MANAGERIAL STRATEGIES TO CURTAIL WORKPLACE INDUCED ACCIDENTS IN SMALL TO MEDIUM ENTERPRSES (SMEs) IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN MASVINGO URBAN, ZIMBABWE

Health and safety issues are fast becoming established fundamental antecedents in the development, survival and growth of Small to Medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout the globe. The study sought to find out the main causes of workplace related accidents in SMEs in the construction industry. Furthermore, the study sought to establish managerial strategies employed by SMEs in the construction industry to curb workplace related accidents and also to develop a good health and safety culture in their employees. A quantitative research approach was utilized with closed ended questionnaire being used as the main data collection instrument. A multiple descriptive case study was used to carry out this study. Data was collected from a sample of 100 (Female-20; male-80), drawn from SMEs in the construction industry in Masvingo urban. Data analysis was done using the Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 and Microsoft Excel. The study established that the main precipitators of accidents at workplaces are inappropriate machinery and equipment, inadequate awareness campaigns, failure to put danger warning signage, inadequate and inappropriate personal protective equipment. The strategies that can be employed to curb workplace accidents in the construction industry are giving workers incentives for not involved in accidents, safety meetings before work start, effective communication system, and employee participation on safety issues, training and development, creation of a safety committee and designing a good and effective layout.