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Sumner, S and Farrell, P (2003) The influence of clients on health and safety standards in construction. In: Greenwood, D J (Ed.), Proceedings 19th Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2003, Brighton, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 1, 193–202.
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Keywords: client; contractor selection; health and safety; tendering
- ISBN/ISSN: 0 9534161 8 6
- URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2003-193-202_Sumner_and_Farrell.pdf
- Abstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution made by clients to health and safety standards in construction. It is argued that problems arise in this area because there are an increasing number of projects procured on a without quantities basis. The assessment of the work involved is therefore more difficult, and contractors are not able to establish their risks easily. It is also argued that risks to clients are increased as they will not be able to judge the validity of the tenders on a ‘like for like’ basis. The approach taken by clients to assess contractors’ provision of resources for health and safety is inconsistent. Contractors may be appointed that have not fully considered the health and safety aspects of projects, and may not have included sufficient funds in their tender bids to complete the project safely. The key objective is to determine the influence of clients’ use of health and safety criteria at tender stage on standards of health and safety during the construction phase. The main research instrument is a postal questionnaire survey, which collates quantitative data. The population for the study is practising construction clients in the commercial sector. The reliability and validity of the study are considered. Inferential statistical techniques are used to test the hypothesis. Two main conclusions are given: (1) construction clients should state that heath and safety is a key criteria to be considered in judgements about a contractor’s performance, and (2) standards of health and safety could be improved by educating clients. Recommendations include further investigation to establish who is best placed to advise clients on matters of health and safety and a further study to assess the relationship between contractors’ health and safety performance and their overall project performance.