CONSTRUCTION WORK AND THE HOUSEKEEPING CHALLENGE IN LESOTHO

Abstract

A key element of advances in site management practice is the provision of an environment in which construction work is completed without exposing people to harm. Among other issues, the removal of physical hazards on construction sites is dependent on housekeeping, which is a source of genuine worry in the industry in Maseru, Lesotho. With improvement intentions, this paper reports the outcome of a research, which sought responses to "why is housekeeping a continuing challenge in Lesotho construction?" Using a multiple case study research design in which the field work involve direct site observations and focus group interviews of construction site management and workers, the study established the poor state of housekeeping in Lesotho. The use of the 5-Why root cause analysis shows that unsafe work practices go hand-in-hand with poor housekeeping on observed project sites. Inadequate method of keeping the construction site clean was worsened by poor storage and disposal of materials and wastes on the sites. The importance of housekeeping in a craft based industry, such as Lesotho, is hinged on the health, safety, and wellbeing of workers, apart from site productivity. The evidence from the research shows that it is time for multi-stakeholder interventions that would eliminate poor housekeeping in the industry. Such interventions should apply behaviour-based safety techniques to support the efforts of compliance-based safety.