Singapore Construction Industry Research Articles

Protection of the Rights of Parties to a Construction Contract Under the Laws of Singapore and Thailand

The institute of protection of rights of construction contractors and customers under the legislation of the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand is considered. The purpose of the article is a comparative legal analysis of the ways of protection of the rights of parties to construction contracts in these states. The article presents a comprehensive view at this issue from a legal point of view. The normative basis for regulating the construction industry in Singapore and Thailand includes Civil codes and special legal acts (construction laws, by-laws of ministries and departments). Protection of rights includes measures of responsibility, measures of protection, measures of operational influence and measures of self-defense. Such methods of protection as reco very of liquidated damages, unjust enrichment, special contractual clauses, suspension of fulfillment of obligations and others are analyzed. It is noted that recovery of liquidated damages is a common method of protection of rights in foreign countries. However, this method is not typical for the Russian Federation. Unjust enrichment and restitution are considered equivalent and interrelated concepts applied in various relations, including construction. Self-protection measures include the inclusion of various clauses in construction contracts, suspension of fulfilment of obligations. The parties have the right to stipulate in the contract a condition of exclusion or limitation of liability, if such a condition is not prohibited by law. In the states in question, the rights of construction clients and contractors may be protected through various bodies. Most often construction disputes are resolved in courts or in arbitration. It is concluded that the legal regulation of protection of the rights of the parties to a construction contract in these states was formed under the influence of both continental and Anglo-Saxon legal families. At the same time, these countries have their own customs and traditions, that are unique and original. Based on the conducted research, a proposal for reforming the current civil legislation of the Russian Federation in terms of protection of the rights of construction contractors has been formulated.

Adoption of smart contracts in the construction industry: an institutional analysis of drivers and barriers

Purpose The construction industry has arrived at a crossroads of rapid technological progress. While it is foreseen that the advent of new construction technologies will disrupt the construction industry’s future, such disruptions often create the ideal environment for innovation. As poor payment practices continue to plague the construction industry, the advent of smart contracts has created an opportunity to rectify the inherent flaws in the mitigation of payment problems in traditional construction contracts. Given the intrinsic resistance of construction firms to such revolutionary changes, this study aims to understand the various factors influencing the adoption of smart contracts in the Singapore construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A mixed method was adopted involving quantifying respondents’ perceptions of the factors influencing smart contract adoption, and validation from a group of interviewees on the matter. Out of 461 registered quantity surveyor members contacted via the Singapore institute of surveyors and valuers website, 55 respondents took part in the survey. This is followed by semi-structured interviews to validate the survey results. Findings The findings indicate that construction firms have neither a significant knowledge of nor willingness to adopt smart contracts. A total of 29 institutional factors were also identified that significantly influence the adoption of smart contracts. The quantitative findings were further reinforced by qualitative interviews with five industry experts. Originality/value With recognition of and the successful formulation of the significant institutional drivers and barriers, the key findings of this study will be integral in driving the commercial adoption of smart contracts within the construction industry.

Study on adjudication challenges in Singapore's construction industry: An in-depth analysis of payment disputes and judicial review

Adjudication under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (SOP Act) is crucial for resolving payment disputes in Singapore's construction sector. Despite its effectiveness, parties often resort to litigation to challenge adjudication decisions. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of adjudication challenges in Singapore's construction industry, based on recent court cases from 2014 to 2024. The research identifies seven main causes of challenges, including payment disputes, contractual matters, and procedural issues. Analysis shows that only 26% of applications to set aside adjudication decisions were granted by the court, highlighting the need for procedural clarity and consistency. Results emphasize the importance of procedural adherence by all parties, with instances of prematurely lodged Adjudication Applications indicating potential shortcomings. The study recommends ongoing evaluation and refinements to the adjudication framework to improve its effectiveness in addressing payment disputes. Additionally, the introduction of a mathematical model offers a structured framework for stakeholders to quantitatively assess adjudication challenges in Singapore's construction industry. These insights are valuable for industry practitioners, policymakers, and researchers involved in dispute management within the construction sector.

