International research indicates that clients, project managers, designers and quantity surveyors influence and can contribute to construction health and safety (H&S).  The promulgation of the South African Construction Regulations in July 2003 realised client, designer and quantity surveyor responsibility for H&S. 

Clients are required to provide the principal contractor (PC) with an H&S specification, and ensure that PCs have made adequate allowance for H&S. 

Designers are required to provide the client with all relevant information about the design which will affect the pricing of the works, inform the contractor of any known or anticipated dangers or hazards, provide the contractor with a geo-science technical report, and the methods and sequence of construction, and modify the design where dangerous procedures would be necessary, or substitute hazardous materials. 

 Given the passing of the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Construction Regulations, a survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of member practices of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS). 

Findings include:

• the traditional project parameters in the form of cost, quality and time are still perceived to be substantially more important than H&S;
• the manifestations of the impact of the Construction Regulations are widespread - increased H&S awareness predominates among the manifestations, followed by increased consideration for H&S by most stakeholders
• H&S predominates in terms of the extent to which the Construction Regulations will impact on various project parameters.