Client attitude to health and safety – a report on contractor’s perceptions

Abstract

English: The purpose of this article is to present findings of a preliminary survey on contractors’ perceptions of clients’ attitude relative to health and safety (H&S) implementation in the construction industry of Botswana and Southern Africa. A questionnaire survey was conducted on construction projects to establish clients’ attitude towards H&S. Interviews were also held with contractors’ representatives on selected construction sites in and around Gaborone, Botswana. Findings from the survey include: clients do not perceive H&S to be very important on construction projects; the majority of clients do not address H&S adequately in contract documentation, and H&S is rarely a major item on the agenda of progress meetings. Findings also included that clients are not fully committed to H&S implementation. The client sets the tone for H&S culture. Client attitude is therefore very important for H&S performance improvement as all stakeholders are compelled to act in line with the client’s values. Various researchers have recognised the importance of the client to H&S performance improvement. The extent to which clients are involved in H&S implementation has, however, not been researched extensively, especially in Southern Africa. This article therefore provides an insight into the clients’ attitude towards H&S and explains the reason for the current state of H&S in Botswana’s construction industry.

Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie artikel is om bevindings weer te gee van ‘n voorafopname oor kontrakteurs se persepsie oor kliënte, houding teenoor gesondheid en veiligheids- implementering in Botswana se konstruksie-industrie en op ‘n manier ook die houding daarvan in Suidelike Afrika. ‘n Vraelysopname is saamgestel oor konstruksieprojekte om te bepaal wat kliënte se houding is teenoor gesondheid en veiligheid. Onderhoude is gevoer met kontrakteurs se verteenwoordigers van geselekteerde terreine in en om Gaborone, Botswana. Bevindings van die opname sluit in: kliënte ervaar gesondheid en veiligheid nie as baie belangrik by konstruksieprojekte nie; meeste kliënte spreek nie gesondheid en veiligheid in kontrakdokumentasie aan nie, en gesondheid en veiligheid is selde ‘n besprekingspunt op vorderingsvergaderings se agendas. Verskeie navorsers erken die belangrikheid van die kliënt vir gesondheid en veiligheidsverbetering. Die mate waartoe kliënte betrokke is in gesondheid en veiligheids-implementering is nog nie intensief in Suidelike Afrika nagevors nie. Daarom verskaf hierdie artikel insig tot die kliënte se houding teenoor gesondheid en veiligheid en verduidelik in ‘n mate die rede vir die huidige stand van gesondheid en veiligheid in Botswana se konstruksie-industrie.