Advanced technologies for enhanced construction safety management: investigating Malaysian perspectives

Abstract

The global construction industry continues to struggle with safety issues. Although the existing literature suggests that the application of innovative solutions can reduce workplace accidents and improve work safety, the adoption of safety technologies is still limited, particularly in the developing world. This paper aims to investigate the capacity of advanced technologies to enhance safety management and those suited to the Malaysian context. Following a synthesis of the literature, a questionnaire survey was developed comprising 9 potential applications and 15 types of safety technologies. The feedback from 150 local construction professionals was analysed. The leading benefits are related to advancing safety planning, building safety awareness, delivering effective safety training, improving safety inspections and optimising hazard identification. The most salient technologies for safety management are building information modelling (BIM), camera network systems, mobile devices on site, internet of things (IoT) and digital signage. The findings will provide industry practitioners with an increased understanding of the potential of integrating technological solutions into the various tasks associated with construction safety management. This study highlighted the capabilities of advanced technologies that will revolutionise the future of the construction safety landscape and the need for new technology-based policies, procedures, and practices.

Keywords:

• Safety technologies
• technology adoption
• worker safety
• construction management
• developing country

Acknowledgements

The authors are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback, which has helped to improve the quality of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) from the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) (Project Number: FRGS/1/2022/SS02/UTAR/02/1) for the project entitled ‘Technology Readiness Index (TRI) for the adoption of innovative technologies in construction safety science and management in Malaysia’.