A Framework Supporting Health and Safety Practices in the United Arab Emirates' Construction Projects - MDPI
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sustainability
Article
A Framework Supporting Health and Safety Practices in the
United Arab Emirates’ Construction Projects
Abdelrahman Abdalla Alhelo, Radhi Alzubaidi * and Hamad Rashid
College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
* Correspondence: ralzubaidi@sharjah.ac.ae
Abstract: The construction business in the UAE has seen a significant increase in the type, amount,
and complexity of structures, with safety and health being one of the most important tasks in order
for projects to continue. A lack of sufficient health and safety rules in the construction industry is
one of the key difficulties, based on which the aim of the current research is to develop an integrated
framework for optimising H&S in the UAE’s construction industry. To meet this aim of the study,
the present study conducted an exhaustive investigation of all current health and safety standards
in the UAE construction industry across all Emirates. A total of 63 interviews were performed
with construction and consulting organisations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah to investigate the
existing status and efficacy of safety and health standards in the UAE construction industry and to
identify areas for improvement. Despite the fact that H&S laws and regulations are enforced across
the UAE, the findings demonstrated that they are neither standardised nor universal. In addition,
the findings revealed that there is no one entity accountable for implementing the safety and health
standards. In accordance with this, a precise and innovative structure for the formation of a federal
body to serve as the industry’s single H&S regulator is suggested.
Keywords: health and safety; construction industry; framework; standardized policies; stratified sampling
1. Introduction
Both the economy and people’s daily lives rely heavily on the work performed in
Citation: Alhelo, A.A.; Alzubaidi, R.;
the construction business, making it imperative. The construction industry accounts for
Rashid, H. A Framework Supporting
Health and Safety Practices in the
6–8% of the worldwide GDP [1]. Expenditure by governments and businesses hit USD11
United Arab Emirates’ Construction
trillion in 2017, and experts predict it will rise to USD14 trillion by 2025 [2]. (McKinsey,
Projects. Sustainability 2023, 15, 1587. 2021). Occupational catastrophes, workplace mishaps, and workplace injuries claim the
https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021587 lives of over 2.8 million individuals annually, resulting in significant societal and fiscal
costs [3]. (ILO, 2019). The construction sector has experienced the greatest mortality rate in
Academic Editor: Antonio Caggiano
occupational injuries over the last few decades, outpacing all other sectors [4,5]. (Rikhotso,
Received: 1 December 2022 Morodi, & Masekameni, 2022; Zhang, Zhang, Xu, & Chen, 2019). Several nations have
Revised: 29 December 2022 instituted initiatives in an effort to lower fatality and incident statistics during the design
Accepted: 11 January 2023 process of the construction process [6] (Xu, Cheung, Manu, Ejohwomu, & Too, 2023).
Published: 13 January 2023 Due to the prevalence of fatalities and injuries, the construction industry has devel-
oped a reputation for being the most hazardous workplace. The construction industry
consistently rates among the top five most hazardous when resolving problems with worker
safety and health on the job. A survey indicated that, in 2010–2011, 27% of occupational
Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. deaths occurred in the construction industry. In 2016–2017, this proportion increased from
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
3% to 38%, representing the majority of occupational deaths. Variation in H&S performance
This article is an open access article
and application of regulations is mostly attributable to a lack of importance placed on
distributed under the terms and
H&S concerns and the perceived burden of having H&S procedures in place. In emerging
conditions of the Creative Commons
nations, inadequate precautions have been taken to reduce accidents on construction sites.
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
It may be argued that if H&S standards are not adequately applied in the construction
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
industry, more incidents and accidents concerning occupational health and safety will
Sustainability 2023, 15, 1587. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021587 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainabilitySustainability 2023, 15, 1587 2 of 14
occur, hence delaying the completion of many projects. It has been demonstrated that
extensive safety measures and ensuring compliance with H&S requirements are crucial to
the success of the sector as a whole. When properly implemented, the occupational health
and safety regulations will ensure the success of construction projects while creating a safe
working environment for the employees. An enabling H&S policy provides the framework
for this to occur [7] (Eyiah, Kheni, & Quartey, 2019), which is largely missing from the sector.
There is no federal health and regulation organisation in the UAE. Each emirate has developed
their regulations, and implementation and responsibility of these regulations are connected
with different offices. Based on this, the proposed research focused on developing an
effective framework that can promote effective health and safety practices in the UAE‘s
construction projects, developed as a federal organisation.
2. Literature Review
2.1. The Role of Regulation in OHS Management
Accidents continue to occur in the construction industry, causing harm to workers,
equipment, and the surroundings [8,9] (Cagno, Micheli, Jacinto, & Masi, 2014; Nowrouzi-
Kia, Nadesar, & Casole, 2019). Accidents still occur even though substantial money has
been invested in addressing occupational health and safety dangers. Evidence suggests
that the construction business has a much greater accident rate than other industries [10]
(Loosemore & Malouf, 2019). The number of people injured or killed by accidents in the
construction business is significantly higher than in most other global industries. Even
though [11] HSE (2018) observed 1.77% mortality annually, [12] CPWR (2022) estimates
that the rate of accidents and deaths has increased by at least 41% in the past few years.
