Assessing health and safety conditions in the buildings at an institution of higher learning in South Africa: a case in the Free State province

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa are mandated to provide safe, hazard-free learning and working environments. Yet, evidence increasingly suggests a gap between legislative requirements and actual safety conditions within campus buildings. This master's study investigated this problem by assessing the health and safety compliance of buildings at a selected institution in the Free State province, identifying prevalent hazards, and determining the factors influencing compliance. The study aimed to evaluate the current state of health and safety conditions, guided by five objectives: identifying compliance-enhancing components, examining occupational hazards, determining factors associated with compliance and non-compliance, assessing compliance levels, and evaluating the effectiveness of existing control measures. An exploratory sequential mixed-method design was employed, incorporating surveys with 372 students and 235 staff, interviews with health and safety professionals, and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) audit checklists across eight buildings. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, regression modelling, and thematic analysis. Findings revealed partial compliance, with buildings scoring between 45% and 67% on checklist assessments. Major deficiencies included expired fire extinguishers, blocked exits, poor ventilation and lighting, weak waste management, and inadequate signage. Students showed low safety awareness: only 22% were trained, and 40.1% had never received safety communication. Staff demonstrated moderate awareness (mean ≈ 3.1/5), yet only 14.5% were fully compliant. Regression analysis showed that institutional support was the strongest predictor of compliance. Interviews highlighted deteriorating infrastructure, weak leadership commitment, fragmented communication, and reactive rather than preventive safety practices. The study concludes that although policies align with national legislation and ISO 45001 principles, implementation remains inconsistent owing to systemic deficiencies in leadership, infrastructure, communication, and resource allocation. Strengthening management accountability, institutionalizing continuous training, improving hazard communication, and adopting a proactive risk-based maintenance system are recommended to achieve sustainable compliance and safer campus environments.