Abstract:
The construction industry is animportant sector in Tanzania that drivesthe growth
and productivity of the economy. Despite its importance, it is characterized with the
reputation of being dangerous and highly hazardous. However, studies on
occupational health and safety knowledge of construction sites management is quite
limited. This study was conducted in selected construction sites in Mwanza city with
a specific focus on health and safety knowledge required, the way it is acquired and
transferred, challenges in acquiring and transferring and knowledge transfer
mechanism to mitigate the challenges for construction site management team. In
pursuing these objectivesthe survey methodswas adopted on the selected construction
sites in Mwanza. This study used fifty-five respondents to obtain necessary
information concerning the occupational health and safety knowledge of construction
sites management. The findings shows that, construction site management team
mainly require more knowledge on communication and risk management. The
communication facilitates the acquisition of knowledge and ability to report health
and safety issues to effectively manage risk. The ways health and safety knowledge
are transferred and acquired were through informal discussions, collaboration, and
demonstration. Also, the challenges faced by construction site management team in
acquiring and transferring health and safety knowledge were lack of knowledge on
risk assessment, equipment and risk nature of construction site. The mitigation
measures on the challenges in acquiring and transferring health and safety knowledge
of construction site management team were the provision of knowledge on risk
assessment, equipment and increases qualification of construction site management
team. Finally, this study recommended that health and safety policy should
encourage on the communication and control risk on behalf of the construction site
management team. It needs to state and supervise the control and management of risk
to promote health and safety of construction site management team.
