Plant and Construction Safety

3075 Words13 Pages
PLANT AND CONSTRUCTION SAFETY 1. Introduction Construction industry has earned the reputation of being a highly hazardous industry because of the high incidence of accidents and fatality rates, Mohamed (2002). It is needed to look into a new way in improving its image. One key to achievement in business is minimizing cost. According to Rowlinson (2003), providing a safe and health workplace is one of the most effective strategies for holding down the cost of doing construction business. Accidents frequencies and property losses create great impact to the construction company. Not only do they cause delays in operations but also directly and indirectly incur cost. Therefore, it is mandatory for all construction companies to provide a safe working environment for their workers and subcontractors. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at work is an issue affecting all businesses. OSH is a major concern for companies mainly due to the fear of prosecution. With better enforcement of the legislation and commitment from employers and employees, construction safety has received greater attention, Pierce (1995). Consequently, the improvement of safety and health in construction is a necessary goal for all participants in the construction process. Besides that, safer workplaces will help to improve productivity followed by reduced costs, better time performance and increased profitability as mentioned by Smith (2003). The construction industry is an important sector of any national economy, especially regarding its employment potential. But accidents, incidents, injuries and fatalities continue to occur unabated on construction sites around the world at consistently high rates, Tam & Fung (1998). The construction industry tends to have a low awareness of the long-term benefits of safety practices, while the tendering process often gives little attention to

More about Plant and Construction Safety

Open Document