Key performance indicators (KPIs) to promote building developers safety performance in the construction industry

Purpose: The aim of this study is to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be deployed in the evaluation and promotion of safety performance of building developer`s in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: A thorough review of the literature was performed to generally identify sets of KPIs used to evaluate the safety performances of building developer`s during construction. Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with eleven (11) subject matter experts and professionals to ensure inclusion, validation and clarity of the indicators and to further provide agreement/disagreement, and importance ratings for the identified KPIs. The KPIs was grouped into appropriate categories, keeping out redundant KPIs, and ensuring KPIs are clear and measurable. The Relative Importance Index (RII) and Mean values were computed. Findings: Results from the study consist of 137 KPIs, grouped into 9 categories including: Planning, design and procurement, communication on & maintenance of effective safety behaviour, construction safety policy, construction safety personnel, management effort and support, safety training and enlightenment, administration of safety processes, investigation and reporting of accidents, and rewards and sanctions for project stakeholders. These KPIs were observed to be at different levels of importance from the respondents. The following KPIs were considered based on their extreme importance judging from the respective RII values: communicating safety requirements to designer (98.18%), safety performance set as part of contractor selection criterion (96.36%), availability and accessibility of the relevant insurance policies (98.18%) and appropriate issuance of motivational directives by the top management (100%). Originality/value: Many studies have been done in the past where KPIs as it relates to construction safety were identified. However, the specificity of these KPIs to countries other than Nigeria requires similar research be conducted to identify building developer safety performance KPIs for the Nigerian construction industry.