Abstract:

Given historical health and safety (H&S) challenges, in terms of a range of issues that continue to be experienced, an opportunity arose in the form of an organisation which conducted a three-day 37-module construction H&S programme. Construction project manager (CPM) delegates were surveyed to determine their perceptions, whether the modules presented had an impact on their understanding and appreciation of construction H&S challenges, and their perceived potential contribution to construction H&S.

The objective of the training was to engender an understanding and appreciation for the need for construction H&S, an optimum H&S culture, and to enlighten delegates regarding the potential and legislated role of clients, CPMs, designers, and quantity surveyors (in addition to contractors) in construction H&S. The modules were based upon the Construction Regulations, international literature, and extensive research conducted in South Africa. The programme entailed the delivery of the modules, and group exercises (tutorials).

The paper reports on the findings emanating from a quantitative study that entailed the completion of a self-administered questionnaire survey conducted among the delegates at the inception and the closure of the programme.

The findings indicate that although the delegates constituted a mature cohort of CPMs within the context of construction H&S in terms of their pre-training perceptions, the training had an impact in terms of their post-training perceptions relative to their pre-training perceptions. More importantly, they perceive that they can make a positive contribution to and influence construction H&S.

Conclusions include that training does impact construction H&S-related perceptions and thus culture; construction H&S is a multi-stakeholder issue, and CPMs can contribute to and influence construction H&S.

Recommendations include that construction H&S training should be evolved to achieve mutually agreed objectives, and the impact of such training interventions should be assessed.

Keywords:

Construction, Health and Safety, Perceptions, Training.