Challenges facing the state of construction health and safety management practices within the Eastern Cape: a case of the Sarah Baartman District

The construction industry has a poor Health and Safety (H&S) record globally and South Africa is no exception (Haupt, 2016: 1). The construction industry is integrally a high-impact and dangerous industry with less than a 50% ratio in compliance to H&S standards (PricewaterhouseCoppers (PwC), 2016). This study is aimed towards evolving a solution to mitigate the fatalities and injuries, occupational health hazards, non-compliance with legislation and design originated hazards and the reoccurring problems experienced by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works (ECDPW) on projects. Literature points out that H&S performance is attributable to a lack of management commitment, inadequate supervision, inadequate H&S training, and lack of worker involvement (construction industry development board (cidb), 2009: 36). Huang and Hinze (2006: 179) contend that clients‟ participation in project H&S can significantly influence project performance. Various researchers have amplified the importance of leadership roles and involvement of clients in H&S. A quantitative survey and qualitative inquiry were utilised to gather and analyse data within the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Three questionnaires were developed and distributed to a target population, and interviews were conducted. The study focuses on seven schools, namely; Stormsriver, Jubilee, Mfesane, Bongweni, David Livingstone, Kaiser Ngxwane and Bethelsdorp, which are on-going for the 2016/2017 financial period during which the research study was conducted. A total of 136 responses were used to analyse the data. All project stakeholders, namely: project managers, contractors‟ site managers, and workers contributed to the study. The frequency of H&S actions varied with each stakeholder dependent on the stage in which they were involved. The study determined that extensive inadequacy of construction expertise in terms of H&S including H&S consultants and departmental H&S personnel, inadequate management and supervision on site, inadequate workers participation, inadequate H&S training, inadequate expertise in H&S management, inadequate designer report, inadequate H&S knowledge and awareness, negligence, unsafe acts, unskilled workers, unsafe conditions, non-compliance with H&S regulations, Safe v Operating Procedure (SOPs) and Safe Working Procedures (SWPs), inadequate commitment of various project stakeholders, ignorance, poor client H&S leadership throughout certain aspects of the ECDPW projects are the primary cause of fatalities and injuries, ill-health, design originated hazards, non-compliance and the reoccurrence of problems. Recommendations were for H&S to be integrated within the Departments internal project systems from project inception to project close out, and to enhance H&S knowledge and skills in order to mitigate the reoccurrences of problems on projects