Occupational health and safety in the Moroccan construction sites: preliminary diagnosis

Abstract

Abstract. Managing occupational health and safety on Moroccan construction sector represents the first step for projects' success. In fact, by avoiding accidents, all the related direct and indirect costs and delays can be prevented. That leads to an important question always asked by any project manager: what are the factors responsible for accidents? How can they be avoided? Through this research, the aim is to go through these questions, to contribute in occupational health and safety principles understanding, to identify construction accidentology and risk management opportunities and to approach the case of Moroccan construction sites by an accurate diagnosis. The approach is to make researchers, managers, stakeholders and deciders aware about the criticality of construction sites health and safety situation. And, to do the first step for a scientific research project in relation with health and safety in the Moroccan construction sector. For this, the paper will study the related state of art namely about construction sites accidents causation, and will focus on Reason's 'Swiss cheese' model and its utilization for Moroccan construction sites health and safety diagnosis. The research will end with an estimation of an accidents fatality rate in the Moroccan construction sector and a benchmarking with the international rates. Finally, conclusions will be presented about the necessity of Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) implementation, which shall cover all risk levels, and insure, at the same time, that the necessary defenses against accidents are on place.

Study of the Factors Affecting the Quality and Safety of Deep Excavations in Urban Areas of Casablanca-Settat Province-Morocco

“…Additional forces are generated in the supports and their connections, as well as additional deformation and displacement [27], [28], [29]. In order to ensure the stability of existing buildings [29], [30], one must understand the identification of soil and seepage water conditions, foundation types of neighboring buildings, and define the requirements for adequate functional and technical solutions; 5) Site security: Construction site accidents can be caused by managers involved in project planning and the management of workers and can also occur due to unsafe works, work pressure, and the inadequate cost of the project to carry out quality works in the planned time [2], [31], [32], [33].…”