Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry

The reliance on networked technologies in construction safety and health management is expected to increase; however, studies have reported potential resistance to the broad implementation of smart technologies within structured construction safety management systems (SMS). This study examines the c...

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Main Authors: Chinedu Okonkwo, Ifeanyi Okpala, Ibukun Awolusi, Chukwuma Nnaji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Results in Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123023006308
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author Chinedu Okonkwo
Ifeanyi Okpala
Ibukun Awolusi
Chukwuma Nnaji
author_facet Chinedu Okonkwo
Ifeanyi Okpala
Ibukun Awolusi
Chukwuma Nnaji
author_sort Chinedu Okonkwo
collection DOAJ
description The reliance on networked technologies in construction safety and health management is expected to increase; however, studies have reported potential resistance to the broad implementation of smart technologies within structured construction safety management systems (SMS). This study examines the challenges and drivers impacting the implementation of smart SMS in the construction industry using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The current state of safety knowledge and practices was reviewed and critical insights were obtained from construction industry practitioners. To identify barriers and solutions to implementing smart technologies in construction safety management, a literature review was conducted. Based on this review and semi-structured expert interviews, a survey was developed and distributed to U.S. construction industry management to assess their perceptions of these barriers and strategies. The study revealed 24 implementation barriers of which 14 were considered critical with mean normalized values ≥ 0.50. These barriers were categorized into four groups – organization, infrastructure, cost, and system integration-related barriers based on the correlation between the four different groups. Sixteen strategies that could help overcome these challenges and improve the integration of IoT-SMS technologies were uncovered and discussed. The findings from this study extend technology implementation theories by proposing an organization-infrastructure-cost-system integration framework for SMS implementation. Moreover, the study creates a foundation for evaluating barriers and strategies associated with implementing technology-driven SMS in the construction industry, thereby advancing research at the intersection of SMS and emerging technologies.
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spelling doaj.art-63bc1bd02566499e8e40f16eeb3571102023-12-20T07:35:59ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302023-12-0120101503Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industryChinedu Okonkwo0Ifeanyi Okpala1Ibukun Awolusi2Chukwuma Nnaji3School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USADepartment of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Alabama, 3043 HM Comer, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USASchool of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USADepartment of Construction Science, Texas A&M University, 574 Ross St, College Station, TX, 77840, USA; Corresponding author.The reliance on networked technologies in construction safety and health management is expected to increase; however, studies have reported potential resistance to the broad implementation of smart technologies within structured construction safety management systems (SMS). This study examines the challenges and drivers impacting the implementation of smart SMS in the construction industry using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The current state of safety knowledge and practices was reviewed and critical insights were obtained from construction industry practitioners. To identify barriers and solutions to implementing smart technologies in construction safety management, a literature review was conducted. Based on this review and semi-structured expert interviews, a survey was developed and distributed to U.S. construction industry management to assess their perceptions of these barriers and strategies. The study revealed 24 implementation barriers of which 14 were considered critical with mean normalized values ≥ 0.50. These barriers were categorized into four groups – organization, infrastructure, cost, and system integration-related barriers based on the correlation between the four different groups. Sixteen strategies that could help overcome these challenges and improve the integration of IoT-SMS technologies were uncovered and discussed. The findings from this study extend technology implementation theories by proposing an organization-infrastructure-cost-system integration framework for SMS implementation. Moreover, the study creates a foundation for evaluating barriers and strategies associated with implementing technology-driven SMS in the construction industry, thereby advancing research at the intersection of SMS and emerging technologies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123023006308Safety management systemSMSInternet of thingsTechnology integrationAdoption barriersImplementation strategies
spellingShingle Chinedu Okonkwo
Ifeanyi Okpala
Ibukun Awolusi
Chukwuma Nnaji
Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
Results in Engineering
Safety management system
SMS
Internet of things
Technology integration
Adoption barriers
Implementation strategies
title Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
title_full Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
title_fullStr Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
title_full_unstemmed Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
title_short Overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
title_sort overcoming barriers to smart safety management system implementation in the construction industry
topic Safety management system
SMS
Internet of things
Technology integration
Adoption barriers
Implementation strategies
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123023006308
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