Exploring critical success factors for collaborative contracting implementation in the Singapore construction industry

PurposeThe Singapore construction sector is promoting performance improvement by implementing collaborative contracting (CC). For CC's successful implementation, there is a need to sieve out the critical success factors (CSFs). Hence, this paper aims to explore factors influencing the adoption of CC and investigate the potential performance improvement by implementing CC.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature review, 23 CSFs were identified and packaged to a questionnaire to evaluate the CSF's priority as well as CC's potential impact on the project performance. After prior validation, 165 potential respondents were drawn from survey list by using simple random sampling. Finally, 31 valid responses were received.FindingsThe survey result showed that the top five CSFs are mutual trust, all parties to commit fully, openness between parties, commitment to a win–win attitude and resource availability. The majority of respondents hold that CC implementation would improve overall project performance, decision effectiveness, cost, time, quality and risk performance.Research limitations/implicationsDirectors, project managers, contractor managers and site engineers have different perceptions of CSFs. Also rather than meeting the same requirements in the implementation of CC, there are differences among projects with different values.Originality/valueThis study provides an in-depth understanding of the CSFs for industry practitioners adopting CC and CC's potential impact on project performance. This study is also helpful for authorities to formulate effective policies to push the implementation of CC.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression, anxiety and stress among foreign construction workers in Singapore – a cross-sectional study

Objectives The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among foreign workers in the construction industry in Singapore. Methods This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to include participants from three construction companies in Singapore that employed blue-collar workers from Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar,Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. The DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales) questionnaire was used to determine the occurrence of depression, anxiety and stress in the study population and a demographic and work environment questionnaire was used to account for the additional factors that could influence the personal and workplace characteristics. Results The study included 348 participants. About 29% of the study population exhibited moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, 37% showed moderate to extremely severe levels of anxiety and 33% expressed moderate to extremely severe levels of stress. Ethnicity and lack of awareness of job scope were found to be significant predictors of all three parameters studied, namely, depression, anxiety and stress. Regression analyses revealed that older workers were less prone to anxiety and lack of job clarity was correlated to higher levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that all three aspects considered in this study, namely, depression, anxiety and stress are widely prevalent among the foreign construction workers in Singapore and effective measures needs to be put in place in order to reduce the same and provide a safe work environment for them. One measure that can be utilized to reduce the mental illness symptoms is to provide clear indications on the workers’ job scope as that was found to be a significant predictor in this study. Further studies need to be done to figure out other possible intervention measures that could be put in place to improve the mental wellbeing of foreign construction workers in Singapore.

Exploring the drivers and barriers to lifelong learning in Singapore’s construction industry

ABSTRACT With the ongoing evolution in technology, there is an increasing need to address participation in lifelong learning in Singapore’s construction industry. It is necessary for employees and workers in the construction sector to acquire skillsets and knowledge to adapt to the ever-changing world. This study attempts to identify ways to increase participation in lifelong learning in the construction industry in Singapore by examining motivational theories for drivers and barriers. With the establishment of the conceptual framework, this study adopts a quantitative approach, using a questionnaire survey, the results of which are analysed using the SPSS and SmartPLS 3.0 software. The result of the analysis strongly supports the use of self-determination theory (SDT) and the fulfilment of three basic psychological needs – competence, autonomy, and relatedness of individuals – will produce a significant effect on the participation of lifelong learning within the construction industry. This means that the practical use of this theory in the construction industry will gradually increase individuals’ participation in lifelong learning. This study examined theories of amotivation and barriers, and both were demonstrated to be insignificant affecting participation rates. This study also identified institutional barriers as a key factor within the barrier domain, suggesting that changes in the institutional situation may help individuals to fulfil their lifelong learning dream.

