Abstract
Although proper safety management in construction is of utmost importance; anecdotal evidence suggests that safety is not adequately considered in many developing countries. This paper considers the key variables affecting construction safety performance in Cambodia. Using an empirical questionnaire survey targeting local construction professionals, respondents were invited to rate the level of importance of 30 variables identified from the seminal literature. The data set was subjected to factor analysis. Correlations between the variables show that five key factors underlie the challenges facing the local industry; management and organisation, resources, site management, cosmetic and workforce. It is found that the forefront construction professionals (top management and government authorities) should take more responsibilities for further improvements in safety performance on project sites. Findings and recommendations of this study may be useful to construction professional who are seeking ways to improve safety records in developing countries.
Highlights
The construction industry is the second most dynamic driver of the Cambodian economy
The questionnaires were administered to the frontline stakeholders responsible for construction safety performance at various levels of construction firms that operated mainly in Phnom Penh city, as well as to authorities at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), which is responsible for construction safety in Cambodia
The questionnaires were administered to the frontline stakeholders responsible for construction safety performance at various levels in construction firms that operated mainly in Phnom Penh city, as well as authorities at the MLMUPC, which is responsible for construction safety in Cambodia
Summary
The construction industry is the second most dynamic driver of the Cambodian economy. According to the macroeconomic report by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF, 2016), the construction industry contributes 9 to 10% annually to the country’s gross domestic product. It seems that investor appetite for construction projects is remaining strong, especially for residential and commercial buildings, as seen in the acceleration of construction project approval value to reach US$8.5 billion in 2016, compared with US$3.3 billion in 2015 (Hawkins and Sek, 2017). With the largest proportion of capital investment in the construction sector going to development projects (Durdyev, Omarov and Ismail, 2017), improvement in the occupational safety and health (OSH) performance of the industry is essential to establish a more comprehensive knowledge base for preventative measures and a more conducive environment for enforcing OSH standards in the workplace
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