Defining criteria for a safe and healthy working environment is crucial, and regula-
tion remains one of the most effective. Nevertheless, depending on the jurisdiction, such
prohibitions’ effectiveness, comprehensiveness, and breadth may vary greatly. Specifically,
occupational safety and health regulations are becoming more focused on accounting for
the increasingly complex nature of labour in the modern, industrialised economy [13]
(Chen, Hou, Zhang, & Li, 2020). Even with the displayed event figures, the goal of reaching
zero accidents and illnesses remains challenging to achieve. One way to boost OHS’s contri-
bution to the success of businesses is to enact legislation that improves OHS performance.
Old and ineffective regulations result in excessive bureaucracy, red tape, compliance issues,
and increased compliance costs [14] (Lingard, Warmerdam, & Shooshtarian, 2019). As
a result, this validates the need for research evaluating occupational health and safety
regulations as a foundation for more effective regulation. This is of the utmost relevance in
nations where the industry is accelerating but occupational health and safety standards
are weak and unorganised. The study by [14] Linguard et al. (2019) outlines that when
the unification of the legislations and regulations of the H&S policies is carried out, it
leads to a better and more effective sector that is able to manage the H&S of its employees
effectively. Furthermore, the role of the climate and overall culture of the organisation is of
paramount importance to ensuring that the H&S standards and guidelines are accepted by
the employees [15] (Gümüş, Ayhan, & Gümüş, 2022).
In many nations, occupational health and safety standards apply “across the board,”
and in others, there are additional conditions for managing specific industries by their
particularities. One such industry is the construction industry, which is characterised
by an abundance of moving parts and presents many inherent risks. For instance, the
European Union member states have passed their countries’ Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations of 2015 (CDM Regulations). Experts and organisations have
been focusing on the responsibilities designers play in workplace health and safety issues
as stakeholders [16,17] (Öney-Yazıcı & Dulaimi, 2014; Sacks et al., 2015). It is evident that
insufficient implementation of occupational health and safety standards leads to a rise in
the incidence of accidents; hence, it is crucial that the appropriate rules guide designers, as
well as onsite workers.Sustainability 2023, 15, 1587 3 of 14
Workplace health and safety concerns can be attributed equally to employers, employ-
ees, and regulatory agencies [18] (da Silva & Amaral, 2019). Institutional frameworks and
occupational health and safety regulations are the primary instruments governments utilise
to eliminate all occurrences of accidental injury. Occupational health and safety regulations
guarantee that all employees work in risk-free workplaces. Employers, whether individuals
or major organisations, must minimise or mitigate workplace safety and health risks in
their operations by implementing the necessary precautions. Employees are responsible
for ensuring their health and safety by advocating for and enforcing the upkeep of a safe
and healthy workplace [7] (Eyiah et al., 2019).
2.2. Compliance with H&S Rules and Regulations
Even though there are indications of a paradigm shift in OHS management [19]
(Leamon, 2001) from a regulatory compliance strategy to a voluntary compliance strat-
egy, the less developed nations are still far behind. Compliance with OHS legislation
and regulations is subordinate to OHS management. Compliance with OHS laws and
regulations is a secondary concern because the most effort is spent on meeting contract
health and safety conditions. Ineffective regulatory institutions result in a lack of fear of
punitive fines for violating occupational health and safety standards and legislation, which
leads to a low level of compliance [7] (Eyiah et al., 2019). According to [20] Jaselskis et al.
(1996), the fear of being prosecuted or subjected to disciplinary measures if the employees
reporting for portraying irresponsibility motivates proactive occupational health and safety
management.
Since then, numerous authors of OHS best practices [20] (Jaselskis et al., 1996) have
demonstrated the importance of top-level management commitment in enhancing health
and safety results. In the construction sector, proactive occupational health and safety
management is motivated by construction managers’ conviction that compliance with
occupational health and safety standards is both necessary and right, as well as their
sincere desire to boost employee morale and productivity [21] (Grill & Nielsen, 2019).
According to [7] Eyiah et al. (2019), construction management prioritises profits over
occupational safety and health. More evidence is needed to support proactive occupational
health and safety management by management [7] Eyiah et al. (2019), as compliance with
occupational health and safety standards and regulations is frequently confined to contract
specifications on H&S. Compliance with H&S laws and regulations and to achieve safe and
healthy construction sites may need to be improved by a lack of employee empowerment,
particularly among site managers and union representatives, on H&S issues. According
to [22] Casey, Griffin, Flatau Harrison, and Neal (2017), social repercussions go beyond
the pressure of job security and can alter workers’ emotional state and, subsequently, their
health and safety awareness level. Many researchers came with the same conclusion. There
is an inverse link between regulatory institutions’ confidence in their capacity to administer
H&S laws and H&S-related conventions and the chance that regulated enterprises will
take action to enhance their own H&S practices [23] (Salguero-Caparrós, Pardo-Ferreira,
Martínez-Rojas, & Rubio-Romero, 2020). This is because regulatory institutions are more
likely to enforce OHS rules and ILO conventions when confidence in their ability to do so
is high. Companies are unlikely to “go the additional mile” to incorporate safety measures
beyond what is necessary for contracts to ensure compliance with OHS regulations because
there are no penalties for noncompliance with OHS laws and no incentive to maximise
safety spending.
