ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY BEHAVIOUR OF WORKSERS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES

ABSTRACT

The Construction industry has been classified as one of the most hazardous industry when it comes to occupational accidents and fatalities. Construction accidents do not only result to demotivation of workers, but also causes delay of project delivery, affect the quality of work delivered, increases overall cost of project, as well as arise to compensation of injured workers among others. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of compliance to safety behaviour of Workers on Construction Site in Abuja, Nigeria. To achieve this, well- structured questionnaires were administered to 137 Safety Representatives practicing with medium construction Firms in Abuja-Nigeria, where Construction works were currently on- going. The data were collected, presented and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results from the data analysis indicated that among the several reasons why casualties still happen on construction sites noncompliance or total compliance to safety regulations stands out as a major influencer. The study however recommended the following: the need for all sites to have a safety representative and their role and functions should be spelt out, site Operatives should be educated on hazard management, workers must be punished for violating safety rules and be rewarded for effective compliance and workers must ensure they are adequately equipped with personal protective equipment before being engaged to work.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0          INTRODUCTION

1.1          Background to the Study

Without a question, the Construction sector is the backbone of every nation’s economic and social growth (Okoye et al., 2016). It serves as a rallying point for national growth by connecting all other sectors of the economy and services through its forward and backward linkages. For example, in the first quarter of 2019, the industry contributed 6.17 percent to nominal GDP, up from 4.13 percent the previous quarter and contributed 5.03 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 (NBS, 2019).

Despite its importance, the construction industry continues to face numerous challenges, especially in low income nations of which Nigeria is not an exemption (Okoye et al., 2015). The construction industry, on the other hand, has badly performed in terms of protection (Okoye et al., 2016). Experts define the industry as one of the most dangerous when it comes to workplace accidents.

Safety, known as the state or feeling of being safe or protected from risk, is essential to everyone in the construction industry, but it is widely believed that it is not completely adhered to. The word “accident” comes to mind when the phrase “safety” is mentioned. Injury is not often the outcome of an accident. According to Hinze (1997), an accident is an unintended event. Accidents that cause damage to machinery and products, as well as those that cause injury. occurrence. Unwanted, unpredictable, uncontrollable occurrences have been used to identify them. Injury is not often the outcome of an accident. Accidents that cause damage to machinery and products, as well as those that cause injury, attract the most coverage. Accidents should be avoided at all costs, regardless of the extent of the harm or loss. Accidents that do not result in material or equipment damage or personnel injury can foreshadow potential accidents with less favorable outcomes.

Accidents are often defined as occurrences that occur as a result of a chain of events. Each event in a sequence is connected by the fact that it is followed by another event. The chain of events is a representation of how an accident occurs. The accident occurs when all of the events in the sequence or chain occur at the same time. Furthermore, the accident could have been avoided if all of the events in the chain had not happened. Many accidents are often blamed on worker conduct, if only because the worker is often the last party involved in the chain of events. It is important to note the other events in the chain if safety is to be promoted not just the final action of the worker who becomes injured (Hinze, 1997). To actually blame injured workers for many of their own accidents is to disregard the influences on worker actions that other parties have.

The term safety behaviour refers to the actions that people take at work (Christian et al., 2009). Safety activities were divided into two categories by Neal et al. (2000): safety participation and safety enforcement/compliance. Many safety behavior-related research, such as Vinodkumar & Bhasi (2001) have adopted these two dimensions. Attending meetings and assisting coworkers are examples of safety participation. Safety participation refers to repeated  voluntary activities  that  do  not  necessarily  encourage  personal  safety but  do contribute to improving workplace safety. Safety enforcement, on the other hand, applies to required habits that must be followed in order to keep the workplace safe, such as wearing personal protective equipment and following all safety regulations.  As a result, this study assessed the safety behavior of workers on construction sites, with a particular emphasis on the degree of compliance with safety standards by site operatives on construction sites in Abuja, Nigeria.

