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Massyn, M and Jeune, K L (2010) Health and safety practices of contractors working on the expanded public works programme (EPWP): a South African perspective. In: Egbu, C (Ed.), Proceedings 26th Annual ARCOM Conference, 6-8 September 2010, Leeds, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 1, 193–202.
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Keywords: small-medium sized contracting enterprise; contractor registration; health and safety; public works programmes; training initiatives
- ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9552390-4-5
- URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2010-0193-0202_Massyn_and_Le_Jeune.pdf
- Abstract:
The Government in general is normally called upon to provide employment opportunities for the large number of unemployed individuals in the country. Within South Africa the Public Works Programmes and the Expanded Public Works programme (EPWP) in particular has been established to address this objective. The Department of Public Works (DPW) apply labour intensive construction methods on all EPWP projects as a means to provide short term employment opportunities to a larger section of the unemployed. The EPWP code of good practice for Special Public Works projects provides for special conditions of employment for the EPWP projects. In terms of the code small sized contracting entities can be established for a specific contract on condition that they are registered for a basis construction management training programme which is equivalent to a qualification at either level 2 or 4 on the National Qualification Framework. The members of the contracting enterprise are enrolled for these programmes via the EPWP Contractor Learnership Programme which was established to provide the required support systems to developing contractors. The EPWP programmes do however not allow for any compromises with regards to health and safety and as the 2003 Construction Regulations makes provision for the client to appoint an agent as his representative they normally appoint their own health and safety officer on each of their projects. This study questions the health and safety practices and interventions applied on EPWP projects in the Cape Town region by small contracting enterprises. The methodology comprises a telephonic survey and follows up interview of the small contracting enterprises involved in EPWP projects within the Cape Town Metropolitan area. It is conclude that the majority of the small contracting enterprises are aware of their responsibilities in terms of current legislation but that most of the paperwork is provided by the client’s representative, that they had very little input on health and safety issues during the tender preparation phase and that no formal interventions are used to keep the labourers and artisans informed of health and safety issues.