assessing the extent to which the practices of SMBCs conform to LC principles. Practically, the study also created a certain level of awareness among the SMBCs about LC, LC principles and the benefits of the application of these principles within organizations. Originality/value This study contributes to the body of knowledge as it uncovers the status of LC implementation among SMBCs in the Ghanaian construction industry. The findings that are presented in this paper can be used as a starting point to disseminate the research and practice of LC among SMBCs.

Implementing the international benchmarking labour productivity theoretical model

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1041-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parviz Ghoddousi and ◽  
Behzad T. Alizadeh ◽  
M. Reza Hosseini ◽  
Nicholas Chileshe
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Steel Structures ◽  
Performance Ratio ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Benchmarking

Purpose – Building upon the results of a critical review of previous studies, the purpose of this paper is to present a framework to enhance the reliability of the theoretical model for international benchmarking of labour productivity (TMIBLP) method for construction project activities. The next part of the paper presents the results of implementing the proposed framework for construction activities in the Iranian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws upon a critical review of the literature to highlight the drawbacks of the previous studies concerning implementing TMIBLP within the construction industry. Identifying these shortcomings, the authors propose a framework for construction projects, which presents the procedure for deploying TMIBLP for construction activities in a reliable manner. The final section of the paper demonstrates the empirical implementation of the proposed framework within the Iranian construction industry. Findings – The primary contributions of the paper include: identifying the drawbacks of previous studies within the construction context, the framework that would lead construction managers towards more reliable implementation of benchmarking for construction projects, and determining the baseline of erecting steel structures in a developing country. Practical implications – A practical implementation of the TMIBLP method was presented to address the lack of research in Iran and to show the feasibility of using the framework developed. The authors investigated the daily labour productivity for the activity of structural steel erection for six projects in Tehran in order to determine the values of the baseline productivity for each project. Accordingly, the disruption index, performance ratio and project management index as the project benchmarks were calculated for all six projects. Originality/value – Underlining the necessity of implementing methods such as TMIBLP, this study outlines the outcomes of the first study on the benchmarking of construction activities deploying the proposed framework and using the data on erecting steel structures from six construction projects in Iran. The discussions provide guidelines for construction project managers regarding benchmarking labour productivity. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research opportunities.

Identifying critical factors influencing the safety of Chinese subway construction projects

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shang Zhang ◽  
Riza Yosia Sunindijo ◽  
Martin Loosemore ◽  
Shejiang Wang ◽  
Yajun Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Subway Construction ◽  
Accident Rates

PurposeThe image of the construction industry in China, as in many other countries, is tarnished by its poor safety record. With the rapid development of subway systems in Chinese urban areas, construction workers are being exposed to new risks which are poorly understood and managed. Subway construction projects are large scale and scattered over many construction sites, and involve numerous stakeholders and sophisticated technologies in challenging underground environments. Accident rates are high and have significant economic and social consequences for the firms and people involved. Addressing the gap in research about the safety risk in these projects, the purpose of this paper is to advance understanding of the factors influencing the safety of Chinese subway construction projects with the overall objective of reducing accident rates.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with 399 subway construction professionals across five stakeholder groups. Follow-up interviews were also conducted with five experienced experts in safety management on subway projects to validate the results.FindingsIt was found that the eight most critical factors perceived by stakeholders to influence safety risks on Chinese subway projects are: project management team; contractor-related factors; site underground environment; safety protection during the use of machines; safety management investment; site construction monitoring and measurement; hazard identification and communication; and use of machines in all stages. This indicates that in allocating limited project resources to improve the safety of subway projects, managers should focus on: developing safety knowledge and positive attitudes in leadership teams; formulating effective risk management systems to identify, assess, mitigate, measure and monitor safety risks on site; improving communications with stakeholders about these risks and effectively managing plant, equipment and machinery.Originality/valueThis research contributes a new multi-stakeholder perspective to the lack of safety research in Chinese subway construction projects. The research findings provide important new insights for policymakers and managers in improving safety outcomes on these major projects, producing potentially significant social and economic benefits for society and the construction industry.

Barriers to environmental sustainability of construction projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Graft Joe Opoku ◽  
Joshua Ayarkwa ◽  
Kofi Agyekum
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Agenda

Purpose The construction industry plays an important role in the achievement of the 11th and 15th of the Sustainable Development Goals. Efforts have been made by most developing and developed economies toward the achievement of these goals. Despite the efforts being made by the construction industry toward the achievement of these goals, there are still barriers that prevent built environment consultants from advancing environmental sustainability (ES) of construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to ES of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review on barriers to the adoption of ES was conducted and face-to-face semi-structured interviews of purposively selected built environment consultants in Ghana were carried out. Thematic template analysis of qualitative data was conducted. Findings The key findings from the study include perceived initial costs, lack of knowledge on ES, technological difficulties, external pressures in adopting ES practices and environmental conditions in developing countries. Originality/value The outputs of this study offer strategies which are very significant to the construction industry in embracing ES. Further, the findings contribute to knowledge on achieving the sustainable development agenda.

