Oswald, D; Sherratt, F; Smith, S D and Hallowell, M R (2018) Exploring safety management challenges for multi-national construction workforces: A UK case study. Construction Management and Economics, 36(5), pp. 291-301. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Large construction projects frequently operate with multi-national workforces, utilizing migrant workers to provide both skilled and unskilled labour. Multi-national workforces are also brought together through joint ventures, as companies from different countries collaborate and share their expertise to construct large and complex construction projects. A multi-national joint venture in the UK provides the case study for an examination of the safety management challenges found on such projects. Whilst language and communication issues amongst workers are typically primary concerns, here they have not been prioritized. Instead, findings are presented that illuminate more nuanced and unquantifiable problems that faced the safety management team. An ethnographically informed approach was mobilized, with the lead researcher spending three years on the site with the safety team gathering data. Analysis revealed several challenges: problems with non-UK company compliance with UK legislation and standards; differences in working practices amongst both non-UK workers and their managers; differences associated with national cultures; and problems of poor worker welfare. It is suggested that awareness of these challenges should inform both the way in which such projects are initially contracted, as well as the development of more sophisticated safety management systems that better support multi-national construction projects in practice.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ethnography; migrant workers; multi-national project; safety |
| Index terms: | compliance, case study, construction project, migrant worker, multi-national project, working practice, manager, national culture, safety management system, legislation, safety management, large construction project, joint venture, ethnography |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, business, practitioner, strategic management, legal systems, health safety and environment, cross-cultural studies, production management, organizational theory, management, qualitative and interpretive research, occupational health and safety management |
| Topics: | Project Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, International Construction, Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Legal Issues, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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