Yap, J B H; Skitmore, M; Lam, C G Y; Lee, W P and Lew, Y L (2024) Advanced technologies for enhanced construction safety management: Investigating Malaysian perspectives. International Journal of Construction Management, 24(6), pp. 633-642. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
The global construction industry continues to struggle with safety issues. Although the existing literature suggests that the application of innovative solutions can reduce workplace accidents and improve work safety, the adoption of safety technologies is still limited, particularly in the developing world. This paper aims to investigate the capacity of advanced technologies to enhance safety management and those suited to the Malaysian context. Following a synthesis of the literature, a questionnaire survey was developed comprising 9 potential applications and 15 types of safety technologies. The feedback from 150 local construction professionals was analysed. The leading benefits are related to advancing safety planning, building safety awareness, delivering effective safety training, improving safety inspections and optimising hazard identification. The most salient technologies for safety management are building information modelling (BIM), camera network systems, mobile devices on site, internet of things (IoT) and digital signage. The findings will provide industry practitioners with an increased understanding of the potential of integrating technological solutions into the various tasks associated with construction safety management. This study highlighted the capabilities of advanced technologies that will revolutionise the future of the construction safety landscape and the need for new technology-based policies, procedures, and practices.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | developing country; safety technologies; technology adoption; worker safety |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, practitioner, construction safety, safety management, developing country, survey, safety issue, construction professional, global construction, safety inspection, technology adoption, safety training, internet, new technology, building information modelling, hazard identification |
| Subjects: | development economics, professional development, financial risk, quality assurance, information systems, environmental health, occupational health and safety management, practitioner, computing systems, data collection methods, strategic management, innovation and technology management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Cost Management, International Construction, Quality Management, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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