Critical success factors for external safety consulting agencies supporting small and medium-sized construction enterprises

Purpose External safety consulting agencies play a vital role in enhancing the safety management of small and medium-sized construction enterprises (SMEs). However, systematic evaluation of their competencies remains limited. This study aimed to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) within agency capabilities that most influence SME safety performance. Design/methodology/approach A four-step approach was used: (1) collection and preprocessing of national evaluation data for external safety consulting agencies issued by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA), matched with construction accident records from SME worksites, (2) comparison of safety performance across agency groups, (3) identification of CSFs through multiple regression analysis, and (4) validation through semi-structured expert interviews with academics, government evaluators, and industry practitioners. Findings Agencies with higher competency levels achieved significantly better safety outcomes. Eleven CSFs were identified, including “Prior accident rate,” “Distribution of educational materials,” “Efforts to secure additional personnel,” “Safety assessment report content,” and “Accident reporting”. Originality/value The findings highlight the competencies external safety consulting agencies should prioritize to improve SME safety performance. The identified CSFs offer a foundation for developing competency enhancement programs and more effective evaluation systems for external safety consulting agencies.