Furthermore, [24] Roddy (2014) conducted a case study on one of the international
construction companies operating in the UAE and Indonesia to evaluate its performance
in terms of health and safety. He discovered that stricter enforcement by the municipality
in UAE had raised safety standards to a level where the company is outperforming its
Indonesian counterpart. However, the H&S regulations in the UAE are scattered and
non-uniform. In the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, the Abu
Dhabi Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, and Dubai Municipality, among others,Sustainability 2023, 15, 1587 4 of 14
are organisations that regulate H&S implementation in the UAE. These three organisations
have various different mandates and different principles that make it challenging for firms
within the construction industry to implement appropriate practices for ensuring H&S in
the UAE’s construction industry. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the current state of the
UAE’s construction industry in terms of H&S and underline key steps that can be taken
towards the improvement of harmony and unification of the H&S rules and regulations.
Overall, to better understand the overall occupational H&S legislations that are needed
and how they might be applied to tackle the current challenges within the sector, this study
focused on the context of the UAE based on highlighted gaps and lack of OHS regulatory
policies in the UAE’s construction projects. In addition, there has not been any research
conducted that specifically addresses the gaps and flaws in the UAE’s health and safety
legislation and regulations. More importantly, no prior research has aimed to provide a
framework that encourages the optimisation of H&S in the UAE’s construction industry.
With that in mind, this research has been designed to provide a comprehensive understand-
ing of the most significant aspects of the United Arab Emirates’ construction sector in terms
of the need for more uniformity in H&S legislation and policies, the inconsistencies and
issues with the current H&S legislation and policies, and the effects this has on the UAE’s
construction industries.
3. Methodology
The qualitative technique is the most appropriate for this study. To determine the
results, this method investigates the attitudes, perspectives, and activities of a larger sample
group in addition to other established criteria [25] (Debnath et al., 2020). In addition, it
utilises data to form conclusions about the topic of the research, thus revealing certain
study tendencies. In light of the qualitative method’s ability to identify a variety of trends,
the present research may use it to examine the most important parts of the UAE’s construc-
tion sector in terms of the need for more uniformity in H&S legislation and policies. A
stratified purposeful sampling strategy was used wherein particular specific cases were
selected as part of the sample from the larger population. For instance, construction firms
were purposely selected from three emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah), as some
regulations for safety and health were found and high-rise buildings are more concentrated.
As shown in Tables 1 and 2 outline the parameters of the stratified sampling employed in
the study.
Table 1. Stratified sampling for construction companies.
Population
(Number of Construction Companies Eligible to Work in High Rise Buildings)
Excellent Total Number
Emirate First Category Second Category
Category of Companies
Abu Dhabi 141 123 59 323
Dubai 118 138 266 522
Sharjah 25 272 46 343
Total 1188
Stratified Sampling
Emirate (Strata) Strata sample size Total
Abu Dhabi 8.2 8.2
Dubai 13.2 13.2
Sharjah 8.7 8.7
Total 30.1Sustainability 2023, 15, 1587 5 of 14
Table 2. Stratified sampling for construction companies.
Population
(Number of Consultancy Companies Eligible to Work in High Rise Buildings)
Excellent Second Total Number
Emirate First Category
Category Category of Companies
Abu Dhabi 56 68 264 588
Dubai 109 95 225 429
Sharjah 265 42 38 345
Total 1362
Stratified Sampling
Emirate (Strata) Strata sample size Total
Abu Dhabi 13 13
Dubai 9.4 9.4
Sharjah 7.6 7.6
Total 30
The semi-structured interview technique was then selected as the main data collection
tool. A total of 30 construction firms and 30 consultant firms were to be sampled. Analysis
of the results was conducted by the use of a framework analysis. Each interview was
launched referring to the answers of a set of questions for both practitioners. Interviews
were fully recorded with the consent of participants. A pre-structured list of interview
questions, as given in Tables 3 and 4, was developed and used to drive the conversation
during interviews. These data were collected from local authorities in each emirate.
Table 3. Themes and sub-themes of the construction sector.
