Assignment Task

1. Fundamentals Of Health And Safety (H&S) Management

1.1 StrongFibre Civil Projects (SCP) is a construction contractor that specialises in Civil engineering projects, mainly bulk water projects. SCP has tendered a greenfield project for a new reservoir and pipeline installation to a new housing estate in the Mpumalanga province at a built-up

SCP has been executing similar projects for 22 years and has grown to be a large and reputable construction company that employs about 3,600 people across the country. On this particular project, SCP will employ 750 people across all disciplines. In the past three projects, SCP has been experiencing a declining safety performance.

Many suggestions and approaches for H&S performance improvement have been proposed for application in construction H&S. Some of the most notable H&S improvement approaches are listed below:

1. Prevention through design (PtD)

2. Continual improvement of safety management systems

3. Addressing H&S culture

4. Use of incentives and disincentives

5. Multi-stakeholder involvement

6. Behaviour-based H&S

You are tasked to match each improvement approach from the list provided with two corresponding examples which SCP can adopt. The examples have already been provided; therefore, the requirement is that you insert the correct H&S Improvement Approach next to each of the examples given. Copy the following table into your workbook, then provide answers.

1.2 It has become clear that organisations` vulnerability to safety hazards does not originate from just `human errors`, chance, environmental factors or technological failures. The ingrained organisational policies and standards have repeatedly been shown to be at the centre of the catastrophe. It is the prevailing culture in an organisation, which is why H&S culture has become

Several H&S culture models have been developed over the years. Provide a description of the following H&S culture models, then provide one example of how SCP can apply each to improve H&S performance (hint: you are required to do some research on these models and provide references as well) :

• LIP+3C – Musonda (2012)
• Reciprocal Safety Culture Model - Cooper (2000)

1.3 The bases for building a highly effective safety culture by Cigularov, et al. (2010) then provide an example of each on how it can be applied by SCP to improve its safety culture.

2. The Nature And Status Of Construction H&S

2.1 In the 2022 incident statistics, the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (RF) Proprietary Limited (FEM) reported a continuance of high occupational injury rates in the construction industry. The data shows that 6,077 incidents were reported and of these, “struck by” accident is the leading cause of injuries at a massive 32,4%.

Other categories of accident causes reported are as follows:

• Struck by - 1 968 accidents
• Slip or over-exertion - 906 accidents
• Striking Against - 765 accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents - 666 accidents
• Fall on to different levels - 547 accidents

Answer the following questions with regard to the information provided above.

• Whilst walking on site, Thobile, an apprentice electrician, slipped on the slippery floor and then struck against the nearby scaffolding, injuring her wrist. According to the injury causation categories above, which of the numbers would increase? Provide a reason for your 
• Whilst a forklift truck was in the process of turning, it accidentally struck a box, which then fell onto a nearby worker, causing injuries to the shoulder of the employee. According to the injury causation categories above, which of the numbers would increase? Provide a reason for your 
• Rachel forgot to barricade a 2m deep trench when she and the team went to Whilst on lunch, the TLB operated by Prince then falls onto the trench and at the time of its fall, Prince’s head bangs against the door of the TLB resulting in a neck sprain injury. According to the injury causation categories above, which of the numbers would increase? Provide a reason for your answer. 
• At the time when the TLB fell onto the trench, it accidentally struck Patience, who was walking near the trench, causing her to also fall into the trench, injuring her leg. According to the injury causation categories above, which of the numbers would increase? Provide a reason for your answer.

2.2 Reported that from a financial perspective, the average cost per accident is R72 Kindly provide a breakdown estimate of the components considered by FEM leading to this amount. Provide reasons for your answer. 

2.3 Ibhutho Electrical Systems (IES) is a construction contractor specialising in electrical installations on commercial properties and industrial projects. IES is in the middle of a large project, but it suddenly started to experience an increase in accidents over 7 months.

3. H&S Management Systems – Policies, Planning, Organising

3.1 Cooper-Nala Industrial Painters (CNIP) is a contractor that provides services of painting and other corrosion protection to industrial customers. CNIP is based in Germiston, South Africa and has been in business for 12 years, in which 6 have been executing paint-works in large construction projects.

CNIP employs 850 people and has a formalised structure. CNIP is in the process of tendering for the largest project since its inception and it is looking at developing a robust H&S Management System (SMS) that will be entrenched in its business objectives. With this SMS, new targets for H&S improvement will be developed and set.

CNIP has employed you as a Safety Agent, and you have been tasked to develop this H&S Management System (SMS).

• Develop an H&S Policy document for CNIP (to be placed on all notice boards) 

3.1.2 Develop an H&S/Legal Appointment Organogram for CNIP (to be inserted in a safety file)

3.2 James, a spray-painter for CNIP, accidentally falls from a 3m scaffolding platform and injures his wrist. The accident takes place on a Friday and James is scheduled for overtime work over the weekend. James is then taken to the medical centre where he is provided medical treatment and then released. Tests show that James did not suffer any fractures, but a contusion on the soft tissue, which is not a major injury. The medical practitioner sends James home but books James for a follow-up the next Monday afternoon. James’ manager tells James to report to work on Monday morning and cancels his overtime booking for the weekend.

Which of the lagging indicator incident categories does this incident fall under? Justify your answer by providing references to the legislation.

4. H&S Management Systems – Measuring Performance

4.1 Purelight Engineers and Contractors (PEC) employs 1800 people in a large infrastructure project which is scheduled to be completed in 38 months. In the past year of the current project, PEC has had seven Lost-time injuries and wants to determine the Lost Time Incident Frequency Rate (LTIFR) for the actual occurrence of the This will be used as a basis to determine the LTIFR target for the coming year in order to improve H&S performance. The details of the working conditions are as follows:

• Standardisation factor
• Working weeks per year 48
• Working hours per week 40

Calculate the LTIFR, showing the formula used and the steps towards the answer.

From the LTIFR that you’ve calculated in 4.1.1, what would be the recommended LTIFR target which will result in an improvement in PEC’s H&S performance in the new/next year? Provide a figure then justify your answer.

4.2 When an incident occurs, various forms are used for reporting on the incident and for medical In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which forms are prepared by (hint: also provide the actual code of the form used and also state where this requirement stems from in the legislation):

• the employer to report an incident to the compensation fund?
• the medical practitioner initial incident report 
• the medical practitioner progress incident report
• the medical practitioner final incident report

4.3 Leading indicators and the lagging indicators, which would have the greatest impact on the PEC’s H&S performance improvement effort? Justify your answer by providing examples of specific leading or lagging