Effect of safety investments on safety performance of building projects
Dr Yingbin Feng, University of Western Sydney, Australia
Published in Safety Science, Vol.59, pp.28-45, 2013.
Abstract
The construction industry is increasingly reliant on contractors’ voluntary initiatives to reduce construction accidents. This study investigates the effect of investment on safety performance, and identifies some key influencing factors. For the study, a regression/correlation research design was adopted. Multiple techniques were used to collect data from 47 completed building projects. Bivariate correlation and moderated regression techniques were used to analyse the data. The results show that basic safety investment does not produce a constant effect on safety performance, but varies according to site culture and project conditions.
Investment in basic safety has a stronger positive effect on accident prevention if the project already has a robust safety culture and project hazard level. On the other hand, corresponding levels of investment in projects with a poor safety culture will not yield such positive results. The findings suggest that increasing protection and creating a safer environment will not necessarily raise safety performance if site culture has also not improved. So contractors’ interventions should combine physical protection with other cultural safety measures.
This paper was the Premier Award Winner of the 2014 CIOB Research Paper Award.
The judge's said, “This paper provides a holistic re-evaluation of safety management within construction, exploring a variety of factors and clearly illustrating the highly complex and multi-faceted nature of safety within the industry. It is a well-executed study that sheds light on how safety investments can lead to both positive and negative safety performance. It is original, well written with clearly articulated objectives. It also has the benefit of being highly accessible to a wide readership.”
--CIOB
Featured articles and news
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.
The story of this knowledge quarter building.
In ecology, in hydrology, in biology and in architecture.
Creating environments that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
UK cases of neutral current diversion
Research project looks for example contributions.
Overstocking and macro-economics cause a decline.
The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard
Demonstrating organisational capability’ to fulfil roles under the Building Safety Act.
56 recommendations for a better built environment
Published by the CIC ahead of the King’s Speech.
SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named
in annual search for the UK’s best student electrician.
CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical information sheet
Step-by-step guide on implementing D and I practices.
Conservation and the Indian City. Book review.
Reversibility in conservation ethics
Learning from painting conservation.
Where It's AT Podcast launched!
New CIAT Architectural Technology Podcast goes live.