A Study of the Use of Design for Construction Safety Concept and Its Effectiveness in Construction Projects in Kenya (Case Study of Nairobi County)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how far the design for safety concept has been adopted and whether it is an effective and acceptable mechanism of improving effectiveness in construction sites in Kenya. The study explored the existence and awareness of the concept as a means of accident reduction in Kenya’s construction industry; the extent of its application by designers in Kenya's Construction industry; the existence of any legislative framework and its effectiveness in enforcing the concept and any challenges encountered in implementing the same in Kenya's construction industry and offer recommendations thereof. The literature review showed that the best Practices for implementing Safety in Design rely on: (a) provision of training and education on project safety and practices; (b) ensuring the models of design for safety are adopted and (c) Advocacy through professional societies to enhance awareness of the need to address construction safety in projects. The research design is a survey, which sought to make inquiries on the linkages of construction effectiveness and the design for construction safety. In this regard, this study used a mixed approach (both qualitative and quantitative). The choice of this method was since, it was important to enhance the strength of each other’s method while addressing the weakness. The use of quantitative method was important to provide analysis of numerical data while qualitative approach was important to provide analysis of descriptive data. The findings of this study indicated that the decisions made from upstream by different players in the construction industry such as engineers and architects have an impact on the construction for safety on any given site. By extension, in the Kenyan context, there are different challenges examined such as lack of effective training in design for safety concept from institutions that train designers , there lacks effective linkages between the various designers that facilitate the design for safety concept and all designers across the forum are not aware of the importance of the design for safety concept impact on the design for construction safety and as a result, have precluded this concept from being the standard practice. Weak legal and legislation on matters of design for construction safety and lack of support from the professional institutions has made the designers, owners and contractors not adopt the safety procedures. Therefore, Kenya’s construction industry is a practice that has failed to embrace design for safety method in their construction projects and programs through their planning, design, construction and post construction phases. The study recommends the following:........................................................