Challenges and Opportunities in Safety Compliance for Saudi Arabian of MSMCs in Construction

The construction industry in Saudi Arabia, like many developing countries, has a high rate of accidents, and MSMCs are disproportionately affected due to limited resources, a lack of expertise, and competitive pressures that prioritize cost reduction over safety. This research paper examines the challenges and opportunities faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Companies (MSMCs) in complying with safety regulations in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from questionnaires with qualitative insights from interviews with industry professionals. Quantitative analysis highlighted specific challenges, while qualitative analysis revealed the complexities and contextual factors contributing to these challenges. The study identifies 15 major occupational health and safety problems faced by MSMCs. These problems include a lack of skilled workers, employee constraints, communication gaps, reliance on temporary workers, high competition, limited access to external advice and support, constraints related to market share, time, and finances, limitations in business expertise, the absence of dedicated safety personnel on construction sites, low educational levels, employers’ lack of safety knowledge, a dearth of safety motivation and campaigns, and the tendency to prioritize profit over safety in project tenders. Poor communication, financial constraints, and the competitive nature of the industry, which pressures MSMCs to cut costs at the expense of safety, were identified as key challenges. The paper concludes by offering recommendations to address the identified safety challenges. These recommendations include developing targeted training programs, providing financial support for safety equipment and training, and fostering partnerships with larger firms to share safety resources.