Ajayi, S O; Lister, N; Dauda, J A; Oyegoke, A and Alaka, H (2024) Influencing sub-contracted operatives' attitudes and behaviours towards improved health and safety culture in construction. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(6), pp. 2286-2305. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Health and safety is an important issue in workplaces, and despite safety procedures becoming more strict, serious accidents are still happening within the UK construction sector. This demonstrates poor performance in the implementation of safety procedures on construction sites. One of the key challenges is the unwillingness of the site workforce, especially the subcontracted operatives, to adhere to safety provisions on construction sites. As such, this study investigates the strategies for enhancing safe behaviour amongst subcontracted operatives in the UK construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: The study used exploratory sequential mixed method research, involving interviews and questionnaires as means of data collection, and thematic analysis, reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis as methods of data analysis. Findings: The study suggests that various carrot and stick measures are expected to be put in place as part of the strategies for enhancing safe behaviour amongst subcontracted operatives. These include adequate enforcement of safety practices by the management, operative engagement and motivation, commendation and rewards, site safety targets, leadership style and motivation. Originality/value: Application of the suggested measures could enhance safety on construction sites, as it provides practical measures and solutions for inculcating safety behaviours amongst the site operatives who are most likely to be the victims of site accidents.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | behavioural safety; construction safety; construction site; health and safety; site operatives; sub-contractors |
| Index terms: | enforcement, construction industry, implementation, operative, safety behaviour, mixed method research, becoming, reliability analysis, construction safety, construction sector, site operative, methodology, questionnaire, sub-contractor, thematic analysis, strategy, construction site, leadership style, motivation, interview, exploratory factor analysis, data analysis, culture in construction, health and safety |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, reliability engineering, practitioner, work location, psychology, data analysis and analytics, contractual arrangements, research methods, management, methods and analysis, health safety and environment, sociology, occupational health and safety management, environmental health, statistical analysis, philosophical process, leadership, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Site Management, Organizational Design, Human Resources, Roles and Professions, Procurement, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| 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