The effect of feedback on risk taking in the Australian construction industry

Abstract

Feedback in the workplace is identified as an important subset of changing workers’ behaviour and providing effective reinforcement through informative and motivational properties. When properly initiated, feedback can bring about significant positive changes in compliance with safety procedures and is a key component of superior occupational health and safety (OHS) performance. In contrast, little evidence exists to suggest that disciplinary measures eliminate or suppress unsafe employee behaviour and risk taking. Research and quantifiable measurement in the effects of feedback is scant for industries such as construction, which are dominated by contracted labour. This paper reports on research undertaken to assess the effects of feedback on risk taking by contractors undertaking work in the Australian construction industry. The research was conducted over a period of one year and involved 350 participants, ten construction sites and the implementation of on‐site safety interventions including a performance measurement and feedback tool.

Citation

Trethewy, R.W. (2005), "The effect of feedback on risk taking in the Australian construction industry", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 109-115. https://doi.org/10.1108/17260530510815349