A survey of absenteeism on construction sites

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jordan Srour ◽  
Issam Srour ◽  
M. Ghayth Lattouf
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Hierarchical Level ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Worker Absenteeism ◽  
Unskilled Workers ◽  
Complex Project

Purpose The construction industry is dynamic and often unregulated due to its complex, project-based nature. This makes the task of implementing human resource management (HRM) functions more difficult than in other economic sectors. This is particularly the case for developing countries which rely on a migrant, casual, and transient workforce. Despite offering flexibility, a transient workforce can lead to unpredictable rates of absenteeism and unsatisfactory productivity. This paper links HRM practices in the construction industry of the developing world to rates of absenteeism across three segments of the construction workforce – foremen, skilled workers, and unskilled workers. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A survey targeting 60 construction sites in Beirut, Lebanon form the basis of the analysis. Within each site, measures of absenteeism for foremen, skilled, and unskilled workers were solicited along with other data on HRM onsite. Findings The results suggest a regression model for worker absenteeism based on tenure of work as well as the absenteeism of workers at the next hierarchical level onsite. Originality/value This study is among the first to show a link between the mechanisms by which construction workers are employed (contract-based foremen vs daily/weekly labourers – both skilled and unskilled) and the rate of absenteeism seen onsite. Given the role of absenteeism in construction productivity, having a good understanding of the underlying causes of absenteeism is critical to the design of mitigating policies.

Understanding the low adoption of prefabrication prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) among SMEs in Singapore: from a change management perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gao Shang ◽  
Low Sui Pheng ◽  
Ong Le Tian Gina
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Change Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Organizational Change Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
The Government ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeConstruction productivity issues have constantly surfaced in Singapore's construction industry. To push for productivity, the Government has implemented various initiatives to encourage industry players, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and to adopt more productive construction technologies. One of these technologies is prefabrication prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC), a concept of the design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) approach. This exploratory study sheds lights on PPVC adoption and its issues in Singapore in the context of the launch of the Construction Industry Transformation Map (ITM).Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used here is mainly a quantitative approach in the form of a survey. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a pool of about 100 contractors, randomly chosen as part of a stratified sample. The questionnaire survey helps gain further insights into the industry's perceptions of PPVC and its adoption.FindingsThe study succeeded in identifying and analysing a list of drivers of and barriers to the adoption of PPVC. The top three most important potential drivers were “increase efficiency,” “technological change” and “changing nature of composition of workforce”. The three most important barriers were “ineffective on-site storage,” “high up-front payment” and “transportation issues”.Originality/valueThis study also looked into the organizational change management theory. Various theories were considered to help understand and implement change. It is understood that it is not only important for an organization to focus on the steps of these frameworks and models when the change is initiated but also for the organization to acknowledge and be mindful of the emotions of employees and take measures to overcome their emotions as part of organizational change management.

Service quality of insurance in complex project deals in the construction industry in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Graft Owusu-Manu ◽  
Frank Ato Ghansah ◽  
Amos Darko ◽  
Richard Ohene Asiedu
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Insurance Firms ◽  
Complex Construction ◽  
Complex Project ◽  
Project Insurance

PurposeThe insurance sector provides insurance protection for complex project deals in Ghana. The study assesses the service quality of insurance of complex project deals in the construction industry of developing countries, specifically Ghana. The objectives are to identify the insurance typologies in complex project deals in the construction industry, to assess the level of construction insurance quality, and to assess the challenges faced in complex project insurance.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze the previously related works on insurance in the construction industry. The study then adopted quantitative research strategy where a structured questionnaire survey was used to collect information from construction industry professionals. The data analysis was organized in accordance with the specific objectives of the study with the aid of mean score analysis and independent sample t-test. The study again measured the reliability of the adopted scale using Cronbach's alpha, which indicated that all the items reliably measured what they were intended to measure, and thereby, statistical tools can be applied to give in-depth meanings.FindingsThe insurance typologies for complex projects were discovered by the study, as well as the available service qualities of insurance. The study again made it clear that the major challenges capable of affecting complex construction project are low quality of insurance companies' services and the gap in statutory and legal systems.Research limitation/implicationsThe major constraint in this study was the issue of taking only Ghana as a developing country to generalize the result. This is then to provide lessons for other developing countries.Practical implicationThe findings from this study will be useful to construction firms, insurance firms, and regulatory bodies by identifying the effectiveness of insurance as a risk mitigation measure in construction. The study will help the insurance firms to better position themselves to meet the demands of the construction industry. As the findings of this study are Ghana-specific, it is also to provide lessons for other developing countries.Originality/valueThis study delves deep into the complex construction project insurance service quality in developing countries, specifically Ghana.

