Abstract

MALINDI, Mandy  and  SMALLWOOD, John. The impact of the Construction Regulations 2014 on a water utility's projects' health and safety (H&S) performance in South Africa. Acta structilia (Online) [online]. 2018, vol.25, n.2, pp.138-177. ISSN 2415-0487.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18820/24150487/as25i2.6.

The construction industry plays a major role in South Africa's economic development. Despite its importance, the poor health and safety (H) performance and associated costs to the industry are a concern. The literature review indicates that improved H performance can be achieved on a project where there is a collaborative approach among all stakeholders during the six project stages. This study focuses on the impact of the Construction Regulations 2014 on a water utility's projects' H performance. It determines the H involvement of client representatives and internal project stakeholders during the six project stages. It also addresses their commitment towards H, measures taken by them during planning and design, in contracts to improve H, and to select conscious contractors, and the extent of their H participation in construction H Mixed methods research (a questionnaire survey and four case study projects) was used to collect the data required for the study. A total of 67 responses were obtained from the five stakeholder groups from the water utility, namely client representatives, designers, quantity surveyors (QSs), project managers (PMs), and construction H (CHS) professionals to obtain information regarding their H involvement during the six project stages. Four case study projects (three pre-Construction Regulations 2014 and one post-Construction Regulations 2014) were obtained, using a stratified random sampling technique and a checklist to obtain information regarding the stakeholder H involvement during the six project stages and the overall project performance. The study found that the Construction Regulations 2014 are perceived to have had an impact on the water utility's H performance. There is a direct relationship between stakeholder H involvement and project H performance. The integration of H in the initial project phases; early involvement of CHS professionals, and H training for stakeholders are among the recommendations arising from this study.

Keywords : Clients; construction health and safety professionals; designers; project managers; quantity surveyors.

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