Lighthouse Club Illuminates Site Safety

• 31 December 2015
• Local News
• 934 Views

Cambodia is one of the most exciting markets in Southeast Asia and has experienced unprecedented political stability and growth in the last two decades and is one of the fastest growing economies worldwide. Latest reports from the World Bank are estimating Cambodian GDP growth for 2015 at 7.1 percent, with the strongest growth expected in the construction sector.

This is most visible in the Cambodian capital, with a range of commercial and residential projects changing Phnom Penh’s skyline almost daily. Figures from the Ministry of Land Management reveal the investment in this sector totalled $2.5 billion in 2014. These factors along with political stability, both local and regionally, have drastically changed the Cambodian business landscape, increased international trust in Cambodia’s economy and strengthened foreign investment.

This investment is driving the local market to demand the best material available. Many local companies along with smaller international business ventures are providing local architects, designers and developers with material sourced from all over the world. This is important for sustainable Cambodian growth as a modern infrastructure lays the foundation for Cambodia to become a key player in the regional market. The construction industry, as the leading business sector in Cambodia, needs to play a key role in continuously developing its business practices to not only set new standards in quality, but to give employers the framework for creating an environment in which their staff can thrive.

The emergence of ASEAN in the next few years makes it vital that Cambodia has a sound economy that reaches international standards on all levels. With Cambodia’s strong human resources, training and communication become vital to ensure both skilled and unskilled labour reach the standards expected by the growing demands of this market. Fair wages, safe working conditions and a more health and safety conscious workforce are key to keeping the construction industry as the driving force of Cambodia’s economy for years to come.

In the last few years training and communication have developed greatly, but unfortunately health and safety has not followed this trend. Many workers do not follow international regulations, even if their employers provide the correct equipment. This is due to a lack of proper education on the risks of working on building sites.

Unfortunately severe accidents on building sites are still relatively common. These accidents do not only have devastating effects on the workers and their families, but also on employers as they need to hire new, inexperienced staff to fill the void. A small investment in time and resources can greatly lessen this risk and benefit all parties involved.

There are many organisations who are working hard to improve the health and safety standards in Cambodia. One such organisation is the Lighthouse Club Cambodia. The Lighthouse was established in the UK and has a network of clubs all over the world to support the development of health and safety standards in the construction industry. The Lighthouse Club Cambodia has an education scholarship fund, which helps underprivileged young Khmer people attain the education they require for a long and sustainable career in the construction industry, as well as providing financial aid to construction workers and their families, in cases of severe injury or fatality.

If you are interested in learning more about the Lighthouse Club Cambodia there are monthly gatherings held on the third Thursday of every month at different locations. These gatherings are a great opportunity to learn more about the construction industry in Cambodia along with being a good networking opportunity with like-minded people in the industry.

By: Mr. Euan Ritchie

Director, Artisan Surface Finishes

Email: ritchie@artisansurfacefinishes.com