The Role of Procurement in Construction Health and Safety

摘要

Relative to other industries in South Africa and construction industries worldwide, the construction process generates a disproportionate number of fatalities, injuries, and disease and both the direct and indirect costs contribute to the cumulative cost of construction. Literature indicates that globally, procurement influences construction H&S, including issues such as pre-qualification, reference to construction H&S in conditions of contract and contract documentation, facilitation of financial provision for construction H&S, assessment thereof, and reporting thereon. A study was conducted among delegates attending a two-day summit to determine their perceptions relative to the role of procurement in construction H&S, and whether the summit had an impact, or not. The following constitute the salient findings. Delegates do have an understanding and appreciation of the role of procurement in construction H&S, and the multi-stakeholder nature of construction H&S. Furthermore, the summit did have an impact in terms of inducing a change in the delegates' culture. The paper concludes that: all stakeholders influence construction H&S; pre-qualification of all stakeholders in terms of construction H&S is important; construction H&S should be considered or referred to during all six project stages, in conditions of contract, contract documentation, and when deliberating project duration; financial provision for construction H&S should be facilitated and assessed; supply chain management within the context of construction H&S is critical; construction H&S performance should be assessed throughout projects, and be addressed in close out reports. Recommendations include: partnering as a process that includes H&S should be implemented on projects; multi-stakeholder project H&S plans should be compiled for projects, and more emphasis should be placed on construction H&S during the procurement process.