The moderating effect of client types on the relationship between green construction practices and health and safety performance

ABSTRACT

There has been an ongoing debate about the difference in the health and safety performance of projects that adopt green construction practices on account of the type of clients. This paper aims to explore how the type of client influence the health and safety performance of projects that adopt green construction practices in Nigeria. The moderating effect of client type was tested empirically by data collected through a survey using a structured questionnaire. The responses received were analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique. The results show that client type has a positive significant effect on the relationship between waste management and health and safety performance, while client type had a negative significant effect on the relationship between energy management practices  and health and safety performance indicators such as the safety measures put in place, compliance with safety regulations, and the number of accidents recorded on construction sites. Client type does not moderate the relationship between materials management and health and safety performance. It is concluded that the nature and strength of the relationship between green construction practices and health and safety performance differs depending on the client type. Understanding the varying effects of client types on the relationship between green practices and health and safety performance will be beneficial to contractors in managing construction projects dynamically, depending on the client types to achieve high health and safety performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Client types
• energy management
• green construction practices
• health and safety
• materials management
• waste management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.