Abstract
A number of studies conducted in Kenya and internationally indicated that most of the construction firms and contractors do not seem to strictly observe safety administration in construction industry, hence compromised performance at implementation stage of projects and even later in the post implementation or post-delivery stage. The study aimed to examine the influence of contractors’ safety record on road performance. This is to create better understanding of how the safety record of contractors could either positively or negatively influence performance of roads during post-delivery stage. The study used both descriptive survey research design and correlation design based on a pragmatic mixed method approach. Through stratified sampling and proportionate sampling, a sample of 210 was drawn from a population of 460 comprising of registered contractors and Public Service Vehicles (PSV) drivers within Nairobi County in Kenya. Questionnaires were distributed using simple random sampling. The questionnaires returned were 153 in total representing 72.8% of all questionnaires distributed to the respondents. Data was descriptively analyzed using percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviations for measuring central tendency and variability. Inferential analysis was done by use of correlation and regression. The descriptive analysis revealed that safety policy management system, insurance policy, and adequacy of standards in addressing safety outcome are to some extent practiced and adhered to. However, compliance behavior to safety procedures is still weak and requires improvement. The null hypothesis was tested and the results obtained from a simple linear regression indicated that, R = 0.657, R2 = 0.431, B = 0.359, t = 10.703, F (1,151) = 114.558, p = 0.000 < 0.05. This means that contractors’ safety record has a strong positive and significant relationship with road performance and that 43.1% of variation in performance is explained by safety record. This study recommends that contractors’ safety record should be part, and parcel of the evaluation criteria used in selection of a suitable road contractor to ensure road performance is achieved even after construction is completed. The study is significant in that it contributes to the body of knowledge by providing empirical data on the need for safety procedures in urban road construction and beyond.
Highlights
The number of people killed and injured annually on the world’s roads is believed to be nearly 1.25 million people and up to 50 million people respectively [1]
The following are key responses obtained from the road construction engineers: Rain is the main concern; excessive rains sweep away the tarmac; A contractor is limited by the variation of project design; Poor performing roads is a result of public interference; Inadequate drainage for storm water; Disposal of wastewater overburdens drains and un-hygienically recommended; Table 4
The following are key responses obtained from the Public Service Vehicles (PSV) drivers: Accidents occurring on roads on daily basis; Flooding during heavy rain seasons; Road safety signs are lacking and some accidents happen; Bus stops are not adequate and drivers are forced to pick and drop passengers in the middle of the road which is a safety concerns to both the clients and drivers; There are no footbridges in common areas that would enable pedestrians or public cross the road
Summary
The number of people killed and injured annually on the world’s roads is believed to be nearly 1.25 million people and up to 50 million people respectively [1]. The buck, does not stop with the motorists and pedestrians alone and essentially with the contractors who construct the road. Commendable strides have been made by including road safety in the Sustainable Development Goals: target 3.6, which aims to halve the number of road injuries and deaths by 2020; and target 11.2, which aims to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030 [2]. The International Finance Corporation notes that the contractors should be asked to provide details including past Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) performance; status of Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS); number and qualifications of Environmental, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) personnel; and last but not least is the occupational safety and health procedures and controls [4]
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