Bashir, A M; Suresh, S; Proverbs, D and Gameson, R (2011) A critical, theoretical, review of the impacts of lean construction tools in reducing accidents on construction sites. In: Egbu, C and Lou, E C W (eds.) Proceedings of 27th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2011, Bristol, UK.
Abstract
A number of studies have identified lean construction practices as a strategy for minimising the overall cost and duration of a project by eliminating non-value adding activities and obstacles to a reliable workflow. Although several studies suggest that the Japanese lean production system exposed workers to poor safety conditions and excessive stress in the manufacturing sector, advocates of lean construction argue that the application of lean construction tools could minimise accidents on construction sites. However, there is little or no empirical evidence to support this assertion. A review and synthesis of the literature on lean construction principles and tools reveals a number of ways in which lean can positively impact upon health and safety initiatives on construction sites. The review identifies how their application could improve safety by addressing factors such as poor work methods, physical and mental inability of workers, poor communication and poor planning among other causes of accidents identified by several studies. The review demonstrates the relevance of lean construction tools to key causes of accidents. It concludes by presenting a potential link between the lean construction tools and key causes of accidents, to aid the development of a conceptual framework to empirically investigate this relationship. This study can contribute to developing strategies that can promote improved safety on construction sites.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accident causation; construction sites; lean construction tools; safety |
| Index terms: | evidence, duration, workflow, conceptual framework, health and safety, lean construction, lean production, construction site, strategy |
| Subjects: | health safety and environment, theoretical framing, management, manufacturing engineering, building construction, project controls, evaluation and assessment methods, work location |
| Topics: | Time Control, Site Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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