SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL SAFETY PRACTICES IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN LIBERIA: A LIBERIA-FOCUSED MIXED-METHODS EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

Construction remains a high-risk project-based industry, especially where formal safety systems, contractor controls, inspection capacity, and worker training are still developing. This article presents a Liberia-focused mixed-methods empirical analysis of safety management and organizational safety practices in construction projects. Primary data were drawn from two survey instruments: a practitioner questionnaire with 52 valid responses from engineers, project managers, site supervisors, safety officers, company owners/managers, and related technical staff, and an institutional questionnaire with 5 responses from organizations involved in engineering, construction supervision, public works, mining-related construction, and consulting. The study examines safety planning, design-stage risk identification, pre-work training, personal protective equipment (PPE), supervision, inspection, accident reporting, organizational structure, role allocation, safety communication, toolbox meetings, reporting culture, institutional response, and regulatory enforcement. Results show that safety awareness exists in Liberia, but implementation is uneven. Positive findings include high PPE provision, design/planning risk identification, formal safety structures, and worker willingness to report unsafe conditions. Weaker areas include accident recording and review, pre-work training consistency, toolbox meeting frequency, communication effectiveness, and enforcement of safety rules. Poor safety training, lack of protective equipment, weak supervision, lack of safety rules, and worker negligence were the leading perceived causes of safety risk. It concludes with practical company-level and policy-level recommendations for strengthening Liberia's construction safety culture, organizational accountability, and full-life-cycle safety management.