Safety Program Elements in the Construction Industry: The Case of Iraq

Area of Science:

• Construction Safety
• Occupational Health
• Industrial Engineering

Background:

• Construction industry faces significant safety challenges globally.
• The Iraqi construction sector exhibits particularly poor safety performance.
• Limited prior research exists on construction safety in Iraq.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify essential elements for a safety program in the Iraqi construction industry.
• To validate these elements using empirical data.
• To provide a foundation for improving construction safety in Iraq.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach combining literature review, interviews, and questionnaire surveys.
• Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) applied to a list of 25 identified safety program elements.
• Validation of elements through data collection and statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive list of 25 safety program elements was identified and validated.
• These elements were successfully grouped into four key dimensions.
• The dimensions are: management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control systems, and safety and health training.

Conclusions:

• The identified four dimensions provide a framework for developing effective safety programs in the Iraqi construction industry.
• This research addresses a critical gap in the literature on construction safety in Iraq.
• Findings offer actionable insights for decision-makers to enhance safety performance.