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Construction health and safety culture in South Africa small and medium enterprises

- Agumba,N.J, Haupt, Theo

Evaluating the use of project management techniques in infrastructure delivery by South African small and medium sized contractors

- Agumba, Justus Ngala

  • Authors: Agumba, Justus Ngala
  • Date: 2008-07-16T12:54:49Z
  • Subjects: Project management , Construction industry , Small business
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/802
  • Description: South Africa is currently faced with the challenge of reducing the huge backlog of infrastructure delivery to communities that were previously disadvantaged. Given the prioritization of empowerment by the South African government, the previously disadvantaged and marginalized sector of the construction industry that comprises mainly, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is the preferred vehicle of delivery. However, consequent to their historic position outside of the mainstream construction industry, they lack the requisite project management expertise and experience to make good on this objective. This study investigates the characteristics of the personnel managing SMEs and the SMEs themselves, the usage, necessity, importance and adequate use of the techniques, effectiveness and potential applicability of various project management techniques to improve the performance of the SMEs in delivering the much-needed infrastructure. The study also identifies those external and internal factors that are detrimental to the effective implementation of project management techniques. Given the aforementioned, a descriptive survey was conducted among contractors who were either registered members of the Gauteng Master Builders Association (GMBA) or the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) in Gauteng. The data was collected using a semi-structured, structured and open-ended interview questionnaire, and analysed using descriptive analysis, severity index and content analysis respectively. The findings indicate that experienced and educated personnel manage SMEs. There is usage of essential project management techniques, which the contractors agreed are necessary and important in managing their projects. There is inadequate use of project management techniques among the SMEs. When used, the techniques brought about improvement in the delivery of projects. The research also established various factors that deterred the adequate implementation of project management techniques, namely, lack of adequate project information from professionals, time and financial constraints. The research concludes by suggesting that if significant improvements in the delivery of construction projects are to be attained, the findings stated need to be taken into consideration. , Mr. F.C. Fester Prof. F.A.O. Otieno Mr. I.O. Adegoke
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Construction health and safety culture in South African small and medium enterprises

- Agumba, Justus N., Haupt, Theo

  • Authors: Agumba, Justus N. , Haupt, Theo
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Construction health and safety , Construction industry , Small business
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5307 , ISSN 978-0-62043702-8 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5293
  • Description: Construction health and safety (H&S) culture in small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) has received little attention in South Africa, in terms of either research or support for preventive initiatives. Previous research suggests that this sector has serious problems exacerbated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover it is now recognized that methods developed specifically for large firms cannot necessarily be transferred to smaller and medium firms, hence the need to investigate the H&S culture in SMEs. This exploratory study is based on descriptive survey using semi-structured and structured questionnaire, and non-probability sampling to give an overview of the characteristics of H&S culture and practices in SMEs firms in the South African construction industry.
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Evaluating management commitment to health and safety in small and medium construction enterprises

- Agumba, Justus N., Haupt, Theo.

  • Authors: Agumba, Justus N. , Haupt, Theo.
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction health and safety , Small business
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5308 , ISBN 978-0-620-44689-1 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5297
  • Description: Construction health and safety (H&S) in small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) has received little attention in South Africa, in terms of either research or support for preventive initiatives. Previous research suggests that this sector has serious problems exacerbated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover it is now recognized that methods developed specifically for large firms cannot necessarily be transferred to smaller and medium firms, hence the need to investigate management commitment to H&S among SMEs.
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Investigation of factors that influence the selection of procurement systems of the South African construction industry

- Mathonsi, M.D., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

Motivators of construction workers in South African sites

- Monese, L.N., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

Skilled labour shortages in construction contractors : a literature review

- Makhene, D., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

The effects of different cultural backgrounds on teamwork on construction site

- Khumalo, J., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

Evaluation of small and medium-sized enterprises' performance in the built environment

