CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE · Vol. 2021

The Impact of Business Forums on Construction Health and Safety (H&S) in South Africa

Takalani Sigama, Mabila Mathebula and John Smallwood

Keywords: Business forums, construction, health and safety, performance, projects

Abstract

The basis for the study is to investigate the impact of business forums on construction health and safety (H&S) in South Africa. It is notable that when coercive power is used by business forums to gain a stake in a project, H&S legislation and regulations are flouted. The goal of the study was to investigate the impact of business forums on construction projects, project cost escalation, project timelines, H&S, and the local economy. The study explored the regulatory tools that the industry must implement with a view to managing stakeholder involvement on construction projects. The study employed a quantitative paradigm, which entailed the use of a structured questionnaire to collect data in an endeavour to understand concepts, opinions, and experiences of the respondents. The sample population consisted of principal contractors, subcontractors, and communities surrounding projects and business forums who demand a stake from the project. The study determined that there was a lack of stakeholder engagement, limited law enforcement, and H&S non-compliance occurs. Conclusions include that there is a sense of entitlement among business forums, and business forums negatively impact the health and well-being of project stakeholders. The study recommends that the stakeholders should be managed, and stakeholder engagement should be regulated, which will contribute to projects running smoothly, being completed within the stipulated time, and within budget.