APPRAISAL OF CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY – A CASE STUDY OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

Abstract

The study examined the state of health and safety risk management practices in the building sector of the construction industry and has the objectives to: evaluate the construction risks inherent in the building sector of the construction industry; examine the health and safety risk management processes adopted by the construction industry in Nigeria; validate the existence of identified factor(s) militating against the implementation of health and safety practices in the construction industry in Nigeria; and investigate if there are established frameworks for effective health and safety risk management in the construction industry of Nigeria. The study adopted the survey and case study research design. It employed the use of Delphi’s technique in the distribution of questionnaire and made use of chi-square analytical technique for the analysis of gathered data. The findings revealed that: most of the parties involved in construction projects do not have any significant health and safety risk management process in place; the identified factors militating against the implementation of health and safety risk management practices are still valid; there is no existing established framework for effective regulation of health and safety risk management practices. Various improvement strategies have been suggested.

INTRODUCTION

1.0       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

The relevance of the construction industry in a nation’s economy cannot be over emphasized as the development and growth of such nation is inclusively dependent on the performance of the industry, (Okeola, 2009). This performance is visible in areas such as the construction of roads, bridges, skyscrapers, dams, and buildings (Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (OSHA) 2007). National Construction Council (NCC) (2004-2005) defined the construction industry as a complex fundamental sector of the economy such that it permeates most of the other sectors in transforming various resources into physical economic and social infrastructure necessary for economic development. It embraces the process by which the physical infrastructure are planned, designed, procured, constructed or produced, altered, repaired, maintained, and demolished.

A number of studies have focused on the issue of employment creation by the industry and others have emphasized on its multiplier effect as it relates other sectors of the economy. Wibowo (2009) defined the multiplier effect as one that demonstrates the impact of a change in investment on the levels of income and employment in an economy. The main concept of the multiplier is based on the recognition that the various sectors that make up the economy are interdependent. The role of construction infrastructure in the process of development has gained a new stimulus in that construction activities are considered to be one of the major sources of economic growth, development and economic activities (Ehsan, Alam, Mirza & Ishaque, 2010). They also noted that construction and engineering services industry play an important role in the economic uplift and development of the country. It can be regarded as a mechanism of generating employment and offering job opportunities to millions of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled work force. It also plays a key role in generating income in both formal and informal sector. It supplements the foreign exchange earnings derived from trade in construction material and engineering services. For a developing nation such as Nigeria, the actualization of the nation’s vision partly depends on the existence of a reliable and competitive local construction industry that is capable of delivering quality service and value for money in the development and maintenance of the physical infrastructures. Its role in the socio-economic development goes beyond its share in national output.

In measuring the construction industry’s performance/development; the industry’s contribution to gross domestic products (GDP) and employment, disposition to change, meeting client’s satisfaction are the measuring parameters (Tse and Ganesan, 1997; Crosthwaite, 2000). Lowe (2003) further stated that the value added of construction to the economy is in the range of 7% to 10% for highly developed economies and around 3% to 6% for underdeveloped economies. Adelekan (2012) noted that this is portrayed by an increasing rate of city development in virtually all parts of the Nigerian economy with notable growth in some areas. He also gave the three areas of significant growth in building and construction activities in Nigeria as:

1. Lagos; the commercial nerve-centre of the country.
2. Abuja; the Federal Capital Territory which has witnessed an outstanding increase in construction activities in the past decade, having an unprecedented expansion into new towns due to the population influx into the city.

• The Niger-Delta region; the Nigeria’s oil industry’s base

Although the construction industry has a high incidence of occupational ill health which can have a devastating effect on individuals, their families, and their employers who may face fines and prosecution, efforts have usually been focused more on safety hazards rather than on workplace hazards resulting in ill health issues. The nature of the activities going on in the industry makes it one of the most dangerous workplaces with over thousands of people killed in the past years from work related accidents and injuries sustained in the workplace. Characterized by its complexity and hazardous nature; the workers on site are therefore exposed to several risk factors as the project is being executed.

Risk according to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary is defined as: (1) the possibility of something bad happening at some time in the future; a situation that could be dangerous or have a bad result. (2); a person or thing that is likely to cause problems in the future. On site, most times activities don’t work out as planned hence risks should be assessed and kept under control. In unfavorable circumstances, even a minor disturbance could set off a chain of events that may threaten the health and safety of the individuals on site and invariably delays the completion of or an outright termination of the project. The bottle-neck of decision making, customer base or product range in a typical Nigerian construction industry significantly increases the risk of continuity. The need to inculcate the management of risk

during the project planning is of paramount importance since if not properly identified and accommodated will reflect on the overall assessment of the project (Chapman and Ward, 2003). It is also necessary to establish an effective communication system for the client and contractor as well as between the contractor and the workers on site (Thinking Bookworm (TB), 2012). One of the best ways to avoid risks and minimize costs is through good planning and co-ordination – both before and during the execution of the project. This should start when the decision is made to go ahead with the project, and should consider all stages and parties associated with the work. In this case, the size of the job doesn’t matter — systems do (Site safe, 1999). Lewis (2002), noted that risk management is the systematic process to identify, quantify, analyse and respond to project risk; involving maximising the probability and consequences of positive events and reducing the probability and consequences of adverse events to project objectives. Management of risk would be important in such a way that it can create value and a part of the decision-making process of project managers, (Ewelina and Mikaela, 2011).