- Ladzani, Mmboswobeni Watson

  • Authors: Ladzani, Mmboswobeni Watson
  • Date: 2010-08-04T07:17:26Z
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Civil engineering research , Engineering management
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:6898 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3372
  • Description: D.Phil. , South Africa’s SMMEs are characterised by, among other challenges, poor management, poor entrepreneurial performance and low global competitiveness. The Global Entrepreneurial Monitor (GEM) reported that South Africa ranks low in terms of global competitiveness. This study evaluated the management performance of small, micro- and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the South African building construction industry, the third largest employer in South Africa. The main research aim was to find the reasons for the poor management performance of the building construction industry SMMEs and to make recommendations to improve the management performance of these SMMEs. International management performance models were analysed to select an appropriate model to evaluate the respondents’ management performance. The South African Excellence Model (SAEM) was deemed the most appropriate and was selected and used as research instrument. The researcher selected an evaluative, comparative design for the study. A two-part questionnaire was used for data collection. “Part 1” questionnaire profiled the sampled SMMEs to identify independent variables that influenced their management performance. The self-assessment performance measurement questionnaire (“Part 2” questionnaire) evaluated their management performance. The results of the study were twofold. Firstly, the mean-ranking results that ranked the eleven management performance criteria were tested for equality. Management performance criteria that showed low mean ranks were reasons for the respondents’ poor management performance. Secondly, independence tests identified the factors that influenced the SMMEs’ management performance. The greatest deficiency in terms of management performance was lack of social responsibility amongst SMMEs. The second largest deficiency occurred at business processes, followed by the planning and strategy, people management, and people satisfaction criteria. The most sufficient criterion was customer satisfaction, followed by leadership, customer and market focus, resources and information management and lastly supplier and partnership performance criteria. Hypothesised reasons for the respondents’ poor management performance were tested statistically. Of the five independent variables tested to determine whether they significantly improved the respondents’ management performance, education and technical skills training significantly improved the management performance. Age, gender and race of owner-managers, however, did not. The study recommends strengthening the SACEM by introducing financial management criteria and benchmarking SMMEs’ management performance with industry and world-class best practice. The study found that management performance criteria that showed low scores (social responsibility, business processes, and planning and strategy) require urgent intervention.
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Identifying factors of health and safety (H&S) culture for the construction industry

- Musonda, Innocent, Haupt, Theo C.

  • Authors: Musonda, Innocent , Haupt, Theo C.
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Health and safety , Construction industry , LIP+3C culture model
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/150621 , uj:1095
  • Description: Purpose: This paper presents a review of previous studies on the subject of H&S culture and outline key H&S culture factors that are necessary to make the concept useful in the construction industry. A conceptualised model LIP+3C is also presented as the outcome of the review Design/methodology/approach: Literature review focused on exploring the conceptual definitions of H&S culture was conducted. A matrix for the identified literature was developed to identify common H&S culture elements. Findings: It was revealed that there is still confusion and lack of consensus on the concept of H&S culture. However, the H&S culture elements of leadership, involvement, procedures, communication, competence and commitment dominate the literature. Research limitations/implications: Literature review was conducted on 15 published peer reviewed journal articles. The validation of the elements found in the study is currently under way although preliminary results confirm the findings. Practical implications: H&S culture has been identified as being of great importance to H&S performance improvement. Identifying culture elements that can easily be implemented and understood will contribute to improving the current H&S status. Originality/value: Adopting the LIP+3C culture model composed of elements that can easily be implemented and understood will contribute to improving the current H&S status
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Identifying factors of health and safety (H&S) culture for the construction industry

- Musonda, Innocent, Haupt, Theo C.

  • Authors: Musonda, Innocent , Haupt, Theo C.
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Health and safety culture model , Construction industry
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6092 , ISBN 978-0-86970-713-5 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10955
  • Description: Construction H&S performance improvement has in recent years become a priority and thus has gained industry-wide attention (Cheung et al, 2004 and Hamalainen et al, 2009) because of the economic benefits, the need to improve construction industry image, the need for organisations to be socially responsible and the need for an improved general regard and respect for people working in the construction industry. In addition, the legislative pressure coupled with debate concerning the personal responsibility that senior managers should bear for their organisations on H&S failures (Fitzgerald, 2005) has contributed to most organisations to focus on H&S improvement. However improving H&S performance in the construction industry has also proved to be somewhat challenging partly due to the industryʼs complex nature. Despite this complexity of the industry, H&S performance improvement remains a crucial issue and its importance or need has been demonstrated in numerous studies (Smallman and John, 2001; Lee et al, 2006; ILO, 2003; and Hoonakker et al, 2005).
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Improving the effectiveness and image of the building and civil construction process

