Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites

This study compared the influencing factors affecting safety behavior and perception between main contractor managers (CMs) and subcontractor workers (SWs) at Korean construction sites. The safety level, policies, and management capabilities of the main contractor are closely related to the safety b...

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Main Authors: Min-Jun Kim, Sang-Pyeong Ahn, Seung-Hyeon Shin, Min-Guk Kang, Jeong-Hun Won
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/963
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author Min-Jun Kim
Sang-Pyeong Ahn
Seung-Hyeon Shin
Min-Guk Kang
Jeong-Hun Won
author_facet Min-Jun Kim
Sang-Pyeong Ahn
Seung-Hyeon Shin
Min-Guk Kang
Jeong-Hun Won
author_sort Min-Jun Kim
collection DOAJ
description This study compared the influencing factors affecting safety behavior and perception between main contractor managers (CMs) and subcontractor workers (SWs) at Korean construction sites. The safety level, policies, and management capabilities of the main contractor are closely related to the safety behavior of the SWs since CMs have a key role in ensuring work order authority and safety responsibility during the work process. To compare the difference in safety behavior between CMs and SWs, ten hypotheses were prepared, and surveying was conducted. Using the responses of 1219 CMs and 1191 SWs, a frequency analysis, intensive validity analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed; discriminant validity was verified; and a structural equation model was constructed and compared. The results showed that the factors affecting safety behaviors and perceptions were significantly different between CMs and SWs. The WSB (workers’ safety behavior) for CMs was affected, from most to least, by the MSP (manager’s safety perception; 0.382), incentives (0.166), WSP (workers’ safety perception; 0.143), and the MSB (manager’s safety behavior; 0.134). However, for SWs, the WSB was affected, from most to least, by the MSP (0.440), WSP (0.184), the MSB (0.130), and incentives (0.083). Awarding an incentive as a way to encourage safe behavior is an important influencing factor affecting safety behavior for CMs, while workers’ safety perception (WSP) is an important factor for SWs. The results can contribute to the implementation of effective safety and accident prevention activities at construction sites by comparing the influencing factors for the safety behaviors and perceptions of CMs and SWs, which can increase the effectiveness of the safety climate and reduce the possibility of accidents.
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spelling doaj-art-df468e442e6343d28a8ce98d398ddbb42025-08-20T03:43:02ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-0115696310.3390/buildings15060963Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction SitesMin-Jun Kim0Sang-Pyeong Ahn1Seung-Hyeon Shin2Min-Guk Kang3Jeong-Hun Won4Department of Disaster Prevention Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of KoreaSamsung C&T Corporation, Seoul 05288, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Big Data, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Safety Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Safety Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of KoreaThis study compared the influencing factors affecting safety behavior and perception between main contractor managers (CMs) and subcontractor workers (SWs) at Korean construction sites. The safety level, policies, and management capabilities of the main contractor are closely related to the safety behavior of the SWs since CMs have a key role in ensuring work order authority and safety responsibility during the work process. To compare the difference in safety behavior between CMs and SWs, ten hypotheses were prepared, and surveying was conducted. Using the responses of 1219 CMs and 1191 SWs, a frequency analysis, intensive validity analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed; discriminant validity was verified; and a structural equation model was constructed and compared. The results showed that the factors affecting safety behaviors and perceptions were significantly different between CMs and SWs. The WSB (workers’ safety behavior) for CMs was affected, from most to least, by the MSP (manager’s safety perception; 0.382), incentives (0.166), WSP (workers’ safety perception; 0.143), and the MSB (manager’s safety behavior; 0.134). However, for SWs, the WSB was affected, from most to least, by the MSP (0.440), WSP (0.184), the MSB (0.130), and incentives (0.083). Awarding an incentive as a way to encourage safe behavior is an important influencing factor affecting safety behavior for CMs, while workers’ safety perception (WSP) is an important factor for SWs. The results can contribute to the implementation of effective safety and accident prevention activities at construction sites by comparing the influencing factors for the safety behaviors and perceptions of CMs and SWs, which can increase the effectiveness of the safety climate and reduce the possibility of accidents.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/963safety behavior and perceptioncontractor manager (CM)subcontractor worker (SW)constructionstructural equation model
spellingShingle Min-Jun Kim
Sang-Pyeong Ahn
Seung-Hyeon Shin
Min-Guk Kang
Jeong-Hun Won
Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites
Buildings
safety behavior and perception
contractor manager (CM)
subcontractor worker (SW)
construction
structural equation model
title Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites
title_full Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites
title_fullStr Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites
title_short Comparison of Influencing Factors on Safety Behavior and Perception Between Contractor Managers and Subcontractor Workers at Korean Construction Sites
title_sort comparison of influencing factors on safety behavior and perception between contractor managers and subcontractor workers at korean construction sites
topic safety behavior and perception
contractor manager (CM)
subcontractor worker (SW)
construction
structural equation model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/963
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