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Safety
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Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction
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Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction

A special issue of Safety (ISSN 2313-576X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 22340

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI 48075, USA
Interests: construction safety culture; construction safety climate; construction workforce diversity; occupational incident investigation; construction safety regulations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editor is inviting submissions for a Special Issue of Safety on safety performance assessment and management in construction, a subject that requires special attention from scholars and practitioners. Each year, hundreds of thousands of construction workers are seriously injured, and thousands lose their lives. Because of these tragic events, the lives of countless family members are changed forever. Therefore, there is a dire need to provide innovative methods and insights to effectively assess and manage safety performance in construction projects. Research featured in this Special Issue will reflect and explain how upper management and safety personnel within a construction firm can prepare, monitor, and respond to safety risks in a practical manner during the design and construction phases. Accordingly, this Special Issue aims to provide practical, data-driven insights into how we can assess and manage the safety of construction projects.

Dr. Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Safety is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Prevention Through Desing (PtD)
  • Research to Practice (RtP)
  • Construction Safety Culture
  • Construction Safety Climate
  • Construction Safety Performance
  • Construction Safety Management
  • Incident Invesitigation

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4025 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Temporary Portable Rumble Strips on Vehicle Speeds in Road Work Zones
by Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati, Mason Ali, Fadi Alhomaidat, Nishantha Bandara and Yuting Chen
Safety 2024, 10(4), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10040105 - 16 Dec 2024
Viewed by 2077
Abstract
The safety of construction and maintenance work zones has been highlighted as a crucial aspect of construction management that requires special attention due to the increasing number of fatal and non-fatal injuries in recent years. Temporary traffic control (TTC) is required by the [...] Read more.
The safety of construction and maintenance work zones has been highlighted as a crucial aspect of construction management that requires special attention due to the increasing number of fatal and non-fatal injuries in recent years. Temporary traffic control (TTC) is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to improve overall safety performance during road construction and maintenance projects. The fact that speeding and distracted drivers may overlook TTC warning signs and directions has been reported as one of the leading causes of work zone incidents. This study aimed to examine both the impact of temporary portable rumble strips (TPRSs) on traffic speeds and the response of different vehicle types in road work zones, including trucks and cars. Accordingly, field experiments were conducted in collaboration with the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) in Michigan. The findings indicate that TPRSs have a statistically significant impact on the driving speed of light vehicle drivers but not on medium and heavy vehicles, such as trucks. This study contributes to the existing literature by quantifying the safety benefits of TPRS use, providing valuable data for policymakers and construction professionals. By demonstrating the effectiveness of TPRSs in reducing the speed of light vehicles, this research supports the implementation of these systems as a practical measure for enhancing safety within road construction work zones. Additionally, this study highlights the need for tailored approaches to address the limited impact on larger vehicles, underscoring the importance of developing complementary strategies to ensure comprehensive safety improvements across all vehicle types. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction)
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22 pages, 2930 KiB  
Article
Role of the Regulation Framework in Occupational Safety in Construction Excavation Works—A Survey Analysis in Turkey
by Nurdan Baykuş, Aaron Anil Chadee, Nurgül Yalçın and Hazi Mohammad Azamathulla
Safety 2024, 10(4), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10040087 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1989
Abstract
The construction sector is known to have the highest risks of occupational accidents. A rationale for this high occurrence of occupational risks can be related to legislative requirements to enforce safe construction practices within this sector. Within the context of excavation works in [...] Read more.
