Chigara, B and Moyo, T (2022) Factors affecting the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 20(1), pp. 24-46. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; COVID-19; health and safety; Zimbabwe |
| Index terms: | architect, factor analysis, funding, construction professional, monitoring, risk assessment, access to information, enforcement, statistics, project manager, health service, pandemic, quantity surveying, engineer, mitigation, questionnaire, methodology, construction project, Zimbabwe, construction sector, health and safety, manager, COVID-19, risk perception |
| Subjects: | environmental hazards, statistical analysis, industry analysis, research methods, public and environmental health, health risk and incident analysis, professional development, social equity, financial risk, production management, health safety and environment, Geography, economic analysis, mathematical modelling, data collection methods, profession, practitioner, control systems |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Ethics, 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