Redefining Organizational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry Context: A Scale Development Approach

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of Organizational Safety and Health (OSH) systems within construction companies, integrating quantitative exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (with all 300 respondents being professionals in the construction industry) with qualitative thematic analysis. Data was gathered through administering an adapted survey tool with 31 close-ended responses. Data collected in the initial phase will lay the foundation for the identification of the factors as well as the appropriate items that should be loaded into the factors on OSH in the construction industry via EFA, followed by another data gathering procedure intended to verify whether the results of EFA are valid. This is done through CFA. The research identifies vital internal, external, and technical factors influencing OSH implementation, emphasizing the critical role of internal factors such as "Regular Safety Practices," "Robust Safety Policies," and "Employee Involvement" (Huang et al., 2018; Neal et al., 2021). Findings from both EFA and CFA highlight the identified factors as valid and reliable, with the third model emerging as the most representative of the hypothesized OSH model. Statistical results indicate high factor loadings and favourable model fit indices across various measures, including Chi-Square (CMIN), Root Mean Squared Residuals (RMR), and Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) (Zohar, 2010). The study’s significant findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach to OSH, with internal factors being primary drivers and external and technical factors playing supportive roles. Recommendations for construction companies include tailored OSH program development, strategic leadership engagement, investment in training and continuous improvement, enhanced communication and reporting mechanisms, collaborative industry benchmarking, and incorporation of multicultural perspectives. These recommendations address key indicators such as organizational commitment, competence, effective communication, and safety culture enhancement (Clarke Ward, 2016; Tam et al., 2017). Further research directions may emphasize the need for specific interventions and broader population sampling to enhance OSH systems comprehensively across the construction sector. Article visualizations: