ABSTRACT
Construction is one of the most hazardous industries due to its unique nature. Measured by international standards, construction site safety records in China are poor. This chapter aims to examine the status of safety management in the Chinese construction industry, explore the risk-prone activities on construction sites, and identify factors affecting construction site safety. The findings reveal that the behaviours of contractors in terms of safety management are of grave concern, including the lack of provision of personal protective equipment, regular safety meetings, and safety training. The main factors affecting safety performance include ‘poor safety awareness of top management’, ‘lack of training’, ‘poor safety awareness of project managers’, ‘reluctance to input resources to safety’ and ‘reckless operations’. The study also suggests that the government should play a more critical role in stricter legal enforcement of safety legislation and organising safety training programmes.