The construction sector is known to have the highest risks of occupational accidents. A rationale for this high occurrence of occupational risks can be related to legislative requirements to enforce safe construction practices within this sector. Within the context of excavation works in Turkey, this study investigates the leading risks for any compliance shortfalls and ultimately presents recommendations to mitigate occupational accidents’ occurrences during excavation works in the construction sector. Based on a quantitative methodology, a closed-ended survey consisting of 35 questions and based on legislative requirements was applied to project managers in the construction industry, such as site supervisors, occupational safety experts, auditors, and control personnel. A sample size of 277 responses was found to have stability and validity through a reliability analysis and an exploratory factor analysis, and was used for testing statistical significance via cross-tabulation analysis and chi-square tests. The findings revealed that the major deviation of safety in excavation works from legislative requirements is executing works during adverse weather conditions. Moreover, it was also noteworthy that protective curtains did not surround the excavation sites, and most of the employees encountered ground slippage during excavation work. Therefore, the findings revealed preliminary research that will contribute positively to providing incentives for a focus on and development of relevant security and technical measures. It also provided information to protect the safety and welfare of the workers involved in excavation works. Finally, though these findings may be considered context-specific, this research can be used for comparative purposes for similar studies into the safety practices of excavation works in different countries, where generalized findings can be later derived to inform academia and practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction)
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15 pages, 1453 KiB  
Article
Clearing the Path: Overcoming Barriers to Prevention through Design (PtD) Utilization in the US Construction Industry
by Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati, Karim Bazzi, Ali A. Karakhan and Elin Jensen
Safety 2024, 10(3), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10030074 - 20 Aug 2024
Viewed by 2112
Abstract
The construction industry presents significant high risks of injury and fatality to its workforce. Adopting prevention through design (PtD) principles is reported to have high potential for mitigating such risks and improving safety outcomes. PtD seeks to assess and reduce workplace hazards during [...] Read more.
The construction industry presents significant high risks of injury and fatality to its workforce. Adopting prevention through design (PtD) principles is reported to have high potential for mitigating such risks and improving safety outcomes. PtD seeks to assess and reduce workplace hazards during the design phase, minimizing unsafe construction conditions. Despite its potential benefits, the construction industry encounters challenges in effectively utilizing PtD. Thus, the implementation of PtD in the US construction industry is limited, and designers’ awareness remains low. This evident lack of utilization warrants further examination of the contributing factors. The goal of this study is to identify and rank PtD utilization barriers in the United States (US) construction industry. This study pinpointed 12 pivotal barriers to PtD implementation through a systematic literature review. These barriers were categorized into industry-, project-, designer-, and client-related domains. Furthermore, they were grouped into three clusters based on their influence on PtD implementation from the most to the least influence, based on an expert matter questionnaire. This study also compared the experts’ rankings of the identified barriers with their citation frequencies in the reviewed articles. Among other observations, this study found that the lack of PtD professional training and formal education for project stakeholders negatively impacts the likelihood of PtD utilization and exacerbates several other barriers. Therefore, it is advisable to prioritize addressing this barrier by allocating the necessary resources and efforts to efficiently address it. Construction industry stakeholders with a vested interest in advancing PtD applications are encouraged to leverage the insights this study provides to expedite the adoption of PtD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction)
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16 pages, 2672 KiB  
Article
Proposed Changes to the Inspection Strategy for Fire Alarm Systems: Empirical Analysis of Weak Points and Technical Influencing Factors
by Stefan Siegfried Veit and František Steiner
Safety 2024, 10(2), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10020051 - 9 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1580
Abstract
Fire alarm systems are an important part of the safety concept in complex buildings. For this reason, there are high availability requirements for the systems, which must be sustained by a maintenance concept. A shortage of skilled workers and rising costs in the [...] Read more.
Fire alarm systems are an important part of the safety concept in complex buildings. For this reason, there are high availability requirements for the systems, which must be sustained by a maintenance concept. A shortage of skilled workers and rising costs in the construction and operation of buildings are pushing these concepts ever further. This study deals with proposed changes to the maintenance strategies to achieve cost and time savings in addition to an improvement in quality. As a first part of the work, the current state of research on developments in fire alarm systems and their maintenance and inspection concepts is analyzed within a literature review. The results serve as a basis for further research, which is based on a qualitative content analysis of expert interviews and standardized surveys to identify the weaknesses in current inspection strategies and future factors influencing the methods and technology of inspections through technical innovations. As a data basis for this study, expert interviews were conducted with experts from manufacturers, industry associations, and standards bodies in order to determine the possible influencing factors. To determine their relevance for the inspection, more than 40 experts were surveyed about testing the systems. The presented results show that new technical risks, such as cyber threats and networked plant structures, are insufficiently covered by current inspection strategies. Furthermore, inspection steps can be substituted by new technologies. The most important influencing factors that can be identified here are automatic self-test functions of components and remote inspection techniques of the systems. Finally, the results are discussed within the framework of a PESTEL analysis. In conclusion, it can be stated that the integration of identified impacts in future inspection strategies brings time and efficiency benefits in the operation of systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction)
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14 pages, 3777 KiB  
Article
Tailored Incident Investigation Protocols: A Critically Needed Practice
by Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati
Safety 2024, 10(2), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety10020037 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 3474
Abstract
Construction scholars and practitioners have identified a repetitive pattern of direct causes leading to both fatal and non-fatal injuries among construction workers. Over the years, direct causes such as falls, electrocutions, and being struck have consistently represented a substantial proportion of recorded and [...] Read more.
Construction scholars and practitioners have identified a repetitive pattern of direct causes leading to both fatal and non-fatal injuries among construction workers. Over the years, direct causes such as falls, electrocutions, and being struck have consistently represented a substantial proportion of recorded and reported injuries in the United States. One potential factor contributing to this repetition is the absence of root cause investigations for incidents. Incident investigations should focus on system deficiencies and shortcomings instead of individual behaviors. While the identification of incident root causes provides the needed information to eliminate the direct causes, it is inherently complex. Recently, the use of tailored incident investigation protocols as a practical and systematically conducted method was suggested to uncover the root causes of incidents, subsequently assisting in reducing their recurrence. To illustrate the feasibility of such an approach, this article provides a step-by-step guide to creating a tailored investigation protocol for revealing the root causes of arc flash incidents by utilizing a panel of safety experts. In addition, this study demonstrates the feasibility of developing tailored investigation protocols for other common causes, such as falls and electrocutions. Tailored investigation protocols streamline the identification of potential root causes to a manageable number, relying on subject matter experts. Consequently, they enhance learning from incidents by mitigating investigators’ biases and potential lack of experience. Safety practitioners can use the method presented in this article to create tailored investigation protocols based on their working environment to improve learning for occupational injuries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction)
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23 pages, 3793 KiB  
Article
Determining the Reliability of Critical Controls in Construction Projects
by Roberta Selleck, Maureen Hassall and Marcus Cattani
Safety 2022, 8(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety8030064 - 7 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4583
Abstract
Across the global construction industry, fatalities continue to occur from high-risk activities, where the risk controls have been defined; however, these were unreliable. In the mining industry, Critical Control Risk Management has provided positive results in reducing major accidents, which raises the question, [...] Read more.
Across the global construction industry, fatalities continue to occur from high-risk activities, where the risk controls have been defined; however, these were unreliable. In the mining industry, Critical Control Risk Management has provided positive results in reducing major accidents, which raises the question, could the Critical Control approach reduce the fatality rate in the construction industry? This study analyzed 10 years of serious and fatal incident investigation reports from four international construction companies to (i) assess the reliability of their Critical Controls (CCs) and (ii) assess the factors that affect the reliability of CCs. The results show the reliability of CCs, measured by implementation and effectiveness, averaged just 42%. Insight into human performance and organizational factors, including risk identification, decision-making and competency, together with supervision, job planning and communication, were identified as opportunities to improve the reliability of CCs. The study used bowtie diagrams with real event data to find the actual CC reliability. This appears to be the first published study that reports on the reliability of critical risk controls in construction. It demonstrates a feasible method for determining and communicating control effectiveness that can be used to deliver meaningful insights to industry practitioners on actual control performance and focus areas for improvement. In addition, actionable findings directly related to individual CCs can be derived that enable the participating organization to focus resources on improving specific verification processes. The results confirm the applicability of CCs for the Major Accident Event hazards analyzed and highlights that further reviews are required on the factors that need to be considered when implementing a CC program. This paper details our methodology and results, to assist others applying CCs as a risk management tool. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety Performance Assessment and Management in Construction)
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