Investigation of the current usage of BIM capabilities by large-sized building contractors in Kenya based on theory of innovation diffusion

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Odhiambo Oyuga ◽  
Abednego Gwaya ◽  
Mugwima Bernard Njuguna
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Innovation Diffusion ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Building Information

Purpose This study aims to focus on the four user characteristics of innovation diffusion (availability, observability and trialability [AOT], simplicity, relative advantage [RA] and interoperability) to observe their influence on building information modelling (BIM) usage. This study focuses on the Kenyan construction industry, specifically the building contractors. Design/methodology/approach This study uses purposive sampling and specifically focusses on active construction sites that met requirements needed for BIM usage to thrive. Data was collected manually using questionnaires (N = 62). Findings This paper contributes to the analysis of the current state of BIM usage by the Kenyan construction industry specifically among building contractors and confirms that Kenya is at the early majority adopters’ stage of diffusion characterised by low BIM usage. In terms of correlation, this study found out that AOT had a strong positive correlation with usage, RA had a moderate positive correlation with usage, simplicity had a weak positive correlation with usage and interoperability had no correlation with usage. Practical implications This study gives a clear trend on BIM usage among building contractors to assist potential BIM users make informed decision. The recommendations in this study can be adopted by any late adopter jurisdiction whose structure of the construction industry is similar to Kenya’s. Originality/value This paper highlights variables that enable or subdue BIM usage. It goes further to localise and contextualise the barriers for deeper understanding of what makes these barriers be major hindrances towards BIM usage and giving practical solutions to these barriers.

On-site construction productivity in Malaysian infrastructure projects

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 446-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serdar Durdyev ◽  
Syuhaida Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Time Cost ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Improvement Measures ◽  
High Level ◽  
Significant Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors constraining the on-site construction productivity and measures for its improvement in Malaysian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire survey is administered to 171 respondents, comprising government authorities and construction players. A total of 39 constraints are found to be significant factors in various risk levels. Findings Consequently, improvement measures are recommended addressing those constraints to on-site construction productivity. It is believed that the findings of this study will assist in achieving high level of on-site construction productivity by focusing and acting upon the most risky constraints, where construction players in Malaysia could be guided well in their efforts in a time-, cost- and quality-effective manner. Originality/value It is believed that the findings of this study will assist in achieving high level of on-site construction productivity by focusing and acting upon the most risky constraints, where construction players in Malaysia could be guided well in their efforts in a time-, cost- and quality-effective manner.

Impact of foreign workforce on productivity in foreign-funded infrastructure projects

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-183
Author(s):  
Nayanthara De Silva ◽  
R. Darmicka ◽  
Elmo Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Employee Characteristics ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The aim of this study is to explore the impact of using foreign workers on construction productivity in project situations. Generally, foreign-funded projects use both native and foreign workers. Foreign workforce entering into the construction industry may affect the productivity positively or negatively, depending on the migrants’ attributes, institutional arrangements and native workers’ responses, thereby impacting the cost of the project. In Sri Lanka, large construction sites have become multicultural and depend on foreign workers brought in by foreign contractors for infrastructure projects. Design/methodology/approach – A survey-based approach was used to collect data. Structured interviews were conducted to explore the characteristics of the foreign workforce and their impact on productivity. Further, potential strategies were analyzed to establish industry motivators (IM) to enhance productivity. Findings – The study on the foreign workforce identified ten employee characteristics that may impact project’s productivity either positively or negatively. Further, 16 significant strategies were compiled to establish six IM to enhance productivity. Originality/value – These proposed motivators will be useful for construction practitioners in mitigating negative impacts and proactively managing the foreign workforce in a way to enhance construction productivity.

