Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry

Abstract

The reliance on networked technologies in construction safety and health management is expected to increase; however, studies have reported potential resistance to the broad implementation of smart technologies within structured construction safety management systems (SMS). This study examines the challenges and drivers impacting the implementation of smart SMS in the construction industry using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The current state of safety knowledge and practices was reviewed and critical insights were obtained from construction industry practitioners. To identify barriers and solutions to implementing smart technologies in construction safety management, a literature review was conducted. Based on this review and semi-structured expert interviews, a survey was developed and distributed to U.S. construction industry management to assess their perceptions of these barriers and strategies. The study revealed 24 implementation barriers of which 14 were considered critical with mean normalized values ≥ 0.50. These barriers were categorized into four groups – organization, infrastructure, cost, and system integration-related barriers based on the correlation between the four different groups. Sixteen strategies that could help overcome these challenges and improve the integration of IoT-SMS technologies were uncovered and discussed. The findings from this study extend technology implementation theories by proposing an organization-infrastructure-cost-system integration framework for SMS implementation. Moreover, the study creates a foundation for evaluating barriers and strategies associated with implementing technology-driven SMS in the construction industry, thereby advancing research at the intersection of SMS and emerging technologies.