Lingard, H; Saunders, L; Pirzadeh, P; Blismas, N; Kleiner, B and Wakefield, R (2015) The relationship between pre-construction decision-making and the effectiveness of risk control: Testing the time-safety influence curve. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 22(1), pp. 108-124. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the timing with which decisions are made about how to control work health and safety (WHS) risks in construction project (i.e. either pre- or post-construction) and the quality of risk control outcomes. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from 23 construction projects in Australia and the USA. Totally, 43 features of work were identified for analysis and decision making in relation to these features of work was mapped across the life of the projects. The quality of risk control outcomes was assessed using a classification system based on the “hierarchy of control”. Within this hierarchy, technological forms of control are preferable to behavioural forms of controls. Findings - The results indicate that risk control outcomes were significantly better in the Australian compared with the US cases. The results also reveal a significant relationship between the quality of risk controls and the timing of risk control selection decisions. The greater the proportion of risk controls selected during the pre-construction stages of a project, the better the risk control outcomes. Research limitations/implications - The results provide preliminary evidence that technological risk controls are more likely to be implemented if WHS risks are considered and controls are selected in the planning and design stages of construction projects. Practical implications - The research highlights the need for WHS risk to be integrated into decision making early in the life of construction projects. Originality/value - Previous research has linked accidents to design. However, the retrospective nature of these studies has not permitted an analysis of the effectiveness of integrating WHS into pre-construction decision making. Prospective studies have been lacking. This research provides empirical evidence in support of the relationship between early consideration of WHS and risk control effectiveness.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | design and development; decision making; health and safety; pre-construction; planning and control |
| Index terms: | decision-making, methodology, construction project, design stage, evidence, health and safety, effectiveness, testing, design and development, pre-construction, Australia |
| Subjects: | evaluation and assessment methods, project delivery, professional practice, design process, production management, Geography, health safety and environment, research methods, performance management, decision analysis |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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