Yap, J B H; Lee, K P H and Wang, C (2023) Safety enablers using emerging technologies in construction projects: Empirical study in Malaysia. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 21(5), pp. 1414-1440. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: High rate of accidents continue to plague the construction industry. The advancements in safety technologies can ameliorate construction health and safety (H&S). This paper aims to explore the use of emerging technologies as an effective solution for improving safety in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: Following a detailed literature review, a questionnaire survey was developed encompassing ten technologies for safety management and ten safety enablers using technologies in construction. A total of 133 responses were gathered from Malaysian construction practitioners. The collected quantitative data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to determine the meaningful relationships between the variables. Findings: Findings revealed that the most effective emerging technologies for safety management are: building information modelling (BIM), wearable safety technologies and robotics and automation (R&A). The leading safety enablers are related to improve hazard identification, reinforce safety planning, enhance safety inspection, enhance safety monitoring and supervision and raise safety awareness. Practical implications: Safety is immensely essential in transforming the construction industry into a robustly developed industry with high safety and quality standards. The adoption of safety technologies in construction projects can drive the industry towards the path of Construction 4.0. Originality/value: The construction industry has historically been slow to adopt new technology. This study contributes to advancing the body of knowledge in the area of incorporating emerging technologies to further construction safety science and management in the context of the developing world. By taking cognisance of the pertinent emerging technologies for safety management and the safety enablers involved, construction safety can be enhanced using integrated technological solutions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction safety; developing country; enablers; safety management; safety technology |
| Index terms: | survey, construction practitioner, science, literature review, health and safety, developing country, body of knowledge, construction safety, safety management, questionnaire, methodology, construction project, statistical analysis, hazard identification, quality standard, new technology, construction 4.0, Malaysia, building information modelling, supervision, construction industry, automation, robotics, safety inspection, emerging technology, empirical study, monitoring |
| Subjects: | occupational health and safety management, environmental health, information systems, quality assurance, industry analysis, research methods, financial risk, professional development, development economics, health safety and environment, Geography, automation and robotics, production management, knowledge management, data analysis and analytics, data science, innovation and technology management, digital engineering, data collection methods, control systems, specialized education |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Education, Site Management, Quality Management, International Construction, Digital Applications |
| 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