- Grobler, Kobus

  • Authors: Grobler, Kobus
  • Date: 2011-12-06
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Civil engineering , Construction industry quality control
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:1815 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4177
  • Description: D.Ing. , The construction industry has changed dramatically over the past thirty odd years. The following factors played a significant role in this change: (1) The building boom around the 1970s pressurized the industry to work faster. This was followed by periods of variation in workload, which have over the last number of years manifested in a permanent low demand for construction in South Africa. (2) Projects became larger and more complex. (3) An over-regulated labour environment not only leads to the downsize of organizations, but is a main contributor towards the increased use of subcontracting. (4) The time value of money causes owners to specify compressed project schedules and lowest price is often the only selection factor in the award of contracts. The shift in work from predominantly public sector towards the private sector, which by nature is more time conscious, is another factor pressurizing the industry to work faster. The industry has introduced amongst others the following measures to cope with these demands: (1) Main contractors are subcontracting more and more of the work. (2) The traditional in-series concept came under pressure - the management approaches became formal procurement concepts and design-build re-appeared. (3) New construction techniques such as fast-tracking and the movement towards factory produced elements in certain areas, for example precast concrete elements, reduced project schedules and replaced previously time consuming activities and counteracted to a certain extent the shortage of skilled tradesmen. The author argues that in the process to combat these external pressures, the following problems, amongst others, manifested: (1) Ineffective project procurement. (2) Unethical and unsound practices between main contractors and subcontractors. (3) Lack of quality and reliability of a substantial share of end-products. Another problem burdening the industry is historical, namely cultural differences between designers and contractors.
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Mentorship programmes within the small and medium sized contractor development programme: a case study of the Free State province, South Africa

- Mofokeng, Godfrey, Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

  • Authors: Mofokeng, Godfrey , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Mentors in business , Construction industry , Contractor development programmes
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:4715 , ISSN 2220-6140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10963
  • Description: The South African government has been implementing various small and medium sized contractor development programmes in an effort to redress the legacy created by apartheid government. The programmes fulfil such an objective through awarding construction projects to the historically disadvantaged Black contractors to enable them develop competent skills, build viable construction firms, create jobs and redistribute wealth. A mentorship programme was put in place to assist the contractors with technical, managerial, contractual and business impediments they might be encountered in the project execution and in running the construction business. The main aim of the paper was to conduct an evaluation of the contractor development mentorship programme in South Africa using the Free State Province as a case study. Questionnaires were distributed to 120 small and medium contractors in the Free State Province, and a review of literature was undertaken. Financial factors were found to be amongst the leading causes of contractors’ failures. It was also established that educational qualification and experience in the construction industry have an effect in a contractor’s failure or success. A lot of contractors revealed that they were not exposed to the Contractor Development Programmes like in other provinces hence 74% did not participate in any contractor development programmes and only 26% did participate. The paper concluded with recommendations on how mentorship within the contractor development programme can be improved.
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A case study on improving labour productivity in civil engineering projects

- Balci, Besim U.

  • Authors: Balci, Besim U.
  • Date: 2012-01-25
  • Subjects: Civil engineering , Construction industry , Labor productivity
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:1964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4321
  • Description: M.Ing. , The ability of construction firms to stay solvent largely depends on productivity. Productivity improvement is the key to economic prosperity in the long term. It provides the basis for increasing wages and more prosperous firms. Various methods can be implemented to measure and increase productivity which will result an increased output and efficiency. The aim of this work is to address the methods to be used for labour productivity measurement and improvement in civil engineering context. A case study will be done on a current construction project.
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Influence of construction clients on health and safety performance

- Lopes, Martin

  • Authors: Lopes, Martin
  • Date: 2012-06-05
  • Subjects: Construction site safety , Industrial safety , Construction industry
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:2382 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4837
  • Description: M. Tech. , Relative to other industries in South Africa and construction industries worldwide, the South African construction process generates a disproportionate number of fatalities, injuries and disease, the direct and indirect cost of which contribute to the cost of construction. Serious accidents and injuries resulting in personal injury and wrongful death occur with alarming frequency at construction sites in the U.K. The majority of accidents are not caused by careless workers but rather by failure to control. According to the Health and Safety Executive report published in 1988 out of the 90% of all construction accidents leading to death 70% could have been prevented by positive management actions and interventiion. Clients influence construction health and safety performance. Architects and design engineers often disavow responsibility for health and safety issues associated with the construction of their work. Arguably, this denial will only change if clients insist that construction health and safety is addressed on their projects. Health and safety begins with the attitude that accidents are preventable and that requirements for healthy and safe work practices must be followed. Health and safety should not be left solely under the control of the workers if injuries are to be curtailed or diminished, because the health and safety environment consists of many factors over which workers have little or no control. An underlying belief is that the majority of accidents are not caused by careless workers but by failure in controls. Although the best site management of health and safety cannot prevent all accidents, entities other than those actually performing the work do have an important role to play in enforcing proper safety standard measures : It is possible to prevent accidents from occurring. Success in health and safety has a great deal to do with people, especially those who will be responsible for ensuring that the project will be delivered safely. There is some evidence that the importance of health and safety is being realised by clients. Costs associated with worker injuries and fatalities are borne ultimately by the client and insisting that health and safety be included in design and construction considerations will prevent the occurrence of injuries and ultimately reduce the construction costs. Clients mostly set health and safety culture during the construction phase. Health and safety prequalification criteria to design approval post the design phase that shows that clients would prefer their involvement to be in specific phases. Clients do not realise that they can make significant contributions to improve health and safety performance during the early stages of a project. Clients who have to pay for construction work do not make specific cost provision for construction safety. Clients need to afford health and safety the same status as other project parameters. It is widely accepted that contractors should bear the responsibility for health and safety during the construction phase. The study found that clients regarded the construction and maintenance phases as the most important to address health and safety. Again clients do not realise the significance of placing health and safety importance in the initial phases of a project.
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Assessment of mentoring of construction workers in the South African construction industry: a literature review

