Walljee, L and Smallwood, J (2023) A framework for improving the performance of health and safety officers in the construction industry. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 39th Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2023, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
The appointment of construction health and safety officers (CHSOs) is a requirement of the South African Construction Regulations. However, several studies have indicated that the performance of CHSOs can be improved. The aim of this study was to evolve a framework for improving CHSOs' performance. A self-administered questionnaire distributed to 196 members of a national H&S association resulted in 69 responses, and a net response rate of 38.8%, The salient findings include the CHSOs in general are above average in terms of the core competencies, and combined knowledge and skills areas, however, there is potential for improvement. The proposed framework includes predictors of performance in the form of the core competencies, combined knowledge and skills areas, professional registration, and professional association, and enablers of performance in the form of H&S should be afforded status at least equal to that afforded to the other project parameters and be integrated into the construction process and activities, and CHSOs should be an integral part of site management and included in decision making.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction, framework, health and safety officers, performance |
| Index terms: | health and safety, construction industry, construction process, decision-making, site management, regulation, questionnaire |
| Subjects: | health safety and environment, building construction, decision analysis, political science, industry analysis, data collection methods, construction operations |
| Topics: | Site Management, Governance, Risk Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety |
| 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