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Identifying and prioritizing safety practices affecting construction labour productivity: An empirical study

Argaw Tarekegn Gurmu (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia)

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management

ISSN: 1741-0401

Article publication date: 31 May 2019

1277

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritise the safety and health practices, which are suitable to improve labour productivity in building construction projects, and to investigate the association between company profiles, project characteristics and the safety practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a mixed-method research design which involves two phases. In Phase I, qualitative data were collected and analysed to identify safety and health practices. In total, 19 experts who have experience in building construction projects were involved in the interviews. During Phase II, quantitative data were collected from contractors that are involved in the delivery of building projects using questionnaires which were administered via face-to-face interviews. After analysing the quantitative data, the safety and health practices were prioritised and the relationships between the practices and company profiles were investigated.

Findings

Safety and health policy, safety and health plan and hazard analysis are found to be the three most important practices that can improve productivity in building construction projects. The results of Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the level of implementation of the safety and health practices increases with project costs. Company experience and company size are positively associated with safety and health practices. Project delay is negatively correlated with safety and health practices.

Originality/value

The study provides useful information for international developers and contractors who want to do the construction business in Australia. Furthermore, contractors involved in the construction of building projects in Australia can implement the identified safety and health practices to improve labour productivity.

Keywords

Citation

Gurmu, A.T. (2019), "Identifying and prioritizing safety practices affecting construction labour productivity: An empirical study", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 68 No. 8, pp. 1457-1474. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-10-2018-0349

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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