Structural modeling of safety performance in construction industry.
BACKGROUND
With rapid economic development and industrialization, the construction industry continues to rank among the most hazardous industries in the world. Therefore, construction safety is always a significant concern for both practitioners and researchers. The objective of this study was to create a structural modeling of components that influence the safety performance in construction projects.


METHODS
We followed a two-stage Structural Equation Model based on a questionnaire study (n=230). In the first stage, we applied the Structural Equation Model to the proposed model to test the validity of the observed variables of each latent variable. In the next stage, we modified the proposed model. The LISREL 8.8 software was used to conduct the analysis of the structural model.


RESULTS
A good-fit structural model (Goodness of Fit Index=0.92; Root Mean Square Residual=0.04; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.04; Comparative Fit Index=0.98; Normalized Fit Index=0.96) indicated that social and organizational constructs influence safety performance via the general component of the safety climate.


CONCLUSIONS
The new structural model can be used to provide better understanding of the links between safety performance indicators and contributing components, and make stronger recommendations for effective intervention in construction projects.
1. Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran, Iran.
Yahya
Y
Khosravi
1. Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran, Iran.
Hassan
H
Asilian-Mahabadi
2. Dept. of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran, Iran.
Ebrahim
E
Hajizadeh
3. Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
Narmin
N
Hassanzadeh-Rangi
4. Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL, USA.
Amir H
AH
Behzadan
Construction projects; Safety performance; Structural equation modeling