Improving Construction Safety in Saudi Arabia - Dissertation Example

1 Introduction It is rather unfortunate, but true, that the construction industry around the world had developed a reputation for being the industrial sector that presents higher statistics for industrial accidents, fatalities and deaths than any other (Coble, 2000, Pp. vii - viii). United States Department of Labour for the year 2006 indicated that construction fatalities represented about 21% of the total work force fatalities (Lambeck, 2009, Pp. 72 – 74). However, efforts directed towards continuous improvement in construction safety in many countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, etc.

demonstrate that it is possible to reduce the incidence of occupational injury, serious accidents or deaths (Poon, 2008, Chapter 1). Statistics for construction industry accident frequency rates per million of men hour worked for Singapore suggest that with an accident frequency rate per million man hours of 3.5 for the construction sector in comparison to 1.9 for all other industries help to illustrate the notoriety of the construction sector (Poon, 2008, Chapter 1). However, results for Japan, Korea and Hong Kong demonstrate improvement with effort.

Reports about the construction sector in Saudi Arabia suggest that it is possible to do more to bring about an improvement in health and safety for those working in the construction sector (Al Omani, 2008, “Does Saudi Arabia need a health and safety boot?”), (Migrant Rights, 2011, “FAQ”) and (Construction Week, 2010, “Construction sector must embrace safety culture”). Like in any other industry, accidents in construction lead to injury, possible loss of life, additional work and added costs (Li Wai Chung, 2006, Chapter 3).

Time losses for the injured, delays in completion of construction, medical expenses, damage to. The intention of this study is the term ‘safety’, which refers to an absence of danger, as often partnered with the term ‘health’ within the context of work in general and for construction work. Because human health and welfare are of concern to the society, a corporate responsibility exists to ensure that minimal risks exist to the health and safety of employees so that individuals, families and the society at large receives protection and remains free from catastrophe.

Thus, the legal system in England and in many other nations emphasises a duty to care, an absence of negligence and criminal responsibility for injury to ensure that those who use employees for business do so in a manner that will minimise harm to these individuals, especially when the business motive is to present profits. The law reflects values in a society and without values that emphasise health and safety it is likely that the risks associated with occupations will present undue harm to individual members of a society and to society itself.

Hence, a global concern exists for health and safety in construction and many nations around the world have enacted laws and regulations to emphasise health and safety in occupations, based on recommendations of international organisations, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and national values. However, a need exists to ensure that laws and regulations are effective and practical.