Perception of human risk factors in construction projects: an exploratory study

Abstract This paper describes how construction practitioners perceive risk management and in particular human risks factors. For this purpose, a short questionnaire was designed and used in personal interviews with construction practitioners. Currently risk management has been commonly applied across the construction sector, however it very rarely includes the effects of human factors. This paper identifies that human risks factors are, according to the respondents, the most influential construction risk, and stresses the need to incorporate human risk factors into project risk management. The findings of this research will form the basis for an extended investigation which aims to identify and model human risks factors that influence construction project procurement.

[1]  C. S Lim,et al.  An exploratory study into recurring construction problems , 2000 .

[2]  Ali Jaafari,et al.  Management of risks, uncertainties and opportunities on projects: time for a fundamental shift , 2001 .

[3]  Martin Loosemore,et al.  Organisational behaviour during a construction crisis , 1998 .

[4]  Ola Svenson,et al.  Human errors and work performance in a nuclear power plant control room: associations with work-related factors and behavioral coping☆ , 1997 .

[5]  P C Cacciabue,et al.  Human factors impact on risk analysis of complex systems. , 2000, Journal of hazardous materials.

[6]  Peter James Dawson.  A hierarchical approach to the management of construction project risk , 1997 .

[7]  Rachael Gordon,et al.  The contribution of human factors to accidents in the offshore oil industry , 1998 .

[8]  John Raftery,et al.  Risk Analysis in Project Management , 1993 .

[9]  Steven Pender,et al.  Managing incomplete knowledge: Why risk management is not sufficient , 2001 .

[10]  David Preece,et al.  Project management and the integration of human factors in military system procurement , 1999 .

[11]  Charles Egbu,et al.  Skills, knowledge and competencies for managing construction refurbishment works , 1999 .

[12]  M Fleming,et al.  Risk Perceptions of Offshore Workers on UK Oil and Gas Platforms , 1998, Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis.

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

[14]  Alfredo Serpell.  Integrating quality systems in construction projects: the Chilean case , 1999 .

[15]  Thomas E. Uher,et al.  Risk management in the conceptual phase of a project , 1999 .

[16]  S El-Sabaa,et al.  The skills and career path of an effective project manager , 2001 .

[17]  David Hillson,et al.  Extending the risk process to manage opportunities , 2002 .

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

[19]  W. Zikmund.  Business Research Methods , 1984 .

[20]  J. Perry,et al.  RISK AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. , 1985 .

[21]  Rhona Flin,et al.  Stress at sea: A review of working conditions in the offshore oil and fishing industries , 1989 .

[22]  Jamal F. Al‐Bahar,et al.  Systematic Risk Management Approach for Construction Projects , 1990 .