Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
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Recent Submissions
item: Thesis-Abstract
Fostering lean construction through human capacity building : an empirical study of the large-scale contractors in construction industry
(2022) Sandagomika, NMGH; Sandanayake, YG
The construction industry practitioners are tending to implement lean based approaches for the successful project delivery instead of conventional project management approaches. Successful lean implementation in construction industry is severely impacted by human related challenges. Hence, human capacities are significantly necessary for the successful lean construction implementation. However, there is a lack of empirical investigation on lean enabling human capacities in construction industry. Therefore, this research was aimed to develop a model to foster lean construction through human capacity building by large-scale contractors in construction industry.
An in-depth literature synthesis was carried out to review on how to foster lean construction through human capacity building. The literature synthesis emphasised the human capacities necessary for successful lean construction implementation under seven sub human capacity categories namely knowledge, leadership, positive attitudes, work ethics, team work, critical thinking, and communication and strategies to build human capacities under four levels of individual, organisational, industry, and government. The data collection was carried out through the semi-structured interviews in three phases. Manual content analysis was used to analyse the obtained data.
Phase I of data collection identified several human related challenges of lean implementation including no commitment, knowledge level constraints, and lack of leadership on lean construction. Necessary human capacities to foster lean construction were identified for human resources of each hierarchical levels under aforementioned seven sub human capacity categories. Moreover, the advantages of human capacity building in lean construction implementation were investigated. Phase II of data collection has identified the strategies to build human capacities under four levels of individual, organisational, industry, and government. Finally, the collected data on human capacities and strategies were integrated in to a model and presented to three experts for validation and finalised the research model on fostering lean construction through human capacity building. This study makes several noteworthy contributions to the existing body of knowledge on human capacity building in lean construction and strategies to build human capacities to foster lean construction. Several recommendations on understanding potential advantages of human capacity building in lean implementation, and employing the developed framework on human capacity building in successful lean construction implementation can be made to the industry practitioners through this research.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Analysis of occupational safety and health issues related to vertical transportation during construction of high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka
(2023) Sivasubramaniyam, L; Seneviratne, I
Increasing the height of buildings develops complications on vertical delivery. The higher the building is constructed; it requires managing the vertical transportation effectively. Further, it helps to move the workers and the machinery to the designated floor as planned without compromising on time. With respect to labor, vertical movement requires more time in highrise construction than in low-rise construction. Chances for OSH hazards are more in high-rise building construction, which led to economic, social, psychological, and physical effects. Subsequently, this results in low productivity and efficiency. This research aimed to propose solutions to mitigate Occupational Safety and Health issues in the high-rise construction projects with respect to the vertical transportation of Materials and Workmen. The multiple case study method was utilized since this study has to focus on the detailed decisions and behavioral attitudes of individuals and groups. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, which was then, evaluated using the content analysis. Finally, the framework was developed with findings of the study to mitigate the hazards. The study's conclusions showed that the organization will profit economically, improve health and safety from proper management of the site's hazards. Several hazard-mitigating measures were proposed such as preparing a method statement & HSE Plan, the necessity of having a separate branch to manage safety-related matters under the supervision of the HSE Manager, providing awareness or training programs, regular meetings, and proper reporting procedures for unsafe acts and conditions. Addressing these hazards effectively would obtain the full advantage of using vertical transportation to the organization that helps to achieve the target without compromising time and cost
item: Thesis-Abstract
Exploring the causes of accidents in container terminals of ports in Sri Lanka
(2023) Perera, PS; Disaratna , PAPVDS
Among the global competitive industries and the logistic supply chain ports container terminals play a crucial role. A significant amount of manpower and a heavy fleet of machinery equipment are deployed in order to achieve the high level of productivity with the time demands. Containers handling operations are conducted as loading, discharging and trucking from ships to quay, quay to yard and yard to gate or reverse of this around the clock in any weather. Container terminal operation is considered one of the riskiest industries due to the high accident rate reported. This research aims to develop a mechanism for minimizing accidents in container terminals at ports in Sri Lanka by identifying the different types of accidents, investigating their causes, analyzing existing safety practices, comparing them with standard practices, and proposing solutions to mitigate the accidents. The research collects data from literature and interviews with experts from a specific container terminal and analyzes the data using basic statistical techniques and logical reasoning. The findings of the study could benefit safety and health professionals and the management of port container terminals in order to identify the nature of accidents, the causal factors that contribute to accidents and preventive measures for addressing the critical factors behind them
item: Thesis-Abstract
Recommendations for improving OSH practices in the fireworks industry in Sri Lanka
(2023) Abeysiriwardena, RJ; De Silva, N
