Integrating Safety Culture into Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Curricula: Barriers, Drivers, and Strategies

Résumé fourni par la source

Workplace injuries and fatalities in the construction industry are among the highest across all sectors. Hence, professionals and educators in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) should emphasize integrating safety culture and safety systems into undergraduate education to better prepare students for the industry’s safety challenges. This study examines strategies for embedding safety culture within undergraduate curricula. It draws data from four National Academy of Construction (NAC) Safety Symposia held in 2025, involving 195 participants, 77 from industry and 118 from academia. A reflexive thematic analysis of speakers’ transcripts was conducted to extract themes related to safety culture in AEC education. Six themes were identified: (1) strengthening safety culture; (2) role of industry engagement in shaping safety culture in education; (3) current undergraduate safety education practices; (4) challenges to adopt a safety culture across stakeholders; (5) safety culture-focused curriculum design and delivery; and (6) academic institutions’ role in developing safety culture. The findings highlight critical drivers, including leadership commitment, the early integration of safety education, and strong role modeling. In contrast, major barriers identified include faculty resistance, limited curricular support, and weak collaboration between industry and academia. Embedding safety culture in construction education can help reduce workplace injuries.

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