Assessing the role of respectable engagement in improving construction employee’s safety perception

PurposeEmployee unsafe behaviours and failure to adhere to safety standards resulting from poor safety perception among employees contribute to the high rate of accidents in the construction industry. This study seeks to examine the role of respectable engagement in improving construction workers' safety perceptions in the Ghanaian Construction Industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative research method where survey questionnaires were administered to respondents. Sixty-six construction workers who were actively involved in ongoing construction projects in Kumasi and Greater Accra regions of Ghana were selected through stratified purposive sampling. The analytical tools utilised in the data analysis include a one-sample t-test, descriptive statistics and mean score ranking.FindingsThe study identified five key drivers and strategies of respectable engagement from pertinent literature. The findings confirmed that all these drivers and strategies play a key role in improving workers' safety perception. The study further revealed that improving employees' safety perception will enhance and sustain their awareness of the organisation's commitment to health and safety. Employees will therefore portray positive safety behaviour by adhering to the safety standards of their organisation.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study will contribute to construction site safety improvement by informing contractors, site supervisors and other stakeholders of their role and the need to improve their worker's safety perception.Originality/valueThis research is unique in that; it identifies the role of respectable engagement in improving construction workers' safety perception. This research creates awareness among management and site supervisors on the need to be present for their workers, affirm them, attend to their needs, understand and appreciate them, and communicate and listen to them.