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This research focuses on the multifaceted landscape of occupational health and safety (OHS) compliance within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the construction sector. This research investigates the determinants and factors affecting the OHS practices. Findings indicate that SMEs face challenges related to area of awareness, resource allocation, economic constraints, lack of training and compliance. New and unexperienced workers do not pay any consideration in maintaining the safety compliance attitude. Many people are aware of the standard regulations of occupational safety but they opt out of staying compliant to these regulations. This research highlights the needs for tailored interventions to address the unique challenges faced by SMEs in South Punjab’s construction sector. This research consists of a questionnaire (10 questions) to understand the compliance in construction workers. A survey was done to collect the results from the sample size of 60 individuals and the quantitative method was used. It discusses factors contributing to occupational hazards, such as inadequate training, lack of safety infrastructure, and non-compliance with regulations. Additionally, it highlights the economic and societal impacts of workplace injuries and emphasizes the need for comprehensive OHS policies and enforcement mechanisms. The article also addresses the role of education, government intervention, and collaborative efforts between stakeholders in mitigating OHS risks. There is a need for highlighting the ongoing efforts to foster a safer working environment in the construction industry. Occupational health and safety workers need to play a crucial role when it comes to assess the safety management of the construction site. It is recommended that all employees receive PPEs and safety training must be available.

The exterior beam-column joint (BCJ) within reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures is acknowledged as a vulnerable component prone to seismic failure. This article proposes a practical and economical strengthening method for exterior BCJs using a perforated steel haunch system. This method is designed to mitigate damage in BCJs and improve the seismic performance of the structure. Employing finite element modeling (FEM) techniques, the study evaluates the impact of perforated steel haunches on the BCJs’ behavior and performance. The investigation involves creating nine distinct models, each representing a BCJ with a steel haunch system. These models include a control model without any perforations and eight variations with different levels of perforation (ranging from 10% to 50%) within the steel haunch system. Furthermore, the study analyzes the influence of perforation shapes on the connections’ performance, considering square, circular, hexagonal, and triangular shapes. The results reveal that utilizing a steel haunch without perforations significantly increases the load-carrying capacity of a BCJ by about 89%. Additionally, circular or square-shaped perforations, up to 30–35% within the steel haunch, effectively prevent the joints’ failure and promote the ductile behavior. These findings hold the potential to advance the design methodology for RC joints subjected to seismic loads, thereby enhancing the structural resilience in earthquake-prone regions.

Culverts fulfill the vital function of safely channeling water beneath railway tracks, highways, and overpasses. They serve various purposes, including facilitating drainage in areas such as watercourses, drainage zones, and regions with restricted ground-bearing capacity. Precast reinforced concrete (RC) box culverts are a popular choice because they are strong, durable, rigid, and economical. However, culverts are prone to corrosion due to exposure to a range of environmental factors and aggressive chemicals. Therefore, enhancing the design and construction of this crucial infrastructure is imperative to effectively combat corrosion and to adhere to modern standards of reliability and affordability. In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) was used to strengthen corroded culverts, with promising potential to improve safety and longevity in these structures. This study compared the behavior of corroded RC box culverts to CFRP-strengthened ones using the finite element method (FEM). It explored the impact of varying the damage thicknesses owing to corrosion, ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm, on the structural performance of the box culverts. The results showed that the CFRP model exhibited a substantial 25% increase in the capacity and reduced the damage compared to the reference model. Moreover, a parametric study was conducted for establishing a cost-effective design, in which numerous CFRP strip configurations were examined for a damaged-culvert model. The results indicated that a complete CFRP sheet was most effective for the maximum design capacity and repair effectiveness. The study’s outcomes provide valuable insights for professionals engaged in enhancing the strength of box culverts, aiming to increase the capacity, enhance the stability, and strengthen corroded culverts.

This research focuses on the multifaceted landscape of occupational health and safety (OHS) compliance within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the construction sector. This research investigates the determinants and factors affecting the OHS practices. Findings indicate that SMEs face challenges related to area of awareness, resource allocation, economic constraints, lack of training and compliance. New and unexperienced workers do not pay any consideration in maintaining the safety compliance attitude. Many people are aware of the standard regulations of occupational safety but they opt out of staying compliant to these regulations. This research highlights the needs for tailored interventions to address the unique challenges faced by SMEs in South Punjab’s construction sector. This research consists of a questionnaire (10 questions) to understand the compliance in construction workers. A survey was done to collect the results from the sample size of 60 individuals and the quantitative method was used. It discusses factors contributing to occupational hazards, such as inadequate training, lack of safety infrastructure, and non-compliance with regulations. Additionally, it highlights the economic and societal impacts of workplace injuries and emphasizes the need for comprehensive OHS policies and enforcement mechanisms. The article also addresses the role of education, government intervention, and collaborative efforts between stakeholders in mitigating OHS risks. There is a need for highlighting the ongoing efforts to foster a safer working environment in the construction industry. Occupational health and safety workers need to play a crucial role when it comes to assess the safety management of the construction site. It is recommended that all employees receive PPEs and safety training must be available.

