FACULTY : BUILT ENVIRONMENT
DEPARTMENT : QUANTITY SURVEYING
COURSE : SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
COURSE CODE : SHE3102
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
QUESTION 1
BK Construction has recently been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to construct a
hotel. The company prides itself on its strong Safety Management System (SMS), guided by
the slogan: “Safety our pride – zero harm, zero death.” Construction works have commenced,
and a few near misses have already been recorded. Management now wishes to assess the
effectiveness of the SMS to ensure it is achieving its intended objectives.
Task:
As the Safety Manager, advise the organisation on two (2) practical methods that can be used
to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Safety Management System. [25 MARKS]
QUESTION 2
You have been appointed as the Safety Manager for Zayept Construction Company, which is
undertaking the construction of one of the largest man-made dams in the country. The project
involves high-risk activities, including:
Deep excavations
Working at heights
Operation and movement of heavy machinery and equipment
Task:
As a senior safety leader, advise the construction workforce on the necessary safety
precautions, control measures, and safe work practices for these high-risk activities. [25
MARKS]
QUESTION ONE
INTRODUCTION
In the context of Zimbabwe's construction industry, where occupational health and safety
(OHS) challenges are exacerbated by fragmented regulations, economic constraints, and
high-risk activities such as excavations and scaffolding, evaluating the effectiveness of a
Safety Management System (SMS) is imperative for achieving objectives like "zero harm and
zero death" (NSSA, 2023).
BK Construction, having commenced works on a multi-million-dollar hotel project with
recorded near-misses, must adopt practical monitoring and evaluation methods aligned with
national frameworks like the Factories and Works Act [Chapter 14:08] and NSSA's strategic
goals to enhance OHS performance from 19% to 40% by 2025 through increased audits and
surveillance (NSSA, 2021).
This advice outlines two practical methods that are regular safety audits and inspections, and
incident and near-miss reporting and analysis. Each method is detailed with implementation
steps, benefits, challenges, and relevance to Zimbabwe's construction sector, thereby ensuring
a comprehensive evaluation.
METHOD ONE: REGULAR SAFETY AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS
Regular safety audits and inspections serve as a proactive method to monitor and evaluate
SMS effectiveness by systematically reviewing compliance, identifying hazards, and
verifying the implementation of controls in real-time (Okonkwo et al., 2023).
In Zimbabwe's construction industry, where non-compliance rates exceed 80% in sectors like
building and civil works due to inadequate enforcement, this method aligns with NSSA's
mandate for factory inspections and risk assessments under the Factories and Works Act,
promoting voluntary compliance and preventive culture (NSSA, 2011).
Implementation Steps
1. Planning and Scheduling: Develop an audit plan based on project phases, scheduling
quarterly internal audits and annual external ones involving NSSA inspectors. Use
checklists derived from NSSA standards, focusing on high-risk areas like scaffolding and
excavations common in Zimbabwean hotel constructions (Mambwe et al., 2021).
2. Conducting Audits: Assemble a multidisciplinary team including safety managers, site
supervisors, and workers to inspect equipment, procedures, and documentation. Employ
tools like hazard identification forms to assess SMS elements such as policy adherence
and subcontractor management.
3. Data Analysis and Reporting: Quantify findings using metrics like compliance scores
(e.g., percentage of hazards mitigated) and compare against baselines. Generate reports
highlighting gaps, such as poor waste management under the Environmental Management
Act.
4. Corrective Actions and Follow-Up: Implement action plans with timelines, followed by
re-inspections to evaluate improvements, thereby ensuring continuous SMS refinement
(Mollo et al., 2021).
Benefits
This method enhances SMS effectiveness by reducing errors and violations through
structured monitoring, as evidenced in South African construction sites where audits
improved OHS performance by identifying systemic failures (Okonkwo et al., 2023).
In Zimbabwe, it supports NSSA's goals by fostering accountability and employee
participation, potentially lowering the US$438 million economic losses from injuries between
the year 2009 to 2018 (NSSA, 2023). As for BK Construction, it provides early detection of
near-misses, thus aligning with the "zero harm" slogan.
Challenges and Mitigation
Challenges include resource constraints in small-scale contractors and cultural resistance to
audits (Mambwe et al., 2021). We can mitigate the challenges by integrating audits into
project budgets and training teams via NSSA's OSHEMAC programs to build buy-in (NSSA,
2023).
