Occupational health and safety practice in infrastructure projects

Area of Science:

• Construction Management
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Infrastructure Project Management

Background:

• Effective occupational health and safety (OHS) management is critical during infrastructure project implementation.
• Defining clear responsibilities among stakeholders, including consultants and contractors, is essential for OHS success.
• Existing literature highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of OHS roles in complex project environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and delineate the specific OHS responsibilities of consultants and contractors during the infrastructure project implementation phase.
• To identify key OHS implementation tasks prioritized by consultants and contractors.
• To assess the level of agreement between consultants and contractors regarding OHS responsibilities.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted to identify and adapt relevant OHS responsibilities.
• A questionnaire was developed based on the reviewed responsibilities.
• Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to analyze the data collected from consultants and contractors.

Main Results:

• Consultants and contractors identified 'Owner requires contractor to implement OHS standards within the bid' as the top owner responsibility (RII=0.67).
• Key consultant responsibility: 'Adopting OHS plans and contingency plans' (RII=0.66).
• Key contractor responsibility: 'Providing insurance cover for all project crews' (RII=0.71).
• Top worker responsibility: 'Workers know the handling of tools and equipment' (RII=0.59).

Conclusions:

• There is a general consensus between consultants and contractors on the classification and prioritization of OHS responsibilities.
• Shared working conditions and environments contribute to this agreement.
• Clear definition and mutual understanding of roles enhance OHS implementation in infrastructure projects.