Examining the satisfaction level of construction workers on safety management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The importance of the construction industry in Saudi Arabia cannot be overemphasised as it provides the infrastructure required for other sectors of the economy to grow, thus reflecting the level of economic development in the country. However, in Saudi Arabia, the construction industry is recognized to be the one of the most hazardous with high levels of accidents and fatalities. This research aimed to examine construction Health and Safety practices in Saudi Arabia, and to identify means of facilitating improvements within the practices. It also discusses about safety climate. The research adopted a quantitative approach in which a survey questionnaire was distributed and returned at 60% response rate. The survey data was analysed through descriptive statistics using the SPSS statistical software. The findings showed that the Saudi construction industry has made improvements in Health and Safety standards, however there are opportunities for further improvements. There are on-going efforts to maintain reasonable Health and Safety standards of employees on-site, their conditions off-site particularly those of migrant employees on fixed term contract labour are difficult. Unpaid wages and lack of welfare facilities contribute to physical and psychological stresses that are linked to impaired on-site performance, lack of motivation, lack of productivity and a lack of interest in adhering to Health and Safety guidelines. The study concludes that it is possible to improve construction Health and Safety through effective enforcement of existing Health and Safety laws, enacting legislation for off-site Health and Safety for migrant workers, maintaining a fund for social security and improving regulation of commercial and contractual transactions. This study contributes to knowledge in the areas of government policy and decision making in health and safety implementation for the construction industry.