METHOD TWO: INCIDENT AND NEAR-MISS REPORTING AND ANALYSIS
Incident and near-miss reporting and analysis is a reactive yet preventive method that
evaluates SMS by capturing data on actual and potential events, enabling root cause
identification and systemic improvements (Rantsatsi et al., 2025).
In Zimbabwe's context, where construction accidents are underreported due to informal
sector gaps, this method complies with NSSA's requirements for accident notification and
collates statistics to address poor safety cultures (NSSA, 2021).
Implementation Steps
1. Establish Reporting System: Introduce anonymous digital or logbook-based reporting
tools accessible to all workers, and that is mandatory under NSSA regulations. Train staff
on identifying near-misses, such as slips near excavations.
2. Investigation and Analysis: Use root cause techniques like the Five-Whys or HIRARC
(Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control) to analyse incidents,
quantifying via Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) targeting below 2.0 (NSSA,
2011).
3. Trend Monitoring: Review data monthly to identify patterns, such as equipment failures
in hotel builds, and benchmark against national statistics.
4. Feedback and Improvement: Share findings in toolbox talks, update SMS policies (e.g.,
enhanced training), and track reductions in incidents to measure effectiveness (Mollo et
al., 2021).
Benefits
This method promotes a learning culture, reducing future risks as seen in African studies
where near-miss analysis improved subcontractor management and worker competence
(Adekunle et al., 2024). As for BK Construction, it directly addresses recorded near-misses,
supporting NSSA's research on accident causation and potentially minimizing violations in
high-turnover environments.
Challenges and Mitigation
Barriers include underreporting due to fear or tight schedules (Rantsatsi et al., 2025).
However this can be overcome by incentivizing reports and integrating with leadership
structures, as recommended for Zambian contractors adaptable to Zimbabwe (Mambwe et al.,
2021).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, rolling out regular audits and a solid reporting system is not just ticking boxes,
it is how we prove our SMS is living up to the "zero harm, zero death" promise on this hotel
job and beyond. By tracking real progress, fixing issues fast, and involving the whole team,
we can build a stronger safety culture that stands up to Zimbabwe's construction realities.
QUESTION TWO
INTRODUCTION
As the Safety Manager for Zayept Construction Company on this major dam project, one of
the most ambitious civil engineering undertakings in Zimbabwe, I address the workforce
directly with evidence-based guidance on managing the principal high-risk activities that are
deep excavations, working at heights, and the operation and movement of heavy machinery.
These operations carry inherent dangers that, in the Zimbabwean construction context, are
compounded by variable soil conditions, seasonal rainfall, economic constraints on
equipment maintenance, and historical patterns of under-enforcement of safety standards.
The primary legal framework remains the Factories and Works Act [Chapter 14:08],
particularly its Building, Structural and Excavation Work Regulations (RGN 264 of 1976),
which mandate specific preventive measures for structural and excavation work (Government
of Zimbabwe, 1976). Supplementary oversight comes from the National Social Security
Authority (NSSA), which promotes preventive strategies to reduce the substantial economic
and human costs of occupational injuries in high-risk sectors (NSSA, 2023). Recent analyses
of hazards in Zimbabwe's construction and waste management sectors underscore the
prevalence of physical risks such as collapses and falls, often linked to inadequate controls
(Jerie, 2024). The following sections detail the necessary precautions, control hierarchies, and
safe practices for each activity.
Deep Excavations
Excavations for dam foundations and associated structures frequently exceed 1.5 metres in
depth, placing them squarely under RGN 264, which requires shoring, benching, or sloping to
guard against collapse a leading cause of fatalities in unstable or water-saturated soils
common during Zimbabwe's rainy season (Government of Zimbabwe, 1976; Jerie, 2024). A
competent person must conduct a site-specific geotechnical assessment prior to any digging,
evaluating soil type, groundwater levels, surcharge loads from stockpiles or equipment, and
proximity to existing structures or utilities.
