Abstracts – Browse Results
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Alqudah, H E (2022) The Interaction Between the Main Determinants of Construction Organisational Performance in New Zealand , Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Brauner, M (2020) Developing an optimized sustainability assessment tool for building information modelling (BIM) systems: incorporation of hygrothermal modelling into BIM, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Dhawan, K (2023) Supply chain management driven logistics efficiency in the New Zealand construction sector, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Doan, D T (2019) Enhancing green star certification by improving bim uptake through system dynamics modelling, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Gade, R (2022) Achieving sustainable construction through construction & demolition waste minimisation in residential building projects , Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Nagar, S (2015) Internationalisation of New Zealand civil construction firms: opportunities and challenges in Asia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Navabian, N (2020) Development of an automated structural health monitoring system based on wireless sensor network for civil structures, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Nwadigo, O (2019) Real-time and dynamic planning and scheduling under disruption using multi-hybrid simulation and optimisation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Okakpu, A I (2019) Investigating the effectiveness of adopting building information modelling for refurbishment of complex buildings: Case study of auckland, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Raina, P (2015) An examination of the retention practice in the New Zealand construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Rajeh, M (2014) Comparative analysis of construction procurement systems based on transaction costs, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Ramachandra, T (2013) Exploring feasible solutions to payment problems in the construction industry in New Zealand, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, Auckland University of Technology.
Ramanayaka, C D D (2013) Developing a strategy-led approach as a suitable methodology for construction project planning and implementation , Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Robertson, C M (2018) Migrant worker perceptions of life, work, health and safety in Kuwait: A construction industry perspective, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: working hours; migrant workers; noise; health and safety; migrant labour; occupational health and safety; participation; policy; safety; tendering; Kuwait; best practice; construction method; construction worker; consultant; owner
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: https://hdl.handle.net/10292/11483
- Abstract:
Construction workers have experienced profound changes in working and living conditions over the past 30 years due to the rapid expansion of migrant labour, ineffective management, lax regulatory practices and business cycle downturns. These changes have impacted negatively on the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of workers and the construction industry is recognised as one of the most hazardous in the world. The extent to which construction workers’ OHS has been compromised has particular relevance in Kuwait where, despite the ratification of 19 International Labour organisation (ILO) conventions, effective implementation of improvements has been lacking. The goal of this thesis was to understand the experiences of vulnerable migrant workers in Kuwait from their own viewpoint. The primary research question was ‘What are the OHS experiences of vulnerable migrant workers employed in the Kuwaiti construction industry?’ An adaptation of the Sargeant and Tucker (2009) layers of vulnerability model was applied to address this question. The findings revealed that cultural indifference leading to power and control abuses within the low-bid tendering system has severely compromised the OHS of migrant construction workers in Kuwait. Coercive practices, deception, dishonesty and cruelty resulted in high levels of depression, fear, anxiety and a sense of defeat, exacerbated by poor living conditions, inadequate diets and forced extension of working hours. Contractual obligations and financial commitments to deceptive and dishonest labour agents deepened workers’ sense of helplessness and entrapment. This caused depression and suicide ideation. Their plight was compounded because they could never get permanent residency in Kuwait. Abusive and negligent supervisory practices led to fatal and serious injuries and illness such as severe trauma, heart attacks, heat stroke, falls from height; all due to unsafe construction methods. It was also found that workers were exposed to noise causing hearing impairment and to harmful contaminants like dust and carcinogenic chemicals which led to respiratory illness. Heavy physical labour in the summer heat caused cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health problems. The results revealed that the root cause of compromised OHS practices is the policy of awarding major contracts to the lowest bidder. Although Project Management Consultants (PMCs) were concerned about the OHS of subcontracted labourers, they were prevented by project owners from intervening and implementing best practices. Consequently most workers were inadequately trained and were unaware of their right to protection and access to compensation. However workers’ attitudes and commitment to working safely was not dependent on their educational level. This research is distinctive because a fieldwork and analytical methodology was developed to investigate vulnerable workers in hard-to-reach, difficult and complex settings. The research further differentiates itself by the participation of a skilled interpreter throughout the data gathering process, revealing the subtleties and idiomatic nuances of the respondents’ vernacular which enhanced the data derived from truth and meaning as perceived by workers themselves. The researcher has exposed the numerous issues faced by previously unreached and unheard subcontracted labourers, explored through their own perspectives and experiences. The development of such a methodology is a distinctive feat as few if any Western researchers have been able to reach these previously invisible groups of workers or to expose the depth of the problems they face and are helpless to address. Moreover, the researcher has developed a valuable set of tools that can be extrapolated and generally applied to further global research on the OHS of vulnerable expatriate workers. Finally, the analysis revealed two over-riding themes. First cultural indifference leading to power and control mechanisms and their impact on vulnerable workers was directly linked to hierarchical management systems, and second, the lowest bidder policy has led to profoundly negative outcomes and damage to the OHS of expatriate subcontracted workers.
Rotimi, F E (2013) An evaluative framework for defects in new residential buildings: The New Zealand case, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Samarasinghe, D A S (2014) Building materials supply chains: An evaluative study of the New Zealand residential construction, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Samasoni, J C (2017) Evaluating the feasibility of implementing a risk-based inspection scheme by building consent authorities in New Zealand, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Soltanifar, M (2020) A framework to improve the performance of public tender evaluation procedures in New Zealand, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Staal, A A G (2019) Managing innovative suppliers: Exploring company, procurement, and performance variables in New Zealand construction supply chains, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Tran, V D (2017) Evaluating the economics of construction and demolition waste minimisation and zero waste in the New Zealand construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Vilasini, N (2014) Generating value in alliance contracts through the lean concept , Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Zaeri, F (2017) Exploring the potential for the application of simulation methods in construction project delivery in New Zealand , Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Zhang, T (2019) Investigating the effectiveness of BIM-bms integration on managing existing building facilities: A New Zealand educational building case, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.
Zhao, N (2021) Developing a framework for roading infrastructure projects procurement system selection, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Auckland University of Technology.