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1 – 10 of over 5000Frederick Owusu Danso, Kofi Agyekum, Patrick Manu, Emmanuel Adinyira, Divine K. Ahadzie and Edward Badu
Although many health and safety (H&S) studies have widely examined safety risk perception in the construction industry, few studies have explored how this perception influences…
Abstract
Purpose
Although many health and safety (H&S) studies have widely examined safety risk perception in the construction industry, few studies have explored how this perception influences site workers' risk-taking behaviours during construction. This study aims to examine how construction site workers perceive and judge safety risks in risk-taking behaviours of site workers for intervention safety policy framework that may encourage safe work.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed Pictorial-based Q-Methodology, which documented 63 picture scenarios of risk-taking behaviours from building sites and submitted them for validation from H&S inspectors. In total, 33 pictures emerged as having great potential to cause harm. After using these 33 pictures to elicit data from randomised site workers, the study used Frequency Tabulation, Relative Importance Index (RII) and Kruskal–Wallis Test to analyse the collected data. To fully explain the analysed data for deeper understanding, the study conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with these site workers to share the thoughts of site workers on these pictures.
Findings
Two distinctive pictures emerged from these analyses: one showing risk-taking behaviour likely to contract internal and skin disease and the other likely to fall from height. One of the implications is that construction site workers are unfamiliar with the dangerous contaminants in the materials the site workers use to work, which can potentially harm the site workers' skin and internal organs. Hence, site workers continue engaging in risk-taking behaviours. The other is that site workers are aware of and can mention catastrophic physical injuries attached to site workers' jobs. However, site workers continue engaging in risk-taking behaviours because of site workers' safety plights and rely on the favour and mercies of a supreme being as coping strategies to escape from these physical injuries.
Originality/value
This study is original in that the study uses picture scenarios of risk-taking behaviours to amass an empirical-based understanding of how site workers perceive and respond to H&S risks during construction. This piece of evidence is missing in the numerous research studies in this area. Again, the findings contribute to the state-of-the-art literature regarding risk-taking behaviours on construction sites.
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Wildan Fajar Bachtiar, Nur Aini Masruroh, Anna Maria Sri Asih and Diana Puspita Sari
This study aims to propose a framework for Halal Food Sustainable Traceability, with the purpose of investigating the implementation of traceability and sustainability within…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a framework for Halal Food Sustainable Traceability, with the purpose of investigating the implementation of traceability and sustainability within organizations operating in the halal food industry as well as exploring the impact of these practices on organizational performance. This study examines the meat processing sector in Indonesia, focusing on medium to large-scale industrial operations. The rationale for this investigation stems from Indonesia’s substantial potential in the competitive worldwide halal food industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The research framework has been developed by an extensive review of relevant literature, with a specific emphasis on the cycle of the halal food sustainable traceability framework. This cycle encompasses four key stages, including the roles played by authorities, the process of standardization, the implementation phase and the importance of collaboration. The study analyses and validates data using partial least square-structural equation modeling and empirically tests the theoretical framework using 109 Indonesian halal food industry data.
Findings
The research identifies potential obstacles and difficulties that may arise during different phases of the halal food sustainable traceability framework. Concerns regarding authority, standardization, implementation and collaboration are among these. In addition, strategies for overcoming these obstacles are deliberated upon, including knowledge sharing, transparency, ongoing reporting and strategic collaboration.
Originality/value
The present study introduces a Halal Sustainable Traceability Framework that incorporates the principles of halal, traceability, sustainability and their effects on organizational performance. This study offers significant perspectives on the difficulties and resolutions pertaining to the traceability and sustainability of halal food in Indonesia.
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Liuyu Huang, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh and Stella Xin Yin
Public service announcements (PSAs) have been shown to be effective instruments that raise awareness, educate society, and change behaviors and attitudes. Many governments and…
Abstract
Purpose
Public service announcements (PSAs) have been shown to be effective instruments that raise awareness, educate society, and change behaviors and attitudes. Many governments and organizations have utilized PSAs on social media to promote online safety among children and youth. However, we have limited understanding of the range of topics that these PSAs address and how they present their content to audiences. This study provides an inventory of the types of online safety topics that current PSAs address and a catalogue of the types of persuasive features employed by PSAs.
Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis of 220 YouTube PSA videos on online safety was conducted. Various topics under the umbrella of online safety were identified. Guided by the prospect theory and exemplification theory, different persuasive features employed in the PSAs were sought.
Findings
The findings highlight that the primary focus of these PSAs is on online safety behaviors and general instructions on online hygiene. Interestingly, nearly half of the videos employ a neutral frame, while a significant portion provides no evidential support. Additionally, video length was associated with the number of views and likes it gathered but not with the number of comments.
Originality/value
The inventory of PSAs can help researchers, practitioners, and policymakers better understand the type of content being produced and disseminated online as well as identify topics that are either over or under-represented. Further, the catalogue of the types of persuasive features employed by PSAs would be helpful in guiding research, practice, and policymaking in the context of creating effective online safety videos.
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Saheed O. Ajayi, Natasha Lister, Jamiu Adetayo Dauda, Adekunle Oyegoke and Hafiz Alaka
Health and safety is an important issue in workplaces, and despite safety procedures becoming more strict, serious accidents are still happening within the UK construction sector…
Abstract
Purpose
Health and safety is an important issue in workplaces, and despite safety procedures becoming more strict, serious accidents are still happening within the UK construction sector. This demonstrates poor performance in the implementation of safety procedures on construction sites. One of the key challenges is the unwillingness of the site workforce, especially the subcontracted operatives, to adhere to safety provisions on construction sites. As such, this study investigates the strategies for enhancing safe behaviour amongst subcontracted operatives in the UK construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used exploratory sequential mixed method research, involving interviews and questionnaires as means of data collection, and thematic analysis, reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis as methods of data analysis.
Findings
The study suggests that various carrot and stick measures are expected to be put in place as part of the strategies for enhancing safe behaviour amongst subcontracted operatives. These include adequate enforcement of safety practices by the management, operative engagement and motivation, commendation and rewards, site safety targets, leadership style and motivation.
Originality/value
Application of the suggested measures could enhance safety on construction sites, as it provides practical measures and solutions for inculcating safety behaviours amongst the site operatives who are most likely to be the victims of site accidents.
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Raphael Kanyire Seidu, George Kwame Fobiri, Edwina Tekper, Emmanuel Abankwah Ofori, Benjamin Eghan, Alex Osei Afriyie, Richard Acquaye, Benjamin Kwablah Asinyo and Ebenezer Kofi Howard
Safety-related issues are prominent in dyeing workplaces and studios that result in accidents. The purpose of this study is to investigate the compliance towards health safety…
Abstract
Purpose
Safety-related issues are prominent in dyeing workplaces and studios that result in accidents. The purpose of this study is to investigate the compliance towards health safety practices by students at the dyeing studios in selected universities in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured online questionnaire was developed and used to collect 285 responses from students studying at the textile and fashion department of ten universities in Ghana. The study used the partial least square (PLS) algorithm of the structural equational modelling (SEM) by bootstrapping with 5,000 samples in the SmartPLS-SEM version 4.0.
Findings
Students exhibited good attitudes with significant knowledge regarding health safety hazards at the dyeing studio. Results revealed that students’ attitudes significantly and positively affect their knowledge of health safety hazards; hence, as attitude increases, their knowledge of health safety hazards also increases. However, institutional support significantly and negatively affects the knowledge of health safety hazards by students at the dyeing studio. Subsequently, institutional support significantly and positively affects students’ attitudes towards health safety hazards at the dyeing studio; hence, as institutional support increases, their attitude towards health safety hazards also increases. In the moderation analysis, results showed that students’ attitude dampens the negative relationship between institutional support and student’s knowledge.
Practical implications
Work-related safety at the dyeing studios is very important to help drive for an injurious free hands-on practice with dyeing activities. Hence, the findings of this study call on institutions to provide appropriate personal protective equipments and first aid kits, effective training and supervision for workspace safety at the dyeing studios for students. This would go a long way to maintain good health safety practices during students’ dyeing activities at the studio, hence eliminating possible hazards.
