Evaluating the Effectiveness ofOccupational Health and Safety Management Systemof Construction Companies in Iraq(Al-Rasheed State Contracting Construction Companyas a case study)

Abstract

In most countries, construction work is considered to be one of the most hazardous
industrial activities. It can easily be seen that there is a consistently higher rate of fatal
injury for the construction sector when compared with the country's average fatal injury
rate, the occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) can contribute to
improvements in the industry’s performance. When accidents happen, the costs are high in
people, profits and productivity. One of the best ways to avoid injuries and minimize costs is
through good planning and coordination both before and on the job.
The objective of this research is to review the concept, definition, and benefits of safety
management system with evaluating the effectiveness of occupational health and safety
management system for construction companies in Iraq through field survey and
developing checklist to investigate, record, and analyze the facts of the existing safety
management system of Al-Rasheed state contracting construction company. The research
conclusions show that Al-Rasheed state contracting construction company isn’t aware of
safety importance, top management considers safety as luxury, has no interest of safety
activities, doesn’t consider safety as an aspect for pre-qualification of contractors, lack of
legislation that obliged companies to follow safety system, and practicing poor safety
actions. Several proper solutions were recommended to improve the existing safety
management system such as developing safety policy, the role of leadership and
commitment to safety, documentation of safety program, and proper legislation to activate
the role of National Center of Health and Occupational Safety (NCHOS)