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Measuring and modelling safety communication in small work crews in the US using social network analysis

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  • Rayyan Alsamadani
  • Matthew Hallowell
  • Amy Nicole Javernick-Will

Abstract

Effective safety communication between all parties in a construction project is essential for optimal safety performance. Literature suggests that open safety communication across all levels of the organization enhances safety success. Previous studies have found that open communication and frequent interaction between employees and supervisors differentiate construction companies that have low accident rates from companies that have high rates. Through interviews with construction crew members on active construction projects in the Rocky Mountain region of the US, the patterns of safety communication were identified, modelled, and quantified. Social network analysis (SNA) was utilized to obtain measures of safety communication such as centrality, density, and betweenness within small crews and to generate sociograms that visually depicted communication patterns within effective and ineffective safety networks. A cross-case comparison revealed that the frequency and method of communication are important differentiators between project teams with low and high accident rates. Specifically, top performing crews: (1) have formal safety communication from management on at least a weekly basis; (2) have informal safety communication on a weekly basis; (3) undergo formal safety training; and (4) use all proposed safety communication methods on a monthly basis. In addition, typical SNA metrics, including density, centrality and betweenness, are not significant parameters to distinguish high from low performing crews.

Suggested Citation

  • Rayyan Alsamadani & Matthew Hallowell & Amy Nicole Javernick-Will, 2013. "Measuring and modelling safety communication in small work crews in the US using social network analysis," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 568-579, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:31:y:2013:i:6:p:568-579
    DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2012.685486
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chaohua Xiong & Kongzheng Liang & HanBin Luo & Ivan W. H. Fung, 2018. "Identification of Safety-Related Opinion Leaders among Construction Workers: Evidence from Scaffolders of Metro Construction in Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Mostafa Namian & Mohammadsoroush Tafazzoli & Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati & Sharareh Kermanshachi, 2022. "Are Construction Managers from Mars and Workers from Venus? Exploring Differences in Construction Safety Perception of Two Key Field Stakeholders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Alessio Paolucci & Sergio Sangiorgi & Marco Giovanni Mariani, 2021. "Non-Technical Skills in Social Networks: The Spread of Safety Communication and Teamwork in a Warehouse," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Bhavana Pandit & Alex Albert & Yashwardhan Patil & Ahmed Jalil Al-Bayati, 2018. "Fostering Safety Communication among Construction Workers: Role of Safety Climate and Crew-Level Cohesion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Jingfeng Yuan & Wen Yi & Mengyi Miao & Lei Zhang, 2018. "Evaluating the Impacts of Health, Social Network and Capital on Craft Efficiency and Productivity: A Case Study of Construction Workers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Fatma Lestari & Riza Yosia Sunindijo & Martin Loosemore & Yuni Kusminanti & Baiduri Widanarko, 2020. "A Safety Climate Framework for Improving Health and Safety in the Indonesian Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-20, October.
    7. Ewelina Kania & Elżbieta Radziszewska-Zielina & Grzegorz Śladowski, 2020. "Communication and Information Flow in Polish Construction Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-23, November.
    8. Han, Shuai & Chen, Hong & Long, Ruyin & Jiskani, Izhar Mithal, 2022. "Can miners' social networks affect their safety commitment? A case study of Chinese coal mining enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    9. Sook Shuen Yeong & Abdul Wahab Shah Rollah, 2016. "The Mediating Effect of Safety Culture on Safety Communication and Human Factor Accident at the Workplace," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(12), pages 127-127, December.

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