Workers' relational identification with supervisors influences safety behaviour in construction projects
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 18 August 2022
Issue publication date: 28 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine the influence of workers' identification with their supervisors on safety behaviour in construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing the job demands–resources theory, this research tested the relationships among relational identification as a personal resource, respectful engagement as a job resource, employee safety voice as a positive work behaviour and safety behaviour as the outcome. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse 120 quantitative data collected using a questionnaire survey.
Findings
Relational identification, which reflects workers' identification with their supervisors, is a significant predictor of safety behaviour. Furthermore, respectful engagement and employee safety voice sequentially mediate the relationship between relational identification and safety behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
The internalisation of safety norms, values and practices in construction projects is contingent on the identification of workers with their supervisors.
Originality/value
Safety behaviour of workers is a significant predictor of safety performance in construction projects. Research on numerous antecedents of safety behaviour points out that leadership is a significant predictor of construction workers' safe behaviour. Contributing to research on construction safety leadership, this research found that leader-subordinate relationship is key to make construction workers more psychologically ready to internalise the importance of safety behaviours at work.
Keywords
Citation
Ashraf, H., Ali, A., Sunindijo, R.Y., Maqsoom, A., Memon, S.A. and Hassan, M.U. (2023), "Workers' relational identification with supervisors influences safety behaviour in construction projects", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 30 No. 10, pp. 5030-5051. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-02-2022-0122
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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