Abstract

AGUMBA, J N  and  HAUPT, T C. The influence of health and safety practices on health and safety performance outcomes in small and medium enterprise projects in the South African construction industry. J. S. Afr. Inst. Civ. Eng. [online]. 2018, vol.60, n.3, pp.61-72. ISSN 2309-8775.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2309-8775/2018/v60n3a6.

Health and safety (H) management is imperative for construction projects owing to the high level of fatalities and accident rates experienced. However, very few studies have used mixed-method research to examine H practices that are tailored towards small and medium constructio n enterprises (SMEs) to establish whether they influenced overall H performance. A Delphi study involving 16 H experts produced a refined H conceptual model comprising five H practices and one H performance outcome which were tested on 216 construction SMEs. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the H practices and performance were valid, reliable and acceptable variables. Structural equation modelling (SEM) produced a good-fit model. Upper management commitment and involvement in H influenced overall H performance indirectly through the mediating variables of project supervision and H resources and training. These three H practices are essential in influencing H performance at project level of construction SMEs, and are viewed as catalysts for H culture. However, to ensure that H performance by construction SMEs is improved, upper management personnel should be committed and involved in H at project level.

Keywords : construction industry; health and safety practices; health and safety outcomes; small and medium enterprise projects.

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