Factors influencing the implementation of a safety management system for construction sites

The objective of the study was to determine the influential safety factors that governed the success of a safety management system for construction sites. The number of incidences among construction workers and the level of awareness on matters concerning safety were also determined. The study involved a self-administered three-part questionnaire among the workers and interviews with industry experts involved in brick-laying, concreting and in related assorted trades. Part A of the questionnaire concerned personal particulars, Part B involved training and experience and Part C was based on 28 industry-accepted safety factor elements. The construction sites ranged from high rise buildings, landed houses and infrastructure renovation. The sample size was 275. From the survey it was found that the most influential safety factor was personal awareness followed closely by communication. Suggestions and recommendations on equipment design and improved work practices and procedures to improve the efficiency and productivity of construction workers were proposed. Management was urged to get their workers better informed about safety matters.     

Using a psychological contract of safety to predict safety climate on construction sites

Introduction: The fact that safety climate impacts safety behavior and delivers better safety outcomes is well established in construction. However, the way workers safety perception is inclined and developed is still unclear. Method: In this research, the influence of supervisors' developing safety climate and its impact on workers' safety behavior and their conceptualization of safety is explored through the lens of the ‘Psychological Contract’ (PC). More specifically, it is argued that ‘Psychological Contract of Safety’ (PCS) is a vital factor in explaining how workers attach meaning to a supervisor behavior. Extant research suggests: (a) safety climate is based on the perception of workers regarding safety; and (b) PCS is based on perceived mutual obligations between workers and supervisors. As a result, this research argues that if PCS or mutual obligations between workers and supervisors are fulfilled, then safety climate of the workers will be positively influenced. A model is presented depicting PCS as an alternative intervention in understanding how safety climate could be influenced and predicted by the level of fulfillment of mutual safety obligations. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) the model of the PCS is validated with data collected from a mega-construction project in Australia. Results: The results suggest that to have a positive and strong safety climate, top-level managers must ensure that mutual safety obligations between supervisor and workers are fulfilled. This enables the PCS to be introduced as a new ‘predictor’ of safety climate. Practical applications: The novel outcome of the research could be considered as a management intervention to modify supervisors' behavior to produce better safety outcomes.     

An investigation of lifting operations on UK construction sites

Lifting operations and associated equipment have become commonplace within the UK construction industry. However, recent high profile accidents involving lifting equipment have shown that the result of its misuse can have serious cost and health implications.The main aim of the research was to investigate lifting operations on construction sites exploring different options, their effectiveness, and their effect on safety. This research looked into the processes in place; the factors that have to be taken into consideration when placing and using lifting equipment; and the competent persons required when operating equipment. With these aims, literature review was conducted. This was followed by investigation on three construction sites. These case studies were enhanced through interviews with general site staff, managerial staff, and appointed persons.The findings revealed six main points to improve safety in lifting operations. These are: through planning; training; equipment selection, use and inspection; feedback/communication; appointed person’s role; and database. Thorough planning of lifting operations has positive effects on safety. There is need for tighter accreditation of all qualifications in the lifting operations field. The charter of major lifting equipment from specialist contractors should be considered as industry best practise. Companies should avoid authoritarian working culture to facilitate efficient feedback to improve safety. The appointed person should have site based role. Site inspections and maintenance should be monitored on a national database form.Practitioners can benefit from this paper as it provides information on experiences from three construction sites. Furthermore, researchers can use the findings for their future studies.     

The empowering leadership questionnaire: the construction and validation of a new scale for measuring leader behaviors

This paper describes the construction and empirical evaluation of a new scale for measuring empowering leader behavior. Study One consisted of thorough interviews with external leaders and team members in three organizations. Behaviors elicited in the interviews were classified by researchers into eight categories of leader empowering behavior and the Empowering Leadership Questionnaire (ELQ) was constructed to measure each of these categories. In Study Two, the ELQ was administered to team members and leaders from two organizations. The results indicated that five‐factors (Coaching, Informing, Leading By Example, Showing Concern/Interacting with the Team, and Participative Decision‐Making) adequately describe the data. In Study Three, we cross‐validated the scale in a sample from five organizations and the factor analysis confirmed the five‐factor model. The ELQ dimensions were also compared with behaviors measured by two well‐established measures of leader behavior. The results indicated that the ELQ dimensions partially overlap with previously identified constructs, but that empowering leadership behavior can not be entirely accounted for by the earlier measures. Definitions and implications for the categories of empowering leader behaviors are offered. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implementing and evaluating novel safety training methods for construction sector workers: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: The construction industry is regarded as one of the most unsafe occupational fields worldwide. Despite general agreement that safety training is an important factor in preventing accidents in the construction sector, more studies are needed to identify effective training methods. To address the current research gap, this study evaluated the impact of novel, participatory safety training methods on construction workers’ safety competencies. Specifically, we assessed the efficacy of an immersive virtual reality (VR)-based safety training program and a participatory human factors safety training program (HFST) in construction industry workplaces. Method: In 2019, 119 construction sector workers from eight workplaces participated in a randomized controlled trial conducted in Finland. All the study participants were assessed using questionnaires at baseline, immediately after the intervention and at one-month follow-up. We applied generalized linear mixed modeling for statistical analysis. Results: Compared to lecture-based safety training, VR-based safety training showed a stronger impact on safety motivation, self-efficacy and safety-related outcome expectancies. In addition, the construction sector workers who participated in the VR-based safety training showed a greater increase in self-reported safety performance at one-month follow-up. Contrary to our study hypotheses, we found no significant differences between the study outcomes in terms of study participants in the HFST training condition and the comparison condition without HFST training. Conclusion: Our study indicates that VR technology as a safety training tool has potential to increase safety competencies and foster motivational change in terms of the safety performance of construction sector workers. In the future, the efficacy of participatory human factors safety training should be studied further using a version that targets both managerial and employee levels and is implemented in a longer format. Practical implications: Safety training in virtual reality provides a promising alternative to passive learning methods. Its motivating effect complements other safety training activities.     

Development and validation of a questionnaire for measuring perceived political considerations in performance appraisal

A 25-item scoring instrument was developed to measure perceptions of the extent to which performance appraisals are affected by organizational politics. The survey was administered to 157 francophone managers. A factor analysis revealed that the perceptions of the extent to which political considerations affect the appraisal an employee receives can be sensibly interpreted in terms of a single general factor. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the instrument was high. Moderate support was found for the instrument's convergent and discriminant validity.     

灰色聚类法在堆肥腐熟度评价中的应用

提出运用灰色聚类法综合评价堆肥腐熟度.选取表观指数、碳氮比变化率、平均耗氧速率、氨氮变化率、高温嗜粪菌计数及霉菌计数6项评价指标,对浦东、塘湾、玉垒、丹阳4个厂家的堆肥产品进行了聚类分析并给出了评价结果.其中,浦东、玉垒、丹阳3个厂家的堆肥产品归入Ⅱ级较好腐熟,而塘湾厂家的产品归入Ⅲ级基本腐熟.通过与模糊综合评价法比较可知,灰色聚类法不仅具有模糊综合评价法的优点,又克服了其不足之处,是堆肥腐熟度评价的一种好方法.     

Quantification of risk perception: Development and validation of the construction worker risk perception (CoWoRP) scale

Introduction: The construction sector is leading in the number of accidents and fatalities; risk perception is the key to driving these numbers. Previous construction safety studies on risk perception quantification have not considered affective risk perception of construction workers or conducted comprehensive reliability and validity testing. Thus, this study aims to fill this need by developing a psychometrically sound instrument – the Construction Worker Risk Perception (CoWoRP) Scale – to assess the risk perception of construction workers. Method: Four phases of scale development, namely, item development, factor analysis, reliability assessment, and validity assessment were conducted with the collection and testing of data from a group (n = 469) of voluntary construction workers in Hong Kong. Results: The CoWoRP Scale with 13 items was shown to have acceptable test–retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, as well as content, convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity. Also, the CoWoRP Scale was affirmed to have three dimensions of worker risk perception, namely risk perception – probability, risk perception – severity, risk perception – worry and unsafe. These three dimensions of worker risk perception were negatively correlated with their risk-taking behavior. Conclusions: The CoWoRP Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the risk perception of construction workers and is expected to facilitate the construction safety studies that take risk perception of construction workers into account. Practical applications: The CoWoRP Scale could serve as an aptitude test to identify the characteristics of construction workers most likely to perceive lower risk in risky work situations. In turn, this information could help safety management provide safety training programs to those workers to enhance their risk perception and thereby minimizing their risk-taking behavior, reducing unnecessary training costs, and improving the construction safety performance.     

