Assessing UK Contractors' Adherence to Health and Safety Practices

This dissertation explores the extent to which UK contractors comply with health and safety best practices within the construction industry. It begins by outlining the background of the study, including the prevalence of workplace injuries and illnesses in construction and the importance of adhering to safety measures. The research aims to determine best practices, assess contractor compliance, and investigate the importance of these practices for effective project management. A literature review examines existing research on health and safety practices, compliance levels among UK contractors, and the benefits of proper safety adoption. The study employs a quantitative research method, utilizing primary and secondary data to analyze compliance levels and identify areas for improvement. The findings highlight the need for enhanced training, designated machine operators, regular site inspections, and proactive safety measures to reduce workplace accidents and promote a safer construction environment. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for improving health and safety compliance and ensuring better construction project outcomes.

Master of Science
In
Construction Project Management
Dissertation
By
Built Environment
“How well do UK Contractors comply
with best practice in health and safety?”

Abstract
The current report is based on the topic of the determine about the best practises in health
and safety along with analysing that how well do UK contractors comply with these best practice
in health and safety. Further, the main purpose of current study is to evaluate about the best
practises in health and safety that need to be comply by the contractors within the construction
industry of UK along with determining that how well do the UK contractors comply with best
practice in health and safety. Beside this, use of both primary as well as secondary sources of
information has been made within current study to ensure and lead out an ample amount of
information for current research work. Beside this, use of the quantitative nature of research
method has been made within current study which supports better and easy collection of the fact
and also supported improved presentation and analysis of the collected information with the help
of tables and charts. Along with this, current study also tends to provide importance of proper
compliance and adoption of the health and safety practises by the contractor to ensure better
construction project management along with effective recommendation about the ways which
support improved health and safety levels.

Table of Contents
Topic: How well do UK contractors comply with best practice in health and safety.....................1
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
1.1. Background of the study..................................................................................................1
1.2. Research aim and objective.............................................................................................2
1.3. Rationale for selection of topic........................................................................................2
1.4. Research questions..........................................................................................................3
2. Review of previous work and relevant theory (Literature Review)............................................3
2.1. Best practises in health and safety that need to be comply by the contractors within the
construction industry of UK...................................................................................................4
2.2. How well do the UK contractors comply with best practice in health and safety...........6
2.3. Need and importance of proper compliance and adoption of the health and safety
practises by the contractor to ensure better construction project management......................8
3. Method of investigation and data acquisition (Research methodology)....................................12
4. Analysis, results and findings....................................................................................................21
5. Interpretation and Discussion....................................................................................................25
6. Conclusions and recommendations............................................................................................42
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................47

Topic: How well do UK contractors comply with best practice in health and
safety
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
The best practises in health and safety are considered and related with the preventing of
people and individuals from the getting being harmed and hurt during work or becoming ill due
to unsatisfactory working environment or lack of right precautions. Further, it has been seen and
analysed that the construction industry comprises of use of many big machinery and other
dangerous and hazardous situation which leads to higher chances of workplace accident and
injuries. The risk and hazardous situation that are prevailing at the construction site comprises of
working at height along with the Burns, Electrocution, Eye injury, including vision impairment
or blindness, broken bones, Knee and ankle injury and Neck, shoulder or back injury. Therefore,
adoption and implication of the health and safety best practises within the construction industry
by the project contractor become vital and essential to decrease the injury along with negative
effects on the health of the workers and public. The vital health and safety measures that can be
taken by contractor at the workplace and construction site tend to comprises of the Wearing of
the PPE at all times, do not start work without an induction, keep a tidy site, do not put at risk,
follow safety signs and procedures, never work in unsafe areas and Report defects and near
misses. Along with this, raising awareness and promoting accountability towards health and
safety and enforcing self responsibility and introduce regular meeting to promote health and
safety are also vital that supports and leads to more safe and healthy construction site.
It has been seen and analysed that a larger number of workers get injured and seriously ill
because of unsatisfactory health and safety precautions at the construction site by the contractor
within UK. As per the 2018/19 reporting year and by the RIDDOR data shows there were 69,208
company-reported non-fatal workplace injuries to employees within Great Britain along with a
review of the fact as per the Labour Force Survey (LFS) data which reports another 581,000 self-
reported injuries that leads to total 650,208 workplace injuries for the year (Workplace Injury
Statistics UK 2021, 2021). Along with this, it has been also seen and reviewed that the
construction sites are usually unstable by nature, and according to the Bureau of Labour
Statistics, over one-quarter of construction workers have been injured on the job (The 10 Most
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Common Construction Accidents, 2015). Furthermore, injuries from construction accidents often
cause very serious injuries, and these accidents may even be fatal. Therefore, current study is
focusing on analysing that how well do UK contractors comply with best practice in health and
safety in order to ensure better construction project management along with reduction in injuries
and illness. The main objective and aim of the current study are provided as below:
1.2. Research aim and objective
Research aim
The main of current study is, “To determine about the best practises in health and safety
along with analysing that how well do UK contractors comply with these best practice in health
and safety”.
