Initial Findings
Literature Review
Culture & Construction
Initially, Business culture in relation to the construction industry was investigated. This produced three interesting perspectives: The nature of safety culture; Behavioural culture; Explicit and implicit trust within safety culture.
Another potential avenue to be explored will be health and safety culture in similar industries. Some brief information has been gathered on this topic.
Full noted points on investigations into this aspect of the project can be viewed by clicking here.
Questionnaire Design
In order to accurately gain field research on a topic such as Health and Safety Culture in the Construction Industry we have come to the conclusion that some form of questionnaire may be employed. When using such a tool it is vital to gain useful and measurable information.
Some notes on questionnaire design found through literature review can be found by clicking here.
Organisational Culture
When investigating a topic involving culture of any kind, inevitably there will be an influential business aspect. Therefore it is important to investigate the problem from this angle and to find various ways in which culture can be analysed or classified.
To see information found on organisational culture to date please click here.
Legislation
In order to appropriately enforce any standard procedure, legislation must be introduced. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 were brought in to supersede all previous legislation and provide a less complex and bureaucratic industry standard.
To see a brief summary of the CDM 2007 Regs please click here.
Upon composition of the above legislation, it was quickly realised that there should be a document made available that would give methods of complying with the legislation. This then gave rise to the Approved Code of Practice being introduced.
A brief summary of the Approved Code of Practice can be seen by clicking here.
Field Research
Informal Interview
Field research can never begin too early. It can be an extremely useful tool to gauge if the project is proceeding in the right direction and to also unearth new ideas and thought processes. It was on this understanding that it was decided that an informal interview with a member of the design consultancy side of the industry could prove to be useful in early stages of the project.
To see notes made on an informal interview with a regional director of a medium to large design consultancy please click here.
University of Edinburgh
MEng Thesis 2008/2009
Graham Innes
Stephen Knox
Supervised by Dr Simon Smith
