Perception of Contracting parties on Construction Safety in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

The construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in developing countries. Understanding the safety climate or culture of a workplace, the perceptions and attitudes of workforce are important factors in assessing safety needs. The construction industry in Palestine, by its inherent nature, is susceptible to potentially dangerous conditions that affect the safety of all personnel working in construction projects. This paper reports, based on a questionnaire survey, the perception of owners, consultants and contractors towards safety in the Gaza Strip. The results showed that, most of the participants in the survey had accidents in their construction projects. The findings indicated that, main causes of fatalities and injuries are falling from heights, dropped objects and materials and being caught under excavations. Carelessness of workers, lack of safety knowledge and lack of safety training are the main three reasons that contributed to the increase rate of accidents among construction workers in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, contactors should prepare safety training programs which help personnel to carry out various accidents preventive activities effectively. Training material should discuss the cost of accidents, the influence of good safety performance and should stress the safety objectives of the company, the relevant laws and legislation and contractual relationships with clients regarding safety matters. (author)