A resilience engineering-based framework for assessing safety performance measurement systems: A study in the construction industry

• Published in: Safety science Vol. 142; p. 105364
• Main Authors: Peñaloza, Guillermina Andrea, Torres Formoso, Carlos, Abreu Saurin, Tarcisio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Complexity; Construction; Construction industry; Construction sites; Empirical analysis; Intervention; Occupational safety; Performance measurement; Project engineering; Resilience; Resilience engineering; Safety; Safety management; Safety performance measurement systems; Construction; Resilience engineering; Safety performance measurement systems; Complexity
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105364

•A RE-based framework for assessing SPMSs in construction projects is presented in this study.•The framework was tested in a construction site in Norway, based on multiple sources of evidence.•An assumption of this study is that a SPMS aligned with the RE means that it is compatible with the complexity characteristics of the work environment.•The findings from the empirical study offered insight for applying RE ideas to SPMSs.
Resilience engineering (RE) offers a complementary perspective to traditional safety performance measurement systems (SPMSs), by taking into account the complexity of socio-technical systems. However, previous studies do not make it clear how that perspective could be translated into practice, nor the utility of that analysis. In order to address this gap, this paper presents a RE-based framework for assessing SPMSs in construction projects, which includes six stages: (i) obtain an overview of the existing SPMS; (ii) understand how complexity influences safety performance, based on the complexity assessment tool known as Technical, Organizational, and Environment framework; (iii) assess the four resilience abilities (monitor, anticipate, respond, learn), based on the Resilience Assessment Grid; (iv) assess the joint evidence from the previous steps in light of RE guidelines for SPMSs; and (v) identify improvement opportunities. This framework was tested in an empirical study carried out in a Norwegian construction site, by using interviews, observations, and analysis of documents. Results pointed out examples for applying RE ideas to SPMSs as well as they shed light on how complexity may either hinder or support a SPMS.