Health and Safety Compliance in Tanzania: Regulatory Impediments in the Construction Sector

In Tanzania, poor enforcement of occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations has been associated with weak regulatory systems as well as lack of proper procedures on construction sites. However, the role of health and safety actors including organisational structures as enabling or disabling factors have not been well researched. This study employed qualitative research approach to discern the role of health and safety actors together with reasons for poor OHS enforcement on construction sites. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from several health and safety actors within the sector. The salient findings from the study indicate that while legislation for enforcement of OHS exists, there is demonstrated lack of coordination including focus on formality, lack of resources and overlapping roles regarding management of OHS. These are exacerbated by power relations exercised by elected officials over the regulators to influence public policy and purposeful violation of rules as a form of informal welfare policy for largely informal workers. This study recommends a need for promotion of safety leadership and behavioural change together with adequate supply of health and safety resources to the whole organisational system. Safety culture should be embraced from planning, tendering, designing and implementation stages of construction projects.