Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to identify and highlight the hazards that are most commonly found at construction sites in Botswana. Respondents from Estate Construction Company located in Gaborone was selected for this study. Questionnaire survey was conducted on the construction site to establish the health and safety hazards prevailing and control measures therein. A physical observation was also conducted on the construction sites in order to relate questionnaire responses to what actually obtains on the construction site.

In Botswana, the construction industry is booming as economic development takes its course. However, much as construction has come with its benefits, records of the factories inspectorate of the department of labour reveal that between 2000 and 2003, five fatalities were recorded in Botswana’s construction industry. Even though the number of these accidents is not alarming, the benefits paid to the accidents victims are high. These accidents represent a considerable economic and social burden to employers, employees and to the society as a whole. This therefore calls for urgency in mitigating this problem. This study will help come up with comprehensive measures to rectify this problem such; identifying the hazard, assessing the risk and controlling the risk to ensure a safe and conducive working condition for the workers. Implementation of control measures requires different approaches due to changing working environment at the construction sites.

Keywords: Construction, Hazards, Safety, Workers, Booming, Industry.

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