Originality/value
The present study provides an in-depth understanding of how key variables such as institutional support influence the knowledge and attitude of students towards studio dyeing practices. Key findings from the study reiterated the importance of training workshops, state-of-the-art studios and adherence to safety by students to prevent injuries.
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The fluctuation of construction fatalities is influenced by both urbanization and economic levels. This study aims to understand the impact of Chinese construction economy…
Abstract
Purpose
The fluctuation of construction fatalities is influenced by both urbanization and economic levels. This study aims to understand the impact of Chinese construction economy development on construction accidents, providing valuable insights for enhancing construction safety and promoting sustainable development in construction.
Design/methodology/approach
The Kuznets curve model, multiple linear regression model, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) model are employed to process data sets spanning from 1992 to 2021 for examining the relationship between construction fatalities and the construction economy in China.
Findings
Significant correlations have been found between construction fatalities and the construction economy in China. Over the past three decades, as the total output value of construction increased, there have been upward, downward, and downward trends in per capita construction area, the mortality rate per million square meters, and the mortality rate per ten thousand persons respectively. However, it is worth noting that since 2015, there has been a slight upward trend in the fitted U-shaped curve depicting the relationship between the mortality rate per ten thousand persons and the construction economy. This specific trend necessitates the attention of construction safety policymakers. The growth of the construction economy is found to exhibit negative, positive, and positive correlations with the number of construction fatalities, construction area, and the number of employed persons respectively. The changing trends observed in the Kuznets curve model analysis align with the evaluation results obtained from the DEA-based model.
Originality/value
The research offers effective means to identify superior and inferior performance in macro construction safety, providing valuable references for construction safety policymakers to design effective safety strategies and enhance work safety conditions.
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Richard Gruss, David Goldberg, Nohel Zaman and Alan Abrahams
The widespread adoption of online purchasing has prompted increasing concerns about product safety, and regulators are beginning to hold e-commerce sites accountable for dangerous…
Abstract
Purpose
The widespread adoption of online purchasing has prompted increasing concerns about product safety, and regulators are beginning to hold e-commerce sites accountable for dangerous product defects. For online consumers, understanding the many inherent safety risks among the extensive array of products they browse is a formidable task. The authors attempt to address this problem via a client-side software artifact that warns shoppers about potential product safety hazards at the point of sale.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors built four candidate designs and assessed their effectiveness by means of a large randomized controlled experiment (n = 466). The authors define effectiveness as significant changes in dependent variables associated with health behaviors and technology adoption.
Findings
The authors find that all of the designs score high on adoption likelihood, that designs incorporating highlighting and scoring are better at increasing safety knowledge and that simpler designs are better at enhancing safety awareness.
Originality/value
These findings will inform the design of safety information dissemination systems and open new areas of safety awareness enhancement research. More generally, the authors introduce a novel method of testing text visualization variations and their impact on behavioral decisions.
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Alex Acheampong, Elvis Konadu Adjei, Anita Adade-Boateng, Victor Karikari Acheamfour, Aba Essanowa Afful and Evans Boateng
An understanding of the impact of construction workers informal safety communication (CWISC), a form of parallel safety communication between workers, on safety performance among…
Abstract
Purpose
An understanding of the impact of construction workers informal safety communication (CWISC), a form of parallel safety communication between workers, on safety performance among construction workers is crucial in order to develop effective strategies for improving safety performance in the construction industry. However, research remains scant on the impact of CWISC on safety performance. This study empirically aims to test the relationship between these important constructs.
Design/methodology/approach
Statistical analysis was used to examine the relationship in a hypothetical model with two latent variables; the exogenous variables represented by two groups of informal safety communication: friends and crew members and the endogenous variables represented by two groups of Safety performance metrics: safety compliance and safety participation, was tested.
Findings
The emergent findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between informal safety communication among crew members and safety compliance, and also between informal safety communication among friends on construction sites and safety participation. These findings emphasize the importance of fostering effective safety communication and collaboration within construction crews, as well as recognizing the influence friendships on safety performance. Stakeholders can leverage on these findings to implement policies to improve safety performance.
