The client’s role in promoting work health and safety in construction projects: balancing contracts and relationships to effect change

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 993-1008
Author(s):  
Helen Lingard ◽  
Ron Wakefield ◽  
Derek Walker
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Work Health

Using the cost of construction work to trigger legislative duties for WHS: the Australian experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-387
Author(s):  
Salman Shooshtarian ◽  
Helen Lingard ◽  
Peter S.P. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Health ◽  
Australian Experience ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Of Construction ◽  
Construction Works

PurposeIn an attempt to create national harmonisation of legislation, a set of model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations were developed in Australia. These regulations require principal contractors to undertake specific WHS planning and coordination activities if the construction works to be completed cost AU $250,000 or more. However, there are some doubts about the usefulness of this monetary threshold. This study aimed to investigate how effective this threshold can be in Australia.Design/methodology/approachTo evaluate the performance and operation of this threshold in the Australian construction industry, this study modelled the costs of construction for four construction project scenarios – small classroom, two-storey home renovation with adjacent pool, small commercial warehouse and single-storey house (volume home builder) – under various conditions based on historical data (2011–2017) and in eight Australian jurisdictions.FindingsAmong the six study factors (i.e. the types for construction, geographical location, design specification, delivery method, contracting approach and inflation), the research found considerable variation in the operation and performance of the monetary threshold.Originality/valueThe research highlights some potential challenges associated with the use of a monetary threshold in the regulation of WHS planning in construction projects. Thus, the results are expected to contribute to addressing these challenges, leading to the development of an appropriate balance to achieve efficient and effective WHS regulation in Australia.

scholarly journals Getting the balance right

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Lingard ◽  
Amanda Warmerdam ◽  
Salman Shooshtarian
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Construction ◽  
Construction Firm ◽  
Work Health ◽  
Proxy Measure ◽  
Construction Works

Purpose In Australia, national harmonisation of occupational health and safety (OHS) regulation was pursued through the development of model Work Health and Safety legislation. The model Work Health and Safety Regulations specify that construction works above a threshold cost of AU$250,000 are deemed to be construction projects requiring the appointment of a principal contractor with duties relating to OHS planning and coordination. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of the monetary threshold as a suitable trigger for specific OHS planning and coordination duties. Design/methodology/approach Interviews were conducted with 46 Australian construction industry stakeholders, including union representatives, employer groups, construction firm representatives and regulators, as well as four international construction OHS experts, to explore perceptions about the effectiveness of the monetary threshold. Two construction scenarios were also modelled to test for variability in operation of the threshold by geographical location of works and design conditions. Findings The monetary threshold was perceived to be subject to two forms of capture problem, reflecting inadvertent capture of low risk works or failure to capture high risk works. Organisations were also reported to deliberately split contracts to avoid capture by the threshold. The cost-estimate modelling revealed inequalities and variation in the operation of the monetary threshold by geographic location and design specification. Practical implications The analysis suggests that limitations inherent in the use of a monetary threshold to trigger duties relating to OHS planning and coordination in construction works. Opportunities to use more sophisticated risk-based mechanisms are considered. Originality/value The study explores a fundamental challenge of risk-based OHS regulation, i.e., how to ensure that workers’ health and safety are adequately protected without creating an unnecessarily high regulatory burden. The research provides evidence that using a monetary value as a proxy measure for OHS risk in construction projects may be problematic.

scholarly journals DISIPLIN KERJA, KESEHATAN DAN KESELAMATAN KERJA BERPENGARUH TERHADAP PRODUKTIVITAS KERJA KARYAWAN SARIASIH GARMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2107
Author(s):  
Briyan Artha Ginting ◽  
I Wayan Suana
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Work Safety ◽  
Safe Work ◽  
Work Health ◽  
Saturated Sample ◽  
Maximum Work ◽  
Sample Method

