BASIC RESEARCH PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

PROPONENTS

TITLE OF RESEARCH

Introduction and Rationale

Construction is a large, dynamic, and complex industry that plays an important role in the U.S.
economy and the global economy. Construction work ranges from major civil engineering and
infrastructure projects (dams, highways, airports) involving a multitude of individual
construction firms, to the construction and renovation of residential, commercial, and industrial
structures, to routine residential repairs. In 2005, the industry accounted for $1.2 trillion of
construction put in place, the equivalent of 13 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, and
employed about 11 million workers (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005). The Business Roundtable has
called construction a “seminal” industry because the price of every factory, office building,
hotel, or power plant that is built affects the prices that must be charged for the goods and
services produced in it. These prices affect U.S. consumers and the ability of U.S. businesses to
compete in a global market (BRT, 1983).

Construction is also one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Among all industries,
construction had the fourth highest rate of fatalities (following agriculture, mining, and
transportation) and the second highest rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses (after
transportation) in 2005 (BLS, 2006a,b).

Hazards in construction work include the following: working at heights, in excavations and
tunnels, on highways, and in confined spaces; exposure to high levels of noise, chemicals, and
high-voltage electric lines; the use of power tools and heavy equipment; manual materials
handling; and sustained awkward postures. The leading causes of death among construction
workers are falls from elevations, being struck by vehicles and equipment, electrocution,
machine-related incidents, and being struck by objects (NIOSH, 2007). Significant health risks
include hearing loss, silicosis, musculoskeletal disorders, skin diseases, and health effects
associated with exposures to lead, asphalt fumes, and welding fumes.

Construction is one of the areas of employment where hazardous conditions are part of the
everyday working environment. The construction industry is prone to many hazards and
accident can happen if safety is ignored. Construction materials, tools, machinery and handling
techniques all come with their own dangers. The main types of accidents which cause death or
serious injury on construction sites include falls, incidents with site vehicles, collapsing
materials and contact with overhead power lines. For a construction project to be successful,
safety of the structures as well as that of the personnel is of utmost importance. The safety
issues are to be considered right from the design stage till the completion and handing over of
the structure. Construction industry employs skilled and unskilled labourers subject to
construction site accidents and health risks. A proper coordination between contractors, clients,
and workforce is needed for safe work conditions in every companies. Though labour safety
laws are available, the numerous accidents taking place at construction sites are continuing.
Management commitment towards health and safety of the workers is also lagging.

Working in construction is an inherently hazardous activity, with a high risk of accidents on-site,
as well as increasingly complex health and safety risks and hazards off-site. This is why knowing
the best ways to prevent construction site hazards will put you and your building sites in the
optimal position to continue to attract the best workers.

The aim of the present paper was to contribute to our knowledge of the important constituents
of high safety standards in the construction industry, and to our understanding of how a good
safety climate and safety culture can be created in an organization in this industry. An
inductive, qualitative interview study will performed to capture and describe the key aspects of
safety in construction projects as comprehensively as possible, from the perspectives of both
experienced workers and first-line supervisors.

Literature Review

Construction industry plays a significant responsibility in global economy and comprises a

number of sectors. It is a conglomeration of diverse fields with work ranges from simple
renovation to major and complex engineering projects, such as buildings, bridges, power
stations, roads and highways, dams, airports, irrigation systems and etc. However, construction
accidents happen on sites, which leads to much social costs and harm the society.

Historically, the construction industry is among the dangerous industries in the world. Many
lives are already lost due to the negligence of safety protocols in the sites. According to the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report of 2016, a total of 2,115 reported cases of
occupational injuries in the construction industry were reported in the year 2013. Around 75%
of these cases of occupational injuries were cases without workdays lost. Mathematically and
intuitively speaking, the construction workplace is neither a healthy nor a safe environment.
The construction industry in the Philippines has continuously increased through the years and it
is projected to propagate in the years to come. Based on the same report of the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA), a survey which is conducted every two years, the number of
occupational accidents reached a total of 44,739 cases in 2015, a decline of 5.7 percent from
the 47,440 occupational accidents in 2013. However, this resulted to an increase in
occupational injuries by 3.8%.

According to the study of Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, published year 2020, the main
regulation related to occupational safety and health in the Philippines is the Occupational
Safety and Health Standards (OSHS). This regulation provides guidance and enforcement for
workplaces involving training of personnel for health and safety, safety and health committees,
illness and accident records of construction work, control of work and environmental hazards,
personal protective equipment, safe use of materials and machinery, fire protection and
occupational health services. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is the main
OSH institution responsible for the prevention of diseases and accidents in construction work,
law enforcement, rehabilitation and compensation. The Occupational Safety and Health Center
(OSHC) is responsible for occupational health and safety research, training and dissemination of
information and technical services. The Department of Health (DOH) chairs the Inter-Agency
Committee on Environmental Health (IACEH). IACEH is responsible for protecting all people
from exposure to all kinds of occupational and environmental hazards by implementing public
and environmental health interventions.

The previous research found out that the major problems which cause accidents within the
sites include human causes( failure to use personal protective equipment by an employee,
disregard of a danger and inappropriate psychophysical state of an employee due to the
consumption of alcohol, drugs or psychotropic substances). Thus, this research aims at
reviewing the retention of the safety and security of the construction sites implemented by
government sectors specifically in building of SSCT Claver Extension College and provide high
standard management ideas in keeping the safety and security within the construction sites.

Research Questions

Scope and Limitation

Research Methodology
A. Sampling
The methodology is intended to reflect the various levels of retention on safety and security
management of construction workers on the ongoing construction of the SSCT building in
Bagakay, Claver, Surigao del Norte, as well as to comprehend and analyze the overall result
based on the criteria.

A survey questionnaire will be developed and expected to distribute to approximately 25

people involved in the construction project. The survey criteria included age,
education/qualification level, marital status, respondents' position (labourer, manager, or
skilled), year of experience, types of organization (consultant or contractors), and category of
organization (private or government). Since the research will be conducted at construction site,
using a non probability sampling procedure which is convenience sampling to make it more
accessible for the researchers to conduct a research in a dangerous location. Through the
questionnaire, the respondents will answer the questions using multiple choice questions.

Lastly, using this questionnaire the retention of construction workers in safety and security
management will be developed and analyzed after the survey and computation of data using a
table.

B. Data Collection

C. Ethical Issues
D. Plan for Data Analysis

References

Abu Hassim, Aliza, Kajewski, Stephen, & Trigunarsyah, Bambang(2010). Factors Contributing to
Ethical Issues in Project Procurement Planning: a case study in Malaysia.

Hamimah Adnan*, Norfashiha Hashim, Norazian Mohd Yusuwan & Norizan Ahmad.( December
2011). Ethical Issues in the Construction Industry: Contractor’s Perspective.

James Renier T. Domingo, Ma. Theresa S. De Pano, Dominic Aily G. Ecat, Nicole Ann D.G.
Sanchez, Benette P. Custodio. (2015). Risk assessment on Filipino construction workers.
Patel Divya, Prof J.J. Bhavsar , Dr. Jayeshkumar Pitroda. A Critical Review on Safety
Management in Construction Projects. http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-8693.0304013
www.arcjournals.org

R.Y.M. Li (February 2013). A Literature Review on the Causes of Construction Accidents.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290827588
Safeopedia (November 7, 2018). Construction Safety.
https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/3970/construction-safety

University of Michigan( January 2010 ). Construction Safety Requirements.