Employee involvement and empowerment in health and safety : a perception of small and medium contractors in South Africa
- Agumba, Justus J.N., Pretorius, Jan Harm, Haupt, Theo
- Authors: Agumba, Justus J.N. , Pretorius, Jan Harm , Haupt, Theo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Worker participation , Employee involvement , Employee empowerment , Construction industry - Health measures , Construction industry - Safety measures , Small and medium sized contractors - South Africa - Gauteng
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4885 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12599
- Description: Purpose: It is well known that managing H&S helps ensure that construction organizations are achieving their H&S objectives and targets. As such, the H&S management practices constitute a vehicle to improve H&S performance outcome. However, the challenge is to determine what needs to be measured and practiced by SMEs at project level. The objectives of this paper are therefore to determine the H&S elements indicative of SMEs, employee involvement and empowerment H&S practices and the influence of employee involvement and empowerment on H&S performance at project level. Research methodology: A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire consisting of 31 items categorized in five independent variables (IV). This was developed from extensive literature and four rounds of Delphi survey. A total of 216 valid questionnaires were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Inferential statistics were used to determine the perception of SMEs employee involvement and empowerment practices. Finally, standard multiple linear regression analysis was undertaken to establish the influence employee involvement and empowerment had on H&S performance. Findings: Five IVs were retained as valid and reliable factors of H&S practice within SMEs at project level. However the study established that employee involvement and empowerment is not greatly practiced and does not influence H&S performance. Limitations: Self-administered questionnaire for SMEs and the majority of the respondents conducting business in Gauteng province in South Africa are limitations in this study. Value: The findings indicate the need to fully involve and empower employees in H&S activities of SMEs at project level. Practical implication: This study provides the basis of informing the H&S policy that employee involvement and empowerment is not greatly practiced within construction SMEs in South Africa at project level. Hence, the need to encourage this practice within South African SMEs is highly recommended.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Agumba, Justus J.N. , Pretorius, Jan Harm , Haupt, Theo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Worker participation , Employee involvement , Employee empowerment , Construction industry - Health measures , Construction industry - Safety measures , Small and medium sized contractors - South Africa - Gauteng
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4885 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12599
- Description: Purpose: It is well known that managing H&S helps ensure that construction organizations are achieving their H&S objectives and targets. As such, the H&S management practices constitute a vehicle to improve H&S performance outcome. However, the challenge is to determine what needs to be measured and practiced by SMEs at project level. The objectives of this paper are therefore to determine the H&S elements indicative of SMEs, employee involvement and empowerment H&S practices and the influence of employee involvement and empowerment on H&S performance at project level. Research methodology: A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire consisting of 31 items categorized in five independent variables (IV). This was developed from extensive literature and four rounds of Delphi survey. A total of 216 valid questionnaires were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. Inferential statistics were used to determine the perception of SMEs employee involvement and empowerment practices. Finally, standard multiple linear regression analysis was undertaken to establish the influence employee involvement and empowerment had on H&S performance. Findings: Five IVs were retained as valid and reliable factors of H&S practice within SMEs at project level. However the study established that employee involvement and empowerment is not greatly practiced and does not influence H&S performance. Limitations: Self-administered questionnaire for SMEs and the majority of the respondents conducting business in Gauteng province in South Africa are limitations in this study. Value: The findings indicate the need to fully involve and empower employees in H&S activities of SMEs at project level. Practical implication: This study provides the basis of informing the H&S policy that employee involvement and empowerment is not greatly practiced within construction SMEs in South Africa at project level. Hence, the need to encourage this practice within South African SMEs is highly recommended.
- Full Text:
Health and safety management practices in small and medium enterprises in the South African construction industry
- Agumba, Justus, Pretorius, Jan Harm, Haupt, Theo
- Authors: Agumba, Justus , Pretorius, Jan Harm , Haupt, Theo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Construction industry - South Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4898 , ISSN 1023-0564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12991
- Description: Considering its share in, and impact on national economies, the construction industry receives additional attention in terms of its performance and productivity, especially among small and medium contractors. However, with the extensive workforce it employs, health and safety (H&S) issues have become important, since the industry still has the reputation of being one of those with the highest fatality and accident rates. It has been well established from literature and previous studies (Fernandez-Muniz, Montes-Peon & Vazquez- Ordas, 2007: 636; Rajendran & Gambatese, 2009: 1072) that managing H&S helps to ensure that construction organisations are achieving their H&S objectives. As such, H&S management practices constitute a vehicle to improve H&S performance. Given the dominance of small and medium contractors in the construction sector, the challenge is to determine what needs to be measured and practised by these Small and Medium Construction Enterprises (SMCEs) at project level. The objective of this article is to validate the H&S practices that small and medium construction enterprises practise in order to improve H&S performance at project level.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Agumba, Justus , Pretorius, Jan Harm , Haupt, Theo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Construction industry - South Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4898 , ISSN 1023-0564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12991
- Description: Considering its share in, and impact on national economies, the construction industry receives additional attention in terms of its performance and productivity, especially among small and medium contractors. However, with the extensive workforce it employs, health and safety (H&S) issues have become important, since the industry still has the reputation of being one of those with the highest fatality and accident rates. It has been well established from literature and previous studies (Fernandez-Muniz, Montes-Peon & Vazquez- Ordas, 2007: 636; Rajendran & Gambatese, 2009: 1072) that managing H&S helps to ensure that construction organisations are achieving their H&S objectives. As such, H&S management practices constitute a vehicle to improve H&S performance. Given the dominance of small and medium contractors in the construction sector, the challenge is to determine what needs to be measured and practised by these Small and Medium Construction Enterprises (SMCEs) at project level. The objective of this article is to validate the H&S practices that small and medium construction enterprises practise in order to improve H&S performance at project level.
- Full Text:
Review of optimisation applications in rail freight logistics with a view to identify possible applications in the Southern African region
- Mhlanga, Samson, Mbohwa, Charles, Pretorius, Jan Harm, Gwangwava, Norman
- Authors: Mhlanga, Samson , Mbohwa, Charles , Pretorius, Jan Harm , Gwangwava, Norman
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Optimisation , Rail freight logistics - Southern Africa , Freightage costs - Southern Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:6254 , ISSN 2010-4626 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8209
- Description: Logistics is one of the most important and critical economic drivers which determines the rate at which goods can be exported at the lowest cost. The paper reviewed Southern Africa rail freight infrastructure and planning activities. It interrogated the academic and research institutes activities as related to rail freight. A review of one of the biggest freight company Transnet was done to highlight extent of application. The paper concludes by highlighting potential and the gaps in optimisation within Southern Africa rail freight, which can be addressed using operations research techniques such as ant colony and genetic algorithms with a view to inform decision making.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mhlanga, Samson , Mbohwa, Charles , Pretorius, Jan Harm , Gwangwava, Norman
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Optimisation , Rail freight logistics - Southern Africa , Freightage costs - Southern Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:6254 , ISSN 2010-4626 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8209
- Description: Logistics is one of the most important and critical economic drivers which determines the rate at which goods can be exported at the lowest cost. The paper reviewed Southern Africa rail freight infrastructure and planning activities. It interrogated the academic and research institutes activities as related to rail freight. A review of one of the biggest freight company Transnet was done to highlight extent of application. The paper concludes by highlighting potential and the gaps in optimisation within Southern Africa rail freight, which can be addressed using operations research techniques such as ant colony and genetic algorithms with a view to inform decision making.
- Full Text:
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