Research Objectives
Following are the main objectives that are being reviewed and analysed within the
current study:
 To evaluate about the best practises in health and safety that need to be comply by the
contractors within the construction industry of UK.
 To analysis that how well do the UK contractors comply with best practice in health and
safety.
 To investigate about the importance of proper compliance and adoption of the health and
safety practises by the contractor to ensure better construction project management.
1.3. Rationale for selection of topic
The selection of the current research topic based on “How well do UK contractors comply
with best practice in health and safety” is effective as many risk and threats are prevailing within
the construction project that have negative impact on health and safety of workers which
comprises of Slips and trips, Noise, Hand and vibration syndrome, Materials handling,
Unintended collapse, Asbestos, Airborne fibres and toxins and use of Electricity. Thus,
maintaining and compliance of best prcatises in health and safety has become crucial and vital to
have reduction in injury and illness during a construction project. Along with this, undertaking
current study is also vital and rationale from the personal view point of the researcher as it meets
personal and academic purpose along with supporting improved educational qualification. At the
same time, the current study also ensures improved skills and competency level along with
improved knowledge and understanding for researcher and other scholar.
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1.4. Research questions
Main research question
 How well do UK contractors comply with best practice in health and safety?
Subsidiary research questions
Along with the main question following additional question are also analysed and
reviewed during the current study to ensure better achievement of set objective and support
findings for research questions.
 What are the best practises in health and safety that need to be complying by the
contractors within the construction industry of UK?
 Why it is needed and important to have proper compliance and adoption of the health and
safety practises by the contractor to ensure better construction project management?
2. Review of previous work and relevant theory (Literature Review).
Literature review is considered as the crucial area which should be discussed that would
further aids in identifying appropriate guidance by help of relevant information. Moreover, it is
undertaken as one of the effectual portions of dissertation which would assists in performing
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deep investigation by that final conclusion might be attained precisely. In addition to this, it
would aid into explanation, summary, determination and elucidation of literature into efficient
manner (Barros, Matos and Sarmento, 2020). Additionally, respective dissertation section
includes research questions in which investigation would be executed in efficacious manner.
Also, respective part would be attained via by accumulating information by secondary sources
such as books, online sites, journals and others.
This incorporates the evaluation as well as determination of secondary data set that is
associated with particular topics for facilitating effective nearness and acknowledgement
regarding that. Moreover, Literature review develops an essential part of each dissertation as this
is crucial to determine as well as evaluate regarding set topics and their intent to formulate a base
and structure for upcoming research. Additionally, the present literature review for respective
dissertation depends upon evaluation of online articles as well as reliable journal related with
research topics that is “To determine about the best practises in health and safety along with
analysing that how well do UK contractors comply with these best practice in health and safety”.
2.1. Best practises in health and safety that need to be comply by the contractors within the
construction industry of UK.
As per the view point of Pardo-Ferreira (2020), Health and safety practices are essential at
all industry. Moreover, it is also a vital consideration for any project of construction. Not just for
keeping the firm’s personnel safe (It is much crucial reason for health as well as safety), but also
for complying with norms. Generally, when a health and safety regulations utilises for
construction work, the regulations is generally enforced through HSE, who enforced authority
upon construction sites. In addition to this, construction entities who are performing into
construction industry should always assures that whole health and safety practices has been
undertaken before they step forward upon respective site. Additionally, health and safety into
construction are specifically vital as sector is prone for hazardous circumstances as well as may
be dangerous at times. According to the statistics, it represents that 3% of whole construction
staff into United Kingdom sustain a work-related injury as well as about 4% are suffer from
work related illness. Along with this, it may drive towards large loss into working hours and also
states that employees are not happy into its job roles.
