A Framework Supporting Health and Safety Practices in the United Arab Emirates’ Construction Projects

Abstract

The construction business in the UAE has seen a significant increase in the type, amount, and complexity of structures, with safety and health being one of the most important tasks in order for projects to continue. A lack of sufficient health and safety rules in the construction industry is one of the key difficulties, based on which the aim of the current research is to develop an integrated framework for optimising H&S in the UAE’s construction industry. To meet this aim of the study, the present study conducted an exhaustive investigation of all current health and safety standards in the UAE construction industry across all Emirates. A total of 63 interviews were performed with construction and consulting organisations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah to investigate the existing status and efficacy of safety and health standards in the UAE construction industry and to identify areas for improvement. Despite the fact that H&S laws and regulations are enforced across the UAE, the findings demonstrated that they are neither standardised nor universal. In addition, the findings revealed that there is no one entity accountable for implementing the safety and health standards. In accordance with this, a precise and innovative structure for the formation of a federal body to serve as the industry’s single H&S regulator is suggested.

1. Introduction

Both the economy and people’s daily lives rely heavily on the work performed in the construction business, making it imperative. The construction industry accounts for 6–8% of the worldwide GDP [1]. Expenditure by governments and businesses hit USD11 trillion in 2017, and experts predict it will rise to USD14 trillion by 2025 [2]. (McKinsey, 2021). Occupational catastrophes, workplace mishaps, and workplace injuries claim the lives of over 2.8 million individuals annually, resulting in significant societal and fiscal costs [3]. (ILO, 2019). The construction sector has experienced the greatest mortality rate in occupational injuries over the last few decades, outpacing all other sectors [4,5]. (Rikhotso, Morodi, & Masekameni, 2022; Zhang, Zhang, Xu, & Chen, 2019). Several nations have instituted initiatives in an effort to lower fatality and incident statistics during the design process of the construction process [6] (Xu, Cheung, Manu, Ejohwomu, & Too, 2023).

Due to the prevalence of fatalities and injuries, the construction industry has developed a reputation for being the most hazardous workplace. The construction industry consistently rates among the top five most hazardous when resolving problems with worker safety and health on the job. A survey indicated that, in 2010–2011, 27% of occupational deaths occurred in the construction industry. In 2016–2017, this proportion increased from 3% to 38%, representing the majority of occupational deaths. Variation in H&S performance and application of regulations is mostly attributable to a lack of importance placed on H&S concerns and the perceived burden of having H&S procedures in place. In emerging nations, inadequate precautions have been taken to reduce accidents on construction sites. It may be argued that if H&S standards are not adequately applied in the construction industry, more incidents and accidents concerning occupational health and safety will occur, hence delaying the completion of many projects. It has been demonstrated that extensive safety measures and ensuring compliance with H&S requirements are crucial to the success of the sector as a whole. When properly implemented, the occupational health and safety regulations will ensure the success of construction projects while creating a safe working environment for the employees. An enabling H&S policy provides the framework for this to occur [7] (Eyiah, Kheni, & Quartey, 2019), which is largely missing from the sector. There is no federal health and regulation organisation in the UAE. Each emirate has developed their regulations, and implementation and responsibility of these regulations are connected with different offices. Based on this, the proposed research focused on developing an effective framework that can promote effective health and safety practices in the UAE‘s construction projects, developed as a federal organisation.

2. Literature Review

2.1. The Role of Regulation in OHS Management

Accidents continue to occur in the construction industry, causing harm to workers, equipment, and the surroundings [8,9] (Cagno, Micheli, Jacinto, & Masi, 2014; Nowrouzi-Kia, Nadesar, & Casole, 2019). Accidents still occur even though substantial money has been invested in addressing occupational health and safety dangers. Evidence suggests that the construction business has a much greater accident rate than other industries [10] (Loosemore & Malouf, 2019). The number of people injured or killed by accidents in the construction business is significantly higher than in most other global industries. Even though [11] HSE (2018) observed 1.77% mortality annually, [12] CPWR (2022) estimates that the rate of accidents and deaths has increased by at least 41% in the past few years.

