Strategies for effective management of health and safety in confined site construction

Main Article Content

John Spillane
Lukumon O. Oyedele

Abstract

Purpose: The overall aim of this research is to identify and catalogue the numerous managerial strategies for effective management of health and safety on a confined, urban, construction site.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This is achieved by utilising individual interviews, focus groups discussion on selected case studies of confined construction sites, coupled with a questionnaire survey.

Findings: The top five key strategies include (1) Employ safe system of work plans to mitigate personnel health and safety issues; (2) Inform personnel, before starting on-site, of the potential issues using site inductions; (3) Effective communication among site personnel; (4) Draft and implement an effective design site layout prior to starting on-site; and (5) Use of banksman (traffic co-ordinator) to segregate personnel from vehicular traffic.

Practical Implication: The construction sector is one of the leading industries in accident causation and with the continued development and regeneration of our urban centres, confined site construction is quickly becoming the norm - an environment which only fuels accident creation within the construction sector.

Originality/Value: This research aids on-site management that requires direction and assistance in the identification and implementation of key strategies for the management of health and safety, particularly in confined construction site environments.

Article Details

How to Cite
Spillane, J., & Oyedele, L. O. (2013). Strategies for effective management of health and safety in confined site construction. Construction Economics and Building, 13(4), 50-64. https://doi.org/10.5130/AJCEB.v13i4.3619
Section
Articles (Peer reviewed)
Author Biographies

John Spillane, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast

Dr. Spillane is a Lecturer in Construction Management in the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom.

Lukumon O. Oyedele, Bristol Enterprise and Innovation Centre, Bristol Business School, University of West of England, Bristol UK.

Professor Lukumon Oyedele is a Professor of Enterprise and Project Management at the University of West of England, Bristol, UK. He is the Director of Bristol Enterprise and Innovation Centre (BEIC) at the same Institution.

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