Newaz, M T; Jefferies, M; Davis, P R and Pillay, M (2021) Managerial implications for construction practices as a consequence of using a psychological contract of safety. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 28(4), pp. 1134-1155. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Despite many studies that aim to argue, develop and position the concept of psychological contracts, few have explored how a psychological contract may be applied to safety in the construction industry. A psychological contract of safety (PCS) describes an individual's conceptualized belief that relates to mutual safety obligations, drawn from explicit or implicit promises of associated workers or its supervisor. This study investigates safety practices on construction sites through the lens of the widely applied and researched psychological contract theory emanating from a business paradigm. Design/methodology/approach: The process of validating a PCS scale within the construction industry required the collection of data from a mega-construction project in Sydney, Australia. A quantitative methodology was used to collect data from 352 construction workers through a survey instrument designed to reveal their perception of procedures, policies and practices. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to ensure data reliability and data validity of the survey findings together with goodness of fit of PCS model. Findings: The findings showed the presence of a PCS in a construction safety setting examined. A two-factor model underlying aspects, namely employer and employee obligations was recommended since the four-factor model, including relational and transactional components of both parties' safety obligations, could not be validated due to the discriminant validity associated with the particular constructs. Originality/value: Conceptualizing the extant PC theory as a framework from which to leverage safety management initiatives brings a new approach to construction safety studies, revealing the influential role of supervisors in interpreting safety practices. The research aimed to identify safety obligations, which are influential in the development of PSC scale, further the research provides an explanation as to how a PCS may be contextualized in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction safety; psychological contract; scale validation; supervisor; worker |
| Index terms: | structural equation modelling, construction site, survey, construction safety, safety management, scale validation, construction project, methodology, validity, Australia, supervisor, construction worker, construction industry, paradigm, psychological contract, presence |
| Subjects: | production management, Geography, education and knowledge transfer, research methods, industry analysis, environmental health, statistical analysis, occupational health and safety management, measurement and scaling, practitioner, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, environmental science, psychology, work location |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Site Management, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here