Safetywashing: The Strategic Use of Safety in the Construction Industry

Ninan, J; Clegg, S

Safetywashing: The Strategic Use of Safety in the Construction Industry

Ninan, J Clegg, S

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Publisher:: ASCE-AMER SOC CIVIL ENGINEERS
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Management in Engineering, 2024, 40, (4)
Issue Date:: 2024-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ninan, J
dc.contributor.author	Clegg, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6083-4283
dc.date.accessioned	2025-04-03T00:34:13Z
dc.date.available	2025-04-03T00:34:13Z
dc.date.issued	2024-07-01
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Management in Engineering, 2024, 40, (4)
dc.identifier.issn	0742-597X
dc.identifier.issn	1943-5479
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186542
dc.description.abstract	In this article, we discuss the concept of safetywashing defined as the strategic practice of promoting, marketing, and branding of safety practices without full disclosure of negative information to improve the image of the organization. The research seeks to answer two questions: first, what are safetywashing strategies? Second, what are the effects of safetywashing strategies? To study this, 106 news articles relating to construction safety in India, as well as 439 reader comments on them, were systematically collected and their contents analyzed to compile multiple case studies which had evidence of safetywashing. We analyze multiple instances from these case studies to build theoretical insight into these strategies and their effects, using an approach anchored in a social exchange theoretical framework. We highlight different safetywashing strategies employed in the construction sector, such as safety as a project objective, explaining safety initiatives, associating with pioneers, as well as investing in safety. These strategies lead to accepting of organizations, prioritizing safety, and diverting focus, all of which have different implications for safety practice in the construction industry.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ASCE-AMER SOC CIVIL ENGINEERS
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Management in Engineering
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5838
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject	0904 Chemical Engineering, 1202 Building, 1503 Business and Management
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.subject.classification	3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
dc.title	Safetywashing: The Strategic Use of Safety in the Construction Industry
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	40
utslib.for	0904 Chemical Engineering
utslib.for	1202 Building
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Business School
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Business School/Management Discipline
utslib.copyright.status	recently_added	*
dc.date.updated	2025-04-03T00:34:11Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	40
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

In this article, we discuss the concept of safetywashing defined as the strategic practice of promoting, marketing, and branding of safety practices without full disclosure of negative information to improve the image of the organization. The research seeks to answer two questions: first, what are safetywashing strategies? Second, what are the effects of safetywashing strategies? To study this, 106 news articles relating to construction safety in India, as well as 439 reader comments on them, were systematically collected and their contents analyzed to compile multiple case studies which had evidence of safetywashing. We analyze multiple instances from these case studies to build theoretical insight into these strategies and their effects, using an approach anchored in a social exchange theoretical framework. We highlight different safetywashing strategies employed in the construction sector, such as safety as a project objective, explaining safety initiatives, associating with pioneers, as well as investing in safety. These strategies lead to accepting of organizations, prioritizing safety, and diverting focus, all of which have different implications for safety practice in the construction industry.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186542