Comparative analysis of occupational health and safety practices in international and indigenous construction companies in Uganda

Abstract

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance of construction companies has been declining in recent years, resulting in high employee turnover and decreased productivity. The study examined the OHS practices and their impact on employee performance in Indigenous and International Construction Companies in Uganda. A comparative analysis was conducted using a case study approach, focusing on Roko Construction Limited Uganda and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The research design adopted was a cross-sectional survey, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 265 respondents from ROKO and 278 from CCCC were selected, and data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson coefficient and regression analysis. Study findings revealed that both case studies had implemented OHS practices and faced challenges in implementation of these practices. The most implemented OHS practices by both companies were: Safety responsibilities associated with work were clearly spelt out and all machinery regularly checked and inspected. The highly faced challenges in implementing these practices were: high training costs, lack of management support, and low employee involvement. It was revealed that there was a weak positive correlation between OHS and employee performance at ROKO and CCCC with a correlation coefficient of 0.344 and 0.219 respectively. The study concluded that in both indigenous and international construction companies, there is a relatively significant impact of OHS practices on employee performance. The study recommends regular training on safety, and implementation to be conducted by a Safety Committee, hazard and risk information should be shared widely. Similar research can be conducted to evaluate the OHS practices in the Oil extraction stages in Uganda. Key words: Occupational, Health, Safety, Performance, indigenous, construction.