Furci, J and Sunindijo, R Y (2020) Impacts of the whs act 2011 on safety management in small and medium construction companies. International Journal of Construction Management, 20(3), pp. 196-206. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
The harmonization of Australia’s work health and safety (WHS) Act poses significant implications for safety management on Australian construction sites. The aim of this study is to identify the potential impacts of the WHS Act 2011 on safety management in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the NSW construction industry. In particular, the objectives of the research are (1) to identify the major changes resulting from the Act; (2) to measure the current level of awareness of these changes among SMEs; (3) to establish the potential of the changes to affect SMEs safety management in the NSW construction industry. Seven key changes were identified. Questionnaire results show a particularly low level of awareness in relation to these seven major changes. This is disconcerting given the strong potential for the changes to positively affect SMEs' safety management. This study is significant as it shows that SMEs in the NSW construction industry require more exposure and education at times of legislative changes in order for them to ensure legislative compliance is implemented and maintained.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; harmonization; New South Wales; safety management; small and medium enterprises; whs act |
| Index terms: | exposure, safety management, questionnaire, New South Wales, construction company, construction site, health and safety, compliance, construction industry, Australia, low level |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, measurement and scaling, health safety and environment, Geography, public and environmental health, work location, data collection methods, organization |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here