Dissertation Title: FACTORS OF CONTRACTOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY & HEALTH REGULATIONS IN MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Lecturer: Ms Theong May Chuan
Supervisor: Puan Mariatul Liza
The research dissertation covers:
1.1 INTRODUCTION
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.1 DATA ANALYSIS
5.1 CONCLUSION
___________________________________________________________________________________
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The construction industry is segmented by
industry analysts and practitioners into at least four distinct sectors;
residential, commercial, industrial, and heavy construction(Phil,
H. and Ed, F., 2005). Besides
that, in a building construction development, it involves a network of
professional such as employers, consultants, contractors, designers, suppliers,
manufacturers and labour
(Alan, and Tim,
H., 2000).
There are four influences such as the (1)
personal human influences of the individual such as the negative attitude and behaviour, lack of knowledge, skills and
awareness,(2) the project influences such as lack of supervision on the site
condition with the unique nature of the project, (3) organizational influences
from corporate management such as poor management on safety and health
regulations and (4) environmental and external business influences such as lack
of commitment towards the safety culture(Alan, and Tim, H.,
2000).
Objectives:-
- To identify the major hazards and risks that occurred in construction industry.
- To determine the factors of contractor’s non-compliance to Safety and health regulations in construction industry.
Scope of this research
The scope of this research will be focused on contractor’s non-compliance in Safety and health regulations in construction industry within East Malaysia which are Sabah and Sarawak. Focus on the most popular safety and health regulations, that is, Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulation and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The targeted respondents for this research are G4-G7 contractors.
Problem Statement:
- According to statistics from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), the overall accident rate at the work place has been reduced by 37% in the year 2000 to 2011. Whereas, commuting accident is relatively increasing daily in Malaysia.
- By hiring well-trained Site Safety Supervisor (SSS) to manage the awareness of site safety from the feasibility stage to the completion period. Is the contractor going to bear the cost?
- Malaysia has insufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) resources and it brings additional cost to contractors. Will the government consider granting a tax rebate for imported PPEs?
2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
Definition:
According to etymologist Douglas Harper, the word “safe” first came into use in the English Language around 1280. This word was derived from the Old French “sauf”, Latin “salvus” which means “uninjured and healthy” (Nilsenet al. 2004, Yau.Y, Daniel C.W.H, and Kwong W.C., 2008). According to etymologist sources, safety concerns the wholeness of physical life, and safety is achieved through avoidance of injury.
Hazard is the activity or process to cause damage or injury to person and dangers that caused potential damages, injuries, health effects, environmental influence and harm to people (Phil, H. and Ed, F., 2005). Hazardous activities are unlikely to be eliminated but reduced to lesser risk (John, B., 2002). Whereas, risks are the likelihood, probability and the possibility of getting injured and harmed if exposed to hazardous activities. However, risks can be prevented and avoided, to measurable level of risk, because different level of risks brings different type of hazard to the safety and health of the people (John, B., 2002).
3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Process:
- Developing research title
- Research objectives
- Identify problem statements
- Research design
- Writing up Literature Review
- Methods of collection data
- Sent our Questionnaires
- Analyzing data
- Conclusion and Recommendation
- Final Submission
Primary
data means sources which include finding out first-hand attitudes In this
research, a closed-ended questionnaire is used as the method for data
collection to generate qualitative and quantitative research. Secondary data as
the data that a researcher uses which has already been produced by other. It
does not incur postage cost but the response rate is quite low in contrast to
meeting people face-to-face type of survey to be completed on the spot (Gina, W.,
2009). Statistical analytical techniques will be used in this research to
examine the quantitative data gathered.
Sampling formula by Robert V. Krejcie and Daryle W. Morgan, (1970),
S =
X 2NP(1−P) ÷d
2 (N
−1) +
X 2P(1−P)
4.1 DATA ANALYSIS
In this research, I had distributed a total of 748
sets of questionnaires to Sabah and Sarawak contractor's firms. My total
responses are 65 sets which is 8.69%. Distributing questionnaires through
online survey has a low response rate, and it is free doesn't incur postage
cost at all. It is very convenient.
To achieve objective 1: To
identify the major hazards and risks that occurred in construction
industry.
Table 4.1: Overall
ranking for four major hazards and risks
Question
|
Hazards
and risks
|
Mode
|
Mean
|
Rank
|
1
|
Falling from height
|
4
|
3.17
|
2
|
2
|
Structure failure
|
1
|
2.25
|
4
|
3
|
Use of equipment
without safety appliances
|
3
|
3.35
|
1
|
4
|
Exposure to
environmental harms
|
1
|
2.83
|
3
|
To achieve objective 2: To determine the factors of contractor’s non-compliance to Safety and health regulations in construction industry.
Table 4.2: Ranking for factors of
contractor non-compliance with safety and health regulations
Factors of contractor non-compliance
with safety and health regulations
|
Numbers of respondents
|
Mean
|
Rank
|
Save cost in safety equipment
|
65
|
3.18
|
14
|
Poor enforcement in safety policy
|
65
|
2.8
|
17
|
Safety testing
|
65
|
3.28
|
12
|
Working on unsafe surfaces
|
65
|
3.25
|
13
|
Loss of concentration
|
65
|
3.77
|
6
|
Unsafe behaviours and attitude
|
65
|
4.28
|
1
|
Low level of knowledge and lack of training
|
65
|
4.02
|
3
|
Nature of work situation
|
65
|
3.48
|
7
|
Engaging temporary labour
|
65
|
3.45
|
8
|
Health and physical characteristics
|
65
|
4.15
|
2
|
Incorrect use of PPE
|
65
|
4.02
|
3
|
Fail to advise labour
to obey instruction
|
65
|
3.38
|
11
|
Old plant and equipment and sub-standard PPE
|
65
|
2.98
|
16
|
Plant and machinery without safety devices
|
65
|
3.42
|
9
|
Poor site management
|
65
|
3.94
|
5
|
Unsafe methods on work procedure
|
65
|
3.42
|
9
|
Price fluctuation in construction materials
|
65
|
3.14
|
15
|
5.1 CONCLUSION
The multi-lingual safety program is most
effective when it involves two-way communication between workers and managers. Therefore, enforcing safety and health regulations is important to
increase the awareness of the labourers at worksite and also reduce the hazards
and risks to the minimum. Employers and contractors should allocate appropriate budget to
occupational safety and health. This investment will ultimately reduce, but not
completely eliminated the hazards and risks in the industry.
What I've Learned:
Throughout the one year for researching the safety and health in the construction industry. I had read up piles of journals and books as well. In this research, I have learnt quite numerous of information regarding the current industry. And what are the major hazards or risks in the industry nowadays? what factors affecting it to cause accidents? What is the solution to minimize the hazards or risks? All of these I had already consider in my thesis.
Future Plan
I wish I would improve more on doing research. I experienced on the procedure on how to do research for future reports or thesis. For the first time, i tried my best to do it perfectly as to my limit. Somehow, i found mistakes, wrong research, insufficient time frame, etc.
25th June 2013 - Submission of Final Draft Thesis
My 1 year baby is born~~ This is the hardest part of research throughout this 3 years of study
Somehow, time flies I'm going to graduate soon.
Oh wish me all the best in my final exams and may god bless me all the way!
I will miss my study life and all my lovely friends in Taylor's University!
