Factors affecting safety performance in the construction industry: an empirical study using structural equation modelling

The Saudi construction industry is among the largest in the region – and, for workers, among the most dangerous industries. The importance of this study is assisting to reduce hazards, sources of risk and perceptions of safety in the construction sector. Using a quantitative survey measure administered to a small (n = 276) sample of individuals, this study aimed to contribute to empirical understandings of safety performance in this unique context. A multivariate safety performance model was developed to ensure compatibility with the structure of the survey measure. The survey data revealed a strong consensus expressing negative views of every safety dimension and variable tested, with only tiny minorities selecting positively valenced responses. To test the descriptive power of the model as a whole, a structural equation modelling technique was used to assess the correspondence between the relationships constituting the model and their significance relative to empirical data.