Originality/value
The study presents insightful practical knowledge on how CWISC impacts safety performance on construction sites. Practical recommendations for organizations are also proposed, e.g., development of team-building activities, platforms for sharing safety-related information and experiences, mentorship programs and initiatives that encourage social interaction among workers.
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Organizations working in high-hazard environments contribute significantly to modern society and the economy, not only for the valuable resources they hold but also for the…
Abstract
Purpose
Organizations working in high-hazard environments contribute significantly to modern society and the economy, not only for the valuable resources they hold but also for the indispensable products and services they provide, such as power generation, transportation and defense weapons. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to develop a framework that outlines future research on systems safety and provides a better understanding of how organizations can effectively manage hazard events.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, we developed the high hazard theory (HHT) and a theoretical framework based on the grounded theory method (GTM) and the integration of three established theoretical perspectives: normal accident theory (NAT), high reliability theory (HRT) and resilience engineering (RE) theory.
Findings
We focused on the temporal aspect of accidents to create a timeline showing the progression of hazard events and the factors contributing to safety and hazards in organizations. Given the limitations of the previous theories in providing a coherent explanation of hazard event escalation in high-hazard organizations (HHOs), we argue that the highlighted theories can be more complementary than contradictory regarding their standpoints on disasters and accident prevention.
Practical implications
A proper appreciation of the hazard nature of organizations can help reduce their susceptibility to failure, prevent outages and breakdowns of systems, identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance performance.
Originality/value
By developing HHT, we contribute to systems safety research by developing a new, refined theory and enrich the theoretical debate. We also expand the understanding of scholars and practitioners about the characteristics of organizations working in high-hazard environments.
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Ovad Kima, Alon Urlainis, Kun-Chi Wang and Igal M. Shohet
This research aims to enhance understanding of the safety climate within small and medium-sized construction enterprises (SMEs). By conducting an in-depth analysis of safety…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to enhance understanding of the safety climate within small and medium-sized construction enterprises (SMEs). By conducting an in-depth analysis of safety practices and management approaches in this sector, it identifies critical gaps and provides actionable recommendations to improve the safety climate in construction SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
An integrated method approach was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative elements. A fishbone diagram model was developed to categorize key safety factors into four categories: Workers, Equipment, Management and Environment. Based on these categories, core safety parameters for SMEs were derived. A 42-question survey was developed and distributed to foremen across various construction sites in Eilat, Israel, aiming to capture diverse safety practices and illuminate the specific safety practices within these SMEs.
Findings
Key findings underscore variability in safety management practices across different sites, emphasizing management’s role and the prioritization of equipment and environment in safety protocols. The study revealed a strong correlation between higher safety scores and reduced accident rates, highlighting the efficacy of robust safety management. The research also correlates financial investment in safety with improved outcomes yet stresses the importance of strategic resource deployment, particularly in settings with limited resources. Additionally, inconsistencies in near-miss reporting were identified, suggesting the need for standardization to leverage these incidents for safety enhancement.
Research limitations/implications
The research has certain limitations, including its narrow geographical focus on the city of Eilat, situated in a southern and arid region that presents specific climate challenges. Another limitation is the relatively small sample size, consisting of 20 sites. However, it is important to note that the significance of the findings has been rigorously assessed using test statistics, which have yielded satisfactory levels of significance.
Practical implications
The research establishes a practical framework for the development, management and maintenance of a safety climate in construction SMEs. Clear leading indicators are defined, enabling construction SMEs to cultivate a sustainable safety climate, enhance safety measures and prevent work accidents.
Social implications
The research presents a comprehensive theoretical and practical framework for establishing, managing and controlling the safety climate in construction SMEs. It introduces leading indicators as effective tools for enhancing the safety climate in SMEs, offering a robust framework for cultivating a sustainable safety environment at both the site and company levels.
Originality/value
This study provides valuable insights into the safety climate of construction SMEs, offering a foundation for targeted improvements and informing future research directions in construction safety management. This analysis highlights SMEs' unique challenges and practices, providing valuable perspectives for enhancing safety in this critical construction industry sector.
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