Safety management system: Development and validation of a multidimensional scale

The literature has recognised that implementing a safety management system is the most efficient way of allocating resources for safety, since it not only improves working conditions, but also positively influences employees’ attitudes and behaviours with regards safety, consequently improving the safety climate. The safety climate and the safety management system are considered basic components of the firm's safety culture in various models. However, the literature has focused more on measuring the safety climate, while few studies have correctly tested the psychometric properties of the instruments used to measure how advanced the firm's safety management system is. This paper reviews the most important works on safety management, with the aim of developing a measurement scale operationalising the safety management system concept, and subsequently calculating its reliability and validity. For this purpose, exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses are conducted, using structural equation models, on a sample of 455 Spanish companies. This scale provides organisations with a tool for evaluating their situation with regards safety management, as well as guidance about which areas they must improve if they wish to reduce occupational accidents.     

基于结构化与数字化技术的轨道交通建设工程应急预案体系设计与构建方法研究

为进一步解决轨道交通建设工程应急预案体系标准化、系统化、信息化不强的问题,增强应急预案制式、格式、内容的统一性、合规性,从轨道交通建设工程建设单位、施工单位目前实际运行的预案体系中综合应急预案、专项应急预案和现场处置方案入手,在业务层面提出兼具针对性以及通用性的轨道交通建设工程应急预案体系设计思路和方法,并基于结构化与数字化技术特点,在技术层面提出高效、可行的应急预案体系信息化系统平台的构建方案,研究结果可为其他同类企业应急预案体系的设计、构建与管理提供参考和借鉴。     

城市区域火灾风险评价软件开发及应用

随着城市区域火灾风险评价理论研究的深入开展,非常需要开发评价辅助软件.本文根据城市区域火灾风险评价模型特点和要求,提出了城市区域火灾风险评价辅助软件的设计思想.由于城市的复杂性和多样性,不同城市、不同区域的火灾风险评价在指标体系方面存在较大差异,辅助软件的设计与开发应利用指标体系的构建方法作为软件功能流程的设计依据,采用面向评价研究者与操作者的软件设计思想,这样软件在功能上既能满足评价实践的需要,又能为评价理论研究提供有力的支持.该软件系统采用Delphi7.0开发工具编写.最后应用该辅助软件对某一综合区的火灾风险进行了示范评价,表明该软件具备城市区域火灾风险评价所需的功能要求.     

公路隧道施工安全风险评估方法优化研究

我国在建公路隧道工程数量增长迅速,施工安全事故时有发生,因此通过风险评估实现施工过程的风险控制就显得非常重要。在此背景下,交通运输部出台了《公路桥梁和隧道工程施工安全风险评估指南（试行）》,而在实际应用过程中,该评估指南无法完全适应多变的工程实际。针对该问题,在对隧道施工安全风险评估的各类评估方法及其适用性进行详细研究的基础上,将该评估指南与国内外其他相关成果和做法进行分析比对,指出该评估指南存在的不足之处,进一步提出相关优化与修订建议;最后,以湖南某高速公路隧道洞口坍塌事故为例,利用提出的施工前专项风险评估方法,综合运用数值模拟计算与事故后果当量估计,计算相应的风险等级,所得到的结果与实际情况更为接近,进一步说明本文所提优化方法的合理性和可操作性。     

智慧工地本质安全度评价方法研究

为对智慧工地全生命周期的本质安全度进行分析与评价,综合运用本质安全理论,构建智慧工地本质安全度评价模型。首先,根据智慧工地本质安全定义,将智慧工地本质安全度划分为初始级、简单级、标准级、成熟级和卓越级5个等级;其次,基于智慧工地的生产现状,构建包括人员管理系统、机械设备管理系统、现场监测预警系统、过程控制管理系统等4个一级指标和16个二级指标的本质安全度评价指标体系;最后,利用C-OWA算子对指标的权重进行计算,采用未确知测度评价法对系统进行综合评价。结果表明:将模型应用到西安地铁某在建项目中,得到该智慧工地项目现阶段推进状态本质安全度等级为标准级,明确该项目下一阶段提升改进的方向,为智慧工地本质安全管理的持续改进提供理论支持。     

