Abstracts – Browse Results
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Bowen, P A (1993) A communication-based approach to price modelling and price forecasting in the design phase of the traditional building procurement process in South Africa, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Port Elizabeth.
Smallwood, J J (2000) A study of the relationship between occupational health and safety, labour productivity and quality in the South African construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Construction Management, University of Port Elizabeth.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: construction; health and safety; labour productivity; quality; TQM;
- ISBN/ISSN:
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- Abstract:
Inadequate or the lack of attention or dedication to health and safety can result in fatalities, injuries, disease, an increase in resources, rework, and ultimately an increase in the cost of construction. Poor labour productivity marginalises schedule performance and results in an increase in resources consumed. Rework negatively affects labour productivity, results in an increase in resources consumed, and marginalises schedule performance. Inadequate or the lack of attention or dedication to health and safety, poor labour productivity, and rework negatively affect, individually or collectively, profitability, client, worker and other stakeholders' satisfaction to varying degrees, and ultimately result in an increase in the cost of construction. TQM, the linkage of the processes which deal with health and safety, productivity and quality, promotes the synergy between the three parameters. Despite health and safety being the catalyst for the synergy between health and safety, labour productivity and quality, and the inherent benefits, contractors, workers and designers generally do not allocate the optimum resources and effort to the three parameters, in particular health and safety. Further, a previous MSc (Construction Management) study by the author: 'The influence of management on the occurrence of loss causative incidents in the South African construction industry' determined, inter alia, management commitment and education and training, can and do have an effect on the number of incidents. The non-allocation of the optimum resources and effort to the three parameters, and the findings of the aforementioned study contributed to the origins of this study.