Early retirement of construction workers in South Africa : case of occupation permanent disability

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the types of accidents that lead to permanent disability of construction workers resulting in early retirement. The data was obtained from Federated Employer Mutual Assurance (FEM). The types of accidents were analysed from the decade of data from 2007 to 2016. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis established that 7 670 accidents were experienced in the construction industry from 2007 to 2016, of which the major cause of accidents in the construction industry in South Africa was being struck by e.g. object while working. Furthermore, the highest average cost of accident was when a construction worker was electrocuted, the average cost was R214 767.00. The most fatal accidents was caused by motor vehicles. The study further established that there is a 10% chance of a construction worker to be permanently disabled and take early retirement or permanently disabled without taking early retirement when involved in any type of accident while at work. In conclusion construction workers using any work related vehicle, either being transported to site or using the vehicle on site, caution should be adhered to in order to prevent fatalities. The government of South Africa should ensure that strict measures are taken for drivers who do not observe the traffic rules on site and on the public roads. This will ensure the prevention of permanent disability, among the construction workers in South Africa. It is also imperative for construction workers to receive training on health and safety when they work in any construction project, this need to be emphasized on a daily on site by the construction health and safety practitioners. The authors recommends a further study on the type of injury and ill-health associated with the type of accident that force the construction worker to retire early

MANAGING CONSTRUCTION LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT IN GAUTENG

Published Conference ProceedingsLabor is an important factor in the development of the construction industry and therefore understanding its contribution productivity performance is crucial. This is a requirement for informed targeted actions that would induce productivity gains to the industry. This is particularly relevant as the South African government considers labor as a key driver of productivity across different sectors of the economy. To this end, structured questionnaire was drafted and distributed to workers in twenty-three project sites in Gauteng Province of South Africa to explore the role of motivating factors of labor productivity in construction. The exploratory study discover that managements support and encourage productivity improvements through targeted incentives and career advancement opportunities made available to workers in addition to soliciting ideas from workers. The study also amplifies the need to use education and training as a productivity improvement and empowerment tool among workers in the construction industry of Gauteng

The state of construction safety and health education at higher education institutions in the Western Cape, South Africa

The Occupational Health and Safely Act (OHSA) 85 of 1993 requires all employers in South Africa to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of their employees. Additionally, OHSA requires employ­ers to provide such information, instructions, training and supervision as may be necessary to ensure the health and safely at work of their workers. Several studies have confirmed a well-established link between safely training and the perform­ance of companies. High performing organizations were found to invest a larger percentage of payroll costs in training compared to the recommended industry norm. Construction related programs at universities and technikons produce graduates who either take up managerial and supervisory positions within con­struction firms or establish their own construction companies. The pivotal role of management in driving and promoting safely within their organizations is well documented. In order to comply with the requirements of OHSA these graduates need to be able to recognize, avoid and prevent unsafe conditions on the con­struction sites that they will be involved with. This article gives an insight into the findings and exploratory studies of safety and health education at higher educa­tional institutions in the Western Cape province of South Africa as well as the views of students on construction safely. Preliminary results suggest that construction related programs do not adequately prepare students to be able to ensure the safely and health of workers on construction sites. Courses make scant reference to the provisions of OHSA and responsibility for worker safety

CASUALISATION OF WORK IN CONSTRUCTION, AND THE PLIGHT OF WORKERS IN BLOEMFONTEIN

Published ArticleCasualisation in the construction industry is influenced by unemployment or lack of decent jobs. Casualisation is defined as the procedure of employing people either on a daily, weekly or monthly basis for an undefined task or specified job without issuing a permanent contract. The study explored the reasons why unemployed people are choosing to become casual workers, and the challenges that they face in the construction industry. A qualitative research approach was used in the study to answer the question “What does it mean to be a casual construction worker in Bloemfontein?” In-depth interviews were used to collect the data. The findings show that unemployed people are choosing to become casual workers because they are failing to get permanent jobs in the private and public sectors due to lack of the requisite education and training. The findings also show that casual workers are victims of exploitation through payment problems. In addition, clients are failing to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for casual workers. The Department of Labour in South Africa must therefore start to tackle casualisation and compel people who are using casual workers to pay them standard hourly rates (wages) and provide safety protections for them

CASUALISATION OF WORK IN CONSTRUCTION, AND THE PLIGHT OF WORKERS IN BLOEMFONTEIN

Casualisation in the construction industry is influenced by unemployment or lack of decent jobs. Casualisation is defined as the procedure of employing people either on a daily, weekly or monthly basis for an undefined task or specified job without issuing a permanent contract. The study explored the reasons why unemployed people are choosing to become casual workers, and the challenges that they face in the construction industry. A qualitative research approach was used in the study to answer the question “What does it mean to be a casual construction worker in Bloemfontein?” In-depth interviews were used to collect the data. The findings show that unemployed people are choosing to become casual workers because they are failing to get permanent jobs in the private and public sectors due to lack of the requisite education and training. The findings also show that casual workers are victims of exploitation through payment problems. In addition, clients are failing to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for casual workers. The Department of Labour in South Africa must therefore start to tackle casualisation and compel people who are using casual workers to pay them standard hourly rates (wages) and provide safety protections for them