Productivity is the ability to achieve certain tasks in accordance with predetermined standards. Companies must create safe work environment to motivate employees so that they can increase overall company productivity. Purpose of the study is to explain the effect of work discipline, occupational health and safety on the work productivity of Sariasih Garment employees with 51 people as samples, using saturated sample method. Data collected through observation, interviews and questionnaires and analyzed by multiple linear regression. Based on the results, work discipline, occupational health and work safety have  positive and significant effect on employee work productivity. It is expected that company pays attention to employees' compliance with regulations in doing their jobs and the company is able to create a safe, comfortable and clean work environment. Employees have enthusiasm and protection while working so that employees are able to increase work productivity in order to create maximum work results. Keywords: work productivity, work discipline, work health and safety

Industrial Legislation in 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shae McCrystal ◽  
Belinda Smith
Keyword(s):  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Full Effect ◽  
Safe Work ◽  
Work Health ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Specific Regulation

Two themes in legislative activity in 2010 were national uniformity and some movement in using law to promote equality, especially gender equality. The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) came into full effect with the commencement of the new safety net provisions and the referral to the Commonwealth of industrial relations powers over private-sector workforces in all states except Western Australia. Progress continued on the promised harmonization of Australian occupational health and safety laws with the release of a model Work Health and Safety Bill by Safe Work Australia, although developments in some states threaten to derail the process. An attempt to repeal most of the industry-specific regulation of the building and construction industry failed. The Federal Parliament passed legislation establishing a national paid parental leave scheme, and a number of changes to federal discrimination laws came into effect or were proposed, including the potential consolidation of federal discrimination legislation. This article provides an overview of these developments at federal level and concludes with a discussion of developments in the states including a brief overview of Victoria’s new equal opportunity legislation.

Factors affecting the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benviolent Chigara ◽  
Tirivavi Moyo
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Monitoring And Enforcement

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of construction professionals relative to factors that affect the delivery of optimum health and safety (H&S) on construction projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative design which entailed the distribution of a web-based questionnaire among construction professionals, namely, architects, construction/project managers, engineers, H&S managers and quantity surveyors working for contractors and construction consultants in Zimbabwe. The data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Factor analysis was used to reveal interrelated significant sets of factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S. Findings Factor analysis revealed nine components/factors: change and innovation-related, monitoring and enforcement-related, production-related, access to information and health service-related, on-site facilities and welfare-related, risk assessment and mitigation-related, job security and funding-related, cost-related and COVID-19 risk perception-related factors as the significant factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. Research limitations/implications The results highlighted the need for social dialogue among construction stakeholders to support initiatives that will enhance the delivery of H&S on construction projects. Construction stakeholders may find the results useful in highlighting the areas that need improvement to protect workers’ H&S during the pandemic. However, the small sample limits the generalisability of the results to construction sectors in other regions. Originality/value The study investigated factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 to inform interventions to enhance H&S.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Clients’ Commitment to Sustainable Construction Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Peter Uchenna Okoye
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Health And Safety Implications

The success of every construction projects largely depends on the level of commitment of the clients. This study examined the factors influencing the level of clients’ commitment to sustainable construction practices in Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was use to collect data from the public and private construction clients on the level of influence of 16 factors extracted from the literature. A total of 182 valid questionnaires were used for analysis. The result revealed that nine factors with weighted average (W) 0.8≤W≤1 have a high level of influence, whereas seven factors with 0.6≤W≤0.8 have a high-medium level of influence on the clients’ commitment. However, the five most influential factors were: client knowledge and awareness, Cost implication and mechanism of financial involvement, economic value and return on investment, end-user/client perception and preference, and health and safety implications. The result further revealed that there is significant difference on how these factors influence the level of commitment of sustainable construction practices of the public and private clients. The study suggested that the disparity was due to the differences in the level of knowledge, awareness, involvement and commitment of the public and private clients to sustainable construction concept. Hence, it is important to optimize the level of knowledge and awareness of the clients, about the cost, benefits/profits, and health and safety implications of sustainable construction practices so as to promote the level of client’s commitment to sustainable construction practices. It recommended for adequate client involvement throughout the sustainable construction life cycle and a sustained awareness campaign, championed by relevant government agencies and professional organizations through different public programs so as to increase the clients’ commitment and desirability to demand for more sustainable construction projects.

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