Identifying factors of collaboration critical for improving health and safety performance in construction projects: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Collaboration is key to the success of construction project delivery. Several researchers have realised the importance of collaboration for health and safety (H&S) performance. The construction industry (CI) is affected by poor H&S performance exacerbated by lack of collaboration. The purpose of the article is to conduct a systematic literature review to identify factors of collaboration that will improve
H&S performance in CI. A literature review method was adopted; identification test method was used to identify collaboration factors. Using Scopus and Google Scholar, a total of 758 papers were identified. 57 papers were found to be relevant for review through content analysis and were analysed in terms of source and year of publication, research method, country of origin, and research focus. The review identified 11 critical success factors of collaboration: trust, culture, commitment, communication, clear roles and responsibilities, resource/information sharing, mutual goals, conflict resolution, early involvement of key participants, competence, and continual improvement. These factors can influence H&S performance in construction projects. Focusing on these factors can facilitate  collaboration, thus improving H&S performance. The limitation of this article is that the literature review covered a period between 2010 to 2019. Searches in other search engines might have provided additional information on collaboration. The findings of this study make way for future research into the impact of collaboration on H&S performance and provide an understanding that H&S performance can be improved by adopting collaboration. The review concludes that CI should adopt collaboration to influence H&S performance.

Keywords: Construction industry, factors of collaboration, health and safety performance, literature review

Samewerking is die sleutel tot suksesvolle konstruksieprojekte. Verskeie navorsers besef die belangrikheid van samewerking vir  gesondheids- en veiligheidsprestasies (G&V). Die konstruksiebedryf word geraak deur swak G&V-prestasies wat vererger word deur gebrek aan samewerking. Die doel van die artikel is om ’n sistematiese literatuuroorsig te doen om faktore van samewerking te identifiseer wat die prestasie van G&V in die konstruksiebedryf sal verbeter. ’n Literatuurbeoordelingsmetode is gebruik; die identifikasietoetsmetode is gebruik om samewerkingsfaktore te identifiseer. Met behulp van Scopus en Google Scholar is altesaam 758 artikels geïdentifiseer. Daar is bevind dat 57 artikels relevant is vir hersiening deur middel van inhoudsanalise en is geanaliseer
in terme van bron en jaar van publikasie, navorsingsmetode, land van herkoms en navorsingsfokus. Die oorsig het 11 kritieke  suksesfaktore van samewerking geïdentifiseer: vertroue, kultuur, toewyding, kommunikasie, duidelike rolle en verantwoordelikhede, die deel van hulpbronne/inligting, onderlinge doelwitte, konflikoplossing, vroeë betrokkenheid van sleuteldeelnemers, bekwaamheid en voortdurende verbetering. Hierdie faktore kan H&S-prestasie in bouprojekte beïnvloed. Deur op hierdie faktore te konsentreer, kan dit samewerking vergemaklik en sodoende die prestasie van G&V verbeter. Die beperking van hierdie artikel is dat die literatuuroorsig ’n tydperk tussen 2010 en 2019 beslaan. Soektogte in ander soekenjins kon moontlik aanvullende inligting oor samewerking verskaf. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie maak plek vir toekomstige navorsing oor die impak van samewerking op G&V-prestasies en bied ’n begrip dat G&V-prestasies verbeter kan word deur samewerking. Die oorsig kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die konstruksiebedryf samewerking moet aanneem om G&V-prestasies te beïnvloed.

Sleutelwoorde: Konstruksiebedryf, faktore van samewerking, gesondheids- en veiligheidsprestasies, literatuuroorsig