Barriers for the Adoption of Incorporating RFID with Mobile Technology for Improved Safety of Construction Professionals

Abstract

The frequent occupational hazards experienced within the construction industry is responsible for construction professionals having high exposure to occupational hazards than other occupations. The high incidence of hazards is related to the weak monitoring of construction activities on site. Towards improving the construction safety this study proposes the merging of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) with mobile technology for monitoring construction professionals on site. Thus, this study appraises the barriers to the adoption of RFID and mobile technology for construction safety in South Africa. A random sampling method was used for administering the questionnaire to construction professionals in Gauteng Province South Africa. The data were analysed with SPSS V 24, using, mean score and frequency distribution. The findings from the study revealed that the adoption of RFID and mobile technology is hindered by the cost of procuring and low technical ability. The study contributes to establishing a proactive approach for construction safety management in South Africa.