Abstract
The function of health and safety (H&S) management on a construction projects is to add value by eliminating hazards, reducing risks and preventing fatalities, injuries and ill health. However, the current situation indicates that this goal is yet to be achieved. South Africa, including other countries are experiencing challenges with regard to H&S performance. While construction projects experience high accident rates, studies have emphasised the need of collaboration for improving H&S performance and H&S professional influence. In the same context, it has been accepted that construction health and safety agents (CHSA) play a critical role in improving H&S performance. However, literature indicates that the involvement of CHSA remains unrecognised throughout project stages on construction projects.
Although, CHSAs have made efforts to collaborate, there is a lack of understanding of the factors that determine CHSA collaboration in the South African Construction Industry (CI) and no study has researched the impact of collaboration on H&S performance. The purpose of this study was to reveal the factors that determine collaboration on construction projects and to develop a model to improve CHSA collaboration and H&S performance in the South African CI. Finally, the study sought to determine the impact of CHSA collaboration on H&S performance.
Literature review was conducted on four main areas. The first related to theory and literature on collaboration. The second related to client, designers and contractors’ role in H&S performance. The third related to the influence of H&S professionals on H&S performance and the fourth related to the barriers inhibiting CHSA from collaborating and contributing to H&S performance.
Exploratory sequential mixed method design was used to develop a model using Delphi study and Questionnaire survey. The 45 experts were purposively sampled and 17 committed to participate, however 14 experts completed the three iterations. The Delphi study involved qualitative and quantitative data. Analysis of results from the Delphi study was done with Microsoft Excel using group medians and content analysis. Experts reached consensus on 57 of 63 statements. The Delphi study identified seven factors that determine CHSA collaboration namely, mutuality, trust, personal characteristics, enabling environment, common purpose, institutional support and project context. In addition, Delphi study provided the level of agreement regarding CHSA collaboration improving H&S performance. The findings from literature review and Delphi study were used to develop the conceptual model.
The conceptual model was tested and validated using results from the questionnaire survey. The questionnaire survey was conducted in all nine provinces of South Africa. Quantitative survey used stratified sampling method targeting 613 respondents. A total of 257 responses were returned and this represents 41.92% response rate. However, 213 of 257 questionnaires were deemed usable. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was conducted. Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) with Varimax rotation was used to establish the validity and reliability of the constructs. Six main constructs were retained as valid and reliable measures of CHSA collaboration and H&S performance. A
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confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using structural equation modeling (SEM) with EQations Software (EQS) 6.4 version was used to confirm the validity and reliability of the constructs. CFA results showed acceptable fit of the measurement model for each construct. Finally, path analysis using EQS version 6.4 was conducted to determine the relationships of the constructs. The path analysis results revealed that the model was acceptable to the sample data. Of the five hypotheses tested, two were statistically significant. Project context and common purpose had a statistically significant influence on CHSA collaboration and the other three factors namely, mutuality, trust and institutional support had weak influence on CHSA collaboration. Finally, CHSA collaboration had significant influence on H&S performance.
The study has contributed and introduced new body of knowledge in the construction H&S management field. The study identified the factors which impede CHSA collaboration and contribution to H&S performance. The factors that influence CHSA collaboration have been established. It was revealed that the CHSA influence on the project was unlikely without collaboration. Additionally, it was found that the influence of CHSA collaboration was significant in improving H&S performance. The use of collaboration has increased the understanding of factors that influence H&S performance beyond those found in previous construction H&S related studies. The study provided a list of actions to be implemented in order to improve CHSA collaboration and H&S performance. The study recommended that the clients, designers and contractors should increase CHSA participation on the project.
Keywords: Construction Health and Safety Agent, Collaboration, Health and Safety Performance, Delphi study, Mixed Methods Design