Management support as a critical success factor (CSF) for changing worker’s safety attitude: a case of the Nigerian construction industry

Abstract Construction workers are often plagued with health and safety challenges on the job site especially in developing countries, largely owing to several factors that encourage poor safety practices on site. This study appraised workers’ perception of management engagement as a critical success factor (CSF) for the improvement of Nigerian construction employee’s safety attitude, using Nordic Occupational Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50). Findings from the study reveal that small scale and medium scale organizations dominate the industry in Nigeria, and a sizable number (20.4%) of the study participants are between 18 and 27 years of age with majority (74.7%) having work experience of 1–10 years. Management safety priority, commitment and competence and management safety empowerment were found to have strong positive correlation. In addition, the study revealed the existence of safety commitment disparity between clients of publicly and privately owned construction projects across the industry. To advance positive safety attitude across the construction industry in Nigeria, management commitment should be prioritised, while further study on workplace safety measures and workers’ safety engagement should be considered.