Where depths surpass 1.5 metres, sides must be sloped to a safe angle (typically 1:1 or flatter
for cohesive soils) or supported by trench boxes, hydraulic shores, or timber systems
designed to withstand anticipated loads. Spoil must be stockpiled no closer than 1 metre from
the edge to prevent additional pressure, and access/egress provided via ladders or ramps
spaced no more than 7.5 metres apart, with ladders extending at least 1 metre above the
trench lip. Perimeter barricading with fencing and prominent warning signs is compulsory to
exclude unauthorised access, while pumps must control water ingress to mitigate drowning or
instability risks. Personal protective equipment (PPE) comprises hard hats, high-visibility
clothing, steel-toed boots, and respiratory protection against respirable dust, a recognised
contributor to long-term conditions such as silicosis in dusty African construction
environments (Mandowa et al., 2025). Daily inspections by a designated supervisor,
increased after rainfall, combined with worker training on visual indicators of instability (e.g.,
tension cracks or bulging), form essential administrative controls. Work must cease
immediately upon detection of hazards, emphasising the priority of elimination and
engineering measures over reliance on PPE alone.
Working at Heights
Construction of dam walls, spillways, intake structures, and associated scaffolding routinely
involves work above 2 metres, where falls represent a persistent leading cause of death and
serious injury in Zimbabwe's building sector, frequently attributable to absent or defective
fall protection (Moyo, 2019). RGN 264 and broader Factories and Works provisions require
fall prevention as the primary control for heights exceeding this threshold (Government of
Zimbabwe, 1976).
Guardrails must be the default with top rails at 900 – 1100 mm, mid-rails, and toe-boards to
contain tools and materials. In situations precluding guardrails such as leading edges during
concrete placement personal fall arrest systems are mandatory, consisting of full-body
harnesses, shock-absorbing lanyards or self-retracting lifelines, and anchor points certified to
withstand at least 5000 N. Scaffolding shall be erected only by trained, competent personnel,
inspected before each shift and after adverse weather, with all components (bracing, ties,
platforms) secure against the high winds often experienced at elevated dam sites. Training
programmes must cover correct harness use, suspension trauma recognition, and prompt
rescue protocols. Additional PPE includes helmets with chin straps, slip-resistant footwear,
and gloves; lone working at height is prohibited, as is exposure during high winds, rain, or
low visibility. Tools require tethering, and exclusion zones or debris nets protect areas below.
These layered controls align with NSSA's emphasis on proactive risk management and
findings that effective fall protection planning significantly lowers incident rates in
comparable regional projects (Mkungunugwa et al., 2022).
Operation and Movement of Heavy Machinery
The extensive use of excavators, bulldozers, cranes, and haul trucks on dam sites introduces
risks of crush injuries, rollovers, and collisions, exacerbated by uneven terrain, blind spots,
and occasional maintenance shortfalls driven by resource limitations (Moyo, 2019). The
Factories and Works Act regulates machinery supervision and accident prevention, requiring
competent operation and regular inspection (Government of Zimbabwe, 1976).
Only operators holding NSSA-recognised certification or equivalent documented training
may operate equipment, with refresher sessions at least biennially to address site-specific
hazards. Pre-use checks must cover brakes, steering, lights, horns, hydraulics, tyres/tracks,
and reversing alarms; defective machines are isolated and tagged out until repaired.
Designated haul roads, speed limits (typically 10–15 km/h), one-way systems, and physical
separation of pedestrian and vehicle zones via barriers and signage reduce interaction risks.
Banksmen with radios and high-visibility clothing guide movements in restricted visibility
areas, enforcing strict no-go zones near excavation edges or over people. PPE includes high-
visibility vests, hard hats, hearing protection (given frequent exceedance of noise thresholds),
and anti-vibration gloves. Lockout or tag out procedures apply during maintenance, machines
park on level ground with attachments lowered, and overloading or operation on steep slopes
is forbidden. Regular toolbox discussions foster worker input on emerging hazards,
supporting evidence that participatory approaches enhance safety performance in resource-
constrained settings (Mandowa et al., 2025).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the effective management of these high-risk activities on Zimbabwe's major
dam projects depends on rigorous application of the established regulatory framework
principally the Factories and Works Act and RGN 264 integrated with site-specific risk
assessments, engineering controls, competent supervision, and continuous worker training.
By prioritising prevention over reaction and embedding a culture of accountability, we can
substantially mitigate the documented physical, ergonomic, and environmental hazards
prevalent in local construction (Jerie, 2024; NSSA, 2023). This disciplined approach not only
fulfils legal obligations but safeguards lives, sustains productivity, and contributes to broader
national goals of improved occupational health and safety.
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