Article: Identifying labour risks on building sites in Gauteng Journal: International Journal of the Built Environment and Asset Management (IJBEAM) 2013 Vol.1 No.2 pp.165 - 180 Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the major risks faced by the semi-skilled labourers on building sites in Gauteng and make recommendations to mitigate the adverse impact thereof. The semi-skilled labourers are the set of construction workers that are more prone to risks especially fall from height which is basically the motive of this study. A labour risk in building industry is one of the issues that cannot be envisaged at the commencement of the project. Accident involving semiskilled labour on site might be caused by not providing PPE to the workers on site or worker not using the PPE provided for their safety, poor erection of scaffold or ladders used on site which mostly exposed the worker to fall risk that can be identified as safety risk. The research methodology consists of personal interview and observations, targeted workers that this study will focus on are semi-skilled labour. In phase two, workers pictures are taken while going about their expected duties on site. Data was analysed and integrated with the literature study, attention was given to the provision of PPE, as to forestall workers fall from height with employment of competent personnel which will enforce compliance of safety rules on site. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Identifying labour risks on building sites in Gauteng

Authors: Oladele S. Opaleye

Addresses: Department of Building Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, Staatsartillerie Road, Pretoria West, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the major risks faced by the semi-skilled labourers on building sites in Gauteng and make recommendations to mitigate the adverse impact thereof. The semi-skilled labourers are the set of construction workers that are more prone to risks especially fall from height which is basically the motive of this study. A labour risk in building industry is one of the issues that cannot be envisaged at the commencement of the project. Accident involving semiskilled labour on site might be caused by not providing PPE to the workers on site or worker not using the PPE provided for their safety, poor erection of scaffold or ladders used on site which mostly exposed the worker to fall risk that can be identified as safety risk. The research methodology consists of personal interview and observations, targeted workers that this study will focus on are semi-skilled labour. In phase two, workers pictures are taken while going about their expected duties on site. Data was analysed and integrated with the literature study, attention was given to the provision of PPE, as to forestall workers fall from height with employment of competent personnel which will enforce compliance of safety rules on site.

Keywords: labour risks; building sites; semi-skilled labourers; occupational safety; employee safety; construction workers; building industry; risk of falls; safety risks; compliance; safety rules; personal protective equipment; PPE; South Africa.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEAM.2013.056964

International Journal of the Built Environment and Asset Management, 2013 Vol.1 No.2, pp.165 - 180

Received: 21 Mar 2013
Accepted: 26 Jun 2013
Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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Title: Identifying labour risks on building sites in Gauteng

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