Risk management may also be described as “a systematic way of looking at areas of risk and consciously determining how each should be treated. It is a management tool that aims at identifying sources of risk and uncertainty, determining their impact, and developing appropriate management responses” (Uher, 2003). A systematic process of risk management has been divided into risk classification, risk identification, risk analysis and risk response, where risk response has further been divided into four actions, i.e. retention, reduction, transfer and avoidance (Flanagan & Norman, 1993; Berkeley, Humphreys, & Thomas, 1991). Hence risks should be identified, monitored and controlled on a regular basis to mitigate its effects. This statement confirmed that construction projects shall invariably or inadvertently fail even with adequate contingency plans because some of the risks impacting on the projects are unknown at the inception/planning phase and would not be planned for in the Contingency Plans, (Thinking bookworm (TB), 2012). They further defined the contingency plans as simply the alternative plan which will be used if possible foreseen risk event becomes a reality and this could help property developers to examine very critically every aspect of the operation and think both reactively and proactively. However it should be underlined that risk management is not a tool which ensures success but rather a tool which helps to increase the probability of achieving success. (Ewelina et al, 2011).

Nevertheless, Nigerian construction industries is growing in complexity and size and in order to be competitive at the global level; it must not approach construction safety as just another step in avoiding unwanted accidents/costs but as a strategic tool for maximizing competitiveness and profitability (Agwu, 2012). Safety is defined as the state of being safe (protected) from danger or harm according to the Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary. The Joint project of FIEC & EFBWW (2000) developed a strategic approach to safety that can be accomplished through a total safety management philosophy which finds its roots from the total quality management principles. For moral, legal and economic reasons, the health and safety of every person, the security of goods and the protection of the environment, are essential aims which every company shares. These goals are only achieved and guaranteed if there is a policy orientation towards prevention of all health and safety (H&S) risks within each company. These are some of the several reasons for a company to develop and implement a more systematic and structured health and safety policy:

1. Reduce accidents
2. Limit sick-leave

• Provide a better working environment

1. Attract the best work force
2. Improve the quality of the final product
3. Gain a competitive advantage

• Improved image
• Facilitates contact with the authorities

The provision of a good Health and Safety Management System is inevitable in the Nigerian construction industries as the industries performance is solely dependent on the safety of the working environment. Zaynab & Mahmud (2012), noted that managing a project successfully means not just executing it according to specifications within the stipulated time and with budgeted funds but also with optimum safety. Hence, this study is on the Appraisal of construction Health and Safety Risk Management in Nigerian construction industry (case study of the building industry).

1.1         STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The construction industry operates in a very uncertain environment where conditions can change due to the complexity of each project (Sanvido, Groleer, Partiff, Guveis, & Coyle, 1992). Risk and uncertainty are associated to any project regardless of the industry, and it differs from project to project; since every project is unique especially in the construction

industry (Gould & Joyce, 2002). In other words, adequate comprehensive knowledge of the commercial, political, construction, and operations uncertainties and risks associated with a project determines the success/delivery of such project and in some cases the viability of the organization, (Walewski & Gibson, 2003). Despite the awareness of risks and their consequences, there are still many practitioners that have not realized the importance of including risk management in the process of project delivery (Smith, Mema & Jobbling, 2006). Thereby contradicting the fact that the industry is trying to be more cost and time efficient as well as have more control over projects (Ewelina et al, 2011).

In consonance with the foregoing therefore, the importance of a good implemented Health and Safety Risk Management model/practice cannot be over-emphasized. It becomes a problem/challenge where the future (e.g. cost, profit, time of completion, etc.) of a project can not be fathomed with relative certainty in the building sector of the construction industry on the ground of no provision for health and safety risk management.

1.2         AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The overall aim of this research was to investigate the extent of the knowledge of Health and Safety practices among construction workforce and the compliance with the Health and Safety requirements on construction sites. This aim was actualized in the following specific objectives, to:

1. Evaluate the construction risks inherent in the building sector of the construction industry;
2. Examine the Health and Safety risk management processes adopted by the construction industry in Nigeria;
3. Validate the existence of the identified factors militating against Health and Safety practices in the construction industry in Nigeria; and
4. Investigate if there are established frameworks for effective Health and Safety risk management in the construction industry of Nigeria.

1.3         RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study was carried out in such a way that it was able to provide answer(s) to the following questions.

1. Are there existing processes of managing Health and safety risks in Nigerian construction industries?
2. Could there be factors militating against the implementation of Health and Safety practices in Nigerian construction industry?
3. Are there any established frameworks for effective Health and Safety management in Nigerian construction industries in line with international practice?

1.4       RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The research hypothesis that this study focused on to achieve the above stated objective are:

1. Health and safety risk has no significant management process in the Nigeria construction industry.
2. The construction industry in Nigeria has factors militating against Health and safety practices.

• The Effectiveness of health and safety risk management practices in the Nigerian construction industry is not dependent on an established framework.

1.5      SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is on the nature of an existing Health and Safety Risk Management in Nigerian Construction Industry. It focused on the building sector of the industry located within the cities of Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Lagos and Enugu (four of the states with significant growth in building construction) and will be using the company’s wealth of experience on projects. This study would basically concentrate on industries with workforce capacity of not less than 20 persons.

1.6         SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Health and Safety Risk Management practices are not new in Nigeria but some construction companies perceive it differently. Although the parties concerned are to an extent employing the practice to the best of their knowledge since it has come to stay though ignorant of some practices. This research will therefore be of great benefit to:

1. The parties responsible for ensuring the implementation of the internationally acceptable standards of health and safety on construction sites in Nigeria such as Government, clients, consultants, contractors, workers and civil society. Educating them to ensure that every construction contract takes comprehensive account of health and safety requirements for the project, environment and the workers.

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