1.2          Statement of Research Problem

Construction-related mishaps have been identified as agents of construction activity obstruction (Williams et al., 2018).  Furthermore, researchers have established four major categories  of  accidents  that  still  occur  on  Nigerian  construction  sites: Human  errors, particularly among construction workers, have been linked to interaction with tools and equipment, vehicle/machine-related, slip and trip, and fall-related accidents, as well are the causes of these accidents.

Unsafe behavior  or non-compliance with  safety standards was  often  blamed  for these mistakes. When there are accidents on the job, it is common for activities to be halted on the job site to allow for accident investigation, loss of personnel, payment of funeral costs or reimbursement or insurance claims for the deceased, loss of productivity, high labor turnover, loss of corporate credibility. Researchers and authors have attempted to understand the true cause of injuries, especially on construction sites. According to Muhammed et al. (2015) adherence with health and safety regulations will have a positive effect on assessing construction workers’ standard of delivery and production. Although some have claimed that accidents are caused by a combination of factors such as workers’ dangerous behavior, others have claimed that accidents are caused by an act of God or unknown causes. However, little was said about why accidents happen on construction sites, especially in Abuja, Nigeria. Managers are working to minimize accidents on our building sites and Supervisors are advised to inculcate the habit of safety requirements in all their sites since workers on their part would not want to be injured while they are working, so supervisors are encouraged to instill the habit of safety standards in all of their locations. Also, given the effects of man- made accidents, which are often rooted in workers’ unsafety habits, safety studies must go beyond determining the causes of safety issues and instead concentrate on the safe behaviour of workers before it results into accident. Since fatalities are caused by people’s dangerous behavior, they can be avoided by instilling a strong safety culture in Nigeria’s construction industry.

1.3          Research Questions

To direct the investigation, research questions were developed thus,

1. What is the extent of worker compliance with safety behaviour on construction sites?

2. What factors influence compliance with safety behaviour?

3. What are the methods for improving compliance with safety practices by Site Operatives?

4. What effect does workers’ safety behavior have on construction site?

1.4          Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to determine the degree of compliance with safety standards on construction sites where a safety management plan is in place, with the goal of improving a safer working environment for all construction workers. The following are the objectives to achieve this goal, to;

1. determine the extent to which workers on construction sites adhere to safety regulations.

2. describe the factors that influence worker adherence to safety requirements;

3. determine the method that will enhance worker compliance with safety regulations;

4. investigate the effect of construction workers’ safety practices on job sites.

1.5          Research Hypothesis

This research Null-hypothesis was put to the test in order to back up the study’s findings. The hypothesis is based on the study goals:

Ho1: Safety compliance has no substantial impact on construction site.

1.6          Justification for the Study

The value of construction site safety management plan cannot be overstated, as it provides substantial opportunities and benefits to the industry. Reduced workplace risks, increased efficiency, less injuries and legal challenges, improved standing among clients and partners, and, of course, cost savings, quality assurance, and project delivery are just a few of the advantages.

The built environment according to Hinze (1997), is unique among industries in that it provides employees with numerous opportunities to participate in a variety of projects of interest. Furthermore, construction work often takes place outside, in conditions that aren’t always ideal for safety. On construction projects, in addition to the continuous shift in the design of the job and the mix of employees, the position of the work often changes for the workers. While some  employees  may be drawn  to  construction  because of its  unique characteristics, the industry’s safety record is not to be envied. Such characteristics do not have to result in accidents, losses, or deaths.

There is also increasing concern about the high rate of construction accidents and fatalities, as well as a low level of compliance with safety requirements by site operatives, especially in developing countries.

1.7          Scope of the Study

The research area is medium-sized construction companies and firms in Abuja, Nigeria. Abuja was chosen as the case study because it has been dubbed one of the fastest growing cities in Sub-Sahara Africa in recent years due to the city’s numerous infrastructure and construction projects. The research was limited to construction sites that were in the process of being developed. The study was limited to firms and construction sites where works were currently on going to achieve relevant data and not the entire construction companies in the research area.

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