Is the construction site a safer place under the USACE or local government guidelines? The case of Afghanistan

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hashim Ibrahimkhil ◽  
Laith Hadidi
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to assess the safety level of construction sites in Afghanistan following the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) safety practices and compare this with other construction sites in Afghanistan that follow local government safety guidelines. The USACE oversees and funds many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, and these projects are supposed to follow the same standards implemented in the USA, including safety standards. The local government of Afghanistan also funds infrastructure projects in Afghanistan; however, these do not follow USACE best practices. This research explores the question of whether the USACE standards provide a safer construction site. The effect of the USACE standards on safety practices in construction projects is also investigated in the Afghanistan construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA literature review and other safety checklists were used to develop a safety checklist containing 104 items (questions) in 17 categories. Subsequently, the checklist was used to assess the safety performance of 57 construction projects (25 USACE projects, and 32 governmental projects). Utilizing quantitative analysis, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (Rho) and Mann–Whitney tests were carried out for correlation and statistical disparity between USACE and governmental projects.FindingsThe safety performance level of Afghan government projects was found to be poor in relation to other developing countries, while in USACE projects it was excellent. In addition, fire prevention, safety administration, PPE, heavy equipment, and handling and storage of materials for all types of contractors were the most overlooked aspects of Afghan Government projects.Practical implicationsThe findings clearly demonstrate the deficiencies in construction sites observed during this study and also support the adoption of USACE standards in Afghanistan projects.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the safety of construction sites in Afghanistan. The study also demonstrates the benefits of adopting international standards (USACE) to improve the safety of construction sites in a developing country such as Afghanistan. The findings provide evidence of the safety of the Afghanistan construction industry compared to other developing countries. These findings will contribute to the Afghan Government's efforts to track injury statistics.

Improving construction productivity: a subcontractor's perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Loosemore
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Design Management ◽  
Productivity Improvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Management Project ◽  
Main Determinants

Purpose – Surprisingly, given the prominence and front-line role of subcontractors in the construction industry, their perspective is almost completely absent from construction productivity literature. Existing research in this area presents a highly one-sided principal contractor perspective and there are very few insights into what subcontractors think. The purpose of this paper is to address the imbalance by investigating the determinants of construction productivity from a subcontractor's perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Focus groups with 71 of Australia's leading tier-one subcontractors were conducted with the aim of exploring their insights into the productivity challenge. Findings – The findings indicate that the main determinants of productivity for subcontractors are: the quality of relationships with principal contractors; opportunity for early involvement in design; transparent tender practices; growing administration and document control; design management; project management and supervisory skills, particularly in planning, scheduling and coordination; risk management and; industrial relations (IR). Research limitations/implications – This research was conducted in Australia and similar research needs to be conducted in other countries to cross-reference and validate the results more widely. Practical implications – In practical terms, a “culture” of productivity improvement will need to be “nurtured” across the business and supply chain if productivity is to be improved. In particular contractors should avoid bid shopping, respect subcontractor IP and talk to subcontractors earlier in a project. Social implications – By respecting the opinions of subcontractors who employ the vast majority of workers in the construction industry, productivity and employment can be increased. Originality/value – The focus group results add significantly to a more balanced understanding of what has hitherto been a one-sided principal contractor focused debate.

Robotics in construction: implementation and economic evaluation

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 678-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama Moselhi ◽  
Stanley Hason
Keyword(s):  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Skilled Labor ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Construction Robotics ◽  
Harsh Climate ◽  
The U.S

This paper presents a review of current worldwide efforts in automation and robotization for construction. Over a dozen countries are currently involved in such research efforts to overcome mainly declining productivity, increasing labor costs, hazards in the workplace, and scarcity of skilled labor. Research and development progress of Japanese contractors is emphasized, as they are aggressively introducing robots on site. A number of their leading contractors are visited, and applications of robotic equipment utilized on building construction sites in Japan are summarized. The Canadian construction industry, existing in a harsh climate and affected by shortages of skilled labor and high labor costs, needs to carefully consider construction robotics in order to meet its changing needs. The characteristics of the Canadian environment are presented and factors that have a direct bearing on the feasibility and implementation of robotics are emphasized. Different methods for the evaluation of the value of a construction robot are presented and applied to a numerical example. Comparisons are then made between the U.S. and Canada. It is believed that, given existing technology, economical constraints will either force or impede the implementation of robotics. Key words: Canadian construction industry, construction robot, automation, building construction, productivity, feasibility.

