The impact of supervisors’ and site managers’ behaviour on work health and safety in the construction industry

Summary

The supervisory leadership and work health and safety (H&S) communication practices of 20 workgroups engaged in rail construction work were investigated.

A survey of workers was undertaken to examine supervisors’ leadership styles, perceptions of the workgroup H&S climate and self-reported H&S-related behaviour. An analysis of communication network patterns within workgroups was also undertaken. Site-based observations and conversations with supervisors and workers were used to supplement survey data and gain deeper insight into supervisors’ H&S leadership practices and their impact.

The research showed significant variation in supervisors’ leadership style, workgroup H&S climate and workers’ self-reported participation in discretionary H&S activities between workgroups. Further, supervisors’ leadership style was statistically significantly linked to workers’ self-reported H&S behaviour. On-site observation also identified characteristics of supervisory H&S leadership associated with strong and positive safety climates and positive safety outcomes.

Team

• Helen Lingard
• Rita Peihua Zhang
• Payam Pirzadeh
• David Oswald

Partners

• Melbourne Metro Rail Authority/Level Crossing Removal Authority

Publications

• Full report: The impact of supervisors’ and site managers’ behaviour on work health and safety in the construction industry (June 2017) (PDF 2.9 MB)
  
• Research to practice report: Supervisors’ leadership practices that create strong and positive safety climates and encourage safe behaviour in workgroups (August 2017) (PDF 183 KB)

Peer-reviewed papers/outputs

• Zhang, R.P., Lingard, H., & Oswald. D. (2020), Impact of Supervisory Safety Communication on Safety Climate and Behavior in Construction Workgroups, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol.146(8), pp.1-11.
• LINGARD, H., ZHANG, R. P. & OSWALD, D., (2019), The effect of leadership and communication practices on the safety climate and behaviour of construction workgroups, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2018-0015