Cloud Computing Adoption in the Construction Industry of Singapore: Drivers, Challenges, and Strategies

Fragmented knowledge in the construction industry is impeding project operation and success. With useful information and communication technology, the industry can integrate such fragmented knowledge and increase its performance, leading to successful project execution. Strategic implementation of digital technologies such as cloud computing (CC) has provided organizations with enhanced collaboration and communication opportunities. However, limited research has attempted to understand the status quo of CC adoption from the perspectives of the drivers, challenges, and strategies, which would optimize the adoption process and facilitate its successful implementation in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to fill the gap with the following research objectives: (1) derive drivers, challenges, and strategies for CC adoption, (2) investigate and analyze the status of CC adoption in the construction industry, and (3) propose feasible recommendations to enhance the CC adoption in the construction industry. To achieve these goals, 9 drivers, 12 challenges, and 7 strategies relevant to the construction industry were identified through a comprehensive literature review, followed by a structured questionnaire survey administered to industry practitioners in the construction industry. Further analyses were conducted to determine if organization size, respondent’s experience, and respondent’s role influence the drivers, challenges, and strategies, followed by postinterviews conducted to echo the analysis results, and the outcomes could advocate the reliability of the findings from this study. The findings are worthy of note and contribute to the body of knowledge in the sense that this study made a novel effort to firstly examine the perceptions of practitioners on the drivers, challenges, and strategies for CC adoption, including the status quo of its implementation. The assessed CC adoption status serves as a starting point of sustainable development for the industry to reap the benefits throughout the project life cycle. Furthermore, this study provides a guide for construction companies in adopting CC technology, which has shown great potential in improving the building and construction industries’ performance and sustainability.

Stakeholder perceptions on the risk factors, challenges and benefits of business sustainability practices in the Singapore construction industry

PurposeThis study examines the stakeholder perception of the sustainability risks, challenges and benefits arising from managing these risks in the Singapore construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire consisting of 89 risk factors, challenges and benefits, was administered, with 216 responses received from various stakeholders. Regression analyses were used to estimate the relationships between sustainability and business risk factors, challenges and benefits associated with business sustainability practices.FindingsStakeholders recognise the importance of the emerging sustainability risk factors, and indeed rank these almost on a par with conventional business risk factors. The inherent business risks determine the nature of sustainability risk factors for construction firms, which in turn can affect their business risks and the performance and value creation of firms. However, most stakeholders, while acknowledging that business sustainability practices can provide benefits as well as posing challenges, do not believe that they can derive net benefits from such practices.Research limitations/implicationsThrough this perception study, there is an urgent need to turn the existing awareness of the importance of business sustainability (BS) practices into more consistent and solid actions among construction firms in Singapore.Practical implicationsThis study’s results imply construction firms to incorporate BS practices more systematically into their business strategies and operations, and to include sustainability risk factors alongside conventional business risks in their risk registers and risk management frameworks.Originality/valueThis study consolidates various variables and constructs of BS matters in the literature and practice into a meaningful framework for the management of BS in the construction industry.

The adoption of mass-engineered timber (MET) in the Singapore construction industry: Barriers and drivers

The immense consumption of energy and quantities of carbon emissions produced by the built environment have garnered considerable attention globally. As concrete currently dominates the materials used in building construction, it has become an ever-pressing issue if the emissions of the construction industry are to be reduced. One approach to minimizing the environmental impact of construction is to use building materials whose production and implementation have smaller environmental footprints. One example of such a material is mass-engineered timber. To enhance the comprehension of the market potential of wood-based materials in Singapore, this study focuses on identifying the barriers to and drivers of the adoption of innovative wood-based construction materials in the Singapore construction industry. This overall objective is achieved by developing an institutional framework that provides a linking mechanism between the barriers, drivers, and mass-engineered timber. This was done through a questionnaire survey followed by case studies that further justify the findings in this study. The results of the survey for construction and engineering companies shows that cost is one of the central factors influencing the adoption and usage of MET. Most top-ranked drivers and most bottom-ranked barriers fall under the normative pillar of the Institutional framework which is used to underpin the study. It is also interesting to note that the cultural and cognitive pillars consist of the majority of bottom-ranked drivers and highly ranked barriers. As with the rational pillar, this is where the cost-related factors appear. The discoveries of this study will provide insightful information to assist and enable these different stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of mass-engineered timber through publishing success stories, reducing costs, and designing education programs.

