Organisational culture and construction employee safety

Abstract

Organisational culture plays a critical role in the functioning and identity of an organisation. The study examined Schein’s model based on artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions to determine the level of influence on construction employees’ safety. Online questionnaire administration among medium-sized construction firms in the Central Region of Ghana was employed for the data collection. The designed questionnaire was used to gather the opinions of supervisors, foremen, and workers in the construction industry. Descriptive statistics and the Relative Importance Index (RII) were utilised to analyse the findings. The results reveal that work environment design and workplace cleanliness were the most influential artifacts impacting employee safety. Regarding espoused values, the organisation’s strategies and employee safety played a significant role in ensuring a safe workplace. Additionally, variables related to self-awareness and freedom of expression had substantial importance in the realm of basic underlying assumptions. Understanding the relationship between organisational culture and employee safety is crucial for creating safe work environments and fostering a safety culture. Construction firms can enhance employee safety and achieve corporate goals by addressing artifacts, espoused values, and assumptions. The results of this study are beneficial to construction project managers, contractors, and construction management researchers, as they offer insights into creating safer work environments and improving employee well-being through organisational culture.