IMPROVING CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY THROUGH SAFETY COMMUNICATION OF FOREMEN

Typically enterprises in the construction sector have a reactive approach to risk management, rather than being proactive as regards safety promotion. In daily on-site communication, production is usually prioritized over safety.

A Danish research group decided to test the effect of increasing leader-based on-site verbal safety communication on the level of safety and safety climate on construction sites. The Danish study sought to apply coaching and feedback of foremen/supervisors in the construction industry. The goal was to increase the frequency of safety-orientated communication across management levels and between leaders and workers, in order to improve safety behaviour.