Safety enablers using emerging technologies in construction projects: empirical study in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Boon Hui Yap ◽  
Karen Pei Han Lee ◽  
Chen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Construction Safety ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Content Type

Purpose High rate of accidents continue to plague the construction industry. The advancements in safety technologies can ameliorate construction health and safety (H&S). This paper aims to explore the use of emerging technologies as an effective solution for improving safety in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach Following a detailed literature review, a questionnaire survey was developed encompassing ten technologies for safety management and ten safety enablers using technologies in construction. A total of 133 responses were gathered from Malaysian construction practitioners. The collected quantitative data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to determine the meaningful relationships between the variables. Findings Findings revealed that the most effective emerging technologies for safety management are: building information modelling (BIM), wearable safety technologies and robotics and automation (R&A). The leading safety enablers are related to improve hazard identification, reinforce safety planning, enhance safety inspection, enhance safety monitoring and supervision and raise safety awareness. Practical implications Safety is immensely essential in transforming the construction industry into a robustly developed industry with high safety and quality standards. The adoption of safety technologies in construction projects can drive the industry towards the path of Construction 4.0. Originality/value The construction industry has historically been slow to adopt new technology. This study contributes to advancing the body of knowledge in the area of incorporating emerging technologies to further construction safety science and management in the context of the developing world. By taking cognisance of the pertinent emerging technologies for safety management and the safety enablers involved, construction safety can be enhanced using integrated technological solutions.

The stakeholders' perspective on the factors contributing to construction disputes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinar Irlayici Cakmak
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
The Body ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Disputes ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

PurposeWhile a considerable amount of research has been conducted on construction disputes, disputes remain prevalent in the construction industry and have still been a crucial problem in the Turkish construction industry as well. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of different stakeholders on key factors that contribute to construction disputes by adopting a qualitative approach.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative approach adopted for the study provided gathering in-depth and rich information about the topic. To explore the phenomenon in-depth information, semi-structured interviews were conducted. A total of 38 interviews were conducted among experts and practitioners who engaged in construction disputes.FindingsContent analysis of interview data resulted in the emergence of varying categories relevant to the problems which result in construction disputes. By grouping related themes into main categories, the analysis yielded five major ones: clarity of the contract form, errors in contract documents, payments, changes, delays and not granting extension of time.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitations are having interviewees from one country and results limited to the Turkish construction industry.Practical implicationsThe findings provide insight on the factors contributing to construction disputes as perceived by different stakeholders, which should provide guidance to determine the associated risks for dispute occurrence, make effort to mitigate disputes once they happen, take proper precautions for minimizing the effects and after all make a significant contribution in the successful accomplishment of completed construction projects.Originality/valueThe findings of the study contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to construction disputes through a qualitative approach which is limited in the related literature. Although the qualitative exploration only focuses on the Turkish construction industry, the study has added significantly to the body of knowledge within the subject area.

scholarly journals Key risks in construction projects in Italy: contractors’ perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Rostami ◽  
Chike F. Oduoza
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Identification Process ◽  
Risk Management Framework

Purpose Risks play an important role in the success of construction projects. Failure in identification and assessment of risks can lead to inadequacy in the process of managing risks, which in turn can critically affect the projects’ resources. A formal risk management is rarely practised in construction projects due to the lack of contractors’ awareness of key risks. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the investigation of risk factors in construction projects in Italy from contractors’ perspective. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, based on which a total of ten key risks were ascertained. The identified risks were compared with the findings of the surveys conducted in the Australian and Chinese construction industry to address the unique risks associated with construction projects in Italy. Findings The key risks included delays in payments, client variations, design variations, inaccurate cost estimates, and tight project schedules. The comparison between those three countries specified the delays in payments and project funding problems as the most critical factors that are related to cultural influences and behaviour of clients. The findings assist contractors in the risk identification process, and can be applied to the development of a risk management framework for construction projects. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study cannot be generalised statistically for the whole of Italy as it was constrained geographically, with respondents drawn only from a self-selection sample of construction projects in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. The findings represent a snapshot of the key potential internal and external risks from the perspective of contractors. Originality/value The results of the study specified the key risks of construction projects from the perspective of contractors which can contribute to risk management for construction projects.

REVIEW AND ADOPT A TOOL FOR MEASURING SAFETY CLIMATE IN INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Gao ◽  
Albert P. C. Chan ◽  
Wahyudi P. Utama ◽  
Hafiz Zahoor
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Safety Behavior ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Construction Market ◽  
International Construction ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Construction Safety Management

The construction industry is deemed to be one of the most dangerous industries worldwide due to its special characteristics of production process. Globalization has brought about an increasing number of construction companies involving themselves in the international construction market. Due to involvement of participants from different countries and regions, international construction projects possess complexities from national, organizational and individual perspectives which may affect construction safety management adversely and lead to unsatisfactory safety performance. Safety climate, defined as “a unified set of cognitions regarding the safety aspects of the organization”, is often considered to be a predictor of safety behavior and performance. After conducting a comprehensive review of existing literature related to safety climate measurement in construction sector, this study highlights several conditions for selecting suitable safety climate instruments specific in international construction projects.

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