Vulnerability Measures of Health and Safety on Confined Building Construction Sites in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Health and safety continues to be a priority issue for those who work and manage the building construction industry across the world, due to the critical and aggravating menace of occupational hazards, and accidents plaguing the industry. The issue becomes particularly difficult with confined sites. Within the health and safety management framework, vulnerability pertains to risk consequence analysis. This concept originates from the idea that risk is the production of hazard and vulnerability. This research seeks to make contributions to the body of knowledge by identifying vulnerable measures of health and safety on confined building construction sites. The study was limited to some selected 15 construction firms in Kariakoo and Posta, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. A sample of 15 case studies, was selected using purposive sampling technique. The findings of the study were analysed and presented using descriptive statistical methods. The study revealed that, confined building construction sites are situated with so many occupational hazards which may result into greater risk consequences making them more vulnerable to health and safety, workplace Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures on confined building construction sites are not adequate, workers awareness of workplace Occupational Health and Safety rights and responsibilities on confined building construction sites is not adequate, and workers are not empowered to participate in health and safety workplace policy formulation on confined construction sites. Conclusions and recommendations were made towards the accomplishment of the research objectives. The study concluded that vulnerability of health and safety on confined construction sites in Tanzania construction industry is due to inadequate Occupational Health and Safety policies in the workplace, unawareness of workers of their rights and responsibilities and workers not being involved in workplace policy formulation. It is recommended that the government should amend the existing construction industry policy to incorporate specific provisions about health and safety issues on confined construction sites, amend/reformulate the existing Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2003 to add new policies specifically for occupational health and safety on confined construction sites, establish Health and Safety Executive (HSE) department within construction organisation. For construction firms, it is recommended formulation of written workplace policies and procedures, formulation of Health and Safety Executive (HSE) department and sufficient allocation of budget for health and safety issues only. Lastly, is for workers to ensure cooperation that workers must oblige fully with the employer in any step that employer takes or proposes in order to ensure safety.