The influence of national culture on health and safety performance in Kuwait oil and gas sector construction projects

Difference in terms of culture among the workers in a workplace setting must not be ignored as it is the main cause of misinterpretations and misunderstandings, which eventually lead to accidents. Responses to the acts, behaviours and activities resulting in increased risks vary between demographics and cultures. Individuals’ normative practices are reflected in how they react to risky actions and situations. This research explores the repercussions and impact of a nation’s culture on the workers’ behaviours, specifically on the construction workers in Kuwait. Furthermore, it aims to provide recommendations for enhancing the safety performance. A mixed method approach is employed in the present study, under which qualitative and quantitative research methods are combined. The quantitative methods were used to assess the relation between the participants’ safety behaviour and their national culture. Out of the 508 responses that were completed, 468 questionnaires were accepted to obtain the desired matched sample required for the national culture analysis. In contrast to what was proposed by extant literature, this study found that power distance dimension and safety compliance are negatively correlated. Results also indicate that nations with high uncertainty avoidance dimension have a comparatively lower rate of safety compliance. In addition, nations with low individualism vs. collectivism dimension have a comparatively high rate of safety participation. Furthermore, the qualitative method of the study includes document analysis and semi structured interviews to obtain data related to factors that influence safety performance. The final study findings after the validation highlighted six primary factors that affect construction safety performance: insufficient budgets, safety culture, work pressure, national culture, government role and allocation of safety personnel during tendering. Management’s role and commitment to safety were emphasised with regard to safety outcomes. This study is the first of its kind conducted in the Kuwaiti construction and oil and gas industry. It contributes to the existing body of literature with regard to national culture and safety behaviour by retaining its focus on the context of Kuwait. The study contributed to academic knowledge of the health and safety in the construction industry in Kuwait, which accords with the goals indicated in the previous literature. In practical terms, the study results can be used to identify areas that need to be improved and resolutions that could be acted on.