Empirical Identification of Core Safety Practices for Enhancing Indian Construction Safety Performance

Abstract

Introduction: The primary aim of this empirical study is to identify the core Industrial Safety Management Practices (ISMPs) that significantly enhance safety performance and mitigate accident risks within Indian construction establishments. Methods: A structured questionnaire survey was carried out on 475 respondents representing the all organizational levels in Indian construction units. Mean ranking, Spearman rank correlation, and one sample t-tests were used to determine effectiveness of the twenty ISMPs and the validity of the results was then verified through case studies under large construction projects to determine the empirical validity. Result: Safety Professionals (Mean = 4.42), Safety Permit Systems (Mean = 4.37) and Safety Training (Mean = 4.34) emerged as the most effective ISMPs with a high correlation to accident prevention and overall safety performance. Pep-Talks/Toolbox Talks and PPE Compliance also ranked high, reinforcing the importance of direct communication and discipline as a means of protection. The alignment between the managerial and worker perceptions (ρ=0.726, p < 0.05) showed that there was a high alignment across hierarchies. Case studies established that construction units that were found to have an excellent implementation of the best ISMPs had the lowest frequency rates of accidents. Conclusion: The findings highlight that systematic implementation of professionally monitored, knowledge-based, and procedural ISMPs have direct impact on reducing the number of accidents and enhancing the safety culture in the construction industry. This study offers the first empirically validated ISMP framework for Indian construction, demonstrating that systematic, knowledge-driven, and communication-oriented practices yield tangible reductions in workplace accidents.