Giri, O P; Sainju, P R and Htet, A (2025) Evaluating occupational health and safety practices in an airport construction project in Nepal. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 15(1), pp. 149-164. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the implementation and performance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practices in the Pokhara Regional International Airport Project (PRIAP), a key public infrastructure initiative in Nepal. Given airports' significance to Nepal's economy, particularly for tourism and trade, the research highlights the unique safety challenges in airport construction, addressing gaps in OHS management in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach: A case study methodology focused on the PRIAP enabled a thorough analysis of safety practices. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires from various stakeholders. The Cronbach's alpha and relative importance index (RII) were used to assess response reliability and ranked factors affecting safety performance. Findings: The study identifies both strengths and weaknesses in the project's OHS practices. While plant and equipment handling and financial aspects, such as budget allocation for safety measures and accident compensation, were deemed satisfactory, significant deficiencies were found in hazard identification and the investigation of near misses. These results suggest that improvements are needed in proactive safety management, particularly in worker-management communication. Research limitations/implications: This study provides valuable insights but is limited by its single-site focus and use of descriptive statistics. Future research should employ advanced statistical methods, like ANOVA, and include multiple construction sites to capture a broader range of OHS challenges. Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of proposed interventions is also essential. Addressing these limitations will enhance the development of comprehensive safety management strategies tailored to the specific needs of construction projects in developing countries. Practical implications: This study provides practical recommendations for improving OHS practices in airport construction and similar large-scale projects in developing countries. Enhanced hazard identification and improved communication among stakeholders can help reduce accidents and boost project efficiency. Social implications: Improving safety regulations and culture can reduce workplace injuries, enhancing workers' well-being and quality of life. This research supports stronger public policies, helping lower economic burdens from accidents, promoting social stability and increasing public trust in regulatory bodies. Originality/value: This research contributes to the limited literature on OHS in airport construction projects in developing countries, particularly in Nepal. The case study methodology provides a detailed examination of safety practices and offers a framework for improving OHS in similar projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | airport construction; developing countries; hazard identification; occupational health and safety; plant and equipment handling; pokhara regional international airport project; safety management |
| Index terms: | construction project, methodology, well-being, tourism, questionnaire, regulation, safety management, public policy, safety performance, developing country, injury, stability, quality of life, construction site, strategy, relative importance index, occupational health and safety, investigation, statistical method, Nepal, effectiveness, airport construction, statistics, compensation, implementation, plant and equipment, efficiency, safety measures, case study, public infrastructure, hazard identification |
| Subjects: | infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, statistical analysis, political science, occupational health and safety management, health conditions and diseases, management, performance management, public and environmental health, work location, dispute resolution, risk assessment, data collection methods, mental health and wellbeing, mathematical modelling, health safety and environment, Geography, production management, infrastructure engineering, financial risk, development economics, structural engineering, manufacturing engineering, research methods, contractual arrangements, public policy |
| Topics: | Governance, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Site Management, International Construction, Procurement, Risk Management, Geographical Context, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Legal Issues |
| 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