INVESTIGATION on THE EFFECTS of SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM on LABOR PRODUCTIVITY of CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: A CASE of JIMMA TOWN

Abstract

The building industry is a significant aspect of the African economy, notably in Ethiopia, where most of the population is youthful and productive. However, many construction operations are intrinsically hazardous to one's health and safety, requiring workers to work in dangerous situations. This situation and the working environment continue to cause chaos in labor productivity in the construction industry. The extent of the effects of the Safety management system (SMS) on labor productivity across Ethiopian construction industries remains debatable due to a lack of management commitment and support for health and safety on construction sites, as well as a lack of implementation of health and safety rules and regulations, which are impeding the effectiveness of safety management system practice in Jimma town. As a result, the primary goal of this study was to look into the effects of safety management systems on construction worker productivity. The research study assesses the factor affecting the safety management system on labor productivity, evaluates the managerial skill factors affecting the safety management system on labor productivity, and determines the implementation of safety management in labor productivity. The sample was drawn from the research's target population using a basic random sampling approach. The study was gathered from 10 purposefully chosen projects because the number of projects currently working at Jimma town was minimal. It used both survey questionnaires, descriptive designs, and primary and secondary data to collect enough information in the study area. These projects provided 30 responses for the produced questionnaire. The study presented in Jimma town identified and ordered 32 elements affecting the safety management system in construction projects based on their relative relevance rating (RII). The findings of this study revealed that safety managerial system statuses at the project level accepting and implementing safety management system in Jimma town construction project have no motivation, less attention, and less management commitment and support to health and safety in building construction sites. As a result, the study concludes that poor health and safety plans, a lack of information and reporting system on safety and health, a lack of training, new site safety rules, and a lack of management commitment to the safety management system are the major challenges in implementing a safety management system in construction firms. As a proposal, construction firms should use proactive and continuous learning ways to manage project workers' health and safety. Furthermore, it should highlight the aspects that significantly impact the project's safety management systems. Moreover, the government should provide free safety management skill training to firm management to promote awareness. Additionally, the government should establish guidelines for construction enterprises to establish a systematic construction safety management system and offer control mechanisms for implementation.