Lingard, H; Wakefield, R and Cashin, P (2011) The development and testing of a hierarchical measure of project OHS performance. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 18(1), pp. 30-49. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - This paper seeks to examine a hierarchical measurement model for occupational health and safety (OHS) performance developed for use in the Australian construction industry and tested over the life of one case study construction project. The model was intended to provide a more sensitive and informative measure of project OHS performance than traditional injury frequency rates. Design/methodology/approach - Two measurement tools were tested. The tools, a monthly weighted safety index and a quarterly safety climate survey, were used to measure OHS performance and performance data are presented. Findings - The data suggest convergent validity, indicated by consistent results between the two measures. Results also indicated that a combination of measurement techniques provides more comprehensive data pertaining to project OHS performance and enables the diagnosis of OHS issues that would be undetected with reliance exclusively on traditional measures, such as lost time injury frequency rates. Research limitations/implications - The implications for future research lie in the demonstrated need to carefully evaluate the validity of the safety index and safety climate survey in future construction projects, and in the broader construction context. The results were limited to an evaluation of the measurement model in a single case study construction project and future testing is needed to determine the generalisability of the model. Practical implications - The implications for practice are that multiple measures of OHS performance, including leading indicators and surveys of workers' attitudes and perceptions of project OHS, provide a more useful basis for the development of targeted OHS improvement strategies. Originality/value - The paper develops a theoretical framework for the measurement of OHS using positive performance indicators and safety climate surveys. The evidence for convergent validity suggests that, in combination with traditional lost time injury rates, these measures provide a more robust method for the early detection and rectification of OHS issues in construction projects. 0969-9988.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Australia; construction industry; health and safety; measurement characteristics; performance measures |
| Index terms: | testing, construction industry, case study, validity, Australia, construction project, methodology, evidence, performance indicator, injury, health and safety, safety climate, strategy, occupational health and safety, performance measure, survey |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, professional practice, production management, Geography, health safety and environment, management, performance measurement, research methods, performance management, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, health conditions and diseases |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Quality Management |
| 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