By Guillermina Andrea Peñaloza, Ph.D.
As construction projects have become more complex – either due to the growth in the portfolio of projects or the characteristics of each unique project and construction site – the need for approaches to capture the complexity of the work environment has been required. Thus, Resilience Engineering (RE) was the theoretical perspective adopted in this investigation. An assumption of this study is that a Safety Performance Measurement System (SPMS) aligned with RE means that it is compatible with the complexity characteristics of the work environment. Moreover, the systems-oriented approach of RE is consistent with the cycle of continuous improvement encompassed by SPMSs, and can potentially contribute to enhance the resilient performance of construction projects. The framework for assessing SPMSs was conceived in three stages, and a paper was developed as the final product of each stage. A partial version of the thesis is available online on the library website https://www.lume.ufrgs.br/handle/10183/214177.
The first stage aimed at the investigation of the extent to which previous research on Safety Performance Measurement Systems adopted the RE perspective (available on: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925753520302617). The findings revealed that RE principles have been put into practice for SPMSs, even if unintentionally. However, RE is still far from being mainstream in SPMSs research, despite offering a new perspective. Five RE guidelines for assessing SPMSs were identified and can be used by those practitioners interested in the design of SPMSs based on RE.
The second stage explored how a SPMS can monitor the factors that affect complexity and resilience in construction projects (available on: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687019301917). Three empirical studies were carried out in construction projects, one in Brazil and two in Chile. Improvement opportunities were identified for the SPMSs of each project, involving: (i) the design of new metrics; (ii) the revision of existing metrics; and (iii) changes in other safety management sub-systems.
In the third stage, the framework was devised – the corresponding paper was submitted and is under review. It combined the five RE guidelines developed in the first stage and the steps proposed in the second stage. The framework was tested in a construction project in Norway. This application pointed out exemplar approaches of applying RE ideas to SPMSs as well as demonstrated how complexity may either hinder or support a SPMS. The findings suggested that the process of data collection and subsequent feedback from managerial levels were more important than the indicators themselves. The case study also made it clear that the design and assessment of a SPMS must account for interactions with other management routines, such as production planning and control.