Theme Sub-Theme
Non-uniform HSE practices carried out onsite
Variation in adherence to established HSE standards
Theme 1: Current HSE regulations are not-uniform
Role of government organisations in enforcing H&S regulations
Non-uniform understanding of the impact of culture
Theme 2: Inconsistency in conducting training and Non-uniform persons assigned to conduct HSE training
inspection programs Inspections are not carried out by a uniform person or party
Multiple causes of hazards and accidents
Theme 3: Scattered and non-standardised process of Providing first aid for minor incidents and reporting them
accident management Accident reporting is carried out
An incident investigation is conducted
H&S impacts performance and cost
Theme 4: Impact of H&S Appropriate H&S improves the wellbeing of employees
Manage reputation and delays
Government policy needs to be strengthened
Theme 5: Improvement of H&S procedures Frequent training and monitoring
Instilling H&S into the cultureSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 6 of 14
Table 4. Consultant firms’ themes and sub-themes.
Theme Sub-Theme
H&S guidelines are provided to the contractor
H&S risk register is prepared by the consultants
Theme 1: H&S guidelines are considered during the
The design adheres to the safety guidelines
design stage
H&S regulations are implemented during construction phase only
Designers are asked to follow the H&S regulations
Non-standardised and poorly coordinated approach
Theme 2: Routine inspections are carried out No uniform personnel assigned
Variation in formal training programs are present
No involvement of consultants
Theme 3: Accident occurrence management process is More focus on incident reporting
scattered and not-standardized Carry out detailed investigation and reporting
Inform stakeholders
Theme 4: Role of government organisations in Government organisations only provide guidance and training
enforcing H&S regulations No guidance or support provided
Appropriate H&S will enhance the quality of life and create a good
working environment
Theme 5: Impact of H&S policies
Prevents delays and enhances the success of the project
Builds confidence
Enforcement of H&S regulations
Integration of H&S into culture
Theme 6: Improving H&S systems
Regular inspections by authorities
Provide training to staff
4. Findings and Analysis
4.1. Results from the Construction Firms
A total of 29 construction firms participated in the interviews. The interviews were
conducted through a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, which helped the re-
searcher to collect data from individuals working on the UAE‘s construction projects. The
majority of firms (41.4%) operated in Dubai, while the others operated in Abu Dhabi
(34.5%) and Sharjah (24.14%). In addition, 34.5% of the firms possessed at least 6 to 10
different nationalities in their workforce, and about 82.75% of the participants had be-
tween 1 to 10 years of experience in their firm. In addition, more than 55.17% of the
participants had more than 20 years of experience in the construction sector as a whole.
Furthermore, about 75.86% of the organisations maintained all the records of the acci-
dents that occurred in the organisation. Finally, about 51.72% of the firms have had
at least 1 to 5 accidents that occurred in a year. Using a framework analysis, as indi-
cated above, the following themes and sub-themes were developed, as shown in Table 3.
These themes were predicted by the present study according to the results of the interviews.
Theme 1: Current HSE regulations are not-uniform
It was found that, first and foremost, the current HSE methods are not uniform in
that various companies follow various procedures. For instance, some firms reported the
use of PPE for onsite work, while others reported the use of safety training for onsite
work. Participant responses ranged from outlining that they provided basic PPE to all
their staff to conducting monthly meetings and obtaining an undertaking letter from all
the employees before work began. For instance, CN1 stated that their firm strictly adheresSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 7 of 14
to the risk assessment principles, ensures that basic PPE is followed, legal requirements
are met, and that work-based HSE induction and competency is carried out. On the
other hand, CN3 stated that in their firm, the PPE provided to the workers must be used
and that the scaffolding and cranes need to be certified. Other firms were more focused
on safety training and development. For instance, CN5 stated that their firm provides
safety induction training and a safety book before and after any project begins. They also
stated that they get an undertaking signed by the employees after attending the course. In
addition, CN21 stated that their firm performs “Safety Induction, Conducting Safety Classes
for Foreman & Chargehands, checking documents every day, closely watching each and every worker,
safety Award Celebration, Mock Drill”. Overall, every organisation follows their own process
of ensuring that safety and health are managed during onsite work. It is reasonable to
conclude that there are no consistent practices that are carried out by construction firms
in the UAE, which could potentially reduce the effectiveness of the health and safety of
the employees working onsite. Furthermore, there was an increased reliance on safety
training and obtaining an undertaking letter from the employees that safety training was
conducted. There was little to no evidence of a focus on day-to-day activities that promote
safety during onsite work.
Another trend that was evidenced was that there was a significant variation in ad-
herence to established HSE standards. Some firms followed the international and local
guidelines that were established, while others focused on deriving their own guidelines.
For instance, both CN8 and CN9 have stated their firm develops a project-specific HSE
plan for every project that needs to be adhered to in the project that is being carried out.
This allows them to customise the HSE regulations to apply to specific activities being
carried out as part of the project. This has benefits wherein the generalised guidelines
may not provide provisions for specific activities that are conducted in the project. Other
participants indicated that they use the OSHAD and ISO standards to ensure H&S in the
organisation. Furthermore, another set of participants stated that their firm follows the ES-
HARP manual or an H&S booklet. Other participants outlined the presence of HSE policies
and regulations that enable them to safeguard the health and safety of their employees.
