Strategic Safety Management in Construction and Engineering

The construction industry has a reputation for being a dangerous place to work. The truth is that in many countries the industry has made very significant improvements in safety performance through the application of systems, structures and modern technology. Continued focus on these systems, while essential, will not produce another leap in improved safety performance, because human error is an inevitable aspect of everyday life. The labour–intensive characteristics of the construction industry make human error a significant factor in safety performance.

To address this, major construction organisations have recognised the need to integrate safety into all decision making. Strategic Safety Management in Construction and Engineering takes a broad view of safety from a strategic decision making and management perspective, including safety strategy design, development, implementation, and evaluation, and addresses the importance of balancing the different components of safety management, including a strong people focussed approach,  to achieve an effective safety programme. The localised on–site context for strategy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation is emphasised, while case studies are provided to demonstrate concepts, principles and techniques in practice.

Patrick Zou is Chair of Building and Construction Management in the School of Management, and Fellow of the ANZSOG Institute for Governance, at the University of Canberra. He is Supervisory Chair of Construction Management at Hunan University and Guest Professor at Shenzhen University, and has held visiting academic positions at Tsinghua University, University of Florida, National University of Singapore and Renmin University.

Riza Yosia Sunindijo is a Lecturer in Construction Management in the Faculty of the Built Environment, at the University of New South Wales. He has also worked as a project engineer, project manager, and sustainability champion for a range of multi–national construction and project management organisations