Plant, Road Construction, Traffic, and General Health and Safety: Perspectives of General Contractors

Abstract

<jats:p> Statistics and various studies indicate that plant, road construction, and traffic safety are major issues in terms of construction H&amp;S. Furthermore, motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) during employment are the dominating cause of fatalities in South African construction. A study was conducted among general contractor (GC) members of a civil engineering sector employer association using a self-administered questionnaire. The salient findings include: plant, road construction, and traffic safety are important aspects in respondents' organizations; plant is the more important of the three aspects; traffic accidents account for a fair percentage of total accidents, and respondents' organizations use a range of such devices and equipment to realize plant, road construction, and traffic safety. Conclusions include: respondents' organizations are managing the three aspects, and H&amp;S programs must focus thereon. Recommendations include that respondents' organizations need to focus on drug and other substance abuse testing and medicals, and that plant, road construction, and traffic safety must feature prominently in H&amp;S programs.</jats:p>