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published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

The rates of fatalities, injuries and diseases from work, has been a longstanding challenge for centuries. The challenge is validated by the fact that there is not a paper, or publication, that appears to have been written worldwide, without discussion regarding the extent of the problem in the construction industry. Despite there being prescriptive statutory requirements applicable to the sector, all attempts to reduce the reduce the accident rates in South Africa appear to have been largely unsuccessful. The review of literature indicates that most research has focused on design, designers, roles of stakeholders, inter alia that relate to construction health and safety. Given the situation noted, the research investigated design, various aspects of the construction process and stakeholders, and the inclusion of procurement as a major component of the construction process. A triangulated, or mixed methods research methodology was utilised for the thesis. The qualitative methodology utilised in Action Research (AR) and a total of three FGs’ sought to develop a theoretical model that would identify multi-stakeholder policies, practice and education requirements. An extensive international, African and South African literature review was conducted as part of the secondary research and the grounding for the mixed methodology of research. The information sought to contextualise the South African paradigm and practices. Two quantitative, multi-stakeholders’ studies were conducted during the development of the research. The quantitative aspect considers the perceptions of those practicing or involved in H&S, the interface regarding the stakeholders and ‘issues’ experienced in the challenges relating to daily work. Themes were developed, inter alia: a general; workers; management (including supervision, responsibilities and pricing); a stakeholders’ theme (including project managers; design and designers, and client), and the construction H&S theme (including the CHSA, construction H&S Manager (CHSM), construction H&S Officer (CHSO)). A total of 22 hypotheses were tested. The hypotheses considered all the stakeholders, within the framework of the research. Only 1 hypothesis was not supported, and hypothesis was partially supported. Three AR FGs’ were held in the Sarah Baartman District (a building focus) and at the Bhisho offices (a civil engineering focus) of the ECDRPW. The research considered the procurement processes that underpins a project, with some elements relative to the interface of H&S, design, the stages of work, and the current legislative framework. A validated theoretical model, the ‘Deacon Procurement, Design and Health and Safety Model’ emerged from the qualitative aspect of the research. The salient findings indicate a tendency in the industry to operate in silos, adhere to minimum levels of compliance, and not determining other aspects that could possibly reduce project and financial risk. Therefore, stakeholders need to work together, across the stages of work. Level of confidence is low among clients and built environment groups regarding H&S across the project life cycle, resulting in the non-compliance, and increased project risk. Clients such as the National Treasury do not identify H&S risks during project planning, resulting in the lack of adequate resources for projects, with supply chain management and procurement not ensuring compliance and technical expertise. Due to lack of knowledge CHSAs’, CHSMs’, and CHSOs,’ are not appointed timeously, resulting in noncompliance, and increased project risk. The construction H&S practitioners level of confidence is affected by lack of experience, not knowledge, in contrast to the lack of H&S knowledge of built environment professionals. A range of recommendations are provided that include, inter alia: development of policy, guidelines and practice notes regarding H&S, supply chain management and procurement; education and training, continuing professional development, training and workshops, and further research.

