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.