Appraisal of Occupational Health and Safety Compliance on Selected Road Projects in Kampala

Abstract

This report presents results of a study to determine the level of compliance of Occupational Health and Safety guidelines on road construction projects on selected roads in Kampala. The data used in the study was collected from six projects using an observation checklist developed considering statutory requirements. It presents findings on various safety aspects and the extent to which they are adhered to on the various projects assessed. The study shows that safety measures such as housekeeping, health and welfare, campsite layout were the most adhered to safety measures whereas equipment hazards and traffic management were the least adhered to. The overall level of compliance was at 67%. This therefore implies that the level of noncompliance was 33% which suggests that workplaces must enforce adherence to the above safety measures so as to reduce their consequences. Conclusions that were drawn point towards inclusion of a reasonable amount of money in the contracts to address all OHS aspects throughout the project lifetime, coordination between the project manager and the safeguards department so as to render effective execution of safety guidelines and fairly good traffic management on the sites on the one hand; and inadequate usage of personal protective equipment, insufficient training and inefficient safety committees on the other. As recommendations, proper housekeeping and traffic management should be emphasized, provision of appropriate personal protective equipment and observation and emphasis of safety at tendering stage.