The influence of clients’ leadership in relation to construction health and safety in South Africa

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2014
Authors
Okorie, Victor
Emuze, Fidelis
Smallwood, John
Van Wyk, Jacobus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The South African Construction Regulations realise the contributions by each member of a project team to health and safety (H&S) improvement. These Regulations amplify the roles and contributions of clients to project realisation. The tenets of the Regulations conform with the observation that clients’ H&S leadership and behaviours are an effective means of improving construction H&S performance in the industry. This article reports on a study that examined current clients’ leadership approach and expectations in terms of H&S in South African construction. The review of relevant literature provides the platform for the research survey, which was conducted among selected clients of the industry. The findings show that clients’ H&S leadership roles and behaviours have a significant influence on construction H&S performance in South Africa. Findings reveal that unethical behaviour, in terms of procurement and contract awards, is a serious challenge to the improvement of H&S performance in the industry.
Afrikaans: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Konstruksie Regulasies besef die bydraes van elke lid van ’n projekspan om beroepsgesondheid en veiligheid (H&S) te verbeter. Hierdie Regulering versterk die rol en bydraes van kliënte teenoor projekverwesenliking. Die beginsels van die Regulasies stem ooreen met die waarneming dat kliënte se leierskap en gedrag ten opsigte van H&S ’n doeltreffende manier is om konstruksie H&S-prestasie in die bedryf te verbeter. Hierdie artikel gee bevindinge oor ʼn ondersoek wat gedoen is om huidige kliënte in die konstruksieindustrie se leierskapsbenadering en verwagtings oor H&S in Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksie te ondersoek. Die literatuurstudie het die onderbou gevorm vir die navorsingsondersoek, gedoen onder uitgesoekte kliënte in die industrie. Die bevindinge toon dat kliënte se leierskapsrolle ten opsigte van H&S ʼn groot invloed het op H&S in Suid-Afrika. Onetiese gedrag in terme van aankope en kontraktoekenning is ʼn groot uitdaging vir die verbetering van H&S-prestasie in die industrie.
Description
Keywords
Behaviours, Clients, Construction, Leadership, Health and safety, South Africa
Citation
Okorie, V., Emuze, F., Smallwood, J. J., & van Wyk, J. (2014). The influence of clients' leadership in relation to construction health and safety in South Africa. Acta Structilia, 21(2), 44-68.