Document Type

Theses, Masters

Rights

This item is available under a Creative Commons License for non-commercial use only

Disciplines

Business and Management.

Publication Details

Sucessfully submitted for the Award of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) to the Dublin Institute of Technology, December 2003.

Abstract

The goal of this research was to evaluate factors affecting safety performance levels on three construction sites in the border region in the Republic of Ireland. In order to achieve this goal, safety performance levels were measured using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The effect of safety training on subsequent safety-related behaviour was also analysed on two of the sites. The results showed a high number of poor work practices. These areas included: unguarded openings; working at heights; housekeeping and personal protective equipment. The results also highlighted good safety performance in the areas of plant and equipment use. The results of an operative’s survey suggested that employees’ perception of high-risk situations was good. However, the analysis of safety performance levels suggests that this perception had little effect on subsequent safety performance on two sites. An investigation into the effects of training on safety related behaviour showed, that this intervention had little impact on safety-performance levels. The findings are in broad agreement with recent literature showing that construction site safety can be variable with both good and poor safety performance. The ability for these construction sites to remain a source of possible accidents and fatalities throughout their life cycle remains a cause for concern.