Identifying the Non-Traditional Safety Risk Paths of Employees from Chinese International Construction Companies in Africa.

Chi Jin,Zhaoying Ye,Pengcheng Xiang,Bo Li

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041990

Abstract

In recent years, more and more construction enterprises are expanding into overseas markets, especially in underdeveloped regions such as Africa. Compared to domestic construction projects, international construction projects have been faced with more uncertainties and increased levels of safety risks to the employees in the context of political turmoil, racism, and religious conflict in the host country. This study aims to answer what risk factors contribute to the threat to the safety of overseas employees and how safety risk factors interact, using employees from Chinese international construction companies (CICCs) in Africa as an example. A total of 39 safety risk factors were selected by literature review and case study based on Heinrich’s Domino Theory of Accident Causation. To identify the critical safety risk sources and significant risk paths, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 208 professionals who have participated in construction projects in Africa. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), a total of twelve critical risk paths and five controllable risk sources were identified. The improper behaviors of the CICCs and their employees were shown to have the largest impact on the safety of Chinese employees, through the mediating effect of the criminal offense. This study provides some insights into safety risk management in international construction projects. Meanwhile, the quantitative approach proposed can also be used by other international companies or governments in identifying the safety risk paths of their overseas workers involved in international construction projects.

Highlights

In recent years, research on international labor migration has received increasing attention due to its enormous social, economic, cultural, and public safety implications for both sending and receiving countries [1]
This study focuses on Chinese employees in Africa, a similar approach can be used by international companies or governments from other countries in identifying the safety risk paths of their overseas workers in international construction projects
Uncontrollable original sociocultural risk sources (USRS) lead to subsequent environmental risk sources (SENRS), which further result in disease and accidental injury (DAI)

Summary

Introduction

Research on international labor migration has received increasing attention due to its enormous social, economic, cultural, and public safety implications for both sending and receiving countries [1]. Multinational companies are sending employees overseas at an unprecedented rate. According to the International Labour Organization [2], the number of global international workers reached 164 million in 2017. The safety of international workers has been under increasingly serious threat, especially in high-risk regions such as the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and North. With the “ Arab Spring” sweeping through North Africa and the Middle East in 2011, companies and governments are faced with the challenge of ensuring the safety of their employees and citizens, whether through the provision of on-the-ground assistance or evacuation [4]

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