Proliferation of Health and Safety Documentation in Construction?

  • Smallwood, John (Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela University) ;
  • Bester, Deon (Master Builders Association Western Cape)
  • Published : 2020.12.07

Abstract

In addition to a range of H&S documentation, a range of actions, beliefs, interventions, practices, and states are important in terms of achieving optimum construction H&S. Conclusions include that H&S documentation facilitates and assists planning, organising, leading, controlling, and coordinating H&S. Furthermore, current H&S documentation: is inappropriate in that it can be complex, generic, lengthy, onerous, repetitive (duplicative), and vague; engenders dubious practices; generally, 'does not add the potential value'; shifts the focus from the physical process, and could be improved. Recommendations include: industry associations should review their 'audit system' to interrogate the allocation of points; H&S documents must reflect the intention of the requirement; the synergy between H&S documentation, and actions, interventions, and practices should be investigated, digested, and focused upon, and 'audits', or rather inspections, should focus more on the physical process, actions, interventions, and practices, than documentation.

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