On the connections between occupational safety and health management, and safety culture development in construction: Insights from a large-scale infrastructure alliance project

Thesis event information

Date and time of the thesis defence

Place of the thesis defence

Campus of University of Oulu, room L2

Topic of the dissertation

On the connections between occupational safety and health management, and safety culture development in construction: Insights from a large-scale infrastructure alliance project

Doctoral candidate

MBA Marko Salomäki

Faculty and unit

University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Technology, Industrial engineering and management

Subject of study

Industrial engineering and management

Opponent

Professor Jouni Kivistö-Rahnasto, Tampere University

Custos

Adjunct Professor Arto Reiman, University of Oulu

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On the connections between occupational safety and health management, and safety culture development in construction: Insights from a large-scale infrastructure alliance project

Alliancing is a growing form of cooperative contracting in the construction industry, but occupational safety and health has been scarcely researched. Alliances are typically complex, large-scale construction projects involving multiple stakeholders as well as numerous work-related risks and hazards. Without proper occupational health and safety management the safety culture and performance are endangered.

This thesis focuses on occupational health and safety management as well as safety culture development in construction alliance projects. The main objective is to provide knowledge that can help future alliance projects and promote healthier safety culture.

Research data were obtained from the large-scale Raide-Jokeri Light-Rail Alliance infrastructure construction project. In this project, a rail line of 25 km was constructed across Finland’s capital region, from Itäkeskus in Helsinki to Keilaniemi in Espoo.

A mixed methods approach was adopted for the thesis research, with qualitative and quantitative data supplementing each other. To gain insights into OSH and safety culture development in alliancing, a systematic literature review was conducted. Empirical data were obtained from two safety culture surveys for project site personnel and interviews focusing on key personnel. To obtain objective perspectives safety performance indicators were observed throughout the project.

Covid-19 pandemic struck while research was in progress and the opportunity to research it's impacts on safety management was seized and it's impact inspected.
The systematic literature review revealed that the safety in alliance settings is scarcely researched, while stakeholder mapping revealed the complex layers of stakeholder involvement and communications, along with the somewhat mixed requirements and guidance.
The two safety culture surveys conducted with the project site personnel showed how safety culture eventually evolved at the site, and safety statistic trends provided objective insights into safety performance development.

This thesis provides new in-depth information that can be adapted to practical use in future projects.

Last updated: 26.2.2024