| Summary: | An independent industry of Environmental Control Officers (ECOs) is active on various
construction sites across South Africa. It forms part of a global network of verifiers, such
as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIA follow-up verifiers. This network
authenticates statements about and the implementation of sustainability commitments
made during the planning phase of major construction projects. International studies
show that the construction industry is experiencing many challenges to deliver
sustainability commitments, including inadequate collaboration between role players, illdefined
roles and responsibilities, and insufficient use of environmental governance
approaches. On-site verifiers like ECOs may aid in restraining these challenges by
bridging ineffective governance approaches, such as classic EIA with new governance
approaches, for instance self-responsibility (e.g. Environmental Management Systems
(EMSs)) and involvement of third parties. Moreover, an “independent from all”
verification function may be vital in developing countries such as South Africa, where
trust between the government, market and public is particularly fragile due to historical
injustices. Interestingly, limited learning has been drawn and shared from this function’s
real-world experience. There are also differing views on the role, independence and
value of ECOs, due to roles, frequent interaction with persons responsible for delivering
sustainability commitments, and collaboration with third parties being ill-defined. The
overarching purpose of this study is to advance understanding of independent ECOs in
major South African construction projects. Three lines of inquiry are followed. The first is
to define what the role is, or ideally should be, of an ECO in the South African
compliance monitoring and enforcement effort. The second is to identify what factors
might influence the independence of verifiers. The third is to appraise how and to what
extent independent EIA follow-up verifiers add value in major construction projects in
the developing country context of South Africa.
This study’s research assumptions are based on the real world of ECOs and uses a
mixed method research approach to draw knowledge from the industry. The strategies
of inquiry include a survey, interviews, and multiple case study evaluations. The
methods for data collection include literature review, a self-administered survey
questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, video material, observations of practice at
case studies, and the collection of project documentation. The methods used for data
analysis are the categorisation and measuring of opinions and statements of survey
participants, the analysis of video material and project documentation, and the nominal
categorisation and ordinal scaling of case study results. Three journal articles capture
the essence of the research results and form part of the thesis report, as prescribed by
the North-West University’s rules for doctoral theses in article format. All three articles
were peer-reviewed and published in journals aimed at international audiences. Article
1 of the thesis highlights that an industry of ECOs fulfils numerous roles at various
construction sites across South Africa. The results identify the importance of ECOs
functioning independently of all role-players, but warn that obsessing about
independence may compromise the ability of ECOs to fulfil their roles. The results also
show that industry is in need of competence and the regulation thereof, as well as
support from all role players. By drawing from the research results, the thesis defines an
ECO.
Article 2 of the thesis reiterates that independence is central to internationally acclaimed
verification fields and important to ensure the credibility of EIA. The study identifies 18
factors that might influence the independence of EIA follow-up verifiers and divides the
factors into five categories: financial, commercial, professional, personal, and other. By
identifying and sharing these factors, this thesis aids in anticipating and avoiding
potential conflict of interest between environmental role players. Article 3 strengthens
the continuum between environmental governance approaches by conceptualising a
framework for appraising the value of independent EIA follow-up verifiers. The
framework provides for inter-linking principles and objectives of sustainability to the
performance areas of EIA, EIA follow-up and the EMS. The appraisal results indicate
that independent verifiers add most value when they are involved in screening, checking
compliance, influencing decisions, community engagement, and integrating
environmental governance approaches. The study confirms the benefits of adaptable,
proactive, experienced, and independent EIA follow-up verifiers, such as ECOs, on
major South African construction projects. === PhD (Geography and Environmental Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
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