Furthermore, another finding was that the role of governmental organisations in en-
forcing H&S regulations was not consistent. First and foremost, there was not a single
organisation that provided support to the construction firms as they all relied upon and
reported to various organisations. For instance, the regulators that are commonly noted
to be involved in regulating the H&S as applied in the organisation were as follows: Abu
Dhabi Municipality HSE department, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization
(MOHRE), Sharjah Municipality, Dubai Municipality (Public Health and Safety Depart-
ment), Occupational Safety and Health Abu Dhabi (OSHAD), Ministry of Energy and
Infrastructure, IOSH, Police safety, China State, Trakhees, Dubai Development Authority,
MUSANADA, and TEKOM. One participant, in fact, stated that the regulatory authority
responsible for enforcing H&S regulations on the firm differed from project to project.
Since there is no single and consistent authority that oversees the implementation of and
adherence to the H&S regulations, the performance outcome of these H&S regulations
cannot be outlined. Furthermore, the extent of support provided by these organisations
also varies significantly, with some participants stating that enough support was provided
and others stating that limited or insufficient support was provided. For instance, more
than 21 participants stated that they received sufficient support from government bodies,
while the other stated that they did not. The latter group of participants indicated that
inspections carried out were rare and that they were only required to ensure that safety
equipment was provided and functioning. Furthermore, another participant indicated that
the recommendations were provided only during the design stage.
Another finding was that the understanding of the impact of culture, in terms of
nationality, habit, and language, was not uniform, with participants being divided on the
fact that culture has an impact and culture does not have an impact on H&S outcomes in the
firm. About 21 participants stated a resounding ‘Yes’ that culture had an impact, especiallySustainability 2023, 15, 1587 8 of 14
due to the multicultural workforce that is prevalent in the UAE today. On the other hand,
the other participants indicated that they did not find the various backgrounds of the
individual to play a part in the effectiveness of H&S regulations and that all employees
followed their rules and regulations effectively.
Theme 2: Inconsistency in conducting training and inspection programs
Results revealed that non-uniform persons are assigned to conduct HSE inspections
in construction firms in the UAE. Furthermore, in terms of the inspections that are car-
ried out in the organisations, participants’ responses indicated that in some firms, the
inspections are carried out by miscellaneous persons, while other participants indicated
that training is carried out by HSE managers or officers. For instance, CN23 noted that in
their organisation, training is carried out by a “Competent person with 10 years experience and
graduate of engineering courses, e.g., Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or other courses relevant to the
nature of works to be inspected”. Furthermore, those who indicated that the inspection was
carried out by HSE managers or officers also noted that these HSE managers or officers
must have the relevant certifications and experience. A similar trend was also noted for the
inspections, as they were either carried out by internal employees within the organisation
or by a third party.
Theme 3: Scattered and non-standardised process of accident management
The participants identified that there are multiple causes of hazards and accidents
that can occur in the workplace. For instance, some accidents occur due to height, scaf-
folding, fire, and electricity, while others occur from not following the H&S regulations
appropriately. For instance, CN20 outlined various causes such as “Working at height,
moving objects, lifting operations, material and manual handling, collapse of trench, and electricity.
Cause of accidents would be varied- not following plan and procedures, untrained persons, poor
supervision, ignorance, unplanned works, work pressure adverse weather conditions etc.” While
such accidents can occur in high-risk industries, such as construction firms, not following
H&S regulations leads to a higher risk. Creating an unsafe environment for everyone
involved by not following the regulations and guidelines is a major factor that can increase
the risk of and prevalence of accidents. For instance, CN21 states, “Major cause of accidents
are mainly due to the following reasons: (1) Failure to Follow the Safety Rules & Regulation;
(2) Negligence of Work; (3) Failure to wear the Safety helmet/glasses/shoes/gloves; (4) Working in
an unsafe Condition; and (5) Consuming alcohol/Cigarette at Work”. In addition, CN17 stated
that, “Negligence of the workers and the supervision team from Contractor and Consultant side.
Accidents should not happen if all concerned performed their duties correctly”. Furthermore, when
an accident does occur, regardless of the reasons, it was found that the process of accident
management was scattered and non-standardised. For instance, some firms provided first
aid for minor accidents and reported them, others carried out appropriate reporting, and
others conducted incident investigations.
In terms of providing first aid and reporting, several participants indicated that after
providing first aid for minor accidents, appropriate reporting was carried out to the relevant
authorities. For instance, CN11 stated that, “First Aid will be initiated, Safety officer will report
to the safety manager, if accident requires special consideration, person will be transferred to hospital,
in all cases a report will be issued and shared by concern persons”. In addition, other participants
also noted that in the case of minor accidents, first aid is provided within the organisation
by qualified persons, and then the accident is reported based on the regulations.
In addition, several other participants outlined that accident investigation reporting
is carried out. For instance, CN25 stated that, “Preparation of incident report, analysis of
root-causes, take necessary precautions to avoid similar incidents”. Similar responses were
provided by several other participants, wherein they detailed that an extensive root cause is
carried out and appropriate reporting is conducted. This incident investigation was further
outlined by the participants wherein several firms carried out an extensive investigation.