Defining criteria for a safe and healthy working environment is crucial, and regulation remains one of the most effective. Nevertheless, depending on the jurisdiction, such prohibitions’ effectiveness, comprehensiveness, and breadth may vary greatly. Specifically, occupational safety and health regulations are becoming more focused on accounting for the increasingly complex nature of labour in the modern, industrialised economy [13] (Chen, Hou, Zhang, & Li, 2020). Even with the displayed event figures, the goal of reaching zero accidents and illnesses remains challenging to achieve. One way to boost OHS’s contribution to the success of businesses is to enact legislation that improves OHS performance. Old and ineffective regulations result in excessive bureaucracy, red tape, compliance issues, and increased compliance costs [14] (Lingard, Warmerdam, & Shooshtarian, 2019). As a result, this validates the need for research evaluating occupational health and safety regulations as a foundation for more effective regulation. This is of the utmost relevance in nations where the industry is accelerating but occupational health and safety standards are weak and unorganised. The study by [14] Linguard et al. (2019) outlines that when the unification of the legislations and regulations of the H&S policies is carried out, it leads to a better and more effective sector that is able to manage the H&S of its employees effectively. Furthermore, the role of the climate and overall culture of the organisation is of paramount importance to ensuring that the H&S standards and guidelines are accepted by the employees [15] (Gümüş, Ayhan, & Gümüş, 2022).

In many nations, occupational health and safety standards apply “across the board,” and in others, there are additional conditions for managing specific industries by their particularities. One such industry is the construction industry, which is characterised by an abundance of moving parts and presents many inherent risks. For instance, the European Union member states have passed their countries’ Construction (Design and Management) Regulations of 2015 (CDM Regulations). Experts and organisations have been focusing on the responsibilities designers play in workplace health and safety issues as stakeholders [16,17] (Öney-Yazıcı & Dulaimi, 2014; Sacks et al., 2015). It is evident that insufficient implementation of occupational health and safety standards leads to a rise in the incidence of accidents; hence, it is crucial that the appropriate rules guide designers, as well as onsite workers.

Workplace health and safety concerns can be attributed equally to employers, employees, and regulatory agencies [18] (da Silva & Amaral, 2019). Institutional frameworks and occupational health and safety regulations are the primary instruments governments utilise to eliminate all occurrences of accidental injury. Occupational health and safety regulations guarantee that all employees work in risk-free workplaces. Employers, whether individuals or major organisations, must minimise or mitigate workplace safety and health risks in their operations by implementing the necessary precautions. Employees are responsible for ensuring their health and safety by advocating for and enforcing the upkeep of a safe and healthy workplace [7] (Eyiah et al., 2019).

2.2. Compliance with H&S Rules and Regulations

Even though there are indications of a paradigm shift in OHS management [19] (Leamon, 2001) from a regulatory compliance strategy to a voluntary compliance strategy, the less developed nations are still far behind. Compliance with OHS legislation and regulations is subordinate to OHS management. Compliance with OHS laws and regulations is a secondary concern because the most effort is spent on meeting contract health and safety conditions. Ineffective regulatory institutions result in a lack of fear of punitive fines for violating occupational health and safety standards and legislation, which leads to a low level of compliance [7] (Eyiah et al., 2019). According to [20] Jaselskis et al. (1996), the fear of being prosecuted or subjected to disciplinary measures if the employees reporting for portraying irresponsibility motivates proactive occupational health and safety management.

Since then, numerous authors of OHS best practices [20] (Jaselskis et al., 1996) have demonstrated the importance of top-level management commitment in enhancing health and safety results. In the construction sector, proactive occupational health and safety management is motivated by construction managers’ conviction that compliance with occupational health and safety standards is both necessary and right, as well as their sincere desire to boost employee morale and productivity [21] (Grill & Nielsen, 2019). According to [7] Eyiah et al. (2019), construction management prioritises profits over occupational safety and health. More evidence is needed to support proactive occupational health and safety management by management [7] Eyiah et al. (2019), as compliance with occupational health and safety standards and regulations is frequently confined to contract specifications on H&S. Compliance with H&S laws and regulations and to achieve safe and healthy construction sites may need to be improved by a lack of employee empowerment, particularly among site managers and union representatives, on H&S issues. According to [22] Casey, Griffin, Flatau Harrison, and Neal (2017), social repercussions go beyond the pressure of job security and can alter workers’ emotional state and, subsequently, their health and safety awareness level. Many researchers came with the same conclusion. There is an inverse link between regulatory institutions’ confidence in their capacity to administer H&S laws and H&S-related conventions and the chance that regulated enterprises will take action to enhance their own H&S practices [23] (Salguero-Caparrós, Pardo-Ferreira, Martínez-Rojas, & Rubio-Romero, 2020). This is because regulatory institutions are more likely to enforce OHS rules and ILO conventions when confidence in their ability to do so is high. Companies are unlikely to “go the additional mile” to incorporate safety measures beyond what is necessary for contracts to ensure compliance with OHS regulations because there are no penalties for noncompliance with OHS laws and no incentive to maximise safety spending.

