Abstract
The construction industry require a different approach to their management of health and
safety in the workplace from the functional hierarchical line management approaches adopted to
connecting with employees on floor level who are executing projects. The study suggests a cultural
transformation approach in creating safety as a value, rather than a priority. Organisations that
successfully create high performing committed employees who share the same culture and values that
aligned to improving safety performance and reducing potential workplace disasters. Although no
universal definition of corporate culture exists, it appears to reflect shared behaviours, beliefs, attitudes,
values, organisational goals, functions and procedures. Organisational or corporate culture seems to be
the only glue that holds together common values of improving the health and safety performance.
Leaders think about the future all the time, they are also responsible constructing a culture in the
workplace that promotes safer workplaces and influencing employees to work safer. These principles
and characteristics of effective leadership reflect contemporary beliefs and behaviors based on the fact
that today’s leaders recognise the need to define a vision and mission for success, build trust, share
power in effective ways, develop positive relationships, lead by serving first, and build a sense of
community within the organisations they support. The ultimate benefit for the employee is that they are
actively engaged, engerised, confident about their organisation’s health and safety strategy, changes
that are occurring, rather than confused and resigned. Employees know what they are supposed to be
doing and how that relates to the tasks to that of their colleagues.