Abstract:
Construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries where workers are more prone
to accidents. These accidents can be reduced by improving the safety performance of construction
industry through investing in safety to reap long term financial benefits. Investing in safety at the
construction projects can be realized through the involvement of the top management of the
construction companies. It ultimately leads the companies to superior safety performance by
evaluating their weaknesses and incorporating the best safety practices. This study presents
identification of the weaknesses in current health and safety management practices and various
aspects of health and safety management systems that need financial investments by the construction
companies, operating in the Islamabad / Rawalpindi. The study instrument is a questionnaire based
survey comprising of different aspects of safety management system practices and the associated
financial resources spent to implement and monitor the safety systems. The questionnaire was pilot
tested to make it suitable for construction projects in Islamabad / Rawalpindi area. This questionnaire
was used to collect data from 71 building construction projects located in Islamabad / Rawalpindi
area. Various statistical tests were performed on the collected data. Analyses of the data were carried
out by using SPSS – 17.0.
Results demonstrate that the health and safety management system in place at the construction
project sites in the Islamabad / Rawalpindi region are not up to standards. Major findings of this study
include: 1) non-existence of health and safety managers / personnel to implement and monitor health
and safety; 2) implementation of health and safety was considered as a formality rather than an
obligation or responsibility; 3) more emphasis on productivity by stakeholders rather than on working
safely; 4) clients aversion to provide any budget for health and safety implementation and monitoring;
5) contractors considering that training of workers and staff is not beneficial for their business; 6)
contractors’ reluctance to invest in health and safety management and considering it a cost rather than
an investment; and 7) workers’ unawareness of their rights.