Investigating the hindrances of implementation of occupational health and safety among small medium enterprise’s in the Gauteng Province of South Africa

Abstract: A positive safety culture requires participation of all stakeholders in construction industry, and is shown through the safety-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and practices of each worker. Therefore, the study is investigating the hindrances in the implementation of occupational health and safety (OHS) among small medium enterprises (SME’S) in the construction industry in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. A structured questionnaire was distributed to different construction companies and construction workers. From the 70 questionnaires distributed, 42 were brought back and they were all valid and usable. Findings from the survey results obtained from the chosen respondents revealed health safety was known and practiced, however, there are hindrances in the implementation such as poor regular inspections and audits, poor management, poor supervision, lack of material and components, lack of management commitment, equipment and tools, poor communication between workers, poor employers involvement, lack of training and risk education to name a few were the major hindrance in the implementation of occupational health and safety among SME’s. Furthermore, if the challenges could be addressed appropriate and effectively result could manifest such as increased productivity; improve quality work; contractors growth and reduced claims; reduced accidents; reduced rework; improved schedule performance. Management and leadership at all levels are therefore encourage to improve construction OH&S in South Africa among SME’s. Moreover, occupational health and safety of the workers is not negotiable, is all pervasive, increases productivity, and leads to better performance, improve the company image, reduced claims and accidents also reduce lost times spent on injuries. The concept of OHS implementation must be emphasized by the client and the consulting team by way of having occasional not once off, a major workshop to be held three times in a year, to increase the awareness and the seriousness of the implementation of OHS

Retention strategies for knowledge workers at a consulting engineering firm

The Consulting Engineering industry plays a very critical role in the construction industry. Its primary role is to plan and design projects before they go on to the construction phase. During the construction phase of a project, consulting engineers are responsible for supervising the works and ensuring that construction is done according to design specifications. The selected company, where this study was conducted, provides civil engineering consulting services. The main purpose of the research was to identify retention strategies that could be used by the company in order to reduce staff turnover. To achieve this objective, the researcher completed a literature study. The literature study revealed the characteristics of knowledge workers, and what makes knowledge workers wish to extend their stay with an organisation. The study examined variables that lead to staff turnover i.e. leadership and communication, organizational culture, performance management and job satisfaction. The empirical study was conducted at LK Consulting Engineers. A survey with a questionnaire was administered to all engineering practitioners who were registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa. Interviews were also conducted with three managers. The study demonstrated that leadership and communication, organisational culture, performance management and job satisfaction are important variables leading to retention of knowledge workers. The study also demonstrated that training and financial remuneration is not enough to retain knowledge workers, employees should feel valued and provided with the opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the organisation

Health and safety on construction sites in Ghana

The state of health and safety on construction sites in Ghana was investigated using first hand observation of fourteen (14) construction project sites in 2009 and 2010. At each site, the construction project, workers and the physical environment of the site were inspected and evaluated against health and safety indicators taken from the literature. The results reveal a poor state of health and safety on Ghanaian construction sites. The primary reasons are a lack of strong institutional framework for governing construction activities and poor enforcement of health and safety policies and procedures. Also, Ghanaian society does not place a high premium on health and safety of construction workers on site. Interviews with workers indicated that injuries and accidents are common on sites. However, compensation for injury is often at the discretion of the contractor although collective bargaining agreements between Labour unions and employers prescribe obligations for the contractor in the event of injury to a worker

DETERMINANTS OF CONSTRUCTION FIRMS' COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The management of health and safety issues is very significant in the construction industry in South Africa in terms of accident rates and cost to contractors. The costs arise from both the cost of compliance with regulations and the cost of accidents and injuries. In spite of the fact that available evidence shows that construction-related accidents and injuries are on the increase in South Africa, many designers and contractors regard the cost of complying with regulations as unnecessary additional financial burdens. It is against this background that this study investigated the statutory regulations relating to health and safety in construction in South Africa and the level of compliance with the regulations and motivation for compliance by contractors. Data obtained from contractors in a questionnaire survey the Western Cape Province of South Africa were analysed using percentage scores and mean score analysis with the aid of the SPSS software. Although the validity of the findings is limited by sample size used in the survey, it is hoped that the findings will provide empirical basis for a more inclusive survey of H&S in the construction industry in South Africa. Keywords: health and safety, regulations, enforcement & compliance, construction industry, South Africa