Causes of Time Waste in Construction Projects in Palestine

Abstract

Waste has been recognized as a major problem in the construction industry in developed and developing countries. It has a considerable impact on the efficiency of the construction industry and the overall economy of the country. Waste in construction is not only focused on the quantity of material waste in construction, but also related to time waste. The aim of this paper is to identify causes of time waste in construction projects and to rank these factors according to their importance from contractors' viewpoint in the Gaza Strip. The research approach adopted in this study was questionnaire survey. 80 valid questionnaires have been studied and analyzed. The results of analyzing 92 causes of time waste considered in this survey indicated that: rework that don't comply with drawings and specifications; lack of materials availability; rework due to workers' mistakes; effects of political and social conditions; and owner's poor communication with the construction parties and government authorities are the most five significant sources of time waste during the construction process. The survey revealed that the site supervisor group is the major cause of time delay. It would be appropriate to arrange formal and informal education and training in time waste management for all concerned parties in the construction industry.