About this Research Topic

Background

Compared with other industries, the construction sector is unique due to some specific features and own inherent complications given to the usual involvement of multiple participants, agencies, and stakeholders. Occupational health and Safety hazards are peculiar to this sector, which is one of the most dangerous activity sectors worldwide. This sector experiences many diverse occupational health and safety hazards and associated risks against workforce productivity, which have continuously led to a large amount of workplace injuries (including fatal ones) and workforce productivity losses in connections with consequent issues on quality, cost, time, etc. Consequently, the construction industry has the second most workplace deaths among all industries. Thus, it is very important to promote innovative practices that can effectively control and reduce and even eliminate all major health and safety hazards and associated risks at workplaces. This will enhance occupational health and safety for workforce productivity across life-cycle work stages. In response to the need for productivity via enhanced occupational health and safety, this research topic focuses on exploring innovative solutions to increase productivity through enhanced occupational health and safety among all types of professionals working in the construction industry.

This research topic aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share insights, experiences, and innovations to deal with interactive issues among occupational health, occupational safety, and workforce productivity in the construction sector. Therefore, it aims to shed light on new research and advancements in construction personnel management, particularly emphasizing the human aspect of construction projects.

It seeks to stimulate in-depth discussions on and further research into occupational health and safety for workforce productivity to inform construction management, and to detect how improved theories and practices on occupational health and safety can positively promote workplace wellbeing, reduce risks, and ultimately lead to higher productivity throughout all phases of construction projects.

This research topic may include contributions related to, but are not limited to, the following specific themes:

• Mental Health Initiatives: Investigates strategies and programs that are designed to enhance the mental health of construction personnel, for safer working conditions, reduced absenteeism, increased productivity in order to foster a more focused and resilient workforce.
• Work-Life Balance/ Quality of Work-Life: Discuss policies and flexible work arrangements that assist construction personnel in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and quality of work. This, in turn, promotes a more productive work environment by reducing fatigue and increasing job satisfaction in addition to workplace safety.
• Occupational health and Safety: Investigating the impact of health and safety conditions and management on workforce well-being and productivity.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Investigating the impact of continuous knowledge and skills development on workforce productivity and occupational health and safety, with the ultimate goal of fostering a more capable workforce with consciousness on occupational health and safety.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Emphasizing the significance of diversity and inclusion in the construction sector. The introduction of diversity has numerous advantages for workers in terms of their mental and physical well-being, including the factors that pertain to safety requirements and the cultures that support them. These factors also contribute to increased productivity, effective working engagement, and team collaboration.
• Ergonomics in Construction: Investigating the relevance of ergonomics of the construction workers to reduce the risk of injury (e.g., musculoskeletal disorders) and increase productivity.
• Technological Innovations: Discussing how advanced technologies can improve working conditions and productivity.


Several types of manuscripts are welcome, such as Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Case Studies, Policy Analyses, as well as Perspectives and Opinions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: ergonomics, work life balance, occupational safety, physical and mental health, well-being, fatigue and stress management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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