The construction industry faces continual challenges and demands, due to market conditions and coercion by governments, for improvements in safety, quality and cost control, and in the avoidance of contractual disputes. To meet these challenges construction enterprises need to constantly seek new directions and business models in construction management. A number of tools, methods and concepts have been developed and advocated as aids to achieving improved performance, but many in the industry find them confusing or are sceptical of their relevance.

The third edition of...

The construction industry has a reputation for being a dangerous place to work. The truth is that in many countries the industry has made very significant improvements in safety performance through the application of systems, structures and modern technology. Continued focus on these systems, while essential, will not produce another leap in improved safety performance, because human error is an inevitable aspect of everyday life. The labour-intensive characteristics of the construction industry make human error a significant factor in safety performance.

To address this, major...