Enhancing Construction Health and Safety Practice through Engineering in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's growing construction sector faces safety challenges due to a lack of technical capacity, poor enforcement of standards, and reliance on manual labor. The industry involves various activities linked to health and safety (HS) practices. This study investigates the potential of sociotechnical systems and engineering resilience theory to enhance occupational health and safety (OHS) in Ethiopia’s construction sector through a mixed-methods approach. Survey data from 400 workers and managers revealed critical perceptions of safety compliance, while in-depth interviews with 15 industry stakeholders provided qualitative insights into systemic barriers and enablers.Thematic analysis identified financial constraints (reported by 68% of firms), skills gaps (57%), and organizational resistance (42%) as primary obstacles to adopting advanced safety technologies.However, engineering interventions—such as optimized equipment design and hazard-mitigation workflows—demonstrated a 2.3-fold improvement in safety performance for complex projects compared to conventional methods. Notably, localized low-cost solutions, including modular scaffolding and simplified safety protocols, reduced accident rates by up to 35% in pilot cases.The findings underscore the interdependence of technical and governance reforms: sustainable OHS improvements require parallel investments in adaptive technologies and institutional frameworks that clarify stakeholder accountability. For instance, integrating safety criteria into procurement processes and incentivizing compliance through tax relief amplified the impact of engineering solutions. A novel computational text analysis of interview transcripts further highlighted mismatches between policy rhetoric (“zero-harm goals”) and on-ground realities (“survival-first priorities”).By bridging sociotechnical theory with empirical data, this research offers a replicable framework for Global South contexts, advocating for context-sensitive engineering strategies coupled with collaborative governance. The study advances the discourse on resilient infrastructure by demonstrating how systemic safety challenges can be reframed as opportunities for innovation, ethical practice, and worker empowerment.