Relationships among factors affecting construction safety equipment selection: structural equation modelling approach

ABSTRACT The construction industry is ranked the first in terms of accidents. Use of appropriate construction safety equipment helps reduce accidents. This study utilises the structural equation modelling to examine relationships among key factors affecting construction safety equipment selection. The approach considers measurement- and structural-models. The measurement-model confirms key factors and their relationships, while the structural-model examines relationships directions. Questionnaire survey is utilised to collect data. Respondents include managers and operators from medium- and large-sized construction companies. Six key factors are confirmed with the measurement-model results, including (1) Safety-related Policy, (2) Equipment Design, (3) Personal, (4) Supplier Agreement, (5) Supplier Support, and (6) Cost Value factors. They relate with employers, employees, and suppliers to select construction safety equipment that match with company’s policy and employees’ need to reduce chances of accidents. The structural-model results reveal directions of relationships among key factors. Safety-related Policy is the most important factor, as it influences other factors. Equipment Design and Personal factors are crucial when selecting construction safety equipment, as they influence Supplier Agreement and Supplier Support factors, which in turn, affect Cost Value factor. Construction companies can utilise the results to understand key factors affecting construction safety equipment selection, and make better decisions.