Research Proposal 1hg4z

Running Head: Health and safety performances of construction companies in the United Arab Emirates

Health and safety performances of construction companies in the United Arab Emirates

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Table of Contents Overview..........................................................................................................................................3 Importance of the topic....................................................................................................................3 Research Objectives.........................................................................................................................4 Literature review..............................................................................................................................4 Safety and health history..............................................................................................................4 Health and safety within construction industries in the Middle East...........................................5 Health and safety within construction industries in UAE............................................................5 Data collection.................................................................................................................................5 Qualitative Methodology.............................................................................................................6 Interview method.........................................................................................................................6 Sampling......................................................................................................................................6 Ethics............................................................................................................................................6 Contribution...............................................................................................................................7 Research Questions..........................................................................................................................7 References........................................................................................................................................8

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Overview Academicians agree that the construction industry across the globe is one of the most unsafe industries because of its unique personality. The nature of the industry is risky making it important to focus on improving its safety and health within construction sites. The aim of this study is to analyze the various construction companies’ category performances, better the health and safety of construction agencies as well as companies. 10 factors shall be identified via the literature review and conducted through a questionnaire survey. The extent of impact of the 10 factors on health and safety performance shall be evaluated basing on a likert scale. The study shall then put forward a set of recommendations in a bid to assist future researchers in the area as well as help improve the health and safety performances of construction agencies and companies in UAE.

Importance of the topic Health and safety is always a common aspect within the construction industry because of its dangerous and unique nature. Between 2011 and 2012, the United Kingdom construction industry reported a total of forty nine major injuries. Within the same period, the United States construction industry reported a total of 720 major injuries placing the industry as the second most dangerous industry among all sectors. These statistics indicate that the industry has poor performance records on health and safety. This paper intends to the safety and health performance in UAE’s construction industry. Economic and humanitarian concerns as well as legal considerations are the major issues that make health and safety quite a concern. Illnesses, injuries or damages caused by accidents within the industry are normally expensive with regard to human . Hence, health and safety

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is aimed at minimizing the rates of these occurrences within the construction industry. Averting accidents is inherent in improving the health and safety within the industry and can only be realized through education awareness to all stakeholders. This study shall assist construction agencies to take necessary steps to avert future accidents as well as enhance its performance with respect of health and safety.

Research Objectives 1. Exploring techniques to enforce occupational safety and best practices in health 2. Evaluating the safety levels and health performance within construction agencies in Abu Dhabi 3. Identifying and evaluating the most critical factors that impact on the health performance within construction jobs.

Literature review Safety and health history It is important to understand the hazards that have occurred within the industry. Since 1916, all constructions works were under the common laws that made workers liable on their own and their job risks. After then, the employee’s compensation regulation was enforced by governments which made employers liable to their individual workplace health and safety. Furthermore, the employers needed to avail and compensate for any medical expenses and lost salaries resulting from accidents within their workplaces. Reese (2003) it as a moral responsible rather than the duty it was before. Nevertheless, though the law requires employers

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to cater for accidents resulting within their workplaces, it would be financially logical to avert the accidents from occurring in the first place. Health and safety within construction industries in the Middle East The Middle East seems to have similar health and safety conditions as those in developing countries. In Saudi Arabia, the construction industry had forty eight percent of all major occupational accidents in the year 2011. In Egypt, thirty three percent of construction industry accidents were due to falls. In Kuwait only 16.9 percent of the accidents were due to falls. Furthermore, the most evident problem within the entire Middle East is that construction stakeholders do not get enough training and in most cases they are naïve regarding the company’s health and safety policies. Health and safety within construction industries in UAE Few studies have been carried out on the UAE construction industry health and safety performance which precipitated the need for this study. Shibani et al (2012) found out that most companies do not have a safety and health policy while those that have not trained their employees, it also found out that no follow ups were carried out on accidents that occurred in a bid to avert them in future. There is also some poor reporting of the exact cases that occur making it hard to even provide reasonable solutions.

Data collection This section elucidates the methodology approach taken for this study

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Qualitative Methodology Several qualitative methods exist and as a matter of fact, they are constrained by the researcher’s imagination. This method has the power to unravel more regarding phenomenon that has less literature. Furthermore it helps in obtaining new viewpoints giving detailed information that cannot be easily obtained Strauss and Corbin (1990). These are the main guidelines as to why this study chose this approach. Interview method Interview is very important in obtaining s and gives the chance to explore a theme in detail. It gives the interviewee the chance to express their views, feelings and concerns in a much better way. The interview also has the freedom to re-frame the questions to obtain necessary data as well as clarify certain aspects to the interviewee Smith, (2015). For this study, the responses shall be documented via recordings and transcriptions for further analysis. Sampling The primary sample for this study is 10 construction companies within the United Arab Emirates. The companies shall be spread across the region ranging from small scale to large scale industries. The participating industries shall be recruited through random sampling so as to avoid sampling bias. Ethics With regard to this study, all contributors shall be required to sign a legal consent acknowledging their understanding of the fact that their contributions shall be recorded and that

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their contributions shall only be used for this research purpose and not disclosed to anybody outside the researcher. Their names shall also be coded to avoid victimization as well as enhance confidentiality. Contribution This study aims at shading more light into the construction industry in the UAE as well as providing meaningful recommendations in a bid to enhance its health and safety.

Research Questions What is the relation between health and safety performance, construction agency category and the UAE government authorities? How can we improve the construction safety and health performance in UAE?

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References Reese, C., 2003. Occupational Heath and Safety Management: A Practical Approach. 1st ed. s.l.:CRC Press. Smith, Jonathan A., ed. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage, 2015. Shibani, A., Saidani, M. & Alhajeri, M., 2012. Health and safety influence on the construction project performance in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Journal of Civil Engineering and Construction Technology, 4(2), pp. 32-44. Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.