For instance, CN9 stated that, “We are securing scene of accident and if first aid required we haveSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 9 of 14
approved nurse and first aider who is responsible to provide first aid and make alive injured person.
And we are calling to ambulance and police also to transfer injured person to hospital also start
investigating incident and identify immediate and root cause to prevent recurrence”.
Theme 4: Impact of H&S
The results also found that almost all of the participants viewed the impact of H&S to
be positive, wherein H&S was thought to positively impact performance and cost, improve
the wellbeing of employees, and manage the reputation of the firm as well as prevent
delays of the projects. For instance, CN25 stated that H&S has a tremendous impact on
the organisation’s performance. In addition, CN11 stated that following H&S rules and
regulations improve the productivity as well as the wellbeing of the employees both within
and outside the organisation. Furthermore, the participants also noted that the reputation
of the firm and any delays are prevented. For instance, CN22 stated that, “It will help to
maintain company reputation, avoid the delay in work progress, avoid the compensation and protect
the employees’ life, protection of environment”. Thus, there was an overall consensus that H&S
regulations create positive impacts on the organisation and employees as a whole.
Theme 5: Improvement of H&S procedures
Finally, in terms of the recommendations that were provided by the participants to
improve the H&S procedures, several participants indicated that government policy needs
to be strengthened. For instance, one participant, CN17, stated that an H&S policy should
be in place prior to the start of any project, and it should be carefully adhered to and
presented at the beginning of all project meetings. Furthermore, CN6 also proposed that
a dedicated government agency should be responsible for enforcing the implementation
of health and safety rules and conducting follow-up inspections by certified personnel.
Additionally, businesses must have trained and accredited safety officers and managers.
Similarly, another participant in CN7 indicated that authorities must conduct more frequent
inspections and site visits, that H&S training must be mandated, that all inspectors must
be certified, and that only one government agency should be responsible. Moreover, it
was also found that frequent training and monitoring need to be carried out. For instance,
CN29 stated that continuous monitoring and training need to be carried out. In addition,
CN12 stated that mandatory training needs to be carried out for all the employees in the
organisation.
Finally, participants also indicated that instilling H&S into the culture is a crucial
step towards improving H&S procedures. For instance, CN13 stated that the attitude that
needs to be established in the organisation is that prevention is better than a cure. This
was also supported by CN9 who stated that employees need to be encouraged to report
unsafe working conditions, a reward scheme should be established, and a frequent regime
of training and inspection should be carried out.
4.2. Results from Consultant Firms
A total of 34 consultant firms participated in the interviews. A total of seven consultant
firms did not even possess a written H&S policy, while the remaining 27 consultant firms
did. Additionally, approximately 65% of the firms maintained all of their records relating
to accident reports. The responses of the participants were analysed using a framework
analysis, and the following themes and sub-themes emerged.
Theme 1: H&S guidelines are considered during the design stage
The findings revealed that several of the participants from the consultant firms indi-
cated that H&S guidelines are provided to the contractor and that a risk register is prepared
by the consultants. Furthermore, the consultants also ensure that the design adheres to
the safety guidelines, and that the designers are asked to follow the H&S regulations.
However, some participants indicated that H&S regulations are implemented during the
construction phase only. For instance, CL33 stated that their firm provides advice duringSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 10 of 14
the pre-tendering stage, “However, we are introducing our advice in our presentation during the
Pre tendering stage and kick of meeting identify the requirements)”. In addition, as indicated
above, some consultant firms prepare a risk register. For instance, CL1 stated that they
are involved in the preparation of an ESHARP to oversee five stages of a project, with the
design stage occurring first during business development. The participant further stated
that during this stage, the H&S risks are evaluated in depth, with the H&S values being
aligned to create a design that is free of failures and reduce all evaluated risks as much as
is feasible.
More importantly though, the participants from the consultant firms indicated that it
is their responsibility to ensure that the design adheres to the safety guidelines; however,
different consultants followed different guidelines. For instance, CL27 stated that they
followed the OSHAD-COP No. 20 while CL11 stated that they followed the guidelines
of the local Civil Defence and Municipality. Similar responses were outlined by the other
participants, which indicates that there is no single design guideline adopted for the
implementation of H&S regulations that is being followed by the consultant firms in the
UAE. Finally, several consultants held the view that the H&S regulations needed to be
applied only during the construction phase and do not necessarily need to be considered
at the design stage, with others stating that designers are asked to follow the design
safety guidelines.
