Using a Pressure-State-Practice Model to Develop Safety Leading Indicators for Construction Projects

摘要

This paper aims to develop a set of safety leading indicators that can be used by construction companies to assess safety levels and measure safety performance at the project level. The development process follows a four-step method: conceptualization, operationalization, indicator generation, and validation and revision. A pressure-state-practice (PSP) model is developed as an overall framework for developing safety leading indicators. The safety level of a construction project is conceptualized as a high-level abstract construct that can be assessed by state indicators, pressure indicators, and practice indicators. Criterion validity (i. e., concurrent validity and predictive validity), practicability, and cost-effectiveness of the leading indicators were qualitatively tested and supported by the empirical evidence collected from three construction projects. This paper adds to the literature on the development of safety leading indicators for the construction industry. The safety leading indicators developed in this paper provide the construction industry a promising tool to proactively measure safety performance and facilitate safety assessments. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.