- Nkomo, Morena, Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

  • Authors: Nkomo, Morena , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Mentoring in business , Construction workers - Mentoring
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:4922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13022
  • Description: It is important to critically analyze the concept and to highlight the distinctive elements of youth mentoring, in the construction industry. The aim of this paper is to look at the experiences, challenges and problems contributing to mentoring of young graduate’s construction employees within construction companies. It will indicate whether or not young graduates’ construction workers are they being motored or not, are they involved in any form of mentoring, within their construction companies. This study will examine mentoring of young graduates within organizations, whether they are being mentored or not in the construction industry, as compared to their non-mentored employees; within their companies, it will look at the important characteristics of mentors, potential negative outcomes or problems in mentoring of young graduates and the implications of cultural divide in relation to gender and race, are they being mentored the same or not, this will report more job and career satisfaction, and express lower turnover than their non-mentored counterparts, furthermore it will examine the ways in which mentoring contributes to producing motivated young construction workers within the industry.
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Construction health and safety risk management

- Mustapha, Z., Aigbavboa, Clinton, Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

A theoretical assessment of causes of job insecurity in the construction industry

- Mathebula, Lerato, Mukuka, Mulenga, Aigbavboa, Clinton, Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

  • Authors: Mathebula, Lerato , Mukuka, Mulenga , Aigbavboa, Clinton , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Insecurity , Job insecurity , Construction industry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/73303 , uj:18392 , Citation: Mathebula, L. et al. 2015. A theoretical assessment of causes of job insecurity in the construction industry.
  • Description: Abstract: The construction industry has been dealing with drastic changes over the past years, changes that result in a number of negative consequences one of them being job insecurity. These changes concern issues such as increased economic dependency between countries, rapidly changing consumer markets and escalated demands for flexibility within as well as between organisations. However, it is an organisations’ responsibility to manage the changes accordingly to avoid issues such as job insecurity. Hence this paper theoretically discuses job insecurity in the construction industry. The study was conducted with reference to existing theoretical literature, published and unpublished research. The study is mainly a literature review/survey on job insecurity in the construction industry. Literature revealed that employment downsizing, financial crisis, lack of experience and training, technological changes, racism, gender and lack of education were the major causes of job insecurity in the construction industry. The current study is a theoretical assessment of job insecurity in the construction industry and the study contributes to the body of knowledge on the subject of job insecurity in the construction industry.
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An assessment of factors affecting risk management in the South African construction industry

- Seku, L., Aigbavboa, C.O., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

  • Authors: Seku, L. , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction risk management , Construction projects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/73287 , uj:18390 , Citation: Seku, L., Aigbavboa, C.O. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. An assessment of factors affecting risk management in the South African construction industry.
  • Description: Abstract: Purpose The research aims to assess and evaluate the techniques used in managing risks in South African construction projects, the effectiveness of risk management techniques that are currently in use and the factors that influence the use of risk management by contractors in their projects. Methodology The data used in this paper were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire survey. This was distributed to Contractors operating in Gauteng province. One hundred and eight structured questionnaires were used for the survey. Out of the 108 questionnaires sent out, all were received back representing 100% response rate, these formed the basis of the analysis for the paper. The secondary data for the study was derived from the review of literatures. Findings The empirical studies have identified that risk management in the South Africa construction is mostly influenced and affected by the size of company, education and experience of construction company and managers. The study also revealed that the majority of South African contractors are aware and make use of the structured process of risk management. Value The study contributes to the body of knowledge the use of risk management in the South African construction industry.
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An exploratory study of the causes of failure in construction small businesses : a case of the Johannesburg construction industry, South Africa

- Eke, Chikezie, Aigbavboa, Clinton, Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

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