Coming soon · Book Profile
Construction Safety Mgmt Systems
This collection of international research and best practices provides a systemic framework for managing health and safety on construction sites, arguing that a proactive safety culture, integrated planning, and shared responsibility among all stakeholders are essential to overcoming the industry's persistently poor safety record.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
Construction is one of the world's most dangerous industries, plagued by high rates of injury and death that are often seen as an unavoidable cost of doing business. "Construction Safety Management Systems" challenges this fatalistic view by assembling cutting-edge research and practical insights from around the globe—including the UK, China, and Palestine—to present a new paradigm for safety. The book argues that accidents are not random events or solely the fault of careless workers, but rather symptoms of systemic failures in management, planning, and culture. It provides readers with a comprehensive toolkit for building a robust safety management system, covering critical topics like fostering a positive safety culture, the often-neglected issue of occupational health and burnout, the role of training and technology, and the power of effective accident analysis. For any construction manager, executive, or safety professional tired of the status quo, this book offers a clear, evidence-based roadmap to creating safer, more productive, and more profitable projects.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- Construction managers, project leaders, and company executives who are responsible for delivering complex projects on time and on budget, but are constantly battling the industry's dismal safety record, which causes project delays, financial losses, and immense human suffering.
- The problem
- High rates of injuries and fatalities on construction sites lead to regulatory fines, increased insurance premiums, project stoppages, and damage to the company's reputation. They feel frustrated, stressed, and often fatalistic, believing that accidents are an unavoidable and inherent part of the 'dirty and dangerous' construction business, leaving them feeling powerless to create real change.
- The plan
- Understand the systemic nature of construction risk by analyzing the industry's unique structure.
- Implement a formal Safety Management System that goes beyond mere compliance to become a core part of project management.
- Cultivate a proactive safety culture through visible leadership, open communication, and worker involvement.
- Integrate health and safety considerations into every phase of the project, starting with design and procurement.
- Use modern accident analysis models and performance measurement tools to drive continuous improvement.
- The payoff
- Projects are completed with zero accidents, on time, and on budget. · The company becomes known as a leader in safety, attracting top talent and winning premier contracts. · Managers lead productive, motivated, and safe teams, feeling confident and in control of project outcomes.
See our guide
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Additional reading
- Application of the New Production Philosophy to Construction · Lauri Koskela (1992)
This is the seminal report that catalyzed the Lean Construction movement. The entire book is framed as a 25-year review and advancement of the ideas first presented in this paper.
- The Toyota Way · Jeffrey K. Liker (2004)
Cited frequently as the source for understanding the 14 principles of the Toyota Production System, which provides the philosophical and practical foundation for Lean thinking.
- Program Policy Manual (PPM) · Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
The book frequently cites the PPM as the definitive source for interpreting how MSHA standards are to be applied in practice, providing crucial context beyond the raw regulations.
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) National Consensus Standards · NFPA
Chapter 12 on Fire Prevention explicitly lists several NFPA standards (e.g., NFPA 10, NFPA 13) as resources for mine operators seeking further information on firefighting equipment and systems.
- Dust Control Handbook for Industrial Minerals Mining and Processing · National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Recommended in Chapter 30 as a must-read resource for M/NM operators seeking to implement engineering controls to comply with the new Part 60 silica standard.
- Best Practices for Dust Control in Coal Mining · National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Cited in Chapter 30 as a key resource for coal operators to find effective engineering controls for managing respirable coal and silica dust.
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards · ANSI
Specific ANSI standards like Z89.1 (Head Protection) and Z41 (Protective Footwear) are referenced as the basis for defining what constitutes 'suitable' personal protective equipment.
- Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Publications · SAE
Chapter 21 on Machinery and Equipment incorporates by reference several SAE standards (e.g., J1040 for ROPS, J386 for seat belts) as the required construction and performance criteria.
- Occupational Health and Safety in Construction Project Management · H. Lingard and S. Rowlinson
Provides a complementary, multidisciplinary approach to OHS, addressing it from legal, organizational, and socio-psychological perspectives.
- Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach · J. E. Roughton and J. J. Mercurio
Offers a focused discussion on the practicalities of developing a safety culture, emphasizing leadership and the supporting management systems.