Orientador: Paulo Licio de Geus / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T04:50:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ruppert_GuilhermeCesarSoares_M.pdf: 908627 bytes, checksum: 2eb5cfc8a9692f72179b7c1cd2596b39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Os sistemas de arquivos distribuídos são um componente importante em praticamente todas as redes coorporativas, acadêmicas e até mesmo domésticas. Neste cenário, o NFS (Network File System) é um dos sistemas de maior importância, não só pela importância histórica em ter sido um dos pioneiros, mas por ser largamente utilizado em todo o mundo. Porém, o NFS foi projetado com recursos insuficientes de segurança. A versão 3 do NFS, que é a versão utilizada atualmente em ambientes de produção, apresenta um nível de segurança praticamente nulo. Mais recentemente, foi elaborada a especificação da versão 4 do protocolo que corrige adequadamente os problemas de segurança. Contudo, o protocolo apresenta um grau de complexidade extremamente elevado e, devido a isso, poucos estão dispostos a enfrentar sua implementação. Atualmente, existem apenas algumas implementações preliminares deste protocolo e as mesmas não se encontram completas e estáveis. Logo, a migração para o NFSv4 a curto prazo é inviável. Neste trabalho foi realizado um amplo estudo dos diversos aspectos envolvidos com a segurança de sistemas de arquivos distribuídos, em especial o NFS. Foram levantadas as deficiências do NFS e foram analisados diversos trabalhos envolvendo segurança no compartilhamento de arquivos. Este trabalho resultou no projeto e implementação do NFS Guard, uma ferramenta para agregar segurança ao NFS versão 3 de forma simples e totalmente compatível com as redes NFS já instaladas. O NFS Guard utiliza clientes e servidores NFS padrão e não requer recompilação de nenhum software já instalado, podendo ser utilizado inclusive em sistemas de código fechado. Para isso foi desenvolvida uma técnica de Kerberização utilizando interceptação de pacotes, que também pode ser utilizada para agregar segurança a outros serviços além do NFS / Abstract: Distributed File Systems are an important component in practicalIy every corporate, academic or even home network. In this scenario, NFS (Network File System) is one of the most important of these systems, not only due to its historical importance for being one of the pioneers, but also for being largely used alI over the world. However, NFS was designed with insufficient security features. NFS version 3, which is the version currently being used in production environments, presents an almost nulI security leveI. More recently, the version 4 of the protocol was designed,among other thigs, to tackle the security issues. Nevertheless, this protocol presents an extremely high leveI of complexity, and consequently, a few want to face its implementation. At the moment, a few preliminary implementations are available, but usualIy incomplete and unstable. Hence, the migration to NFSv4 in a short term is not feasible. In this work we accomplished a wide study of many aspects involved with distributed file system security, specialIy with regards to NFS. NFS's shortcoming were identified e many works involving security in file sharing were analyzed. This work resulted in the design and implementation of NFS Guard, a tool to add security do NFS version 3 in a simple way and totalIy compatible with instalIed NFS networks. NFS Guard uses standard NFS client and server and does not require recompilation of any installed software, so it can be used with closed source systems. To accomplish that, a Kerberization technique was developed using packet interception, which can also be used to add security to other services besides NFS / Mestrado / Ciência da Computação / Mestre em Ciência da Computação

The following study identifies and describes the cultural knowledge of women working in the construction industry regarding occupational health and safety. Data was gathered on 6 female construction workers, using the techniques of participant observation and the ethnographic interview. Results of the field observation and the interviews revealed that the women had a high level of knowledge of many work place hazards. They were also aware of kinds of accidents and injuries and a number of ways of cutting down on the hazards. Less was known about chronic, progressive, as opposed to acute injury. Despite their belief that most accidents were preventable, the women described a variety of reasons for not taking precautions. The major reasons given involved peer pressure and lack of time.

D.Phil. / Health and safety (H&S) is still a problem in the construction industry. Both locally in Southern Africa and internationally, the construction industry continues to lag behind other industries in terms of H&S performance. As a result, there has been a considerable amount of research and interest on H&S performance improvement. However, there seems to be little research of note focusing on the role and contribution of construction clients to H&S performance improvement. This research project investigated and modelled H&S performance on the role and contribution of clients to H&S. The primary aim of the research was to model how improved H&S performance could be achieved if clients and/or owners were involved. Literature was reviewed on the status of H&S performance in the construction industry, the significance of the industry and on the current trends in H&S performance improvement. Empirical data was collected through a Delphi study and through a field questionnaire survey. Analysis of results from the Delphi study was done with Microsoft Excel to output descriptive statistics. These descriptive statistics informed on whether the experts had reached consensus. Analysis of results from the field questionnaire was done with EQS version 6.1 and MPlus version 6.0. Both of these are structural equation modelling software. A conceptual client centred H&S performance improvement model was based on the theory developed from literature review findings and the Delphi study. The questionnaire survey was conducted for the purpose of validating the conceptual model. The questionnaire survey was conducted in Gaborone, Botswana and Johannesburg, South Africa. Respondents were asked to report on current construction projects that they were part of as a professional. Respondents were asked to indicate their assessment of client H&S culture, contractor, designer and project H&S performance. Results from the investigation pertained to three broad areas. The first results related to theory on H&S performance and performance improvement. Findings were that H&S performance improvement was unlikely if H&S culture was not improved. Further findings were that clients could provide the needed impetus to improve H&S performance.