Confined site construction: A qualitative investigation of critical issues affecting management of health and safety

The construction industry is inherently risky, with a significant number of accidents and disasters, particularly on confined construction sites. This research investigates and identifies the issues affecting successful management of health and safety in confined construction sites. rationale is that identifying the issues would assist the management of health and safety in inner city centres which are mostly confined sites. Using empiricism epistemology, the was based on qualitative research approach by means of multiple case studies in three geographical locations of Ireland, UK and USA. Data on each case study were collected individual interviews and focus group discussion with project participants. The findings that three core issues are the underlying factors affecting management of health and safety on construction sites. It include, (i) lack of space, (ii) problem of co-ordination and management site personnel, and (iii) overcrowding of workplace. The implication of this is that project teams and organisations should see project processes from a holistic point of view, as a unified single, where quick intervention in solving a particular issue should be the norm, so as not to affect interrelated sequence of events in project operations. Proactive strategies should be to mitigate these issues and may include detail project programming, space management, constructability review and efficient co-ordination of personnel, plant and materials among. The value of this research is to aid management and operation of brownfield sites by identifying impacting on health and safety management in project process.