Understanding the low adoption of prefabrication prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) among SMEs in Singapore: from a change management perspective

PurposeConstruction productivity issues have constantly surfaced in Singapore's construction industry. To push for productivity, the Government has implemented various initiatives to encourage industry players, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and to adopt more productive construction technologies. One of these technologies is prefabrication prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC), a concept of the design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) approach. This exploratory study sheds lights on PPVC adoption and its issues in Singapore in the context of the launch of the Construction Industry Transformation Map (ITM).Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used here is mainly a quantitative approach in the form of a survey. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a pool of about 100 contractors, randomly chosen as part of a stratified sample. The questionnaire survey helps gain further insights into the industry's perceptions of PPVC and its adoption.FindingsThe study succeeded in identifying and analysing a list of drivers of and barriers to the adoption of PPVC. The top three most important potential drivers were “increase efficiency,” “technological change” and “changing nature of composition of workforce”. The three most important barriers were “ineffective on-site storage,” “high up-front payment” and “transportation issues”.Originality/valueThis study also looked into the organizational change management theory. Various theories were considered to help understand and implement change. It is understood that it is not only important for an organization to focus on the steps of these frameworks and models when the change is initiated but also for the organization to acknowledge and be mindful of the emotions of employees and take measures to overcome their emotions as part of organizational change management.

Key barriers to increase construction productivity: the Singapore case

This study investigated the barriers to achieving high construction productivity in Singapore with the view to providing further input into policy formulation and action to enhance the industry’s productivity performance. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which was sent to all the 3032 members of the Singapore Contractors Association and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Statistical t-tests and factor analysis were conducted on the 109 valid responses using the SPSS software. The findings were validated via in-depth interviews with subject matter experts. The top three barriers are “delays in providing information to contractors”, “poor skills of workers” and “inadequate pre-project planning and pre-work planning”. The sources of these barriers are consultants and contractors, suggesting that these stakeholders should cooperate to improve productivity. The research findings for Singapore construction industry is unique in that most of the labourers on site are migrant workers from overseas. Nonetheless, the findings may be useful to countries that employ labourers mainly from overseas such as those in the Middle East and certain parts of Europe. This study adds to knowledge by identifying the most significant barriers to productivity improvement and providing suggestions to address them. To improve productivity, all participants should change their mind-set, attitudes and behaviours. Clients should support productivity initiatives and be more proactive concerning productivity through tender evaluation criteria, setting productivity targets and paying for productivity premium. Contractors should develop corporate productivity policies, monitor productivity closely and purposefully adopt measures to increase productivity of their projects.

Impact of familiar collaboration on construction project quality: perceptions from clients and contractors in Singapore's construction industry

PurposeDue to the fragmented and complex nature of the construction industry, many countries, including Singapore, have progressively encouraged greater collaboration amongst major stakeholders in the industry. It is hoped that doing so will result in an increase in the quality of construction projects. Given the long duration of typical construction projects, it is plausible for collaborating parties to develop close and personal relationships. In recent years, corruption cases arising from familiar collaboration have caught the public's attention. This study seeks to better understand familiar collaboration and its adverse impacts on the quality of construction projects.Design/methodology/approachA mixed research method was adopted, with a questionnaire survey distributed to 32 respondents representing client and contractors. This was followed by interviews to validate the survey findings.FindingsThe findings suggest that, when there is a lack of surveillance, familiar collaboration is likely to lead to favouritism and dishonesty, which can have an adverse impact on the quality of construction projects. The findings additionally suggest that value for money, conformance to specifications and fitness for purpose are the main aspects of quality that are likely to be adversely affected by corrupt practices bought about by familiar collaboration.Originality/valueIn this paper, these relationships are described using the term familiar collaboration. Strong and intimate relationships of this type may lead to a danger of parties committing corrupt practices. This study is one of the very attempts seek to better understand familiar collaboration and its adverse impacts on the quality of construction projects.

