Assessing the extent of compliance to occupational safety and health regulations on construction sites in Kampala.

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine the extent to which Occupational Safety and Health standards are being adhered to on building construction sites. It further determined the measures organizations have to put in place to comply with occupational safety and health measures. The study population comprised of 25 registered workplaces and 0 safety officers who were interviewed and questioned through structured questionnaires. The study was a survey design and primary data was obtained through questionnaires, interviews and observations by the researcher. The data was analyzed and summarized using the SPSS software and MS Excel. The elements used to determine the extent of compliance were developed through using the Occupational Safety and Health Act as a guide. The study found that all the sampled workplaces were aware of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2006. Enforcement of safety, safety rules and regulations, attention to hazardous areas and workplace registration were also in place at these selected workplaces. However, Insurance of workers, reports on poor working environments, safety committees, control and monitoring of hazardous substances to the environment, supervision of health of workers, provision of PPE, records of accidents and training and supervision of workers were not so applicable at the workplaces, that is to say they weren’t in compliance. Overall, the extent of adherence or compliance to Occupational Safety and Health standards was 38 percent. This shows that organizations still have 68 percent of non-compliance which they need to work on in order to minimize the consequences of non-compliance.