The exterior beam-column joint (BCJ) within reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures is acknowledged as a vulnerable component prone to seismic failure. This article proposes a practical and economical strengthening method for exterior BCJs using a perforated steel haunch system. This method is designed to mitigate damage in BCJs and improve the seismic performance of the structure. Employing finite element modeling (FEM) techniques, the study evaluates the impact of perforated steel haunches on the BCJs’ behavior and performance. The investigation involves creating nine distinct models, each representing a BCJ with a steel haunch system. These models include a control model without any perforations and eight variations with different levels of perforation (ranging from 10% to 50%) within the steel haunch system. Furthermore, the study analyzes the influence of perforation shapes on the connections’ performance, considering square, circular, hexagonal, and triangular shapes. The results reveal that utilizing a steel haunch without perforations significantly increases the load-carrying capacity of a BCJ by about 89%. Additionally, circular or square-shaped perforations, up to 30–35% within the steel haunch, effectively prevent the joints’ failure and promote the ductile behavior. These findings hold the potential to advance the design methodology for RC joints subjected to seismic loads, thereby enhancing the structural resilience in earthquake-prone regions.

Culverts fulfill the vital function of safely channeling water beneath railway tracks, highways, and overpasses. They serve various purposes, including facilitating drainage in areas such as watercourses, drainage zones, and regions with restricted ground-bearing capacity. Precast reinforced concrete (RC) box culverts are a popular choice because they are strong, durable, rigid, and economical. However, culverts are prone to corrosion due to exposure to a range of environmental factors and aggressive chemicals. Therefore, enhancing the design and construction of this crucial infrastructure is imperative to effectively combat corrosion and to adhere to modern standards of reliability and affordability. In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) was used to strengthen corroded culverts, with promising potential to improve safety and longevity in these structures. This study compared the behavior of corroded RC box culverts to CFRP-strengthened ones using the finite element method (FEM). It explored the impact of varying the damage thicknesses owing to corrosion, ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm, on the structural performance of the box culverts. The results showed that the CFRP model exhibited a substantial 25% increase in the capacity and reduced the damage compared to the reference model. Moreover, a parametric study was conducted for establishing a cost-effective design, in which numerous CFRP strip configurations were examined for a damaged-culvert model. The results indicated that a complete CFRP sheet was most effective for the maximum design capacity and repair effectiveness. The study’s outcomes provide valuable insights for professionals engaged in enhancing the strength of box culverts, aiming to increase the capacity, enhance the stability, and strengthen corroded culverts.

Culverts fulfill the vital function of safely channeling water beneath railway tracks, highways, and overpasses. They serve various purposes, including facilitating drainage in areas such as watercourses, drainage zones, and regions with restricted ground-bearing capacity. Precast reinforced concrete (RC) box culverts are a popular choice because they are strong, durable, rigid, and economical. However, culverts are prone to corrosion due to exposure to a range of environmental factors and aggressive chemicals. Therefore, enhancing the design and construction of this crucial infrastructure is imperative to effectively combat corrosion and to adhere to modern standards of reliability and affordability. In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) was used to strengthen corroded culverts, with promising potential to improve safety and longevity in these structures. This study compared the behavior of corroded RC box culverts to CFRP-strengthened ones using the finite element method (FEM). It explored the impact of varying the damage thicknesses owing to corrosion, ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm, on the structural performance of the box culverts. The results showed that the CFRP model exhibited a substantial 25% increase in the capacity and reduced the damage compared to the reference model. Moreover, a parametric study was conducted for establishing a cost-effective design, in which numerous CFRP strip configurations were examined for a damaged-culvert model. The results indicated that a complete CFRP sheet was most effective for the maximum design capacity and repair effectiveness. The study’s outcomes provide valuable insights for professionals engaged in enhancing the strength of box culverts, aiming to increase the capacity, enhance the stability, and strengthen corroded culverts.