Furthermore, [24] Roddy (2014) conducted a case study on one of the international construction companies operating in the UAE and Indonesia to evaluate its performance in terms of health and safety. He discovered that stricter enforcement by the municipality in UAE had raised safety standards to a level where the company is outperforming its Indonesian counterpart. However, the H&S regulations in the UAE are scattered and non-uniform. In the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, the Abu Dhabi Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, and Dubai Municipality, among others, are organisations that regulate H&S implementation in the UAE. These three organisations have various different mandates and different principles that make it challenging for firms within the construction industry to implement appropriate practices for ensuring H&S in the UAE’s construction industry. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the current state of the UAE’s construction industry in terms of H&S and underline key steps that can be taken towards the improvement of harmony and unification of the H&S rules and regulations.

Overall, to better understand the overall occupational H&S legislations that are needed and how they might be applied to tackle the current challenges within the sector, this study focused on the context of the UAE based on highlighted gaps and lack of OHS regulatory policies in the UAE’s construction projects. In addition, there has not been any research conducted that specifically addresses the gaps and flaws in the UAE’s health and safety legislation and regulations. More importantly, no prior research has aimed to provide a framework that encourages the optimisation of H&S in the UAE’s construction industry. With that in mind, this research has been designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the most significant aspects of the United Arab Emirates’ construction sector in terms of the need for more uniformity in H&S legislation and policies, the inconsistencies and issues with the current H&S legislation and policies, and the effects this has on the UAE’s construction industries.

3. Methodology

The qualitative technique is the most appropriate for this study. To determine the results, this method investigates the attitudes, perspectives, and activities of a larger sample group in addition to other established criteria [25] (Debnath et al., 2020). In addition, it utilises data to form conclusions about the topic of the research, thus revealing certain study tendencies. In light of the qualitative method’s ability to identify a variety of trends, the present research may use it to examine the most important parts of the UAE’s construction sector in terms of the need for more uniformity in H&S legislation and policies. A stratified purposeful sampling strategy was used wherein particular specific cases were selected as part of the sample from the larger population. For instance, construction firms were purposely selected from three emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah), as some regulations for safety and health were found and high-rise buildings are more concentrated. As shown in

Table 1. Stratified sampling for construction companies.

Population (Number of Construction Companies Eligible to Work in High Rise Buildings)
Emirate	Excellent Category	First Category	Second Category	Total Number of Companies
Abu Dhabi	141	123	59	323
Dubai	118	138	266	522
Sharjah	25	272	46	343
Total				1188
Stratified Sampling
Emirate (Strata)			Strata sample size	Total
Abu Dhabi			8.2	8.2
Dubai			13.2	13.2
Sharjah			8.7	8.7
Total				30.1

and

Table 2. Stratified sampling for construction companies.

Population (Number of Consultancy Companies Eligible to Work in High Rise Buildings)
Emirate	Excellent Category	First Category	Second Category	Total Number of Companies
Abu Dhabi	56	68	264	588
Dubai	109	95	225	429
Sharjah	265	42	38	345
Total				1362
Stratified Sampling
Emirate (Strata)		Strata sample size		Total
Abu Dhabi		13		13
Dubai		9.4		9.4
Sharjah		7.6		7.6
Total				30

outline the parameters of the stratified sampling employed in the study.

The semi-structured interview technique was then selected as the main data collection tool. A total of 30 construction firms and 30 consultant firms were to be sampled. Analysis of the results was conducted by the use of a framework analysis. Each interview was launched referring to the answers of a set of questions for both practitioners. Interviews were fully recorded with the consent of participants. A pre-structured list of interview questions, as given in

Table 3. Themes and sub-themes of the construction sector.

Theme	Sub-Theme
Theme 1: Current HSE regulations are not-uniform	Non-uniform HSE practices carried out onsite
	Variation in adherence to established HSE standards
	Role of government organisations in enforcing H&S regulations
	Non-uniform understanding of the impact of culture
Theme 2: Inconsistency in conducting training and inspection programs	Non-uniform persons assigned to conduct HSE training
	Inspections are not carried out by a uniform person or party
Theme 3: Scattered and non-standardised process of accident management	Multiple causes of hazards and accidents
	Providing first aid for minor incidents and reporting them
	Accident reporting is carried out
	An incident investigation is conducted
Theme 4: Impact of H&S	H&S impacts performance and cost
	Appropriate H&S improves the wellbeing of employees
	Manage reputation and delays
Theme 5: Improvement of H&S procedures	Government policy needs to be strengthened
	Frequent training and monitoring
	Instilling H&S into the culture

and

Table 4. Consultant firms’ themes and sub-themes.

