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

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

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

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 UAEs 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 terms. Hence, health and safety

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

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 employees 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) terms it as a moral
responsible rather than the duty it was before. Nevertheless, though the law requires employers

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

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 nave regarding the
companys 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

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

Qualitative Methodology
Several qualitative methods exist and as a matter of fact, they are constrained by the
researchers 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 feedbacks 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

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

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?

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

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.