Research survey on occupational safety and health for rebuilding/recovery-construction after the canterbury earthquake, New Zealand

Abstract

On February 22, 2011, an epicentral a 6.1 moment magnitude (Mw) earthquake with a seismic center near Lyttelton occurred in the suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, at 12 : 51 p.m. local time, 17 days before the Great East Japan Earthquake struck off the coast of Tohoku. The authors visited and exchanged opinions with Work Safe NZ, a New Zealand government organization, the Canterbury Rebuild Health and Safety Programme (CRHSP), and Site Safe, a nonprofit construction organization, for the purpose of collecting information regarding the safety and health efforts made by the New Zealand government and its pertinent agencies, as well as understanding the current status of rebuilding and recovery efforts after the Canterbury Earthquake (which started as almost in tandem with recovery efforts in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake). Results show that there was little difference between New Zealand's countermeasures on safety and similar efforts made in Japan. However, there were some beneficial activities in New Zealand, such as an update to the system of qualifications; use of a tender system (based on an evaluation of safety and health); and partnerships between clients, contractors, and regulatory agencies. These activities should be implemented Japan to improve the nation's construction industry regarding safety and health.