The Impact of a Client Contractor Health and Safety (HS) Programme on Contractor HS Performance

摘要

Clients are required to undertake a range of actions in terms of the South African Construction Regulations, which are health and safety (H&S) specific. However, clients may appoint a Construction H&S Agent (CHSA) in terms of the regulations to fulfil their duties. Furthermore, globally, better practice clients have implemented contractor H&S management programmes. The purpose of the study reported on is to determine the impact of a contractor H&S management programme managed by an independent H&S consultant, on contractor H&S performance, including the related contractors' perceptions. Contractors participating in the contractor H&S management programme were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. The salient findings include: quality is most important to both clients and contractors, followed by H&S in the case of contractors, and time in the case of clients; increased client satisfaction, less impact on the environment, and increased worker satisfaction predominate in terms of the form of improvement in contractors' H&S performance, and awareness, and focus on H&S predominate in terms of contributors to such improvement. Based upon the findings, it can be concluded that the client contractor H&S management programme had an impact on contractors' H&S performance, which benefits all project stakeholders. It is recommended that clients, especially repeat clients, should implement a client contractor H&S management programme, which is managed by an independent consultant.