A preliminary review of the impact of prefabrication on construction health and safety

Luviwe Bikitsha, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Ruben Ndihokubwayo, Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Abstract

Purpose – This paper investigates the views of clients and designers relative to the impact of prefabrication on South African construction health and safety. Problem statement –The preoccupation of clients and designers with time, cost, quality and labour based techniques results in resistance to adopting alternative construction methods such as prefabrication which potentially improve construction health and safety. Methodological approach – The literature on government policies, labour based techniques and prefabrication construction methods with regards to health and safety were reviewed. A combination of open-ended and closed-ended questions in a self-administered questionnaire was used to establish the views of clients and designers involved with public sector projects on the use of prefabrication on those projects. Closed-ended responses were captured using SPSS and subsequently analyzed. Responses to open-ended questions were summarized in quantitative form. Findings – It was found that labour based construction methods were widely used in South Africa and the focus on time, cost and quality resulted in construction health and safety being ignored. It was revealed that there was a resistance by clients and designers to use the prefabrication. The lack of understanding of prefabricated construction procedures by the designers reduced the likelihood of the adopting prefabrication. Conclusion –It is imperative that construction stakeholders consider the importance of alternative construction methods such as prefabrication with reference to its improvement of health and safety in the construction industry.