Fostering safe work behaviour in workers at construction sites

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a framework to foster safe work behaviour among workers on construction sites.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed framework identifies two main reasons for unsafe behaviours: “don't know how”, and “don't care”. Technical and safety training is proposed to overcome the former problem, while for the latter it is proposed that organisations systematically apply operant conditioning techniques to promote safety, using organisational behaviour modification. A postal survey of contractors in Singapore was conducted to test the framework. The four tools of operant conditioning theory (positive reinforcements, negative reinforcements, extinction, and punishments) were evaluated.Findings – Close and strict supervision, sending workers for safety and health training, and imposing fines are found to be most effective methods. Positive reinforcements (both monetary and non‐monetary) have also been found to be effective, while extinction did not receive...

[1]  Helen Lingard,et al.  The effect of first aid training on Australian construction workers' occupational health and safety motivation and risk control behavior. , 2002, Journal of safety research.

[2]  Nigel R Mansfield,et al.  Issues affecting motivation on construction projects , 1991 .

[3]  T. Michael Toole,et al.  Construction Site Safety Roles , 2002 .

[4]  K. Ferguson,et al.  The Psychology of B F Skinner , 2001 .

[5]  B. Skinner.  Contingencies Of Reinforcement , 1969 .

[6]  Deborah Walker,et al.  Motivating the Workforce: The Value of External Health and Safety Awards , 2000 .

[7]  M. Osama Jannadi.  Impact of human relations on the safety of construction workers , 1995 .

[8]  Daniel Fong,et al.  Factors affecting safety performance on construction sites , 1999 .

[9]  M. Osama Jannadi,et al.  Factors affecting the safety of the construction industry , 1996 .

[10]  J. Hinze.  Safety Incentives: Do They Reduce Injuries? , 2002 .

[11]  J. Staddon,et al.  The dynamics of operant conditioning. , 1999, Psychological review.

[12]  Victor Y. Haines,et al.  Understanding reactions to safety incentives , 2001 .

[13]  Derek H.T. Walker,et al.  The effect of the workplace on motivation and demotivation of construction professionals , 2000 .

[14]  Martin G. Helander,et al.  Safety hazards and motivation for safe work in the construction industry , 1991 .

[15]  Howard M. Weiss,et al.  Learning theory and industrial and organizational psychology. , 1990 .

[16]  D. Reitman,et al.  The real and imagined harmful effects of rewards: implications for clinical practice. , 1998, Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry.

[17]  Alison G Vredenburgh,et al.  Organizational safety: which management practices are most effective in reducing employee injury rates? , 2002, Journal of safety research.