Theme	Sub-Theme
Theme 1: H&S guidelines are considered during the design stage	H&S guidelines are provided to the contractor
	H&S risk register is prepared by the consultants
	The design adheres to the safety guidelines
	H&S regulations are implemented during construction phase only
	Designers are asked to follow the H&S regulations
Theme 2: Routine inspections are carried out	Non-standardised and poorly coordinated approach
	No uniform personnel assigned
	Variation in formal training programs are present
Theme 3: Accident occurrence management process is scattered and not-standardized	No involvement of consultants
	More focus on incident reporting
	Carry out detailed investigation and reporting
	Inform stakeholders
Theme 4: Role of government organisations in enforcing H&S regulations	Government organisations only provide guidance and training
	No guidance or support provided
Theme 5: Impact of H&S policies	Appropriate H&S will enhance the quality of life and create a good working environment
	Prevents delays and enhances the success of the project
	Builds confidence
Theme 6: Improving H&S systems	Enforcement of H&S regulations
	Integration of H&S into culture
	Regular inspections by authorities
	Provide training to staff

, was developed and used to drive the conversation during interviews. These data were collected from local authorities in each emirate.

4. Findings and Analysis

4.1. Results from the Construction Firms

A total of 29 construction firms participated in the interviews. The interviews were conducted through a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, which helped the researcher to collect data from individuals working on the UAE‘s construction projects. The majority of firms (41.4%) operated in Dubai, while the others operated in Abu Dhabi (34.5%) and Sharjah (24.14%). In addition, 34.5% of the firms possessed at least 6 to 10 different nationalities in their workforce, and about 82.75% of the participants had between 1 to 10 years of experience in their firm. In addition, more than 55.17% of the participants had more than 20 years of experience in the construction sector as a whole. Furthermore, about 75.86% of the organisations maintained all the records of the accidents that occurred in the organisation. Finally, about 51.72% of the firms have had at least 1 to 5 accidents that occurred in a year. Using a framework analysis, as indicated above, the following themes and sub-themes were developed, as shown in Table 3. These themes were predicted by the present study according to the results of the interviews.

Theme 1:

Current HSE regulations are not-uniform

It was found that, first and foremost, the current HSE methods are not uniform in that various companies follow various procedures. For instance, some firms reported the use of PPE for onsite work, while others reported the use of safety training for onsite work. Participant responses ranged from outlining that they provided basic PPE to all their staff to conducting monthly meetings and obtaining an undertaking letter from all the employees before work began. For instance, CN1 stated that their firm strictly adheres to the risk assessment principles, ensures that basic PPE is followed, legal requirements are met, and that work-based HSE induction and competency is carried out. On the other hand, CN3 stated that in their firm, the PPE provided to the workers must be used and that the scaffolding and cranes need to be certified. Other firms were more focused on safety training and development. For instance, CN5 stated that their firm provides safety induction training and a safety book before and after any project begins. They also stated that they get an undertaking signed by the employees after attending the course. In addition, CN21 stated that their firm performs “Safety Induction, Conducting Safety Classes for Foreman & Chargehands, checking documents every day, closely watching each and every worker, safety Award Celebration, Mock Drill”. Overall, every organisation follows their own process of ensuring that safety and health are managed during onsite work. It is reasonable to conclude that there are no consistent practices that are carried out by construction firms in the UAE, which could potentially reduce the effectiveness of the health and safety of the employees working onsite. Furthermore, there was an increased reliance on safety training and obtaining an undertaking letter from the employees that safety training was conducted. There was little to no evidence of a focus on day-to-day activities that promote safety during onsite work.

Another trend that was evidenced was that there was a significant variation in adherence to established HSE standards. Some firms followed the international and local guidelines that were established, while others focused on deriving their own guidelines. For instance, both CN8 and CN9 have stated their firm develops a project-specific HSE plan for every project that needs to be adhered to in the project that is being carried out. This allows them to customise the HSE regulations to apply to specific activities being carried out as part of the project. This has benefits wherein the generalised guidelines may not provide provisions for specific activities that are conducted in the project. Other participants indicated that they use the OSHAD and ISO standards to ensure H&S in the organisation. Furthermore, another set of participants stated that their firm follows the ESHARP manual or an H&S booklet. Other participants outlined the presence of HSE policies and regulations that enable them to safeguard the health and safety of their employees.

