Development of an evaluation matrix of occupational safety and health management system for construction companies

Abstract

Occupational Safety and Health management system is often a neglected area and a function that has not been pursued systematically in the construction industry. Implementation of the occupational safety and health management system has resulted in improvements of workplace health and safety while simultaneously achieving significant cost reductions. The study has three main objectives: (a) To identify the key process areas and key processes of occupational safety and health management system, (b) To identify the key practices of enablers to indicate whether the implementation and institutionalization of the key processes is effective, repeatable and lasting, and (c) To develop an evaluation matrix of the occupational safety and health management system for construction companies. The key process areas, key processes, and key practices of enablers were identified through the comparison study of the 4 international standards of occupational safety and health management systems. The identified elements were tailored into the concept of Capability Maturity Model. They were validated again through the interviews and industry wide questionnaire. The analysis showed that the two categories of construction companies, Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange listed construction companies and Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia Grade7 construction companies shared the same results even though they were from the different categories. The analysis concludes that the key processes and key practices of enablers are suitable to indicate the implementation and institutionalization of the occupational safety and health management system. The industry also agreed that the occupational safety and health evaluation matrix provides a systematic, structured, and continual improvement approach to the evaluation of occupational safety and health management system of construction companies. The occupational safety and health evaluation matrix can also help the construction companies to prioritize their occupational safety and health management plans and focus on those improvements that are most beneficial given their occupational safety and health goals.