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016 / Eskom is a state owned enterprise that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to various sectors. Hence, it supports South Africa’s growth and development aspirations by constructing new electricity infrastructure. This can be achieved by adopting safety, health, environmental and quality (SHEQ) management as a business imperative. Presently, there have been a number of incidents and accidents at some construction sites of the Eskom distribution sector in the Mpumalanga province, which are mainly due to non-compliance with construction health and safety. This research project aims to determine the compliance of contractors servicing Eskom. This is achieved by checking the compliance of the health and safety file of contractors with the Safety, Health and Environmental specification checklist of Eskom. The study aims to investigate if the use of the checklist has improved contractors’ compliance by 2014. In order to achieve these aims, factors are addressed relating to the current state of construction health and safety legislation; the impact of construction health and safety on the economy; project parameters; roles and responsibilities of parties involved on construction sites; performance of small and emerging contractors. The study shows that established contractors always achieved higher compliance when compared to the emerging contractors. In 2014, 90% of contractors complied with the checklist, hence in 2015/16 the contractors can be expected to meet the 100% requirement, therefore complying with the Eskom value of “Zero Harm”.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / Throughout the 21st century, floods have caused major disasters in urban areas worldwide and especially in Africa. Several factors influence the ability of government to manage flood disasters through the phases of, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery at a local level. The vulnerability of poor communities to flood disasters exacerbates the impact of the flooding on their livelihoods. The inability of governments to communicate effectively with communities about preparedness strategies for flood mitigation has resulted in much damage in urban areas. The study used semi-structured interviews with Disaster Management officials and community members involved in flooding to evaluate the Disaster Risk Management in Bramfischerville. The fieldwork took place in Bramfischerville that was affected by the 2009 floods. The research revealed that the 2009 Bramfischerville floods were caused by heavy rains, the building of RDP housing on a floodplain and ineffective implementation of Disaster Management strategies by the CoJ. This research argues that in order to understand flood disasters, cooperation between all stakeholders involved in Disaster Management is vital in knowledge accumulation. The 2009 floods had negatively impacted the livelihoods of people in Bramfischerville. Their houses were damaged and they had difficulty traveling to work and school. In this view, the costs associated with floods are continuously being a debt for the people living in Bramfischerville. This research found that the disjuncture between the community and the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) officials exacerbates the negative impacts floods have on people’s livelihoods in Bramfischerville. / MT2018

Esta dissertação tem como objeto de estudo a qualidade de vida e segurança do trabalho em canteiros de obra e objetiva analisar o comprometimento de empresas da construção civil que possuem um sistema de gestão da qualidade implantado e certificado de acordo com a NBR ISO 9001:2000, com a segurança e a qualidade de vida no trabalho dos seus funcionários em canteiros de obra. Investiga-se, especificamente, a partir da Política e dos Objetivos da Qualidade adotados por construtoras que atuam no setor de edificações verticais, na Região Metropolitana do Recife, quais os dados determinantes para esse empenho e os tipos de objetivos que contemplam cada um dos setores pesquisados, quais sejam, a Segurança do Trabalho e a Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho. A metodologia utilizada, baseada em estudos de casos, inicialmente contemplou a análise da experiência reconhecidamente bem sucedida, de uma empresa da construção civil que implantou ações de melhoria da qualidade de vida em seus canteiros de obra. Em seguida, a partir dos dados coletados em empresas selecionadas, obtiveram-se informações que apontaram para carências de objetivos do sistema de gestão da qualidade que contemplassem o objeto de estudo. Neste sentido, como sugestão prática deste trabalho, foram propostas dez ações de melhoria das condições de vida e/ou segurança dos trabalhadores em canteiros de obra, conduzidas passo a passo, de modo a direcionar e facilitar a sua implantação por empresas construtoras. / This dissertation has as its object of study quality of life and safety at work on building sites and aims to analyze the commitment of civil construction companies who have a system of quality management set up and certificated in accordance with NBR ISO 9001:2000 with safety and quality of life in the work of their employees on building-sites. Specifically, an investigation is made, based on the Policy and Quality Objectives adopted by construction companies who engage in the sector of vertical buildings, in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, whatever may be the determining data for this enterprise and the types of objectives which include each of the sectors researched, namely Safety at Work and Quality of Life at Work. The methodology used, based on case studies, initially considered the analysis of the recognizably successful experience of one civil construction company which implemented actions for improving quality of life on its building sites. Thereafter, using the data collected in selected companies, pieces of information were obtained which pointed to features lacking in the objectives of the system of quality management which contemplated the object of this study. Therefore, as a practical suggestion arising from this study, ten actions have been proposed for improving the conditions of life and/or safety of workers on building-sites, set out step-by-step, in such a way as to guide and facilitate their implementation by building firms.

