Risk and Security Management: Stakeholder Project Failures Illuminated by an IED occurrence at a Hydro-Power Construction Project in Pakistan

Abstract

Risk and security management is an important aspect of construction activities, especially in countries where the level of security is challenging. This paper is focused on evaluating the impacts of risk/security measures resulting from stakeholder failures related to explosives mismanagement and security events, over an 18-month period, on a large, complex Dam project in a remote area in Pakistan. In July 2021, an incident occurred that had huge ramifications for the risk/security management of a large dam construction site. A qualitative methodology was utilised, where content analysis was conducted on project documentary evidence and where the research design targeted a closed population of 12 - Engineer supervisors/managers to explore their personal opinions. The outcomes indicated that the Employer, the Engineer, WB group and contractors engage in destructive managerial behaviour considered primarily to reduce project performance and create unsafe project situations that were systemically induced. Further, stakeholders are not managing explosives or the security situation underpinning poor project physical progress, leading to consistent project failure issues.