Collaborative contracting in the Singapore construction industry: current status, major barriers and best solutions

PurposeCollaborative contracting (CC) is the direction that Singapore is venturing into in line with the Construction Industry Transformation Map. For its successful adoption, it is necessary to examine the potential barriers and possible solutions. Therefore, this study aims to explore the current status, major barriers and best solutions for the adoption of CC in the Singapore construction industry.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve these objectives, a comprehensive literature review was carried out and 26 barriers, as well as 21 solutions, were identified. Then a questionnaire was designed to assess the priority of these barriers and solutions. After a pilot study, 165 questionnaires were distributed, and 31 responses were received. And the survey result was validated by post-survey with three industry professionals.FindingsResults revealed that only a small percent of projects adopted CC in Singapore. Seven significant barriers hindering CC implementation were found out. They are “inherent difficulties in changing organizational culture,” “lack of incentives/financial support,” “lack of legislative regulations,” “resistant to change the current way of working,” “seeking for the lowest cost” and “difficulties in converting strategic decisions to operational levels” and “unclear contract terms and objectives.” Also, five best solutions were suggested to overcome the identified barriers.Originality/valueThe findings of this study could enable industry practitioners to be aware of the potential barriers to adopting CC and choose suitable solutions to overcome these barriers. It is also helpful for authorities to come up with effective policies to promote the adoption of CC.

Integrated Digital Delivery: Implementation status and project performance in the Singapore construction industry

Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) was launched to transform the approach to construction through the implementation of digital technologies. Whilst technologies have the potential to improve project performance, there are limited studies on IDD in the context of the construction industry. Hence, this study investigates the level of IDD implementation and the perceived improvements on project performance. Based on the literature review, 32 digital and cloud technologies have been identified and formed the basis for a structured survey questionnaire, which was distributed to target respondents covering the major roles of the construction industry in Singapore. The responses were analyzed to determine the existing level of IDD implementation and the perceived improvements in project performance contributed by IDD implementation, followed by post-survey interviews to validate the findings from the survey. The study found that only 38.71% of the organizations implemented IDD technologies in all four IDD phases. BIM, prefabrication, BIM-to-field mobile applications and building management system were the most frequently used technologies in the four phases respectively. The respondents largely agreed that IDD implementation improved overall project, project cost, project quality and project schedule performance. The findings from this study provide better understanding of the existing level of IDD implementation and the perceived improvements in project performance, serving as a starting point for future research on increasing IDD implementation.

Critical success factors for small contractors to conduct green building construction projects in Singapore: identification and comparison with large contractors.

As a major participant of the construction industry, small contractors have been increasingly involved in green building construction projects in recent years. However, existing literature indicates that little research has been done to investigate the critical success factors for small contractors to conduct green building construction projects. As a result, this study aims to fill up the gap by identifying the most critical success factors of small contractors and comparing them against large contractors. To achieve these goals, a comprehensive literature review and pilot interviews with experienced industry experts were conducted first, followed by a questionnaire survey administered to 30 small contractors from the construction industry of Singapore. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Results reported that "laborers with experience in conducting green building construction projects," "incentives/subsidies provided by government," "support of senior management," "return on investment," "commit to changing behavior," "effective communication between stakeholders on goals for sustainable construction," "early contractor involvement," "engaging experts with sound knowledge of green building construction," "cost control," and "competency of project manager" were the top ten critical success factors for small contractors to conduct green building construction projects. Additionally, the comparison results between small and large contractors revealed that eight factors were statistically different assessed by industry practitioners. These factors are "procurement process," "cost control," "commit to changing behavior," "educating clients on benefits in sustainable construction," "laborers with experience in conducting green building construction projects," "hefty levy and tax on unsustainable construction practices," and "public demand for green building construction" and "industrial culture." This study enriches the knowledge by exploring the critical success factors for small contractors to conduct green building construction projects. Furthermore, this study is informative to industry practitioners as well, especially to those small contractors who plan to conduct green building construction projects in the future.

Assessing building information modeling implementation readiness in building projects in Singapore

