| dc.description.abstract | The construction industry is by nature a very risky industry in terms of Occupational Safety
and Health (OSH). It is prone to many incidents and responsible for high fatality of workers
in many countries. Despite their high frequency and severity, construction incidents are
usually underreported. The level of incident recording and reporting is largely dependent
on the nature of the reporting system or process. Yet efficient and accurate recording and
reporting of incidents facilitates improvement in OSH performance at all levels (personal,
team, organizational and national). The aim of this research, therefore, was to explore the
use of a web-based system in, Reporting, Recording, Monitoring and Managing
(RRMM) OSH incidents in Uganda’s construction industry as an alternative to the current
process. In the study, the researcher described the current/ as-is process of RRMM OSH
incident in Uganda and identify some of its weaknesses. A web-based system for to
facilitate RRMM OSH incidents was then designed with the aim of addressing some of the
identified weaknesses, and finally, the designed system was evaluated.
The study adopted process modelling (PM) for the first objective which was to describe
and document the current process of RRMM OSH incidents and to identify its weaknesses.
PM involved process discovery done through content analysis of existing literature, process
mapping using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) with Microsoft Visio 2019,
and verification of the process through interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
The web-based system to aid RRMM in the construction industry was designed using the
System Development Method (SDM) to complete the second objective. Finally, the
evaluation of the designed web-based system was done through a questionnaire survey
administered to 123 potential users of the system in order to complete the third objective.
All the data from the PM were qualitatively analysed, while the data the questionnaire
survey were statistically and qualitatively analysed.
The findings from PM revealed that the as-is process of RRMM OSH incidents is broken
down into four sub-processes: Workplace incident reporting management, recording and
compensation (WIRMR&C); Hospitalization of Victim (HOS); Incident reporting to the
Police (IR2P); and the National Incident Reporting, Management, Monitoring (NIRMM).
Several weaknesses such as lack of centralized recording of construction OSH incidents
and lack of provisions for reporting minor OSH incidents at national level were identified
about the as-is process. A functional web-based system named (OSH IRS) was the output
of the second objective. The results from evaluating the designed web-based system (OSH
IRS) showed that it was perceived to be efficient and effective in facilitating incident
RRMM, could address distribution consideration, and it was also institutionally feasible.
Although it was perceived to have benefits, it was perceived to have high cost implications.
This research provides a feasible option for Uganda’s construction sector, and developing
countries alike, for bettering OSH incident reporting and monitoring. | en_US |