Theme 2: Routine inspections are carried out
The results indicated that while routine inspections are carried out, the inspections
are non-standardised and poorly coordinated. For instance, CL2 stated that they conduct
inspections at the beginning with a proposal for requiring third-party H&S certification
for lifts and scaffolding. Following this, throughout the duration of the project, the firm
conducts frequent safety inspections. A further participant, CL13, indicated that HSE
inspections are conducted by HSE inspectors. The HSE employs these health and safety
professionals to ensure workplace compliance with the law. For example, proactive in-
spections may be conducted as part of a health and safety campaign. They might also be
reactive, for instance, in response to a complaint or mishap. In addition, CL26 noted that
daily inspections of onsite operations are conducted to ensure compliance with all safety
regulations. They pay special attention to safety procedures such as the use of PPEs by all
onsite personnel, the proper functioning of the condition and safe operation of machinery,
the assessment of plants and ongoing site activities, and the construction of temporary
diversions. On the other hand, several other participants indicated that they conduct the
inspections based on the ESHARP manual and the OSHAD elements, while some others
indicated that they carry out the inspections using their own checklists.
Another finding was that there were no uniform personnel assigned to conduct the
inspections. For instance, some participants indicated that the site manager conducts
the inspections, others mentioned the deployment of special HSE staff that oversee the
inspections, while others mentioned that there are dedicated roles and responsibilities
that are mentioned and need to be followed as stipulated. Thus, there is no consistent
understanding of who the designated persons conducting the inspections should be.
Finally, there is also a variation in the formal training programs that are present. CL3
outlined an extensive regime for training, wherein the formalisation of the H&S training
programme occurs during the field operations phase. Developing and implementing a
training and competence matrix with clear definitions. CL3 also noted on one axis of the
training matrix are the names, titles, or job roles of project team members, and on the other
are the official H&S compliance and best practice training, H&S work qualifications, and
H&S-related certificates of proficiency. The training matrix is generated throughout the
PSHEP’s development and is maintained throughout the project’s duration. If qualification
or competency recertification or refresher training is necessary, these aspects are included
in the training matrix. While one participant outlined an extensive training program,
another participant stated that they only provide training for certain projects that they haveSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 11 of 14
developed awareness campaigns for H&S. Furthermore, another participant stated that
they have a team onsite that provides regular training as per the requirements. On the
other hand, several participants stated that they did not have any formal training programs
implemented with regard to H&S training.
Theme 3: Accident occurrence management process is scattered and not-standardized
First and foremost, it was identified that there was no involvement of the consultants
in the process of accident management, wherein several participants stated that it is the
contractor’s responsibility. Some of the participants, such as CL3, stated that they have
an accident management plan, but this is briefed to the construction firms. For instance,
CL3 stated, “We do have Incident response plan for appropriate actions to take in the event of an
accident, security incident, medical emergency or an occurrence requiring an evacuation. The plan
detail how to act during the event of an incident to follow the incident response protocol to concerned
personnel. The incident investigation will be conducted to identify the root cause and contributing
factors that lead to incident and adequate corrective and preventive actions will be taken to prevent
recurrence of the incident. Any incident occurring in the project is reported within 4 hours via
phone/email and a formal written notification is sent to the client within 24 hours. Later, a well
detailed investigation report is compiled using our corporate template and sent to the client and
corporate office within 7 days”.
Another participant, CL27, stated that they have the Integrated SHEQ Management
System (ISMS) and the Online H&S reporting tool, which is used to report the incidents
that have occurred onsite. Several other participants indicated that they are not involved
in the process of accident management and have more of a focus on incident reporting. A
total of 18 participants from the consultant firms indicated that they place an emphasis on
safety reporting as per the contract conditions and recommendations.
Furthermore, only two participants stated that they carry out extensive investigation
and reporting following an incident. For instance, CL26 outlined the process of incident
management to include “Inspection, informing the line manager soon, recording all data and
causes of the issue, submitting an initial report with the target time as per the issue case, and
informing the concerned Authorities”. In addition, CL29 also stated that they carry out a
detailed investigation with the aim of being more cautious and preventing any such events
from recurring in the future. Furthermore, other participants seek to inform the stake-
holders, followed by carrying out an accident investigation and root cause analysis. For
instance, CL19 outlined, “Notify the appropriate and responsible stakeholders (client/government
department). Visit the scene of the accident to gather some facts and interview the witnesses about
the contributory factors as part of initial findings before we embark on the Full incident and accident
investigation”.
Theme 4: Role of government organisations in enforcing H&S regulations
The participants outlined several organisations that oversee their H&S process. For
instance, some of the organisations outlined Municipality of Sharjah, Roads and Transport
Authority, Municipality Engineers/Respective Free Zone Engineers, Dubai Municipal-
ity/JAFZA, OSHAD, DDA, Dubai Civil Defense. Furthermore, a total of 28 participants
noted that the government organisations only provide guidance and training and are not
involved any further. Only one participant, CL3, outlined that the regulating authority is
deeply involved in the safety management wherein, several safety alerts, circulars, and
procedures are developed and communicated accordingly. Furthermore, several partici-
pants noted that no guidance or support is provided by the government organisations that
they are affiliated with. Overall, it can be concluded that there is no single authority that
manages the H&S implementation and that the support from these organisations is topical
at best.
