Safety Program Elements in the Construction Industry: The Case of Iraq

Abstract

The construction industries’ unsafe conditions require increased efforts to improve safety performance to prevent and reduce accident rates. Safety performance in the Iraqi construction industry is notoriously poor. Despite this condition, safety research has so far been neglected. Implementing a safety program is a proven initial step to improve safety. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the key elements of a safety program in the Iraqi construction industry. To verify and validate a list of safety program elements identified in the literature review, a mixed method approach was used by using interviews and questionnaire surveys. A final list of 25 elements were then analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. The analysis found that these elements can be grouped into four interrelated dimensions: management commitment and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control systems, and safety and health training. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on safety in the Iraqi construction sector, a research area which has not been adequately investigated previously. They also help decision-makers focus on key elements that are needed to start improving safety performance in this context.

Examing the Practice of Mangement Aspects and Maintenance Implementations of Welfare Facilities in Iraq’s Construction Industry

“…shows whether the consultation and grievance mechanism influence the aspect of management and maintenance of construction welfare facilities, the results reveal that the impact is important with an average index of 3.14 and 3.03. From the results obtained a intial conccurens can be cocncluded with previous research concducted in scope of management and maintenece criteras, the results resamble some simliartes in the Gulf region countreis that share a typical view on management knowloodge and maintence installation at construction projects [7], [11], [15], [35], [36], [46]. Table 5 shows the safety and health consequences.…”

“…The work in the construction sector is most hazardous and vulnerable because of poor employment conditions characterized by way of its informal nature, the brief relationship between company and employee, unsure working hours, lack of primary services, and inadequacy of welfare facilities [2], [11], [22], [23]. Contractors in Iraq regularly disregard the fundamental necessities for welfare services.…”

“…This is happening because in dealing with the complex project and involves many parties that should drive the development and adoption of new ways and implantations of technical solutions to address this low productivity rate [8]- [10]. Little interest has been conducted in terms of practical, research studies, reports, and basic academic tutoring on the crucial aspect of health, safety, and environment in Iraq leading to disregarding the critical feature of applying management roles and maintenance inspection in most construction projects [11]. In fact lack of useful reports have yet to be represented or allocated for the public institution, especially from the ministry of construction, housing, municipalities, and public works (Iraq) Hence, all large-scale construction projects are at the realistic possibility of experiencing hazards, accidents, and ongoing health issues at the workplace, unexpected conditions, and unpredictable insignificant worker's performance [10,12].…”

“…The type of work is highly labour-intensive and sophisticated in this industry, and most of the workers are not skilled and trained. Consequently, even though the industry has been creating employment for a large section of the Iraqi population from time to time, so the workers in this sector are neglected when it comes in facing everyday health and safety challenges, most of them are struggling with health issues they expose themselves to on construction site [3,11]. With the challenge of limited and constraints space on the project layout, especially in urban working construction sites that are mainly known for continuous construction and development.…”

Critical Success Factors of Safety Program Implementation in Construction Projects in Iraq

“…Researchers, in various studies, have shown that the fatality rate in the construction industry is high [10]. The negative impact of poor safety performance is represented by the affects on time, cost, and productivity [11]. Therefore, there is a need for the implementation of an effective safety program to improve safety performance.…”