Project-specific constraints influencing productivity of tradespeople in the Nigerian construction industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-109
Author(s):  
Rex Asibuodu Ugulu ◽  
Andrew Arewa ◽  
Stephen Allen
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish the perception of tradespeople about project-specific constraints (PSCs) influencing construction productivity in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative descriptive survey comprising face-to-face semi-structured interviews and a purposive sampling method, views of eight groups of tradespeople and seven project managers on live construction projects in Nigeria were collected. The study used conventional content analysis with the aid of NVivo 12 pro computer software for the analysis. Findings The research evaluated the PSCs and their effect on construction productivity of tradespeople. The findings identified five key PSCs, namely: lack of promotions/reward system, unsafe/poor health condition of workers, delay in material availability, inadequate site amenities and an ageing workforce. These results support earlier research on constraints influencing labour productivity, however, the poor health condition of workers and material unavailability appear to be more unique when compared to other previous studies. Research limitations/implications The study focussed on the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and the Lagos State of Nigeria. It provides insight into the PSCs influencing the productivity of tradespeople in the Nigerian construction industry. Further research to identify the PSCs in depth, in the Eastern part of Nigeria is necessary. Practical implications The PSCs influencing tradespeople’s productivity was identified. The level of the relative impact of the PSCs is expected to guide the project team in addressing the PSCs in a method that is cost effective. Originality/value This study is original research that has underlined some areas of improvement in construction project performance.

scholarly journals Applications of drones for safety inspection in the Gulf Cooperation Council construction

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq Umar
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Safety ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Safety Improvement ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Important Barrier ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Purposeconstruction industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries is at the peak as the region is in the stage of developing its infrastructures. Apart from some positive sign of this boost, several other issues have also been developed in the region. One of such issues is the safety of workers at the construction sites. This article, based on a variety of applications of drones in other industrial sectors, considers the use of drones for construction safety improvement in the GCC countries. This article aimed to investigate the safety-related applications of drones considering technical features and barriers and enablers for safety-related tasks.Design/methodology/approachA mixed research approach using both qualitative and quantitative methods was adopted to achieve the aims and objectives of this research. Data were collected through a systematic literature review, semistructured interviews and using a structured questionnaire. A total of 37 relevant research items and 10 interviews were held with construction safety professionals, and 92 responses collected from the safety managers through a structured questionnaire was used to derive the conclusion of this research. The collected data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) program. Descriptive analyses were carried out in which means and importance factors were calculated.Findings25.92% of participants confirmed that they or their company had used the drone in different activates. The most common application of drones reported by the respondents was photography for marketing purposes followed by surveying application and quality inspections. The camera movability was the top-rated technical feature required for safety-related inspections. Similarly, “Working near the corner or edge of unprotected opening” was the top-rated application of drone for safety-related tasks. The safety concerns of using drones at job sites were rated as the most important barrier by the participants. Technical challenges associated with the use of drones for safety improvement was rated as the second most important barrier by the participants.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough, the research presented in this article is based on the GCC construction industry, however, since the data collected through systematic review and semistructured interviews are not a regional base, therefore the finding of this research could also be useful in other regions. Further research however, needs to be conducted to reduce the implications of the barriers identified in this paper so that the drone can be effectively used for safety improvement in construction not only in the GCC region but also in other countries.Practical implicationsOnce the GCC construction industry will be able to overcome the challenges associated with the application of drones in safety improvement, the safety managers will be able to monitor the site more effectively which could be helpful to improve the safety performance of the construction organization.Social implicationsImproved safety performance in not only in the greater interest of the construction organizations as they can reduce the costs associated with poor safety but can also avoid the delay caused by construction accidents. Similarly, improved safety performance reduces the accidents at construction sites, and thus reduces injuries and disabilities caused by such accidents, making the construction workers a useful part of the society. The application of drones in safety-related tasks is one of the key solutions that can lead us to improved safety performance.Originality/valueAlthough, the use of drone technology has revolutionized a number of industrial sectors due to its variety of applications, the application in construction particularly in the GCC region is still very limited. As noted in the results of this research, only 21 participants (25.92%) expressed that they or their company had used the drone in different activates. This means that the industry is not getting the full advantage of the available drone technology. The results of this research will enable construction industry stakeholders to know the challenges associated with the application of drones for safety improvement and to develop strategies to overcome these challenges.

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