Furthermore, another finding was that the role of governmental organisations in enforcing H&S regulations was not consistent. First and foremost, there was not a single organisation that provided support to the construction firms as they all relied upon and reported to various organisations. For instance, the regulators that are commonly noted to be involved in regulating the H&S as applied in the organisation were as follows: Abu Dhabi Municipality HSE department, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE), Sharjah Municipality, Dubai Municipality (Public Health and Safety Department), Occupational Safety and Health Abu Dhabi (OSHAD), Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, IOSH, Police safety, China State, Trakhees, Dubai Development Authority, MUSANADA, and TEKOM. One participant, in fact, stated that the regulatory authority responsible for enforcing H&S regulations on the firm differed from project to project. Since there is no single and consistent authority that oversees the implementation of and adherence to the H&S regulations, the performance outcome of these H&S regulations cannot be outlined. Furthermore, the extent of support provided by these organisations also varies significantly, with some participants stating that enough support was provided and others stating that limited or insufficient support was provided. For instance, more than 21 participants stated that they received sufficient support from government bodies, while the other stated that they did not. The latter group of participants indicated that inspections carried out were rare and that they were only required to ensure that safety equipment was provided and functioning. Furthermore, another participant indicated that the recommendations were provided only during the design stage.

Another finding was that the understanding of the impact of culture, in terms of nationality, habit, and language, was not uniform, with participants being divided on the fact that culture has an impact and culture does not have an impact on H&S outcomes in the firm. About 21 participants stated a resounding ‘Yes’ that culture had an impact, especially due to the multicultural workforce that is prevalent in the UAE today. On the other hand, the other participants indicated that they did not find the various backgrounds of the individual to play a part in the effectiveness of H&S regulations and that all employees followed their rules and regulations effectively.

Theme 2:

Inconsistency in conducting training and inspection programs

Results revealed that non-uniform persons are assigned to conduct HSE inspections in construction firms in the UAE. Furthermore, in terms of the inspections that are carried out in the organisations, participants’ responses indicated that in some firms, the inspections are carried out by miscellaneous persons, while other participants indicated that training is carried out by HSE managers or officers. For instance, CN23 noted that in their organisation, training is carried out by a “Competent person with 10 years experience and graduate of engineering courses, e.g., Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or other courses relevant to the nature of works to be inspected”. Furthermore, those who indicated that the inspection was carried out by HSE managers or officers also noted that these HSE managers or officers must have the relevant certifications and experience. A similar trend was also noted for the inspections, as they were either carried out by internal employees within the organisation or by a third party.

Theme 3:

Scattered and non-standardised process of accident management

The participants identified that there are multiple causes of hazards and accidents that can occur in the workplace. For instance, some accidents occur due to height, scaffolding, fire, and electricity, while others occur from not following the H&S regulations appropriately. For instance, CN20 outlined various causes such as “Working at height, moving objects, lifting operations, material and manual handling, collapse of trench, and electricity. Cause of accidents would be varied- not following plan and procedures, untrained persons, poor supervision, ignorance, unplanned works, work pressure adverse weather conditions etc.” While such accidents can occur in high-risk industries, such as construction firms, not following H&S regulations leads to a higher risk. Creating an unsafe environment for everyone involved by not following the regulations and guidelines is a major factor that can increase the risk of and prevalence of accidents. For instance, CN21 states, “Major cause of accidents are mainly due to the following reasons: (1) Failure to Follow the Safety Rules & Regulation; (2) Negligence of Work; (3) Failure to wear the Safety helmet/glasses/shoes/gloves; (4) Working in an unsafe Condition; and (5) Consuming alcohol/Cigarette at Work”. In addition, CN17 stated that, “Negligence of the workers and the supervision team from Contractor and Consultant side. Accidents should not happen if all concerned performed their duties correctly”. Furthermore, when an accident does occur, regardless of the reasons, it was found that the process of accident management was scattered and non-standardised. For instance, some firms provided first aid for minor accidents and reported them, others carried out appropriate reporting, and others conducted incident investigations.

In terms of providing first aid and reporting, several participants indicated that after providing first aid for minor accidents, appropriate reporting was carried out to the relevant authorities. For instance, CN11 stated that, “First Aid will be initiated, Safety officer will report to the safety manager, if accident requires special consideration, person will be transferred to hospital, in all cases a report will be issued and shared by concern persons”. In addition, other participants also noted that in the case of minor accidents, first aid is provided within the organisation by qualified persons, and then the accident is reported based on the regulations.

