A review of construction SME safety performance; where are we and why?

Recent health and safety provisional figures show that the construction industry was responsible for 49 out of 171 UK industry fatalities in the 12 months up to March 2012. SMEs operating in construction reported 70% of these 49 fatalities. One tool used by large construction firms to successfully manage health and safety is effective measurement of health and safety performance; you cannot manage what you cannot measure. Performance measurement arguably enhances awareness and becomes a lever for action. It is often the case that SMEs do not have performance measurement systems in place. The research question sought to identify factors that impede good safety performance in SMEs and what items of good practice in large companies can be applied to SMEs? Long qualitative interviews were conducted with ten industry practitioners and two academics. The data was transcribed and the software Nvivo7 used to filter and sort findings. Content analysis shows that the health and safety performance of large construction firms may be considered excellent; some argue that perhaps there is not a lot more that can be done to secure further improvements? However, SMEs’ safety performance is perceived to be of great concern. The study identified pressure of finance and unnecessary competition among other factors as reasons why accidents are prevalent among SMEs. The paper is part of an on-going PhD study that seeks to appraise the effects of commitment to health and safety on the success of construction organisations. More research is required in the SME sector to identify barriers to improvement.