A multi-level safety culture maturity model for (new) building projects in Hong Kong

Ninety-two per cent of industrial fatal accidents in Hong Kong in 2021 were attributed to the construction industry. Previous construction safety culture studies focused on projects as a singular organisation. Studies in building projects from a multitier perspective merit further examination. This study develops a safety culture maturity (SCM) framework to assess (new) building projects in Hong Kong at three levels: Client Safety Culture (CSC), Main Contractor Safety Culture (MSC) and Subcontractor Safety Culture (SSC). A closed question survey (N-31) incorporating subculture constructs (Informed, Just, Reporting, Learning and Flexible Cultures) with Hudson’s safety culture ladder (Pathogenic, Reactive, Calculative, Proactive and Generative Cultures) is conducted. The findings reveal: CSC (Mean: 3.55, SD: 0.512), MSC (Mean: 3.71, SD: 0.311) and SSC (Mean: 1.90, SD: 0.605). Kruskal-Wallis One-Way-ANOVA shows that the mean maturity value of three organisations are unequal (χ² = 53.8, df: 2, p: < 0.001). A SCM framework is designed for (new) building projects related to near misses and accidents. It would not be applicable to health-related, workplace violence, burglary and accidents outside construction-related activities. This is the first study to examine the safety culture maturity at three organisational levels. The study recommends improving project-based SCM by intervening and aligning individual levels between CSC, MSC and SSC.