Fortifying management control of health, safety and productivity loss in South African construction

This paper illustrates the paradox related to the tension between production and safety, which are competing elements. The study established the impact of unsafe health and safety practices on productivity in construction. A qualitative research approach was used to establish the relationship between health and safety practices and productivity loss. The 22 interviewees who answered both closed-ended and open-ended questions were active construction workers and professionals involved in projects at the time of data collection in South Africa. Based on the results of data analysis, a direct influence of health and safety on employees and their work practices was affirmed. For example, the results showed that poor health and safety practices at work lead to absenteeism resulting from illnesses and injuries. Poor health and safety practices, in turn, lead to a loss in productivity of the workforce. Cited instances show that work pressure leads to a lack of attention and concentration. Beyond compliance to legislation by the work crew, there is a case for reinforcing management controls on construction sites in the study area. Effective health and safety risk control and the steps of its deployment must be reinforced. Management controls would help contractors to remove the burden of hazard on a particular site by identifying what must be done and what gaps in the process are to be corrected. While the results from this study provide a reason to strengthen management control, the oversight should not be excessive to avoid unintended consequences.