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify critical non-value adding (NVA) building information modeling (BIM) implementation activities in current building project delivery process, develop a BIM implementation readiness (BIMIR) evaluation model, and assess BIMIR statuses in building projects in Singapore. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey and four post-survey interviews were conducted in Singapore. A fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach was adopted in the model development. Findings In total, 38 out of 44 NVA BIM implementation activities were deemed critical and used in the proposed model, among which “lack of involvement by contractors to contribute site knowledge” in the design development phase was ranked top. This model was validated in five projects. It was found that most of 73 surveyed building projects were in a low BIMIR status and the assessment results were consistent with current industry practices of BIM implementation in Singapore. Research limitations/implications There may be geographical limitation on the identification of the critical NVA BIM implementation activities. However, because BIM mandate spreads globally, the findings can help overseas project teams customize their own NVA activities and evaluation models. Practical implications As BIM implementation is mandated in Singapore, BIMIR evaluation helps local project teams identify weak areas of their BIM implementation activities and prioritize resources to enhance those areas. Originality/value No tool has been developed for evaluating BIMIR at the project level in the construction industry in Singapore or at large in Asia. Four BIMIR statuses are defined, which are consistent with Singapore’s BIM guidelines and standards.

Reducing Critical Hindrances to Building Information Modeling Implementation: The Case of the Singapore Construction Industry

The Singaporean government has made building information modeling (BIM) implementation mandatory in new building projects with gross floor areas over 5000 m2, but the implementation is still plagued with hindrances such as lacking project-wide collaboration. The purposes of this study are to identify critical factors hindering BIM implementation in Singapore’s construction industry, analyze their interrelationships, and identify strategies for reducing these hindrances. The results from a survey of 87 experts and five post-survey interviews in the Singaporean construction industry identified 21 critical hindrances, among which “need for all key stakeholders to be on board to exchange information” was ranked top. These hindrances were categorized into lack of collaboration and model integration (LCMI), lack of continuous involvement and capabilities (LCIC), and lack of executive vision and training (LEVT). LEVT and LCIC contributed to LCMI; LEVT caused LCIC. The proposed framework implying the key hindrances and their corresponding managerial strategies can help practitioners identify specific adjustments to their BIM implementation activities, which enables to efficiently achieve enhanced BIM implementation. The hindrances identified in this study facilitate overseas BIM implementers to customize their own lists of hindrances.

Causes, Solutions, and Adoption Barriers of Falls from Roofs in the Singapore Construction Industry

AbstractFall from roof (FFR) has been a perennial problem in the construction industry. It has been one of the leading sources of injuries and accidents in many countries. The objectives of this pa...

Drivers and barriers for multiskilling workers in the Singapore construction industry

Construction in Singapore has always been perceived as a low productivity sector, given the slow labour productivity growth. To address the issue, the Singapore government introduced the Multiskilling Scheme (MS) in 2012, aiming to develop competent workers who are versatile in multiple skillsets. This study attempts to assess the extent of adoption of the MS in Singapore’s construction industry by recognizing the benefits, drivers, and barriers of multiskilling workers. This study has a two-phased research design consisting of a survey and interviews with industry employers and government. The empirical findings indicate the strong influence of regulatory impetus towards adoption of the MS, where an incentive of lower foreign levy was granted. The significant drivers highlighted were government compliance with regulations, employers’ perception of the importance of multiskilling workers for productivity improvement, and usefulness of the MS for upgrading worker’s skills. Barriers to the MS were perceived to be insignificant in terms of hindering adoption, especially with firms heavily incentivized and driven by government. It is concluded that multiskilling in Singapore’s construction industry has its own features. In terms of contributions, the drivers and barriers of the MS formulated under Scott’s Institutional Framework are mapped, and recommendations are proposed for improvement of the MS.

Systemic lapses as the main causes of accidents in the Singapore construction industry

ABSTRACTThe workplace accidents in Singapore’s construction sector continue to dominate among occupational fatalities. In order to improve the overall safety performance of firms, it is critical to evaluate and eliminate the root causes of such incidents. This study aims to identify and assess the systemic lapses as the main causes of accidents in the construction industry. The study introduces a framework of Policy, Process, People, and Incentive factors, coupled with the Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) model to demonstrate a more comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors that escalate to construction accidents. A survey questionnaire with 31 respondent firms was conducted regarding the perceived importance of, and level of adoption of, factors that were associated with the framework. The findings revealed that, with regards to the safety-related practices, there is an overall lower adoption rate in comparison to their perceived level of importance. In particular, people and incentive factors are highlighted as having a significant difference in terms of the extent of adoption and level of importance. However, the people and incentive factors should not be isolated from the policy and process factors, as a comprehensive approach is needed to improve the overall safety performance of firms.