INVESTIGATION OF SAFETY PERCEPTIONS OF MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS IN THAI CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Keywords:
Analysis of variance, construction industry, enablers, factor analysisAbstract
There are several unique characteristics that differentiate the construction industry fromother industries. Most of the construction projects are, for example, normally conductedoutdoors and have relatively short durations. The construction final product is usuallyunique and differs from one to another. The industry consists of many parties involved,ranging from top (management) to bottom (workers) levels. The construction owner isalso deeply involved in the process, while the purchaser of manufactured goods is not.While based on these distinctive characteristics, the construction industry is considered,by many, as having a poor safety record. To improve this record, a better understandingof safety culture divergences between different working levels is desired to enhance andimprove safety. This paper, thus, aims at investigating safety culture perceptions amongthe 2 working groups (management and workers) in the Thai construction industry. Fivekey safety enablers, being Leadership, People, Partnerships and Resources, Policy andStrategy, and Processes, with a total of 25 associated attributes, are confirmed with theexploratory factor analysis. A Pearson correlation is then performed to examine therelationships between the 5 enablers. The ANOVA test is also performed to examine thesimilarities and/or differences of safety culture perceptions between the 2 levels.Management and workers are found having safety culture divergences on 3 enablers(People, Policy and Strategy, and Processes), but bear similar viewpoints on the other 2enablers, including Leadership and Partnerships and Resources. Accordingly, it issuggested that to align safety perceptions and enhance safety culture, an organizationshould focus on its Leadership and Partnerships and Resources implementation, as theypositively facilitate the implementation of Processes, as well as the other 2 enablers.
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