Surprising Incentive: An Instrument for Promoting Safety Performance of Construction Employees

Abstract

BackgroundIn comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites.MethodsIn this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system—the surprising incentive system—was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed.ResultsThe results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance.ConclusionThe results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually.

Measuring the Effectiveness of Safety Incentives in Construction Sites in Korea

“…Jha [12] derived study findings indicating that the implementation of safety incentives and penalty provisions between the client and the contractor is useful for improving safety performance. A study conducted by Ghasemi et al [7] proved that incentives can improve the employer's safety performance in a short period of time, but the amazing value may gradually decrease over time. Although there are various studies indicating that incentive programs are effective in improving safety performance as such, studies on which incentive programs are effective are not sufficient.…”

“…Therefore, it can be said that new and innovative approaches that can prevent accidents and reduce safety hazards in construction sites are necessary [7]. In addition, as argued in a study conducted by Hong et al [1], activities considering workers and inducing them to actively participate in safety activities as safety training and education are important for accident prevention in construction sites.…”

“…To reduce accidents in construction sites, concrete motivational methods that can encourage workers to voluntarily participate in safety activities are necessary. A study conducted by Ghasemi et al [7] presented that the accident prevention of construction sites was improved when an incentive system was introduced, and a study conducted by Goodrum and Gangwar [9] indicated that incentive program led to improvement of accident prevention in construction sites. Several big construction companies in Korea are applying incentive program to construction site so that these encourage construction workers to participate actively in accident prevention activities to prevent accidents.…”

Occupational accidents and occupational risk prevention

“…The use of PPE is inversely related to occupational accidents and only 21% of the sample makes a proper use of PPE. In addition, as shown by other studies, the poor hygiene standards and inadequate risk as-sessment are associated with increased injury risk (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). An interesting observation emerges from a study conducted in Belgium (20): the economic crisis and the instability of the labor market have recently resulted in the introduction of new forms of contractual agreements (atypical contracts); atypical workers frequently appear to be neither sufficiently qualified nor adequately trained and informed, which makes these workers more vulnerable to safety risks.…”

Key factors contributing to accident severity rate in construction industry in Iran: a regression modelling approach / Primjena regresijskog modela u analizi ključnih čimbenika koji pridonose težini nesreća u građevinskoj industriji u Iranu

“…Ours and other studies (11)(12)23) clearly suggest that every construction company should have a well-designed construction risk management system (CRMS) in place to properly identify, analyse, control, and manage safety and health risks at their construction sites. A well-designed CRMS should include all important factors identified by our regression modelling to optimise the cost-benefit ratio and significantly decrease the frequency and severity of occupational accidents in construction industry.…”