The Benefit of Implementing Safety Management Systems: A Comparative Study

The construction industry experiences a high incidence of occupational safety injuries, particularly transportation-related incidents. Achieving a zero-injury goal necessitates effective safety management systems (SMSs), which are crucial for managing safety measures and implementing corrective actions. Despite the importance of SMSs, limited research compares the experiences of organizations that use SMSs with those that do not. This study addresses this gap by examining the safety benefits of SMS implementation within US Departments of Transportation (DOTs). A comprehensive survey captured demographic information, SMS usage, safety practices, performance feedback, and policy documentation. Results indicate that SMS users collect and access safety data more frequently, enabling proactive safety management compared to the reactive approaches of non-users. These findings emphasize the role of SMSs in enhancing safety performance, streamlining processes, and supporting sustainable safety improvements in the construction industry. Challenges in SMS implementation highlight the need for ongoing support and resources.