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
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry
ECA convenes roundtable discussion at Portcullis House.
Evidencing Net Zero with the new UK buildings standard
Pilot version with detailed excel proforma out now!
Scottish Building Safety Levy, in consultation
From direct remediation and the RPDT, to the costs and alternatives.
Waves of warmer homes grants for the rental sector
Boosting energy efficiency standards for all rented homes.
A refocus of the National Planning Policy Framework
Key terms described in brief, as the consultation closes the evening of the 24th.
Fortified farmhouses of the unruly 16th-and 17th-century borders.
ECA shares advice for those who may be exposed to risks.
How to revolutionise UK housing with MMC
CIC and Supply Chain Sustainability School unveil a plan.
From the UKs largest manufacturer and supplier of lime.
From mud bricks to smart concrete
A brief history from 7000BC to a future on the moon.
Regulator of Social Housing publishes latest fire safety report
Covering remediation of 11 metre plus social housing sector buildings.
Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024
Approved for priority drafting by Government of Ireland.
The long list with in the frame of key historical events.
Competence frameworks for sustainability in the built environment
Code of practice, core criteria consultation draft for comment.
New Floods Resilience Taskforce
With a wet met office autumn prediction.