In addition, several other participants outlined that accident investigation reporting is carried out. For instance, CN25 stated that, “Preparation of incident report, analysis of root-causes, take necessary precautions to avoid similar incidents”. Similar responses were provided by several other participants, wherein they detailed that an extensive root cause is carried out and appropriate reporting is conducted. This incident investigation was further outlined by the participants wherein several firms carried out an extensive investigation. For instance, CN9 stated that, “We are securing scene of accident and if first aid required we have approved nurse and first aider who is responsible to provide first aid and make alive injured person. And we are calling to ambulance and police also to transfer injured person to hospital also start investigating incident and identify immediate and root cause to prevent recurrence”.

Theme 4:

Impact of H&S

The results also found that almost all of the participants viewed the impact of H&S to be positive, wherein H&S was thought to positively impact performance and cost, improve the wellbeing of employees, and manage the reputation of the firm as well as prevent delays of the projects. For instance, CN25 stated that H&S has a tremendous impact on the organisation’s performance. In addition, CN11 stated that following H&S rules and regulations improve the productivity as well as the wellbeing of the employees both within and outside the organisation. Furthermore, the participants also noted that the reputation of the firm and any delays are prevented. For instance, CN22 stated that, “It will help to maintain company reputation, avoid the delay in work progress, avoid the compensation and protect the employees’ life, protection of environment”. Thus, there was an overall consensus that H&S regulations create positive impacts on the organisation and employees as a whole.

Theme 5:

Improvement of H&S procedures

Finally, in terms of the recommendations that were provided by the participants to improve the H&S procedures, several participants indicated that government policy needs to be strengthened. For instance, one participant, CN17, stated that an H&S policy should be in place prior to the start of any project, and it should be carefully adhered to and presented at the beginning of all project meetings. Furthermore, CN6 also proposed that a dedicated government agency should be responsible for enforcing the implementation of health and safety rules and conducting follow-up inspections by certified personnel. Additionally, businesses must have trained and accredited safety officers and managers. Similarly, another participant in CN7 indicated that authorities must conduct more frequent inspections and site visits, that H&S training must be mandated, that all inspectors must be certified, and that only one government agency should be responsible. Moreover, it was also found that frequent training and monitoring need to be carried out. For instance, CN29 stated that continuous monitoring and training need to be carried out. In addition, CN12 stated that mandatory training needs to be carried out for all the employees in the organisation.

Finally, participants also indicated that instilling H&S into the culture is a crucial step towards improving H&S procedures. For instance, CN13 stated that the attitude that needs to be established in the organisation is that prevention is better than a cure. This was also supported by CN9 who stated that employees need to be encouraged to report unsafe working conditions, a reward scheme should be established, and a frequent regime of training and inspection should be carried out.

4.2. Results from Consultant Firms

A total of 34 consultant firms participated in the interviews. A total of seven consultant firms did not even possess a written H&S policy, while the remaining 27 consultant firms did. Additionally, approximately 65% of the firms maintained all of their records relating to accident reports. The responses of the participants were analysed using a framework analysis, and the following themes and sub-themes emerged.

Theme 1:

H&S guidelines are considered during the design stage

The findings revealed that several of the participants from the consultant firms indicated that H&S guidelines are provided to the contractor and that a risk register is prepared by the consultants. Furthermore, the consultants also ensure that the design adheres to the safety guidelines, and that the designers are asked to follow the H&S regulations. However, some participants indicated that H&S regulations are implemented during the construction phase only. For instance, CL33 stated that their firm provides advice during the pre-tendering stage, “However, we are introducing our advice in our presentation during the Pre tendering stage and kick of meeting identify the requirements)”. In addition, as indicated above, some consultant firms prepare a risk register. For instance, CL1 stated that they are involved in the preparation of an ESHARP to oversee five stages of a project, with the design stage occurring first during business development. The participant further stated that during this stage, the H&S risks are evaluated in depth, with the H&S values being aligned to create a design that is free of failures and reduce all evaluated risks as much as is feasible.

More importantly though, the participants from the consultant firms indicated that it is their responsibility to ensure that the design adheres to the safety guidelines; however, different consultants followed different guidelines. For instance, CL27 stated that they followed the OSHAD-COP No. 20 while CL11 stated that they followed the guidelines of the local Civil Defence and Municipality. Similar responses were outlined by the other participants, which indicates that there is no single design guideline adopted for the implementation of H&S regulations that is being followed by the consultant firms in the UAE. Finally, several consultants held the view that the H&S regulations needed to be applied only during the construction phase and do not necessarily need to be considered at the design stage, with others stating that designers are asked to follow the design safety guidelines.

