SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION: A STUDY UTILIZING THE GROUNDED THEORY ANALYSIS

The objectives of the study were to investigate the issues surrounding the successful and satisfactory delivery of Safety Management Systems (SMS) solely from Malaysian contractors’ perspective and to develop a theory related to the reasons for those issues. An inductive approach is used for a study on investigation of Safety Management Systems (SMS) implementation among Malaysian contractors in processing plants. The approach aims at identifying the problems encountered by contractors and sought to develop a theory, to gauge the issues from contractors’ perspective and how these issues appear and affect the outcomes of SMS implementation. The issue and underlying problems of SMS implementation were analyzed through in depth semi-structured interviews with 13 respondents. An adapted Grounded Theory analysis, following the original Glaser and Strauss (1967) philosophy, was used to analyze the data extracted from the interviews. Through the use of Grounded Theory approach, the root causes of issues and underlying problems of SMS implementation among Malaysian contractors was uncovered. Subsequently, a theory of problems encountered by contractors was developed. Keywords: grounded theory analysis; in-depth semi-structured interview; inductive approach; theory development

[1]  A. Strauss,et al.  Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. , 1992 .

[2]  B Basso,et al.  Reviewing the safety management system by incident investigation and performance indicators , 2004 .

[3]  George Allan,et al.  A critique of using grounded theory as a research method , 2003 .

[4]  Krishna Gopal Rampal,et al.  Developing regulations for occupational exposures to health hazards in Malaysia. , 2006, Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP.

[5]  K. Charmaz,et al.  Constructing Grounded Theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis Kathy Charmaz Constructing Grounded Theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis Sage 224 £19.99 0761973532 0761973532 [Formula: see text]. , 2006, Nurse researcher.

[6]  Nabil Kartam,et al.  Construction safety in Kuwait: issues, procedures, problems, and recommendations , 2000 .

[7]  Kathryn Mearns,et al.  The Client Has Most Influence On The Contractor's HS&E Culture , 2004 .

[8]  Tony Baxendale,et al.  Construction design and management safety regulations in practice—progress on implementation , 2000 .

[9]  Inkeri Ruuska,et al.  Critical project competences - a case study , 2003 .

[10]  Jaime Santos-Reyes,et al.  Assessing safety management systems , 2002 .

[11]  John Smallwood.  Client influence on contractor health and safety in South Africa , 1998 .

[12]  Hugh Allen Wilson,et al.  Organizational behaviour and safety management in the construction industry , 1989 .

[13]  M. S. Aini,et al.  Review of an incident at a petrochemical plant , 2003 .

[14]  Leslie Woods,et al.  Grounded Theory: A practical guide for management, business and market researchers Christina Goulding Grounded Theory: A practical guide for management, business and market researchers Sage Publications No of pages: 186 £18.99 0761966838 0761966838 [Formula: see text]. , 2003, Nurse researcher.

[15]  F. Myrick,et al.  Grounded Theory: An Exploration of Process and Procedure , 2006, Qualitative health research.

[16]  Christina Goulding.  Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide for Management, Business and Market Researchers , 2002 .

[17]  Tim Kelly,et al.  Arguing Safety - A Systematic Approach to Managing Safety Cases , 1998 .

[18]  G. A. Reid.  Non-ICT executive perceptions of, and attitudes towards, ICT infrastructure projects : do they influence the outcomes of such projects , 2007 .

[19]  Nicholas J. Ashill,et al.  Mapping and assessing the key management issues influencing UK public healthcare purchaser‐provider cooperation , 2006 .

[20]  Anselm L. Strauss,et al.  Basics of qualitative research : techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory , 1998 .

[21]  Tuula Laukkanen,et al.  Construction work and education: occupational health and safety reviewed , 1999 .

[22]  Lauri Koskela,et al.  Roles of supply chain management in construction , 1999 .

[23]  J. Gosby.  MEDIA REVIEWS: Basics of Qualitative Research - Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory 2nd Edition by A. Strauss and J. Corbin. Sage Publications, , 2000 .

[24]  Kazutaka Kogi,et al.  Work improvement and occupational safety and health management systems: common features and research needs. , 2002, Industrial health.

[25]  Tae-gu Kim,et al.  Current risk management status of the Korean petrochemical industry , 2002 .

[26]  Salih O. Duffuaa,et al.  Turnaround maintenance in petrochemical industry: practices and suggested improvements , 2004 .

[27]  J. Simon,et al.  Contractor Safety Performance Significantly Improves , 1991 .

[28]  Naresh R. Pandit.  The creation of theory: A recent application of the grounded theory method , 1996 .

[29]  Husrul Nizam Husin,et al.  Management of Safety for Quality Construction , 2009 .

[30]  Philip E. T. Lewis,et al.  Research Methods for Business Students , 2006 .

[31]  Albert P.C. Chan,et al.  Study of attitude changes in people after the implementation of a new safety management system: the supervision plan , 2001 .

[32]  A. Strauss,et al.  The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research aldine de gruyter , 1968 .

[33]  Osama A. Jannadi,et al.  Safety factors considered by industrial contractors in Saudi Arabia , 2002 .

[34]  John A. Gambatese,et al.  Factors That Influence Safety Performance of Specialty Contractors , 2003 .

[35]  H. Heath,et al.  Developing a grounded theory approach: a comparison of Glaser and Strauss. , 2004, International journal of nursing studies.

[36]  Fakhru'l-Razi Ahmadun,et al.  Disaster types in Malaysia: an overview , 2006 .

[37]  Andrew Hale,et al.  Evaluating safety in the management of maintenance activities in the chemical process industry , 1998 .

[38]  Sam Cromie,et al.  Safety management systems and safety culture in aircraft maintenance organisations , 2000 .

[39]  Torbjørn Rundmo,et al.  Organisational factors, safety attitudes and workload among offshore oil personnel , 1998 .

[40]  Sanjay Sharma,et al.  Proactive corporate environmental strategy and the development of competitively valuable organizational capabilities , 1998 .

[41]  Dongping Fang,et al.  Factor analysis-based studies on construction workplace safety management in China , 2004 .

[42]  X. Xue,et al.  Coordination mechanisms for construction supply chain management in the Internet environment , 2007 .

[43]  Enno Koehn,et al.  Safety Management: Problems Encountered and Recommended Solutions , 2000 .

[44]  A. Strauss,et al.  The Discovery of Grounded Theory , 1967 .

[45]  Joseph A. Maxwell,et al.  Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach , 1996 .