Furthermore, the best practises in health and safety are considered and related with the
preventing of people and individuals from the getting being harmed and hurt during work or
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becoming ill due to unsatisfactory working environment or lack of right precautions. Further, it
has been seen and analysed that the construction industry comprises of use of many big
machinery and other dangerous and hazardous situation which leads to higher chances of
workplace accident and injuries. The risk and hazardous situation that are prevailing at the
construction site comprises of working at height along with the Burns, Electrocution, Eye injury,
including vision impairment or blindness, broken bones, Knee and ankle injury and Neck,
shoulder or back injury (Boadu, Wang and Sunindijo, 2020). Therefore, adoption and implication
of the health and safety best practises within the construction industry by the project contractor
become vital and essential to decrease the injury along with negative effects on the health of the
workers and public So, some of the best practices into health and safety which needs to be
comply through contractors within UK construction industry are discussed below:
 Facilitate health and safety training: Whole construction staff should have fuller
awareness of probable hazards as well as safety aspects that is prior to enter sites. So,
before firm enable employees or subcontractors upon sites of construction, appropriate
safety training is essential (Mordue and Finch, 2019). Although various staff of
construction obtain knowledge of sites as this is crucial that it have effective training
before hand. In addition to this, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
have several health and safety training tips and online resources which may form safety
education simply for their contracted workers. Have appropriately trained and designated machine operators: This is undertaken as
one of the essential best practices of health and safety for construction sector is to have
designated a heavy equipments operator that undergoes particular training. Moreover, this
is extremely vital for performing effectual training for operative machinery. In addition to
this, the huge or much difficult machines so that training should be also deep. Sometimes
as easy as to get in and out of machinery may be fatal so more training is effective.
 Furthermore, falls are regarded as the leading reason of fatalities within construction
(Salguero, 2020). Additionally, staffs have to be trained upon how to perform heavy
machinery such as deck screens, belt feeders, ladders, elevators and many more even if
this seems to be laid off. Rather than this, employees have to be evaluated in periodic
basis for assuring that machinery is being managed appropriately. Also, this is vital to
keep non-operators that is away from machinery work areas.
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 Execute effective housekeeping practices: The housekeeping as well as worksite safety
go hand-in-hand should form one of the much essential safety practices in construction
sites. Moreover, the housekeeping practices mainly implies that work areas have to be
kept in organised, hazard free situation and uncluttered. It is vital element to workplace
safety as well as few times this is disregarded. Along with this, ineffective housekeeping
may contribute towards on-site accidents (Umeokafor, Evangelinos and Windapo, 2020).
Additionally, the sites of construction have to be cleaned of any debris, dust, spills and
clutter. Also, entities is just as crucial as cleanliness, with effective housekeeping
practices, accidents such as slip on wet surface or elegant upon movable items may be
obviated. Apart from this, keeping the site clean as well as arranged is known to be
continuous practices and have to be performed across the whole day.
 Appropriate on site Equipment: In addition to appropriate safety training staff have to be
trained in utilisation of equipment. Moreover, to develop a working culture that is centred
on safety of construction site should facilitate staff with effective working equipment.
Additionally, employees have to wear effective personal protective equipment (PPE).
This gear is developed for enduring rough situation as well as hazards (5 Best Practices
for Construction Safety, 2021).
2.2. How well do the UK contractors comply with best practice in health and safety?
It can be stated that the contractors in the United Kingdom very well comply with the best
practice in health as well as safety. This is because they are very much concerned about the
health as well as safety of the employees. Both the contractor and their employees are
accountable below fitness and protection law. ... You should then each come together to take into
account risks from each other's paintings that may effect fitness and protection of each other.
Contractors should be made aware about the dangers from your activities and the controls you
have got in place. Construction websites are inherently unsafe locations to paintings, however
greater may be accomplished to comply with fitness and safety policies. Establishing fitness and
protection nice exercise and efficaciously speaking it on your body of workers is a first rate
region to begin.
While it falls to employers to make sure a safe surroundings, every person is at least
partially accountable for their personal safety. Therefore, fitness and protection fine practice
should be promoted in a manner that resonates with employees and encourages them to stay
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engaged. Managing this advantageous organisation ethos allows to boost productivity and
morale. This is why communication is so vital to a group – knowledgeable, engaged personnel
are statistically much less in all likelihood to be afflicted by place of job injuries. The contractors
are concerned about ensuring the overall efficiency as well as safety of the overall employees as
well as team members.
In addition to this attachment underlined that UK contractors are effectively complying with best
practices in health and safety they make sure that all employees are exposed with proper health
and safety. It has been evaluated that they are executing their roles and responsibilities in a safer
environment. In addition to this it has been identified that health and safety is acting as an
important provision in workplace structure irrespective of their size, scope and industrial sector.
From the analysis it has been identified that employees based on project or office site have
fundamental guide to operate their roles and responsibilities in which their health and safety risk
are controlled in an effective manner. In context with UK contractors they are well aware with
the concept of health and safety culture in which UK contractor business managers possess
various forms of documented policies and undertake regular health and safety checks as come
compared to other countries in European Union. Furthermore, it has been identified that
contractor in the provinces of United Kingdom undertaker various measures to mitigate risk.