As organizações têm repassado para empresas especializadas os trabalhos que originalmente realizavam com empregados de seus quadros de efetivos. Este fenômeno tem provocado um crescente movimento de subcontratação de serviços conhecido como terceirização. As empresas terceirizadas têm se estabelecido de forma frágil do ponto de vista da segurança do trabalho, negligenciando os aspectos mais básicos estabelecidos pela legislação vigente, normas técnicas e as boas práticas nesta área no intuito de oferecer propostas mais econômicas para fazer frente a um mercado cada vez mais competitivo. Estabeleceu-se como objetivo para esta pesquisa identificar as práticas adotadas em matéria de segurança por uma companhia multinacional do ramo de alimentos, que é certificada na Norma OHSAS 18.001:2007, no que tange as empresas terceirizadas que prestaram serviços de manutenção predial com foco nas atividades de construção civil no período de julho de 2009 a junho de 2010. A metodologia utilizada consistiu de um estudo detalhado da documentação relativa ao sistema de gestão da organização contratante quanto aos trabalhos terceirizados e dos registros das subcontratadas concernentes a acidentes e medidas prevencionistas adotadas para o atendimento das exigências estipuladas pela contratante. Como resultado principal desta pesquisa identificou-se que dentre as medidas adotadas destacaram-se o estabelecimento de processos administrativos e técnicos, como a operacionalização de ações chaves como a fundamentação dos trabalhos com base em requisitos da Norma OHSAS 18.001, dos programas de treinamento, do atendimento a legislação, da definição de procedimentos para atividades administrativas e de risco, de uma boa relação entre contratante e contratada, da organização de profissionais de segurança, de preparação de emergências e atendimento médico. Como conclusão verificou-se que as medidas implantadas foram eficazes, pois contribuíram efetivamente para que a área de manutenção predial com foco em construção civil apresentasse o melhor desempenho em termos de indicadores de acidentabilidade. Desta forma recomenda-se considerar a aplicação das ações preventivas identificadas nesta pesquisa em virtude da sua eficácia, e pelo processo de implantação ser basicamente de ordem administrativa. / Organizations have transferred to specialized companies that originally held the jobs of their employees with effective frameworks. This phenomenon has caused a growing movement known as outsourcing services. The outsourced companies have been established so fragile from the standpoint of safety at work, neglecting the most basic aspects established by the legislation, technical standards and best practice in this area in order to offer more economic proposals to deal with a market every increasingly competitive. It was established as a goal for this research to identify the practices adopted in terms of safety by a multinational company in the food industry field that is certified under OHSAS 18.001:2007, regarding outside contractors who provide building maintenance services with focus on civil construction activities during July 2009 thru June 2010. The methodology consisted of a detailed study relating to the contracting organization management system concerning outside contractors as well as of the records of accidents and preventive measures adopted to meet the requirements stipulated by the contractor. As a main result of this research it was identified that among the measures adopted, it were highlighted the establishment of administrative and technical procedures, such as the operationalization of key actions like work oriented on the requirements of OHSAS 18001, training programs, the legislation attendance, the definition of administration procedures and for risk management activities, a good relationship between the contractor and subcontractors, the organization of safety professionals, emergency preparedness and medical care. As conclusion it was found that the measures implemented were effective because they contributed to the branch of building maintenance with a focus on civil construction on presenting the best performance in terms of accident rates. Therefore it is recommended to consider the application of the preventive actions identified in this survey due to its effectiveness, and for the fact that the deployment process is basically administrative.