developing a model for integrating safety, quality and productivity in ...

The construction industry is often criticized for its poor performance (e.g. lowproductivity, waste, health and safety problems) (Hoonakker et al, 2002). Safety isone of the major factors that affect construction industry and should be studied andinvestigated in order to be integrated as an inherent culture of each member of theconstruction project. Hinze et al (1996) suggested that in order to conduct a successfulresearch study in construction industry, it is important that the research focus be onthose segments of the industry that truly warrant it.Safety cannot be considered as luxury. On the contrary, it is a human need firstlywhich emphasizes the need for making it an integral part of construction projects.Thinking of safety as a human and financial issue increases the need for thecontinuous improvement of safety measures until reaching the Zero AccidentApproach. Improving safety remains a priority but despite innovations that reconceivethe relationship between planning and safety, no systematic theory or practice has yetbeen developed (Howell et al, 2002).There are many practices to improve safety in construction projects. Investigationsabout factors of safety to be improved have been conducted by many. Hinze (2003)mentioned many areas of safety that directly impact the improvement of safetyperformance as follows:i. Demonstrated management commitmentii.Safety staffingiii. Safety planningiv. Orientation and trainingv. Worker involvementvi. Rewards and incentivesvii. Subcontract managementviii. Drug testingix. Accident investigationsLarge construction projects have experienced more safety improvements than smallones. It is also necessary to add that large companies have always better safetyconditions than medium or small ones. Hoonakker et al (2002) found in a research7