Theme 2:

Routine inspections are carried out

The results indicated that while routine inspections are carried out, the inspections are non-standardised and poorly coordinated. For instance, CL2 stated that they conduct inspections at the beginning with a proposal for requiring third-party H&S certification for lifts and scaffolding. Following this, throughout the duration of the project, the firm conducts frequent safety inspections. A further participant, CL13, indicated that HSE inspections are conducted by HSE inspectors. The HSE employs these health and safety professionals to ensure workplace compliance with the law. For example, proactive inspections may be conducted as part of a health and safety campaign. They might also be reactive, for instance, in response to a complaint or mishap. In addition, CL26 noted that daily inspections of onsite operations are conducted to ensure compliance with all safety regulations. They pay special attention to safety procedures such as the use of PPEs by all onsite personnel, the proper functioning of the condition and safe operation of machinery, the assessment of plants and ongoing site activities, and the construction of temporary diversions. On the other hand, several other participants indicated that they conduct the inspections based on the ESHARP manual and the OSHAD elements, while some others indicated that they carry out the inspections using their own checklists.

Another finding was that there were no uniform personnel assigned to conduct the inspections. For instance, some participants indicated that the site manager conducts the inspections, others mentioned the deployment of special HSE staff that oversee the inspections, while others mentioned that there are dedicated roles and responsibilities that are mentioned and need to be followed as stipulated. Thus, there is no consistent understanding of who the designated persons conducting the inspections should be.

Finally, there is also a variation in the formal training programs that are present. CL3 outlined an extensive regime for training, wherein the formalisation of the H&S training programme occurs during the field operations phase. Developing and implementing a training and competence matrix with clear definitions. CL3 also noted on one axis of the training matrix are the names, titles, or job roles of project team members, and on the other are the official H&S compliance and best practice training, H&S work qualifications, and H&S-related certificates of proficiency. The training matrix is generated throughout the PSHEP’s development and is maintained throughout the project’s duration. If qualification or competency recertification or refresher training is necessary, these aspects are included in the training matrix. While one participant outlined an extensive training program, another participant stated that they only provide training for certain projects that they have developed awareness campaigns for H&S. Furthermore, another participant stated that they have a team onsite that provides regular training as per the requirements. On the other hand, several participants stated that they did not have any formal training programs implemented with regard to H&S training.

Theme 3:

Accident occurrence management process is scattered and not-standardized

First and foremost, it was identified that there was no involvement of the consultants in the process of accident management, wherein several participants stated that it is the contractor’s responsibility. Some of the participants, such as CL3, stated that they have an accident management plan, but this is briefed to the construction firms. For instance, CL3 stated, “We do have Incident response plan for appropriate actions to take in the event of an accident, security incident, medical emergency or an occurrence requiring an evacuation. The plan detail how to act during the event of an incident to follow the incident response protocol to concerned personnel. The incident investigation will be conducted to identify the root cause and contributing factors that lead to incident and adequate corrective and preventive actions will be taken to prevent recurrence of the incident. Any incident occurring in the project is reported within 4 hours via phone/email and a formal written notification is sent to the client within 24 hours. Later, a well detailed investigation report is compiled using our corporate template and sent to the client and corporate office within 7 days”.

Another participant, CL27, stated that they have the Integrated SHEQ Management System (ISMS) and the Online H&S reporting tool, which is used to report the incidents that have occurred onsite. Several other participants indicated that they are not involved in the process of accident management and have more of a focus on incident reporting. A total of 18 participants from the consultant firms indicated that they place an emphasis on safety reporting as per the contract conditions and recommendations.

Furthermore, only two participants stated that they carry out extensive investigation and reporting following an incident. For instance, CL26 outlined the process of incident management to include “Inspection, informing the line manager soon, recording all data and causes of the issue, submitting an initial report with the target time as per the issue case, and informing the concerned Authorities”. In addition, CL29 also stated that they carry out a detailed investigation with the aim of being more cautious and preventing any such events from recurring in the future. Furthermore, other participants seek to inform the stakeholders, followed by carrying out an accident investigation and root cause analysis. For instance, CL19 outlined, “Notify the appropriate and responsible stakeholders (client/government department). Visit the scene of the accident to gather some facts and interview the witnesses about the contributory factors as part of initial findings before we embark on the Full incident and accident investigation”.

