Structural Equation Model of Interrelationships Among Constructs Affecting the Contractors’ Poor Safety Performance

Abstract

The poor safety performance of contractors is considered as one of the underlying roots of a high construction accident rate. The interrelationships among constructs affecting the poor safety performance of contractors have not been identified in most of the previous studies. This study examines the interactions among constructs affecting the poor safety performance of contractors at the same time in a model. A survey questionnaire is designed to gather views from industrial practitioners. Five constructs are extracted by the factor analysis method. A structural equation model is then set up to measure the five constructs through their constituent variables and to explore insights into the interactions among them. The final structural model verifies five relationships and denies five relationships proposed in the hypothetical model. The study provides a greater understanding of the interactions among constructs affecting the poor safety performance of contractors as well as the degree of relationship among the constructs. The results can help managers to easily grasp the origin of causes affecting poor safety performance and then identify key areas for improving them. Moreover, the frameworks proposed in this study can be used to consider and assess the contractors’ safety performance.