The influence of project managers on construction health and safety in South Africa

The paper reports on a study which investigates the influence of project managers (PMs), independent agents engaged by clients to manage and co-ordinate the design and construction processes, on construction health and safety (H&S). Based upon a literature review and descriptive survey of PMs, the study determined that PMs prioritise the traditional project parameters of cost, quality and time, consider and refer to H&S more frequently during construction, than during procurement and design-related occasions, generally consider and refer to H&S relative to various design related activities, encounter design and procurement related situations which negatively affect H&S more frequently than situations which complement H&S. It also found that the potential exists for various design, procurement and related aspects and actions to contribute to an improvement in H&S performance, and inadequate H&S negatively impacts on other project parameters and increases project risk.