Responsibilities And Accountability

Responsibilities And Accountability Of The Three Designated Appointments (SO2-AC3)

Below, the three designated appointments will be explained:

The Appointed Supervisor - Regulation 8(7)

A significant legal appointment that we need to look at is the appointment of competent supervisors for the workplace. Section 8(7) stipulates that the employer is obligated to ensure that work is performed and that plant or machinery is used under general supervision.

The supervisor is responsible to enforce the necessary control measures in the interest of health and safety. Please note that the health and safety duties of the employer automatically become a ''management responsibility'', relating to all levels of management, including supervision. Health and safety should be given the same priority as productivity or quality control.

Being accountable means standing by decisions, actions, and the overall well-being of projects. Accountability is also a management process that ensures employees answer to their superiors for their actions and that supervisors behave responsibly as well.

The normal health and safety responsibilities of supervisors include:

• Instructing workers to follow safe work practices
• Enforcing health and safety regulations
• Correcting unsafe acts and unsafe conditions
• Perform continuous risk assessments
• Ensuring that only authorized, adequately trained and competent workers operate equipment
• Reporting and investigating all near misses/ accidents/ incidents
• Inspecting own area and taking remedial action to minimize or eliminate hazards
• Perform Job observations
• Ensuring all equipment is properly maintained and safe to work
• Promoting safety awareness in workers
• On-the-job training
• Carry out toolbox talks
• Managing contractors or other persons at the workplace

It is important to remember that the CEO remains responsible to direct and control these duties. It also stipulates that supervisors must be trained to understand the hazards associated with the work that is performed and the machinery that is used. Where significant risks exist supervisors and employees should receive appropriate health and safety training. While keeping these persons' competence in mind, it is the employer's duty to ensure that individuals are properly empowered to perform their duties in a safe and healthy manner. Education, training and motivation largely contribute to the success of any safety programme.

Construction Site Manager - Regulation 8(1)

A principal contractor must in writing appoint one full-time competent person as the construction manager with the duty of managing all the construction work on a single site, including the duty of ensuring occupational health and safety compliance, and in the absence of the construction manager, an alternate must be appointed by the principal contractor.

Construction Manager Responsibilities include:

Overseeing and directing construction projects from conception to completion. Reviewing the project in-depth to schedule deliverables and estimate costs.

While the construction site manager’s specific duties can vary greatly from day to day, they tend to have several core responsibilities:

Direct Contractors: One of the core duties of the construction site manager is directing and overseeing the activities of a range of contractors and subcontractors.

Manage Timelines: Construction site managers set contractor schedules and delivery dates for certain elements of ongoing construction projects.

Consult with Clients: Many construction site managers work closely with clients throughout the project life cycle. This aspect of the role can involve accompanying the client during site visits, answering questions about construction projects and overall progress, and communicating changes between the client and contractors.

Oversee Project Budgets: Construction site managers ensure that projects remain profitable by overseeing budgets throughout the construction process. They may make key decisions regarding materials and provide input on contractor bids to balance the quality of work with acceptable margins.

Maintain Site Safety: Construction site managers play a vital role in maintaining job site safety. This can include setting and enforcing standards for each job site and making periodic site visits to ensure that contractors and crews are following proper safety protocols. The construction site manager also works to minimize risk, resolve violations and potential hazards, and prepare incident reports in case of an accident or injury.

Prepare Site Reports: From the earliest stages of a construction project, site managers also help coordinate and write site reports, drawings, and other necessary documents.

Construction Site Manager Skills

Construction site managers have control and should be held responsible and accountable for the project's outcome. Most site managers in this role have a construction or contracting experience, and the following skills:

Project management – this position requires strong project management skills to ensure that large-scale projects are completed on time and that teams achieve construction milestones and deliverables

Team leadership – construction site managers provide guidance to contractors and teams of workers, so effective team leadership and coordination are vital in this role

Problem-solving skills – construction site managers also need strong problem-solving skills to resolve issues that may arise during the construction process, such as scheduling conflicts or materials issues

Attention to detail – because a construction project has so many elements and teams that need oversight, construction site managers also need excellent attention to detail and organization skills to effectively manage schedules

Budgeting – financial management is also an important skill for construction site managers to ensure that projects remain profitable and that all elements adhere to client budgets

Communication skills – effective written and verbal communication skills are important in this position since construction site managers work with contractors, clients, architects, and engineers

Note: Regulation 8(1) The Construction manager must demonstrate competency in relation to work being performed and the ability to manage construction work which may include making all statutory appointments in terms of health and safety.

Click here to view an explanation of the construction site safety rules.

Health and Safety Officer - Regulation 8(5)

The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) prescribes the registration of Construction Health and Safety Officers as a specified category in terms of section 18(1) (c) of Act No. 48 of 2000.

Click here to view an explanation of the construction stage safety and health plan.