Investigating the importance levels of multi-level factors affecting the safety of modular integrated construction

Abstract

Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) is an innovative construction technology that has been increasingly adopted in local construction projects in recent years, as the Government is having an active attitude in promoting it with the provision of incentives. There are several advantages regarding the use of MiC, one of them being the improvement of site safety. However, controversies regarding the shift of safety risks and the emergence of new safety risks in MiC projects have been found in recent studies. This report identifies 12 safety factors that improve MiC safety and 17 risk factors that endanger MiC safety from the literature review and the interview, which are composited into the questionnaire. They are structured into a multi-lateral framework, composing of the micro, meso and macro level. With reference to the results from the questionnaire, the importance level regarding the factors improving and endangering MIC safety are retrieved. Comparisons of the importance level between different groups of respondents from different backgrounds are also being conducted. The major findings are that people focus more on the micro and meso levels in improving MiC safety, while focusing more on the meso and macro levels in endangering MiC safety. It is then examined and explained by the results from the interviewees, which the results from the qualitative and the quantitative methods mostly align with each other. Recommendations are then being suggested to further improve the safety of MiC, with reference to the importance level identified. The suggestions are directed to all construction personnel in the local industry, construction institutions and the Hong Kong Government. These suggestions are mainly about stepping up supervision, having more meetings for better co-ordinations, providing more trainings, and issuing more guidance. It is hoped that through this research, the safety performance of MiC projects can be further enhanced, which also improve the safety performance of the entire construction industry. It is notable as more MiC projects are to be more widely adopted in the future, so the safety performance of MiC has to be secured and further improved.