EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ON CONSTRUCTION CLIENTS' HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE - A DELPHI STUDY

The use of economic incentives to improve H&S performance in the construction industry in general, has been investigated by various scholars. However, few studies have looked at the impact of economic incentives on construction clients especially in the developing world. Therefore it was necessary to investigate specifically the impact of the economic incentive on client's H&S performance. Economic incentives are considered to be a proactive way of improving H&S performance. The investigation was conducted using a Delphi technique to determine the impact significance of the economic incentive or disincentive on construction clients' H&S performance. Findings from the study were that the economic factor had critical impact significance on clients' H&S performance. Further clients were 'very likely to' implement various H&S elements as a result of the economic incentive and disincentive. The paper will report on the findings from an analysis of impact significance of the economic incentives on clients. It will underscore the point that economic incentives or disincentives on construction clients are necessary to encourage them to actively participate in H&S performance improvement.