ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN ABUJA, FCT, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the practices of health and safety management in construction industry focusing on risk assessment, communication and control. To achieve this purpose, the study focused on high-rise building under construction. Three construction sites were selected for detailed study using purposive sampling. 405 questionnaires were prepared and administered to the regulatory body, construction company and the labourers’ at the site. Observation checklist was used as a means to authenticate the response received from the respondents. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze how risk and hazards affects safety at construction sites, the various risks and hazards predictors of safety on construction sites shows that stress and bullying have the highest Beta value of 0.632 followed by manual handling B=0.441, dust B=0.473 and noise B=0.359. These predictors contribute significantly to the safety of workers on construction sites. The factors responsible for degree of occurrence of risk and hazards in the study area were also analyzed using multiple liner regression, across section of the standardized coefficients of Beta in which disobeying procedure have the highest Beta value=0.546, management procedures B=0.277. Factors such as carelessness, unskilled and in experienced workers and tight working areas do not contribute meaningfully to the model. Parameters such as disobedience of procedures and management pressures have a significant value below 0.05 which is statistically significant while carelessness, unskilled and inexperienced workers and the tightness of work areas are insignificant. In conclusion, the study has identified that the individual, organizational and institutional system influence risks assessment, communication and control at construction sites. Furthermore work environment such as the location of the project, the size of the project, work force and equipment used at the project are the main challenges hampering health and safety risk management. Thus, the study recommended frequent staff training on health and safety work procedure, improvement of internal communication channels to be carried out by the safety managers and officers.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. iii

CERTIFICATION................................................................................................................ iv

DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................... v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. vi

ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................viii

LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................xiii

LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................ xiv

APPENDICES..................................................................................................................... xv

List of Plates........................................................................................................................ xv

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUTION ................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background to the Study ............................................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem............................................................................. 3

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study................................................................................. 8

1.4 Justification of the Study ............................................................................................. 9

1.5 Significance of the Study........................................................................................... 10

1.6 Scope and Delimitation of the Study......................................................................... 10

1.7 Definitions of the Key Terms .................................................................................... 11

1.7.1 Health.................................................................................................................. 11

1.7.2 Safety .................................................................................................................. 11

1.7.3 Hazard ................................................................................................................. 12

1.7.4 Risk ..................................................................................................................... 12

1.7.5 Accident and Injury............................................................................................. 12

1.7.6 Risk Assessment ................................................................................................. 13

1.7.7 Risk Communication .......................................................................................... 13

1.7.8 Risk Control ........................................................................................................ 14

1.7.9 Risk management................................................................................................ 14

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1.7.10 Risk Matrix ....................................................................................................... 14

1.7.11 Housekeeping.................................................................................................... 14

1.7.12 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) .............................................................. 15

CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................. 15

CONCEPTUALFRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW..................................... 15

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 15

2.1 Conceptual Framework.............................................................................................. 16

2.1.1 Institutional System ............................................................................................ 18

2.1.2 Organizational System........................................................................................ 18

2.1.3 Individual System ............................................................................................... 19

2.1.4 Work Environment System................................................................................. 19

2.2 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 20

2.2.1 Risks in Construction Sites ................................................................................. 20

2.3 Risk Management in Construction Sites ................................................................... 21

2.3.1 Consultation and Communication....................................................................... 26

2.3.2 Context Analysis................................................................................................. 27

2.3.3 Risk Identification............................................................................................... 27

2.3.4 Risk Assessment/Analysis .................................................................................. 30

2.3.5 Risk Responses ................................................................................................... 34

2.3.6 Risk Control ........................................................................................................ 35

2.4 Global Picture of Health and Safety Hazard on Construction Sites .......................... 38

2.5 Types of Health and Safety Hazards on Construction Sites...................................... 40

2.5.1 Slips and Trips .................................................................................................... 40

2.5.2 Height.................................................................................................................. 41

2.5.3 Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Transport ..................................................... 42

2.5.4 Fire ...................................................................................................................... 42

2.5.5 Electricity............................................................................................................ 43

2.5.6 Noise ................................................................................................................... 43

2.5.7 Manual Handling ................................................................................................ 44

2.5.8 Dust ..................................................................................................................... 44

2.5.9 Chemicals Substances......................................................................................... 45

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2.5.10 Aggression, Violence and Bullying .................................................................. 45

2.6 Causes of Accidents and Ill-Health Problems on Construction Sites........................ 46

2.7 Institutional and Legal Framework for Occupational Health and Safety in Nigeria. 48

2.8 Occupational Health and Safety Legislation in Nigeria ............................................ 49

2.8.1 Historical Perspective ......................................................................................... 49

2.9 National Building Code ............................................................................................. 50

CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................................. 51

MATERIALS AND METHODS........................................................................................ 51

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 51

3.1 Description of the Study Area ................................................................................... 51

3.1.1 Location .............................................................................................................. 51

3.1.2 Climate................................................................................................................ 53

3.1.3 Physiography and Geology of the Study Area.................................................... 54

3.1.4 Population ........................................................................................................... 54

3.2 Methodology.............................................................................................................. 56

3.2.1 Reconnaissance Survey....................................................................................... 56

3.2.2 Types of Data ................................................................................................ 56

3.2.3 Sources of Data ................................................................................................... 57

3.2.4 Validity of Instrument ................................................................................... 58

3.2.5 Population Size ................................................................................................... 59

3.2.6 Sampling Technique ........................................................................................... 60

3.2.7 Data Collection Techniques................................................................................ 61

3.2.8 Method of Data Analysis .................................................................................... 64

CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................... 67

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................................... 67

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 67

4.1 Social-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents.......................................... 67

4.2 Knowledge of Health and Safety Risks on Construction Sites ................................. 71

4.3 Risk and Hazards as Determinants of Safety at Construction Sites .......................... 72

4.4 Factors Responsible for Occurrence of Risks and Hazards at the Construction Site.74

4.5 Factors that Influence the Current Housekeeping Practices...................................... 75

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4.6 Risk Perceptions ........................................................................................................ 76

4.7 The Extent to which Housekeeping Practices in the Construction Sites Meets the Safety Standard of the National Regulation .................................................................... 78

4.8 Cross-Case Analysis of the Study Area..................................................................... 79

4.9 Discussion of the Findings ........................................................................................ 83

4.9.1 Discussion on Hazards and Risks as determinants at Construction Sites in Abuja 83

4.9.2 Discussion on Factors Responsible for the Types of Hazards and Risks at the Construction Sites in Abuja ......................................................................................... 83

4.9.3 Assess the Current Housekeeping Practice of Risk Assessment, Communication and Control at the Construction Sites in Abuja. .......................................................... 84

4.10.4The Factors that Influence the Current Housekeeping Practices of Risk Assessment, Risk Communication and Risk Control at the Construction Sites in the Study Area. .................................................................................................................. 91

4.9.5 Compare the Extent to which Housekeeping Practices in the Construction Sites Meet the Safety Standard of the National Regulation ................................................. 98

CHAPTER FIVE............................................................................................................... 100

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ......................................... 100

5.1 Summary.................................................................................................................. 100

5.2 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 100

5.3 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 102

5.4 Limitation of the Study............................................................................................ 103

5.5 Suggested Area for Further Study ........................................................................... 104

REFERENCES.................................................................................................................. 105

APPENDICES................................................................................................................... 119

Plates 119

Questionnaire survey ..................................................................................................... 123