The mismatch between conceptualization and measurements of safety performance: insights from a qualitative study of the Norwegian construction industry

This study explores how safety performance is measured and applied by clients and contractors in the Norwegian construction industry. Addressing a knowledge gap, where prescriptive models dominate over empirical insights, it explores how safety performance is interpreted and applied in practice. A qualitative, inductive survey was conducted with 24 client and contractor organizations.Thematic analysis revealed a predominant reliance on reactive measures, such as Lost Time Injury Rate, Total Recordable Injury Rate, and Reports of Unwanted Occurrences. In contrast, proactive measures, such as management presence, safety inspections, and Job Safety Analyses, were less consistently applied and varied significantly across organizations. Key findings include: (1) a strong motivation to adopt proactive measures despite the dominance of reactive metrics; (2) a mismatch between how safety is conceptualized and how it is measured; (3) the influence of data availability on indicator selection; and (4) the need for context-sensitive, risk-based development of proactive measures. This study contributes a industry-oriented perspective that highlights the importance of aligning safety measurement practices with actual work conditions and decision-making needs.