Theme 4:

Role of government organisations in enforcing H&S regulations

The participants outlined several organisations that oversee their H&S process. For instance, some of the organisations outlined Municipality of Sharjah, Roads and Transport Authority, Municipality Engineers/Respective Free Zone Engineers, Dubai Municipality/JAFZA, OSHAD, DDA, Dubai Civil Defense. Furthermore, a total of 28 participants noted that the government organisations only provide guidance and training and are not involved any further. Only one participant, CL3, outlined that the regulating authority is deeply involved in the safety management wherein, several safety alerts, circulars, and procedures are developed and communicated accordingly. Furthermore, several participants noted that no guidance or support is provided by the government organisations that they are affiliated with. Overall, it can be concluded that there is no single authority that manages the H&S implementation and that the support from these organisations is topical at best.

Theme 5:

Impact of H&S policies

The findings revealed that there is a positive impact of H&S that is perceived by the participants. For instance, some of the participants indicated that the use of appropriate H&S will enhance the quality of life and create a good working environment. In other words, it was understood that good and effective project performance enables people to operate safely and efficiently without endangering anyone’s life. For instance, CL21 stated, “The H&S helps to create good environmental conditions to works in a safe field and improve the productivity of staff”. Furthermore, other participants also noted that the implementation of appropriate H&S prevents delays and enhances the success of the project. One participant, for example, mentioned the importance of health and safety in projects, noting that a project with poor H&S data is certain to fail. There is a hidden price to pay for each and every failure. The client, the project consultant, and the contractor might all suffer reputational harm as a result of the incident, which would result in additional indirect costs such as medical bills, insurance claims, reinstatement fees, the price of a new hire, and time. When a project is finished without any injuries that resulted in lost time, it is considered a success on several levels: no one was hurt, no extra money had to be spent, and most significantly, the reputation of the company and its employees was enhanced by the satisfaction of its workers. In addition, some of the participants also noted that the use of appropriate H&S builds confidence. For instance, CL16 stated, “Increases the confidence and engagement of staff”.

Theme 6:

Improving H&S systems

The participants were also asked to provide recommendations that can improve the H&S systems in the UAE. The first and foremost recommendation was that the H&s regulations need to be enforced significantly. For instance, one participant, CL1, stated that “H&S Code has to be implemented and forced. H&S training should be forced in construction and consultants companies and can be done by third party specialists. Environmental H&S policy should be applied”. A similar sentiment was also echoed by the other participants. Further, in enforcing the H&S regulations, the participants also indicated that government authorities also need to regulate the implementation of H&S regulations more effectively. In other words, one participant, CL4 recommended that the government authority have regular site inspections that are conducted at random to ensure that an effective implementation of the rules and regulations is carried out.

Another recommendation was to ensure that the principle of H&S is deeply integrated into the culture of the organisation. One participant, CL27, stated that there is a need to conduct regular H&S workshops for project managers and engineers, conduct H&S awards and hold competitions between projects, as well as conduct audits and inspection visits from governmental organisations. Finally, another recommendation was to enhance the training provided. The whole site’s workforce needs greater training and direction to promote a culture of H&S. It was also recommended to pay special attention to the most common sources of harm, such as the lack of safety footwear or the lack of guard rails at elevated work stations. Finally, it was suggested to incorporate cutting-edge health and safety guidelines and regulations and boost expertise through education and instruction.

5. Discussion and Conclusions

Overall, the analysis presented above has revealed that there are several limitations in the manner in which H&S rules and regulations are applied. Furthermore, the most evident and overlapping result was that there is no single, unified body that oversees the application of the H&S regulations and that companies only do the bare minimum. In addition, the local authority organisations that do exist provide insufficient support and oversight to the firms, which results in a relatively weaker H&S policy implementation. In order to mitigate this, both consultants and construction firms outlined the need for the presence of a single entity that can manage and oversee the H&S regulation of the UAE as a whole. In line with the above, a framework is outlined and depicted below as the likely steps that can promote better H&S regulations in the UAE and enhance the safety outcomes of the workforce as shown in Figure 1. The present study will provide the requested support for implanting health and safety regulations to all construction firms and will also reduce the number of accidents onsite; moreover, a number of inspectors will be involved in visiting these sites.

A limitation of the study is that this is an untested framework that has not been validated. Thus, future studies are recommended to validate this framework, as well as enhance it. Another limitation is that the study is highly contextual in that it is only based on the context of the UAE, which differs significantly from other contexts. Future researchers are also recommended to conduct the study in a different GCC context to ensure that a more applicable and contextualised framework is developed.