Safety and Health Management

Safety and Health Management in Construction SMEs of the UK

by

Abstract

Construction industry is regarded as the most crucial sector of the economy that induces business and investment opportunities in the economy that embraces 5% of the total UK labour force is. However, it should be noticed that the construction industry is the most vulnerable sector of the UK economy that is sensitive to safety risks and health issues. According to an estimate, moreover than 4100 accidents occur with every 100,000 workers of the European Union SME sector involving three days absence. Moreover, it is observed that the failure of an enterprise to achieve an optimal level of health and safety will result in decrease of the productivity of the SMEs in terms of delays and increased disputes. However, it should be noticed that there are some misconception about the safety and health need of the employees in construction SMEs of the UK. Most of the SMEs do not integrate safety and health measures in the enterprise due to the lack of resources. The intention of the study is to explore the factors that induce decision of construction SMEs regarding the implementation of the health and safety programs. In addition to it, the study intended to examine the negative impact of the occupational accidents on the performance of employees as well as business in terms of delays and conflicts. Moreover, the study is expected to extricate the strategies of the construction SMEs to efficiently integrate health and safety programs in order to ensure the safety measures for the employees.

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS1

4.1Discussion1

4.2Questionnaire Analysis2

4.3Interviews Analysis3

4.4Analysis of Case Studies4

Case Study 1: Data Scaffolding Services Ltd4

Case Study 2: Huntsmans Quarries Ltd6

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS8

5.1Conclusion8

5.2Recommendations9

5.3Recommendations for future research11

References12

Appendix- A14

Appendix- B16

Appendix- C18

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Discussion

On the basis of the findings of previously conducted studies, the researcher analysed the urgency of safety and health management needs in Construction SMEs in order to make them more effective as well as to reduce the burden of high rate of occupational injuries from the construction sector of the UK economy (Stokols, 1992, p.18). The research observed that the government of UK has introduced a variety of rules and regulations regarding the safety and health needs of the workers in order to make sure that the construction SMEs are focusing on the health and safety needs of their employees (Fairey & Calvert, 2008, June). Revell & Blackburn (2007) asserts the need of safety and health management practices are essentially crucial for the construction SMEs as the vulnerability of the construction SMEs is more to the safety risks as compared to other SMEs. I addition to it, Loughlin (2004) suggests that the integration of safety and health management practices in the SMEs is crucial in order to meet the physical, mental as well as social needs of the employee. According to Arditi & Gunaydin (1997, p. 239) employers can create psychological attachment with their employees by focusing on the basic rights of the employees in order to induce ...