RT-317

RT-317 defined the term “operational excellence” for construction project safety as “doing the right thing, the right way, every time – even when no one is watching.” Using that guiding philosophy, the team reviewed existing literature and met with subject matter experts, both within the research team and external to it. Using that knowledge and an external validation survey, RT-317 developed a rigorous model for operational excellence in regards to construction project safety.

The operational excellence model breaks down into several layers of detail. At the highest, most aggregate level of 13 safety drivers. These are broad categories, several based on CII Zero Accident Techniques, that outline policies to improve construction safety. They include employee engagement, rewards and recognition, human performance, leadership development, and subcontractor management, among others. The accompanying assessment tool allows members to evaluate safety at the corporate level, project level, and site level of a project.

RS317-1, Safety Performance through Operational Excellence, provides a summary of the efforts in outlining the model framework, and creating, revising, and validating the model. For additional details, please refer to RR317-11, Improving Site Safety Performance through Operational Excellence, which discusses in extensive detail the model framework and development process. It also includes a full visualition of the model.

RT-317 continued its effort in Phase II of this research to collect data against the model that it had developed. These findings are reported in RS317-1a, Safety Performance through Operational Excellence, Phase II, and RR317-12, Improving Site Safety Performance through Operational Excellence, Volume II.