The exterior beam-column joint (BCJ) within reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures is acknowledged as a vulnerable component prone to seismic failure. This article proposes a practical and economical strengthening method for exterior BCJs using a perforated steel haunch system. This method is designed to mitigate damage in BCJs and improve the seismic performance of the structure. Employing finite element modeling (FEM) techniques, the study evaluates the impact of perforated steel haunches on the BCJs’ behavior and performance. The investigation involves creating nine distinct models, each representing a BCJ with a steel haunch system. These models include a control model without any perforations and eight variations with different levels of perforation (ranging from 10% to 50%) within the steel haunch system. Furthermore, the study analyzes the influence of perforation shapes on the connections’ performance, considering square, circular, hexagonal, and triangular shapes. The results reveal that utilizing a steel haunch without perforations significantly increases the load-carrying capacity of a BCJ by about 89%. Additionally, circular or square-shaped perforations, up to 30–35% within the steel haunch, effectively prevent the joints’ failure and promote the ductile behavior. These findings hold the potential to advance the design methodology for RC joints subjected to seismic loads, thereby enhancing the structural resilience in earthquake-prone regions.

The study empirically investigates the impact of managerial competency and learning orientation on job performance of individuals working in the software industry of Pakistan. Social skills have been introduced as a moderator alongside entrepreneurial leadership which acts as a mediator in both relationships. The data from 384 respondents, collected through survey, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS. The results suggested that managerial competency and learning orientation are positively related to job performance, and entrepreneurial leadership partially mediated the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, and learning orientation and job performance. Social skills moderate the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, while the moderating role of social skills was not found for the association of learning orientation and job performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of its kind, incorporating technical and behavioral aspects (social skills) in a single framework. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of aforementioned relationships in the Pakistani organizational context. The study may present vital insights for organizations to prioritize development of managerial competencies, learning orientation, entrepreneurial leadership and social skills for improved job performance.

The study empirically investigates the impact of managerial competency and learning orientation on job performance of individuals working in the software industry of Pakistan. Social skills have been introduced as a moderator alongside entrepreneurial leadership which acts as a mediator in both relationships. The data from 384 respondents, collected through survey, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS. The results suggested that managerial competency and learning orientation are positively related to job performance, and entrepreneurial leadership partially mediated the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, and learning orientation and job performance. Social skills moderate the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, while the moderating role of social skills was not found for the association of learning orientation and job performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of its kind, incorporating technical and behavioral aspects (social skills) in a single framework. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of aforementioned relationships in the Pakistani organizational context. The study may present vital insights for organizations to prioritize development of managerial competencies, learning orientation, entrepreneurial leadership and social skills for improved job performance.

The study empirically investigates the impact of managerial competency and learning orientation on job performance of individuals working in the software industry of Pakistan. Social skills have been introduced as a moderator alongside entrepreneurial leadership which acts as a mediator in both relationships. The data from 384 respondents, collected through survey, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS. The results suggested that managerial competency and learning orientation are positively related to job performance, and entrepreneurial leadership partially mediated the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, and learning orientation and job performance. Social skills moderate the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, while the moderating role of social skills was not found for the association of learning orientation and job performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of its kind, incorporating technical and behavioral aspects (social skills) in a single framework. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of aforementioned relationships in the Pakistani organizational context. The study may present vital insights for organizations to prioritize development of managerial competencies, learning orientation, entrepreneurial leadership and social skills for improved job performance.

The study empirically investigates the impact of managerial competency and learning orientation on job performance of individuals working in the software industry of Pakistan. Social skills have been introduced as a moderator alongside entrepreneurial leadership which acts as a mediator in both relationships. The data from 384 respondents, collected through survey, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS. The results suggested that managerial competency and learning orientation are positively related to job performance, and entrepreneurial leadership partially mediated the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, and learning orientation and job performance. Social skills moderate the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, while the moderating role of social skills was not found for the association of learning orientation and job performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of its kind, incorporating technical and behavioral aspects (social skills) in a single framework. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of aforementioned relationships in the Pakistani organizational context. The study may present vital insights for organizations to prioritize development of managerial competencies, learning orientation, entrepreneurial leadership and social skills for improved job performance.

The study empirically investigates the impact of managerial competency and learning orientation on job performance of individuals working in the software industry of Pakistan. Social skills have been introduced as a moderator alongside entrepreneurial leadership which acts as a mediator in both relationships. The data from 384 respondents, collected through survey, was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS. The results suggested that managerial competency and learning orientation are positively related to job performance, and entrepreneurial leadership partially mediated the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, and learning orientation and job performance. Social skills moderate the relationship of managerial competency and job performance, while the moderating role of social skills was not found for the association of learning orientation and job performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation of its kind, incorporating technical and behavioral aspects (social skills) in a single framework. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of aforementioned relationships in the Pakistani organizational context. The study may present vital insights for organizations to prioritize development of managerial competencies, learning orientation, entrepreneurial leadership and social skills for improved job performance.