Theme 5: Impact of H&S policiesSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 12 of 14
The findings revealed that there is a positive impact of H&S that is perceived by the
participants. For instance, some of the participants indicated that the use of appropriate
H&S will enhance the quality of life and create a good working environment. In other
words, it was understood that good and effective project performance enables people to
operate safely and efficiently without endangering anyone’s life. For instance, CL21 stated,
“The H&S helps to create good environmental conditions to works in a safe field and improve the
productivity of staff ”. Furthermore, other participants also noted that the implementation of
appropriate H&S prevents delays and enhances the success of the project. One participant,
for example, mentioned the importance of health and safety in projects, noting that a project
with poor H&S data is certain to fail. There is a hidden price to pay for each and every
failure. The client, the project consultant, and the contractor might all suffer reputational
harm as a result of the incident, which would result in additional indirect costs such as
medical bills, insurance claims, reinstatement fees, the price of a new hire, and time. When
a project is finished without any injuries that resulted in lost time, it is considered a success
on several levels: no one was hurt, no extra money had to be spent, and most significantly,
the reputation of the company and its employees was enhanced by the satisfaction of
its workers. In addition, some of the participants also noted that the use of appropriate
H&S builds confidence. For instance, CL16 stated, “Increases the confidence and engagement
of staff ”.
Theme 6: Improving H&S systems
The participants were also asked to provide recommendations that can improve the
H&S systems in the UAE. The first and foremost recommendation was that the H&s
regulations need to be enforced significantly. For instance, one participant, CL1, stated
that “H&S Code has to be implemented and forced. H&S training should be forced in construction
and consultants companies and can be done by third party specialists. Environmental H&S policy
should be applied”. A similar sentiment was also echoed by the other participants. Further, in
enforcing the H&S regulations, the participants also indicated that government authorities
also need to regulate the implementation of H&S regulations more effectively. In other
words, one participant, CL4 recommended that the government authority have regular site
inspections that are conducted at random to ensure that an effective implementation of the
rules and regulations is carried out.
Another recommendation was to ensure that the principle of H&S is deeply integrated
into the culture of the organisation. One participant, CL27, stated that there is a need
to conduct regular H&S workshops for project managers and engineers, conduct H&S
awards and hold competitions between projects, as well as conduct audits and inspection
visits from governmental organisations. Finally, another recommendation was to enhance
the training provided. The whole site’s workforce needs greater training and direction to
promote a culture of H&S. It was also recommended to pay special attention to the most
common sources of harm, such as the lack of safety footwear or the lack of guard rails at
elevated work stations. Finally, it was suggested to incorporate cutting-edge health and
safety guidelines and regulations and boost expertise through education and instruction.
5. Discussion and Conclusions
Overall, the analysis presented above has revealed that there are several limita-
tions in the manner in which H&S rules and regulations are applied. Furthermore,
the most evident and overlapping result was that there is no single, unified body that
oversees the application of the H&S regulations and that companies only do the bare
minimum. In addition, the local authority organisations that do exist provide insuffi-
cient support and oversight to the firms, which results in a relatively weaker H&S pol-
icy implementation. In order to mitigate this, both consultants and construction firms
outlined the need for the presence of a single entity that can manage and oversee the
H&S regulation of the UAE as a whole. In line with the above, a framework is out-
lined and depicted below as the likely steps that can promote better H&S regulationsSustainability 2023, 15, 1587 13 of 14
in the UAE and enhance the safety outcomes of the workforce as shown in Figure 1.
The present study will provide the requested support for implanting health and safety regul-
ations to all construction firms and will also reduce the number of accidents onsite; moreover,
Sustainability 2023, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 14 of 15
a number of inspectors will be involved in visiting these sites.
Figure 1. Integrated framework for optimising H&S in the UAE’s construction industry.
Figure 1. Integrated framework for optimising H&S in the UAE’s construction industry.
A limitation
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developed.
Author Contributions:
Author Contributions: Conceptualization,
Conceptualization, A.A.A.
A.A.A. and
and R.A.;
R.A.; methodology, A.A.A., R.A.
methodology, A.A.A., R.A. and
and H.R.;
H.R.;
validation A.A.A. and R.A.; formal analysis, A.A.A., R.A. and H.R.; data curation A.A.A.; writing—
validation A.A.A. and R.A.; formal analysis, A.A.A., R.A. and H.R.; data curation A.A.A.; writing—
original draft
original draft preparation,
preparation,A.A.A.
A.A.A.andandR.A.;
R.A.;writing—review
writing—reviewand andediting,
editing,A.A.A.
A.A.A. and
and R.A.;
R.A.; visuali-
visualiza-
zation,
tion, A.A.A.
A.A.A. andand R.A.;
R.A.; supervision,
supervision, R.A.R.A.
andandH.R.H.R. All authors
All authors havehave
readread and agreed
and agreed to thetopublished
the pub-
lished version
version of the manuscript.
of the manuscript.
Funding: This
Funding: This research
research received
received no
no external
external funding.
funding.
Conflicts of
Conflicts of Interest:
Interest: The
The authors
authors declare
declare no
noconflict
conflictof
ofinterest.
interest.
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