The performance approach and management attitudes

Abstract

Resistance to change is a characteristic feature of human behavior. Several reasons exist for this resistance. Generally people are hesitant to accept change if they played no participative role in initiating and developing it. Where prescriptive approaches to construction safety and health have been the prevailing legislative paradigm such as in the United States, changing to a performance-based one presents formidable challenges. Such a change directly and indirectly impacts the way that contractors do their business. The performance approach encourages and supports the redistribution of the responsibility for construction worker safety to include all the participants in the construction process – from clients to workers. On the other hand the prescriptive approach made contractors solely responsible for the safety and health of the workers. This paper discusses the results of a survey of the attitudes of the management of construction firms in the United States with respect to a performance approach to construction safety.