Firework industry is considered accident-prone due to the usage of several hazardous chemicals in manufacturing. The number of employees working in this industry is less than 0.8% of the manufacturing sector workforce in Sri Lanka. The average number of fatal accidents reported to the Department of Labor is between 70 and 80 per year. The firework industry records at least three fatal accidents within the above figure. It shows that fatal accidents in the firework industry are very high compared to the total reported accidents, creating numerous economic and social problems. The objectives of this study are to identify the accident-causing factors during the firework manufacturing process, review the existing OSH practices and recommend strategies to enhance OSH in the Sri Lankan fireworks industry. A questionnaire was designed using the literature findings and forwarded to five experts directly involved with the firework industry to seek further improvements. According to the convenient sampling technique, thirty factory samples are selected to cover all the districts where the fireworks industry operates. The result shows that mistakes made in factory and layout design and selection of construction materials and accessories, not adopting new technologies, shortage of the existing laws and regulations, incorrect handling of chemicals, poor management and employee practices and also improper maintenance are common contributors to firework factory accidents in Sri Lanka. The study identified the requirement of updating the existing laws and regulations along with the changes in factories, production processes and products, encouragement of customer-based safety mechanisms, training and awareness.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Impact of Covid 19 pandemic on project financing of construction projects in Sri Lanka
(2023) Weerasinghe, BHE; Ramachandra, T
Project financing (PF) is a commonly used financing mechanism for large-scale construction projects in developing countries like Sri Lanka. Insufficient public funds, acquisition of foreign skills and know-how, reduction of public sector borrowing, the possibility of developing what might otherwise be non-priority projects, education and training for the local workforce, and lack of technical and managerial capacity are the reasons for choosing the PF concept for construction projects. Undoubtedly, the COVID 19 pandemic has adversely affected the construction industry and PF in countries. Sri Lanka is not exceptional to this effect, where a number of projects that were undertaken with PF seem to have been suspended and delayed due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the PF for construction projects in Sri Lanka. Initially, an extensive literature review was carried out, and it was followed by a case study of three different construction projects which were performed under the PF, to fulfil the aim of the study. The first case included a building and infrastructure development, whilst the second and third cases were an airport development project and a power generating project, respectively. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with six professionals engaged in the selected cases, representing the key parties to PF including the lender, SPV and the sponsor, and review related project documents. Contract documents and loan agreements were reviewed to study the details of the projects and the financing arrangements. Content analysis was adopted to analyse the data collected from semi-structured interviews. The effects of the COVID 19 pandemic have been identified under three different stages in these cases: formation, construction, and operation stages. The selected cases were not in the same stage when the COVID 19 pandemic started. One out of the three cases selected had already commenced before the origination of COVID 19 pandemic, and one case was in the formation stage, while the other case had passed the formation stage and had not commenced the construction work when COVID 19 originated. Participants of the power generating projects at the formation stage experienced liquidity constraints and delays as the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, and the same was commented by some other participants of the other selected cases. Increasing equity holders’ involvement and allocating alternative methods of funds are identified as the key strategies to be adopted in the formation to mitigate the COVID 19 pandemic at the formation stage. All participants in all three cases had experience with the impacts of COVID 19 pandemic at the construction stage, since the construction stage of all three cases was exposed to the COVID 19 pandemic. Delays in construction, issues in design development, supply chain disruptions, and project cost overruns are the identified impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic at the construction stage, faced by all participants in the selected cases. According to research findings, it was revealed that the use of new software, digital tools, and technologies, value engineering, use of alternative materials, design changes, a crisis recovery facility, and revising the imposed restrictions related to the construction industry are the strategies to be iii implemented at the construction stage for mitigation of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic at the construction stage of a project. Although none of the projects were at the operation stage, the reduction in demand for the output of the project, the risk of reduced revenue, and debt service coverage are the identified probable impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic at the operation stage of a PF project by the participants of the selected cases. Most of the participants suggested that the use of strong marketing strategies, contract renegotiations, and debt restructurings are the discovered strategies for the mitigation of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic at the operation stage. The study finally suggested the precautions to be adopted towards PF for construction in Sri Lanka to manage a situation like COVID 19 pandemic, which include careful selection of lenders, strengthening and improving the domestic institutional investors' capacities, revising domestic policies and regulations related to PF transactions, providing sufficient contractual provisions, having a pre-agreement, getting additional insurance cover, and keeping an agreement with a financially strong guarantee fund. It is expected that the identified strategies and precautionary measures would enable the PF participants to cope with similar situations like COVID 19 pandemic in future PF arrangements.