Introduction and Background

The construction industry is considered to be one of the most significant industries in terms of its impact on health and safety practices. Construction industry is both economically and socially important. However, the construction industry, at the same time, is also recognized to be the most hazardous (Fewings 2013; Ruddock and Ruddock 2011; Farooqui, 2008). Although dramatic improvement has taken in recent decades, the safety record in the construction industry continues to be one of the poorest (Godwin et al., 2013). The motives for conducting a safe environment within a construction site could be related to humanitarian, economical and cost related or reputation and legislation aspects (Manu 2012;Halpin, 2006). When a worker suffers an injury, the cost and time spent on substituting the worker and the associated loss of productivity are impacted on the project, not to mention its impact on the reputation of those responsible for employing a safe environment such as the owner and the site supervisor(HSE 2012;Godwin, 2011; Reese andEidson, 2006;Holt, 2005).

It is acknowledged that the Saudi Arabian construction industry accounts for the greatest number of accidents, and in particular life-threatening accidents and fatalities, on an annual basis, compared to other industries in Saudi Arabia (Al Shaikh, 2010). In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the construction industry had (48%) of all occupational injuries in 2011. Further, (29%) of construction injuries were due to falling, while (32%) were due to struck by a falling/moving object (GOSI, 2011).In Saudi Arabia owners and consultants do stress safety before work commences, but as the work progresses their concerns for deadlines becomes a priority and they tend to pay less attention to safety. On large projects, the owners may provide medical facilities at the site, but ultimately health and safety is the contractors’ responsibility. As research conducted by Rehimet al., (2008), observed that the causes of accidents were due to poor safety awareness from top leaders; lack of training; poor safety awareness of managers; reluctance to input resources for safety; reckless operation; lack of certified skill labour; poor equipment; lackof first aid measures; lack of rigorous enforcement of safety regulation; lack of organizational commitment; low education level of workers; poor safety conscientiousness of workers (Rehimet al., 2008). In addition to this, the situation in Saudi Arabia is that the practice of occupational health and safety in Saudi Arabia is not regulated by any government agency (Jannadiet al., 2008).Hence the improving of health and safety practices on construction sites has attracted the attention of researchers (Klemet al.,2013).

The application of Lean Construction techniques is proposed as an effective strategy to address accidents on construction sites, which is a major health and safety concern in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia. However, there has been very minimal examination of the relationship between Lean Construction techniques and Health and safety issues in Saudi Arabia.

The construction industry of Saudi Arabia is classified as a risk industry (Shalini 2009).  In view of the high accident rate in the construction industry, the Ministry of Labour introduced a Safety Management Regulation on 24 November 1999 and applied to the industrial undertakings and the relevant specific industrial undertakings industry. The industrial accident rate started to decreased as a result. Therefore health and safety practices are seen as crucial mechanisms in the delivery of construction health and safety improvement at the construction site (Awad and Skiffington, 2010).

Lean Construction is a production-based management philosophy that can be applied for the elimination of waste from a construction project using Lean principles(Fewings 2013;Forbes and Ahmed 2011). It a continuous process of eliminating waste of materials, time, and effort to meet or exceed customer requirements, while focusing on the value stream for the duration of the construction project(Dickson et al., 2007; Koskela 2004; Womack and Jones 1996). As a result Lean Construction techniques can be applied to accidents viewing them as sources of waste of time, money and labour which can be an obstacle to reliable workflow (Bashir et al., 2013). It is for these reasons accidents need to be eliminated by utilizing Health and Safety practices on construction sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It is against this backdrop that this research project is being undertaken to answer the following fundamental research question.

Research Question

RQ 1:   How could Lean Construction techniques be used to promote health and safety practices on construction sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

Research Aim and Objectives

The aim of this research is to investigate how lean construction techniques can be used to promote health and safety practices in the Saudi Arabian construction industry.

The aim of the project is to be achieved through the following research objectives:-

• To study the concept of lean construction techniques through a literature review.

• To study health and safety practices in the Saudi Arabian construction industry through a literature review.

• To identify current lean construction techniques along with health and safety communication practices, used in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia by means of a case study.

• To conduct a questionnaire survey in order to gain professional opinions on the awareness of lean construction techniques and health and safety as well as the challenges and benefits in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia.

• To provide recommendations and suggestions based upon the research findings to improve the safety performance in the Saudi Arabian construction industry.

• To present the findings of the research in the form of a report.

Proposed Research Methodology

In order to demonstrate the philosophical principles behind the research and how it was designed to address its objectives. The research methodology section discusses the methodology of inquiry for the research. It commences with the various approaches to knowledge claims and selection of the appropriate approach by which the research was pursued.

Scope / Restraints / Limitations

The research is limited to health and safety practices with the use of lean construction techniques in the construction sector of Saudi Arabia. Much effort and hard work are to be put in consideration to attain the purpose of the study. Moreover, travel to Saudi Arabia to make the proposed site visit and conduct the questionnaire survey in order to complete the study, whilst addressing the aim and objectives of the research.

Travelling to Saudi Arabia to conduct the site visit and questionnaire survey related to health and safety practices in construction requires a sum of money to achieve the targets. However, the other resources should not be underestimated as the following:-

1.The limited time required to complete the task

2. Access to the university library
3. Small budget to support the researcher for printing, buying and borrow books and printing vital information found useful to the topic
4. Use an electronic derives such as USB or laptop to collect data during research
5. Travel to Saudi Arabia for site visits
6. All aspects of this research work will conform to the terms of the University’s Ethics Policy and as it is to be based upon a questionnaire survey, a case study and a proposed site visit. Consent is to be obtained from everybody involved and all of the participants and respondents of this research study will be over 18 years of age and absolute confidentiality is guaranteed.

7. All the collected data from the respondents will be confidentially dealt with, as well as the identity of the respondents.

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