Abstract:
Construction safety on project sites is of utmost importance due to the nature of
the construction industry. However, it is usually a secondary concern in a market-driven
society where the main concern is completing projects at the required quality with minimum time and cost. Thus, safety issues are considered only after an accident occurs at a
construction site with follow up measures to improve working conditions, especially in
developing countries. In Sri Lanka, according to the International Labour Organisation, one
out of six accidents and 25 out of 40 deaths occur at construction sites due to negligence or
carelessness. These statistics show that safety is not adequately considered in the Sri Lankan
construction industry. Therefore, proper safety management in construction is of utmost
importance; hence, this study aims to introduce a benchmark to measure construction
safety through a proposed safety management assessment framework. Factors affecting
construction safety performance were explored through a questionnaire survey conducted
in Sri Lanka. The results suggest that a benchmark of construction safety should be
considered across six dominant groups of factors: management commitment, management
measures, implementation, project nature, individual involvement and economic
investment. Management commitment is the most dominant factor that affects construction
safety and consists of implementing organisational safety policies, assigning safety
responsibilities at all levels, etc. The proposed management framework will facilitate a
benchmarking process and initiatives for improving construction safety performance in
developing countries.
