Toh, Y Z; Goh, Y M and Guo, B H W (2017) Knowledge, attitude, and practice of design for safety: Multiple stakeholders in the Singapore construction industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 143(5): 04016131, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the design for safety (DfS) knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of multiple stakeholders, including architects, civil and structural (CS) engineers, mechanical and electrical (ME) engineers, developers/clients, project managers, and safety professionals, and propose potential interventions to improve the DfS implementation in the construction industry. Data were collected from 257 multiple stakeholders in Singapore using a KAP questionnaire and seven semistructured interviews with DfS professionals, architects, developers, and project managers. The results indicated that the DfS knowledge level of survey participants needs to be improved. The majority of respondents demonstrated a positive attitude towards DfS, but the average level of DfS practice was low. Statistically significant differences in DfS practice were found between developers/clients, CS engineers, and project managers. Three recommendations for improving DfS implementation were proposed: (1) enhance DfS training programs, (2) establish a DfS Community of Practice, and (3) develop DfS courses in tertiary institutions. The findings of this paper can help in the design of strategies to improve the implementation of DfS in the construction industry at the national level and the approach can be used to track the effectiveness of DfS-related interventions across time.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction design and management; construction safety; design for safety; knowledge attitude practice; labor and personnel issues |
| Index terms: | interview, construction safety, survey, project manager, effectiveness, construction industry, tertiary, strategy, implementation, personnel, engineer, architect, Singapore, design for safety, program, questionnaire |
| Subjects: | curriculum development, software systems, industry analysis, Geography, data collection methods, contractual arrangements, management, environmental health, health safety and environment, performance management, profession |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Quality Management, Health and Safety, Sustainability, Procurement, Geographical Context, Education, Roles and Professions, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Business Strategy |
| 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