Dorji, K and Hadikusumo, B H W (2006) Safety management practices in the Bhutanese construction industry. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 11(2), pp. 53-75. ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
The construction industry is considered as one of the most hazardous industrial sectors wherein the construction workers are more prone to accidents. In developed countries such as United Kingdom and United States of America, there is strict legal enforcement of safety in the construction industry and also in the implementation of safety management systems which are designed to minimize or eliminate accidents at work places. However, occupational safety in construction industry is very poor in developing countries such as Bhutan. This study investigates the prevalent safety management practices and perceptions in the construction industry in Bhutan. The study was conducted among 40 construction contractors and 14 government officials through method of questionnaire survey, interview and discussion. The results of the study revealed that there are many occupational safety problems in the construction industry in Bhutan, problems such as lack of safety regulations and standards, low priority of safety, lack of data on safety at construction sites, lack of competent manpower, lack of safety training, lack of safety promotion, and lack of documented and organized safety management systems. Furthermore, the study also proposes some recommendations for safe construction in Bhutan.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Bhutan; health and safety practices; site management |
| Index terms: | site management, safety management system, construction industry, safety training, occupational safety, implementation, construction worker, enforcement, United States of America, promotion, Bhutan, developed country, regulation, questionnaire, health and safety practices, safety management, construction contractor, interview, developing country, survey, United Kingdom, construction site |
| Subjects: | occupational health and safety management, political science, industry analysis, management, development economics, health safety and environment, Geography, work location, contractual arrangements, construction operations, data collection methods, practitioner |
| Topics: | Governance, Procurement, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Site Management, International Construction, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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