IMPACT OF RAINY CONDITIONS ON SAFETY RISKS AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES IN TROPICAL CONSTRUCTION: A PLS-SEM STUDY OF PENANG G7 CONTRACTORS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJIREV.826057Keywords:
Construction Safety, Rainy Conditions, Safety Management Measures, PLS-SEM, Penang (Malaysia)Abstract
Construction sites in tropical regions such as Penang, Malaysia, are highly vulnerable to rainfall-induced hazards. Despite the recognized dangers of adverse weather, empirical research explicitly examining rainy conditions within the Malaysian construction industry remains scarce, as most existing studies focus on temperate climates. Addressing this gap, this study investigates the structural relationships among Rainy Conditions Factors (RCF), Construction Safety Risks (CSR), and Safety Management Measures (SMM). Conceptually, severe weather acts as a stressor that elevates physical risks while simultaneously compelling management to deploy mitigating measures. Using purposive sampling, a quantitative survey was administered to 160 construction professionals (predominantly site supervisors and engineers). Grade G7 contracting firms in Penang were specifically selected as they manage large-scale projects in a region with high precipitation intensity. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via Smart-PLS 4. The structural model demonstrated that rainy conditions exert a strong, positive effect on construction safety risks (β=0.827, p<0.001) and significantly influence safety management measures (β=0.462, p<0.001). Furthermore, construction safety risks significantly predict safety management measures (β=0.419, p<0.001), with the model accounting for a substantial proportion of variance in Construction Safety Risks (R² = 0.684) and Safety Management Measures (R² = 0.708). These findings underscore the imperative for weather-responsive safety management strategies in tropical building environments, offering practical recommendations such as implementing real-time weather monitoring systems and formalizing strict stop-work protocols for Malaysian contractors.
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