Improving Safety Among Small Organisations in the Construction Industry: Key Barriers and Improvement Strategies. (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sunindijo, Riza Yosia
• Is Part Of: Procedia engineering. Volume 125(2015)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: barriers to safety -- construction -- improvement strategies -- safety performance -- small organisations; Engineering -- Congresses; Engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 620.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-7058

Abstract

Abstract: The construction industry has always been considered as one of the most dangerous industrial sectors. Large organisations have demonstrated good safety performance because they have the resources and leverage to develop and implement robust safety management systems. However, safety among small organisations is still far behind their larger counterparts and this issue is crucial because the majority of organisations in the construction industry are small organisations. Therefore, it is important to focus improvement efforts on safety performance of small organisations so that the overall industry performance may be improved. Using a questionnaire survey, this research collected data from construction organisations based in New South Wales, Australia. Data analysis results have identified key barriers faced by small organisations when implementing safety. These barriers include the use of lowest bid price to evaluate tender submissions, lack of safety commitment from construction clients, and fierce competition. The analysis results have also revealed potential strategies to address the barriers, such as including safety as an indicator in tender evaluation, more effective safety regulation enforcement by inspection and linking safety performance with insurance premium and licensing system, and subsidising safety training for small organisations. Improving safety performance in this sector cannot be done in isolation. The government, clients, and large organisations have important roles to play to change the norms and culture in the industry so that small organisations are supported in their effort to improve their safety performance.