In this episode, Associate Professor Rita Zhang shares insights from several major research projects, including improving communication between apprentices and supervisors, examining women's experiences on male dominated construction sites, and exploring how subcontracting arrangements can influence safety outcomes. She also discusses the growing role of mental health in workplace safety, the potential of AI to support risk management, and how the Safety and Health Innovation Network (SHINE) is helping industry and researchers work together to address emerging challenges.
Rita is a leading researcher in construction health and safety. For more than a decade, she has worked closely with industry to better understand the factors that influence safety performance, worker wellbeing, and organisational culture across construction projects.
This episode is part two of a special three-part series exploring culture in the construction industry. Across the series, we unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector, including mental health, workforce sustainability, diversity, leadership, and the evolving expectations of construction workplaces.