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An exploratory study into UK construction industry response to digitalised health & safety management
Oshodi, Olalekan Emuze, Fidelis Umeokafor, Nnedinma
Oshodi, Olalekan
Emuze, Fidelis
Umeokafor, Nnedinma
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Epub Date
Issue Date
2025-06-12
Submitted date
Alternative
Abstract
Purpose—Workers are susceptible to high accident rates due to the nature of work in the construction sector. To improve the work environment, there have been calls for adopting digital technologies (DT) in health and safety (H&S) management. However, the response and readiness to adopt these technologies in various countries are unknown. This study investigated the UK construction industry's response to adopt digital technologies for H&S management.
Design/methodology/approach — A qualitative research approach was adopted to gather the required evidence to achieve the research aim. Twenty UK-based construction professionals with five to thirty-three years of experience were purposively selected from the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and interviewed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings — The study's findings revealed that the response of the UK construction professionals to the use of DT for H&S management is that of resistance to new technologies, low knowledge and readiness in the workforce, varying receptiveness (due to factors like workers’ age and size of company, concerns about reliability and data security, high implementation costs, and fears about job security), and economic pressures, which are potential drivers of innovation.
Original/value—This is among the first qualitative studies to empirically explore the perspective of key stakeholders in the UK on the use of DT in health and safety management. It contributes to the future adoption of DT in health and safety management in the UK.
Citation
Daniel, E.I. et al. (in press) An exploratory study into UK construction industry response to digitalised health & safety management. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology.
Publisher
Research Unit
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
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Type
Journal article
Language
en
Description
This is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by Emerald in Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology on 12 June 2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-02-2025-0095.
The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1726-0531
EISSN
1726-0531