Abstract:
Health and safety in construction industry is still a challenge. Generally, efforts to
improve health and safety performance in the construction industry focused more on
the main contractor, with little attention to subcontractors. While subcontractors
dominate the construction industry, little is known regarding on how they influence
health and safety performance in construction sites. This study therefore aims to
evaluate health and safety performance of subcontractors in construction projects. In
achieving this objective, the study adopted mixed method whereby both qualitative
and quantitative information were obtained. The study used questionnaire survey
whereby 33 subcontractors were selected purposively in the category of electrical,
plumbing and air condition. In addition, three subcontractors were selected for the
interview, based on their experience, and level of education.
Findings from this study reveal that, proper budget allocated into each work package,
stakeholders health and safety responsibilities, safety communication, and
enforcement of safety law and regulations are the factors that influence safety
performance of subcontractors. The study further revealed that, lack of safety
committee, failure to employ safety officer, lack of safety communication between
subcontractors and main contractor, and inadequate personal protective equipment
are the challenges facing subcontractors to implement safety. Furthermore,
employing safety officer, close supervision and top management commitment on
safety related issues, enforcement of safety law and regulation are the strategies to
improve safety performance. The study concluded that, effective selection and
monitoring of subcontractors‟ activities and effective safety training is the best way
to improve safety performance. The study recommends that the Government ought to
enforce health and safety law, and regulation at construction sites in order to improve
safety performance.