绿色施工评价指标体系与方法研究

作为传统的高能耗产业,建筑业的节能减排对我国节能减排工作大局意义重大。绿色施工以节能减排为核心理念,是建筑业实施可持续发展战略重要措施。通过对我国建筑施工活动中的污染源和能耗源进行追溯和辨识,综合管理、技术、经济等要素,并参照我国绿色施工相关规定,探讨构建了基于我国国情的绿色施工综合评价标准体系,进而利用突变级数法,设计了绿色施工综合评价方法。结合相关工程进行实例评价,结果表明该评价指标体系与方法评价结论客观与准确,并可以发现建筑企业绿色施工生产活动中缺陷,提高企业管理水平,促进技术创新,降低生产成本。     

回采巷道锚杆支护效果评判的改进突变级数法

为综合确定多种因素影响下回采巷道的锚杆支护效果,提出评判回采巷道锚杆支护效果的改进突变级数法.首先,多层次分解影响巷道锚杆支护效果的因素,根据离差最大化法改进突变级数法中的指标重要性排序问题;然后,构建基于改进突变级数法的锚杆支护效果评判模型,计算得出巷道锚杆支护效果评判级数;最后,对20个样本进行巷道锚杆支护效果评判...     

城镇燃气管道动火作业安全评价

针对城镇燃气管道动火作业的高危险性,为保障生命财产安全,提出一种基于未确知测度的安全评价方法。首先,从动火施工作业的前、中、后3个阶段对整个作业过程进行安全分析,并基于作业的前阶段建立安全评价体系。然后,引入未确知测度模型,将因素的量化值与测度函数结合得出测度评价矩阵,采用变异系数法处理评价矩阵,确定各危害因素的客观权重。最后,根据测度评价矩阵与因素权重得出动火作业的安全等级,并对危害因素进行排序。实例结果表明:应用该方法能有效地确定出城镇燃气管道动火作业的安全等级,对于不安全的施工作业,可根据排序确定高危险因素,并采取措施降低其危险性,提高整个动火作业过程的安全性。     

城镇燃气管道第三方施工损伤风险评价方法研究

针对第三方施工对城镇燃气管道的不利影响,提出一种半定量风险评价方法。首先,基于“人—机—环境—管理”系统确定失效因素,利用G2赋权法对因素赋权,并引入物元模型分析失效可能性;然后,建立喷射火焰、闪火和蒸气云爆炸的数学模型计算管道泄漏的伤害面积,确定失效后果等级;最后,根据API 581中的风险矩阵得出燃气管道第三方施工破坏风险等级。实例分析表明,该方法兼具定性评价与定量评价的优点,能更加准确有效地进行风险分析,确定风险等级。     

Occupational health and safety issues in the informal economic segment of Pakistan: a survey of construction sites

This research covers the current status of occupational health and safety (OHS)-related practices in the informal construction segment of Pakistan. Data were collected, through interviews, from 316 construction sites employing 3577 workers. The results of the study reveal that both employers and workers lack knowledge of OHS laws/standards and no practices of this nature are enacted at these construction sites. Alarmingly, work-related accidents, whenever they happen, are not given due attention and there is no formal injury-report system. The informal construction industry employs a huge portion of the informal workforce, and lack of OHS happens at tremendous human cost. These research findings may thus play their role in strengthening the case for reforms in the sector. This study, if properly utilized, may also enable employers of the sector by increasing their knowledge about OHS practices and, as a result, trying to offer safer environments for their workers.     

模糊综合评判法在西部地区高速公路施工现场安全评判中的应用

目前随着高速公路建设的飞速发展,引发了施工现场的安全管理难度剧增,及时、正确地掌握和评判施工现场安全状况是预防和控制安全事故发生的有效途径。但公路施工领域安全评判涉及的因素很多,模糊性大、动态变化复杂是最显著的特性,因素之间互相作用使结果可变性很大,如何对受多种因素制约的事物或对象做出一个总体的评价是目前一个很重要的问题。模糊综合评判法可把定性评价转化为定量评价,能较好地解决模糊的、难以量化的问题。但由于该法使用的评语常带有模糊性,各影响因素的权重通常是专家凭经验给出,从而影响评判结果的客观性。而层次分析法适用于多方案或多目标的决策,可将定性与定量的分析相结合,可以减少评价中因主观性所带来的弊端,使评价结果更可信。本文在研究模糊综合评判法和层次分析法优缺点的基础上,将二者结合起来,建立西部地区高速公路施工现场安全状况评价的模型,利用该模型得出公路施工现场安全状况,为施工现场的安全管理和事故防治提供依据。