A balanced score card perspective of the safety management of two exemplary construction companies in the Western Cape

Abstract

Occupational Health and Safety is largely determined by the creation of a Safety Culture that minimises risk. In South Africa the construction sector is the second most hazardous industry after mining. This study focuses on the cases of two exemplary construction firms in the Western Cape. The main research question is “How do the companies ensure coherent safety management practices that create a safety culture?” Based on a modification of a Balanced Health and Safety Scorecard for the Construction sector five sub-questions address safety management practices from a Management Perspective, an Operational Perspective, a Learning Perspective and a Client and Compliance Perspective. Data has been gathered from company documents, semi-structured interviews, together with on-site observation. In conclusion the study reveals that management commitment, active communication and employee acknowledgement contribute positively to creating an effective safety culture on-site. Further studies are recommended to compare these findings with the practices of small and medium companies in the construction sector.