Phase I: Safety Leadership, Decision-Making, and Risk Tolerance of Frontline Supervisors

This research study extends current knowledge to further explore means to identify, assess, and affect the safety leadership skills and risk-taking propensity of frontline supervisors in the construction industry. Specifically, the goal of the research study is to determine how those in frontline supervisory roles can positively influence safety through effective leadership skills and by modelling good safety behaviors and an appropriate level of risk tolerance. In addition, the research aims to identify ways in which construction organizations can confidently assess these attributes in employees being considered for promotion to frontline supervisory roles.

Key research questions:

• What frontline supervisor leadership skills and risk-taking behaviors positively and negatively affect safety behavior amongst field workers in construction?
• How can supervisory personnel model good safety behavior to effectively motivate safe behaviors and decisions amongst all construction project site personnel?
• Are there existing resources/tools that have been developed to assess frontline supervisor safety leadership skills and risk-taking behavior in construction, and if so, what are the resources/tools?