Abstract:
Regulations are designed to encourage changes in individual
outcomes. Such outcomes could be changes in conditions of
work that leads to reduced accidents, injuries, and fatalities in
the construction industry. Following this premise, the reported
research project investigated the implications of the 2014
Construction Regulations that replaced the 2003 regulations in
South Africa.
Methodology
With exploratory sequential mixed method research design that
obtained the perceptions of project actors that are active in the
industry, the study examines the contents of the regulations; the
intentions of the permit-to-work requirement of the regulations;
and the ability of the Department of Labour (DoL) to enforce
compliance. The exploration focuses on the procurement system
of the national Department of Public Works (DPW) in South Africa
as a major client of the industry.
Findings
The study shows that though the interviewees were relatively
familiar with the revised regulations, their ability to implement
the permit-to-work requirement is a concern. The concerns
focus on the capacity of the DoL to process permits when
required. This perception indicates that there would be cost
implications for project actors when implementing the permitto-
work requirement and this cost factor could delay project
initiation, planning, and delivery.
Value
The issues that have been highlighted have to be addressed
in practice so that the health and safety (H&S) improvement
intentions of the revised regulations would not be marginalised.
