To read this content please select one of the options below:

Identifying critical factors influencing the safety of Chinese subway construction projects

Shang Zhang (Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China)
Riza Yosia Sunindijo (Faculty of Built Environment, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia)
Martin Loosemore (School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia)
Shejiang Wang (Suzhou Rail Transit Group Co., Ltd, Suzhou, China)
Yajun Gu (Suzhou Rail Transit Group Co., Ltd, Suzhou, China)
Hongfei Li (China Railway 12th Bureau Group Co., Taiyuan, China)

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

ISSN: 0969-9988

Article publication date: 22 September 2020

Issue publication date: 16 July 2021

934

Abstract

Purpose

The image of the construction industry in China, as in many other countries, is tarnished by its poor safety record. With the rapid development of subway systems in Chinese urban areas, construction workers are being exposed to new risks which are poorly understood and managed. Subway construction projects are large scale and scattered over many construction sites, and involve numerous stakeholders and sophisticated technologies in challenging underground environments. Accident rates are high and have significant economic and social consequences for the firms and people involved. Addressing the gap in research about the safety risk in these projects, the purpose of this paper is to advance understanding of the factors influencing the safety of Chinese subway construction projects with the overall objective of reducing accident rates.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 399 subway construction professionals across five stakeholder groups. Follow-up interviews were also conducted with five experienced experts in safety management on subway projects to validate the results.

Findings

It was found that the eight most critical factors perceived by stakeholders to influence safety risks on Chinese subway projects are: project management team; contractor-related factors; site underground environment; safety protection during the use of machines; safety management investment; site construction monitoring and measurement; hazard identification and communication; and use of machines in all stages. This indicates that in allocating limited project resources to improve the safety of subway projects, managers should focus on: developing safety knowledge and positive attitudes in leadership teams; formulating effective risk management systems to identify, assess, mitigate, measure and monitor safety risks on site; improving communications with stakeholders about these risks and effectively managing plant, equipment and machinery.

Originality/value

This research contributes a new multi-stakeholder perspective to the lack of safety research in Chinese subway construction projects. The research findings provide important new insights for policymakers and managers in improving safety outcomes on these major projects, producing potentially significant social and economic benefits for society and the construction industry.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research is partially financially supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. This paper forms part of an investigation into the safety of Chinese subway construction projects, from which other results will be produced in an independent paper with different scope/objectives but they share a common background and methodology.

Citation

Zhang, S., Sunindijo, R.Y., Loosemore, M., Wang, S., Gu, Y. and Li, H. (2021), "Identifying critical factors influencing the safety of Chinese subway construction projects", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 28 No. 7, pp. 1863-1886. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-07-2020-0525

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles