Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study
Safety climate has been extensively studied using survey-based approaches, providing significant insights into safety perceptions and behaviors. However, understanding its dynamics in construction projects requires methods that address temporal and trade-specific variability. This study employs a lo...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/4070 |
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| author | Miaomiao Niu Robert M. Leicht |
| author_facet | Miaomiao Niu Robert M. Leicht |
| author_sort | Miaomiao Niu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Safety climate has been extensively studied using survey-based approaches, providing significant insights into safety perceptions and behaviors. However, understanding its dynamics in construction projects requires methods that address temporal and trade-specific variability. This study employs a longitudinal, mixed-methods design to explore safety climate dynamics. Quantitative data analyzed with ANOVA revealed stable overall safety climate scores across project phases, while Item Response Theory (IRT) identified survey items sensitive to safety climate changes. Positive perceptions were associated with management commitment and regular safety meetings, while negative perceptions highlighted challenges such as workplace congestion and impractical safety rules. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews uncovered trade-specific and phase-specific safety challenges, including issues tied to site logistics and workforce dynamics. For instance, transitioning from structural to interior work introduced congestion-related risks and logistical complexities, underscoring the need for phase-adapted strategies. This combination of quantitative stability and qualitative variability provides empirical evidence of safety climate dynamics in construction. The findings emphasize the importance of tailoring safety interventions to address trade-specific and phase-specific risks. This study advances the understanding of the safety climate in dynamic work environments and offers actionable recommendations for improving construction safety management through targeted, proactive strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-818c603a190a4434bdcd685adf1628e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-818c603a190a4434bdcd685adf1628e92024-12-27T14:16:12ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-12-011412407010.3390/buildings14124070Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods StudyMiaomiao Niu0Robert M. Leicht1School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaArchitectural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USASafety climate has been extensively studied using survey-based approaches, providing significant insights into safety perceptions and behaviors. However, understanding its dynamics in construction projects requires methods that address temporal and trade-specific variability. This study employs a longitudinal, mixed-methods design to explore safety climate dynamics. Quantitative data analyzed with ANOVA revealed stable overall safety climate scores across project phases, while Item Response Theory (IRT) identified survey items sensitive to safety climate changes. Positive perceptions were associated with management commitment and regular safety meetings, while negative perceptions highlighted challenges such as workplace congestion and impractical safety rules. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews uncovered trade-specific and phase-specific safety challenges, including issues tied to site logistics and workforce dynamics. For instance, transitioning from structural to interior work introduced congestion-related risks and logistical complexities, underscoring the need for phase-adapted strategies. This combination of quantitative stability and qualitative variability provides empirical evidence of safety climate dynamics in construction. The findings emphasize the importance of tailoring safety interventions to address trade-specific and phase-specific risks. This study advances the understanding of the safety climate in dynamic work environments and offers actionable recommendations for improving construction safety management through targeted, proactive strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/4070construction safety climatemixed-methodslongitudinal study |
| spellingShingle | Miaomiao Niu Robert M. Leicht Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study Buildings construction safety climate mixed-methods longitudinal study |
| title | Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_full | Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_short | Evaluating the Safety Climate in Construction Projects: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_sort | evaluating the safety climate in construction projects a longitudinal mixed methods study |
| topic | construction safety climate mixed-methods longitudinal study |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/4070 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miaomiaoniu evaluatingthesafetyclimateinconstructionprojectsalongitudinalmixedmethodsstudy AT robertmleicht evaluatingthesafetyclimateinconstructionprojectsalongitudinalmixedmethodsstudy |