1. 2016-09-09CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY:
The Role of the Construction Management Team
Discussion Leader: Claire Deacon PhD (CM) Pr CHSA
2. Introduction
Introduction
Regulating construction health and safety (H&S)
Competence of Stakeholders, H&S and stages of work
H&S and Stakeholder involvement
Procurement and H&S
Discussion points with the participants
Proposals emanating from discussion
3. Introduction
There is greater influence over project standards where
H&S involvement from project inception
Leadership and collaboration in H&S during design,
planning, and procurement across the life cycle reduces
risk (CIB W099, 2013)
Despite multi-stakeholder responsibilities being
entrenched in South African legislation, there appears to
be a lack of commitment to the inclusion of H&S in
projects (cidb, 2009; Windapo, 2013; Goldswain, 2014)
4. Regulating construction H&S
The poor performance of the construction sector suggests
a poor compliance culture among construction
stakeholders
The Construction Regulations (CRs) (2014) were enacted
through the Department of Labour (DoL) to safeguard lives
and to improve product and process quality (cidb, 2009;
Windapo, 2013):
increased level of competence and accountability among
stakeholders: clients and designers (RSA, 2014), and
the implementation of a Client construction work permit
(CWP)
5. Competence of Stakeholders, H&S and
stages of work
Those practicing construction H&S in South Africa to be
registered with a statutory council
High level of resistance by clients and designers regarding their
revised roles, involvement and responsibilities for H&S (Smallwood
and Haupt, 2008; cidb, 2009; RSA, 2014; Deacon, 2016)
H&S responsibilities among Construction Managers have been
noted as limited in South Africa
Knowledge relative to H&S has been identified in many
undergraduate and post graduate education programmes
6. H&S and Stakeholder involvement
The term ‘competence’ in the CRs, includes
qualifications, experience, and knowledge of H&S
Contract documentation makes minimal, if any, reference
to H&S, other than a cursory note that requires statutory
compliance (cidb, 2009; Wells and Hawkins, 2010)
Procurement practices in the public sector are set by the
Department of Public Works (DPW), applicable at
national, provincial, and district level
7. Procurement H&S
The use of procurement to promote improved H&S
practices has received minimal attention
Limited attention to improving H&S standards through
procurement (Wells and Hawkins, 2010)
H&S problems during construction stage and life cycle
could be avoided if H&S if addressed during design stage
(The Office of Government Commerce (OGC), 2007; Wells and Hawkins, 2010;
RSA, 2014)
Adequate provision for H&S needs to be addressed in
design and assessed during the adjudication process (Wells
and Hawkins, 2010; RSA, 2014)
8. DISCUSSION POINT: 1
How can the CM work within the requirements of National
Treasury with strict controls and still be responsible for
complying with the Construction Regulations?
9. DISCUSSION POINT: 2
How can the CM ensure the resources needed to apply
H&S across the construction life cycle are applied during
stages 1-3 for adequate H&S during construction?
10. DISCUSSION POINT: 3
What can CMs do that would increase their knowledge and
competency relating to H&S practices on site?
11. DISCUSSION POINT: 4
What are the critical aspects that the CM can do to ensure
that H&S is appropriately managed during a contract?
12. References
REFERENCES
Alharthi, A. Soetanto, R. and Edum-Fotwe, F. (2014) The changing role of the public client in
construction procurement. In: Proceedings, 30th Annual ARCOM Conference. Association of
Researchers in Construction Management. Edited by Raiden, A, B. and Aboagye-Nimo, E, 1-3
September, Portsmouth, UK, pp. 403-412.
Construction Industry Development Board (cidb). (2009) Construction Health and Safety in South
Africa, Status and Recommendations. Pretoria. Construction Industry Development Board.
Council for the Built Environment (cidb). (2015) Final Research Report on Academic Curriculum
on Health and Safety. Johannesburg.
Gambatese, J. A. (2013) Prevention through Design (PtD) Project 1: Benchmarking Management
Practices related to PtD in the US and UK Final Report – Activity 2: Assess the Effects of PtD
Regulations on Construction Companies in the UK. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH).
Goldswain, C.C. (2014) Architectural Design Interventions toward Improvement of construction
Health, Safety and Ergonomics in South Africa. Unpublished PhD thesis. Department of
Construction Management. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth
13. References (2)
Office of Government Commerce. (2007) Health and safety. Achieving
Excellence in Construction Procurement Guide. 2010. Available from:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110601212617/http://www.ogc.gov.
uk/documents/CP0070AEGuide10.pdf (Accessed 22 November 2015).
Plantinga, H. E. C. Voordijk, J. T. and Dorée, A. G. (2014) Assessing Qualification
systems: The relevance of replicating implicit reasoning. In Proceedings: 30th
Annual ARCOM Conference. Association of Researchers in Construction
Management. Edited by Raiden, A. B. and Aboagye-Nimo, E. 1-3 September.
Portsmouth, UK, pp. 393-402.
Republic of South Africa. 1993. The Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Number. 85. Pretoria.
Republic of South Africa (2014) No. R. 84 Occupational Health and Safety Act,
1993 Construction Regulations 2014. Government Gazette No. 37305. Pretoria.
Smallwood, J. J. and Haupt, T. C. (2008) Competencies Required to Manage
Construction Health and Safety. In Proceedings of the Rinker International
Conference ‘Evolution of and Directions in Construction Safety and Health’,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA, 9-11 March, pp. 227-24.
14. References (3)
Smallwood, J. J. (2013) Construction health and safety (H&S): Key issues. African
Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety. Construction. Finnish Institute of
Occupational Health, 23(3), pp. 59-62.
Windapo, A. 2013. Relationship between Degree of Risk, Cost and Level of Compliance to
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in Construction. Australasian Journal of
Construction Economics and Building, 13(2), pp: 67-82.
Watermeyer, R. B. (2012) Changing the construction procurement culture to improve project
outcomes. Keynote Address: Joint CIB W070, W092 and TG72 International Conference on
Facilities Management, Procurement Systems and Public Private Partnerships, Cape Town,
23-25 January.
Wells, J, and Hawkins, J. (2010) Promoting Construction Health and Safety through
Procurement: A briefing note for developing countries. Engineers against Poverty. Institute
of Civil Engineers.
