Analysing the impact of adherence to occupational safety and health regulations to the occurrence of accidents in the construction industry in Uganda
Abstract
This study analyzed the impact of adherence to occupational safety and health regulations to the
occurrence of accidents in the construction industry in Uganda. The construction industry in
Uganda is characterized by numerous occurrences of accidents. Some accidents are minor, others
are incapacitating whereas others are fatal. Accident occurrence in the construction industry is a
result of combined causes which vary from negligence of employers and employees, poor use
and storage of dangerous materials, ignorance in the use of machinery, unforeseeable factors like
underground electrocution and ditches as well as not complying with the Occupational Safety
and Health Regulations. Accidents may occur in form of falling debris, cuts, inhalation of toxic
substances as well as epidemics due to unhygienic work environment. Consequently, the
occurrence of accidents in the construction industry leads to loss of time, increased costs on
health and safety as well as loss of lives at the worst case scenario. This is a big concern to the
general public seeing that the construction industry employs a significant percentage of the
formal and informal labor force.
This study therefore aimed at determining the degree of adherence to occupational safety and
health regulations, the frequency of occurrence of accidents in the Construction Industry in
Uganda and thus examining the relationship between the degree of adherence to Occupational
Safety and health regulations and the frequency of occurrence of accidents in the Construction
Industry in Uganda.
The study adopted quantitative and qualitative approaches in data collection and analysis.
Stratified random sampling was used to select 30 construction sites out of the probable 270
construction projects which the Kampala Capital City Authority commissioned for the financial
year 2017/2018 in the 3 divisions where the study was focused. The study involved the use of
questionnaires and observation schedules to collect the data required to answer the objective
questions of this research. Questionnaires were administered to project managers, site engineers,
safety workers and lead foremen where appropriate. Observation was done when there was
active construction on those particular sites where questionnaires were administered. All the
information used in this study is primary information.