They effectively understand the importance and effectiveness of Health and safety policies and
efficiently implement rules and regulations with successful communication, along with greater
employee engagement practices in order to make employees perform their business operations in
a save environment. In addition to this site has been identified that UK contractor believes in
promoting health and safety throughout the organisation. This will significantly help them to
make sure that employees in an organisation workplace duly engage with policies. UK
contractors implement best practice methods in order to fulfil their aim towards making
improvement in health and safety promotion in organisation. Mentioned below there are some
measures that has been undertaken by UK contractors which helps them to effectively comply
with the best practice in health and safety:
Risk assessment
UK contractors conduct risk assessment in an effective manner within an organisation for
pay structure and make sure that significant work activities are being followed. With the five
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steps to risk assessment in which they identify hazards that can affect employee and further
considered the manner in which health or harm can be controlled (Alhanouti and Farrell, 2021).
In addition to this United Kingdom contractors also implement control measures and implement
them in order to eliminate or manage risk in a well defined and effective manner.
Specific training to employees
In order to make employees aware about their health and safety rights contractors in
United Kingdom efficiently communicate information about workplace activity hazards needs to
employees and implement various documentation and risk assessment activities, in order to make
sure that healthy and safe environment is being provided to employees. In addition to this it has
been identified then contractors in United Kingdom also provide specific training to employees
which is the best practices in health and safety that has been complied by UK contractors.
Regularly review health and safety in workplace
Contractors in United Kingdom regularly review health and safety in workplace and
identify that there is specially review those areas which is in high risk. In this contractors
constantly change the measure and policies to overcome risk. In this contractors adjust
procedure, introduced new equipment and make individual aware about them. Furthermore, it
has been identified that UK contractors legally manage health and safety especially in response
to any changes within workplace (Appiah-Kubi, 2021). Furthermore, they undertake subsequent
changes or updates to health and safety information in a well-defined and effective manner.
According to the above mentioned analysis it has been identified that in order to manage
health and safety UK contractors effectively comply with best practices in which contractors
efficiently accesses policies, procedures and practices and efficiently adhere them with the help
of risk assessment in order to identify casual or potential hazards (Stiles, Golightly and Ryan,
2021). In addition to this contractor also provide information to employees about their health and
safety rights. Furthermore, it has been underline that UK contractors are well aware with their
legal duties and plan, manage and monitor subcontractors or worker in an effective manner and
further provide the necessary knowledge, skills, training and experience. In addition to this it has
been evaluated the UK contractors adhere best practices such as planning, managing, monitoring,
considering all health and safety risk, communicate health and safety information to parties,
prepare construction phase plan and provide welfare facilities. It has been underlined that UK
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contractor make sure that all the welfare facilities are being provided to employees and sure the
safety health and fair treatment of workers. With the help of these practices and policies UK
contractors effectively comply with best practices in health and safety and sure that workers or
employees are performing their roles and responsibilities in positive healthy and save
environment.
2.3. Need and importance of proper compliance and adoption of the health and safety practises
by the contractor to ensure better construction project management.
Quality control and safety constitute more and more essential worries for venture
managers. Defects or screw ups in built facilities can result in very large prices. Even with minor
defects, re-production may be required and facility operations impaired. Increased prices and
delays are the result. In the worst case, failures may also reason private injuries or fatalities.
Accidents at some point of the development method can in addition result in private accidents
and huge costs. Indirect fees of coverage, inspection and law are increasing rapidly due to these
extended direct prices. Good project managers try to make certain that the job is executed proper
the first time and that no important injuries occur on the venture. As with cost control, the most
critical decisions regarding the excellent of a completed facility are made at some stage in the
design and planning levels rather than at some point of production. It is at some point of these
initial ranges that element configurations, cloth specifications and purposeful overall
performance are decided. Quality manipulate throughout creation consists in large part of
insuring conformance to those authentic layouts and making plans decisions.
While conformance to present layout choices is the number one attention of satisfactory
manipulate, there are exceptions to this rule. First, unforeseen instances, wrong layout selections
or changes favoured with the aid of an owner inside the facility feature may require re-
assessment of layout selections in the course of the direction of production. While those
adjustments can be prompted by way of the priority for best, they constitute activities for re-
layout with all the attendant targets and constraints (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019). As a seond case, a
few designs depend upon informed and suitable decision making in the course of the
construction process itself. For instance, some tunnelling techniques make decisions
approximately the amount of shoring required at unique places based upon statement of soil
situations at some stage in the tunnelling method. Since such choices are based on better
statistics concerning actual website online conditions, the facility design can be more price
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