Contractors Awareness On Occupational Safety And Health Management System In Construction Industry

Project and Seminar Material for Building Technology BT

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess contractors awareness on occupational safety and health management system in construction industry. The study was specifically carried out to ascertain contractors’ level of awareness of the occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site, find out contractors’ level of knowledge on the components of the occupational safety and health management training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among workers, find out contractors’ level of knowledge on the problems affecting the implementation of occupational safety and health management in the construction industry, and ascertain contractors’ level of knowledge on the strategies for promoting effective occupational safety and health management in the construction industry. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprise of members of the Association Of Nigeria Construction Companies (ANCC), Lagos State. In determining the sample size, the researcher purposefully selected 148 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables, and mean scores. While the hypotheses were tested using chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the level of awareness of occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site among contractors is high.The study also revealed that contractors has adequate knowledge on the components of the H&S training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among construction workers.Therefore, it is recommended that government should promulgate OHS policies and establish the Department of Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) with the strong terms of punishment for those who make safety violation. The stakeholders of the construction sector also shall design and commence systems to increase the awareness of all the actors of the industry. To mention but a few.

Table of Content

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Limitation of the Study
1.9 Definition of Terms
1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample Size Determination
3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure
3.5 Research Instrument and Administration
3.6 Method of Data Collection
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
3.8 Validity of the Study
3.9 Reliability of the Study
3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation
4.2 Analysis of Data
4.3 Answering Research Questions
4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
REFERENCES
QUESTIONNAIRE

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background Study

Construction industry is one of industrial exposure towards hazard and accidents which keep occurring from time to time. While the construction site is one of the most dangerous workplace and extremely high risk of working environment and potential occupational hazards. Nature and characteristic of construction which involved complex and lengthy process, huge cost expenditure and very risky, thus construction site is always exposed to the accident. Caused of accident in construction site and workplace are influenced by various factors. Awareness rate on the application of safety and health management system and behaviour of construction workers are the key reasons for occurrence of accidents. Thus, to reduce the accidents rate, an exclusive analysis should be considered as a key factor of safety in construction. It is expected with the help of safety culture and awareness of the contractor pursuant to the safety and health (OSH) management system that the number of accidents cases in workplace could be diminish significantly. To focus on reducing the number of accidents, the causes of accidents needs to be thoroughly investigated and analysed.

Abdul Rahim Abdul Hamid, (2008) observed that most of the causes of damages occurring in construction sites were caused by human factors, workers ‘ incompetence, workers ‘ lack of job practices, high-rise jobs, running machinery without safety equipment, poor site administration, hard work, inadequate knowledge and skills of employees, inability to use personal protective equipment and poor employee attitude.

Compared to previous master plan, main strategy setup under OSHMP is the inculcation of a corporate protective philosophy. This definition is intended to put high emphasis on understanding, accountability and engagement among employers and employees in terms to workers ‘ rights with respect to OSH, promoting employee participation in OSH operations, improving OSH knowledge and skills, as well as competent OSH management focused on successful risk management. The desired result is that the workforce in this country is turned into a safe and healthy atmosphere.

Nearly all workplace accidents can be avoided by interventions such as reinforced safety procedures, safety drill, increased monitoring in preparation and infrastructure, education, and coordination between industry stakeholders. For construction workers, these actions would focus on high-risk areas (Baxendale & Jones, 2000). However, efforts to raise consciousness among workers, staffs and public of the requirement for a healthy and health-free workplace need concerted measures and the participation of many parties (Ahmad, 2008). Good protection can only be accomplished if the relationship between technical devices and humans is properly managed. Workplace accidents happen because, according to their definition, the “people” components appear to indulge in safe and unsafe conduct. The primary enthusiasm of the safety culture is to understand that workers ‘ attitudes and behaviors are essential to safe working conduct. (Başağa, Temel, Atasoy, & Yıldırım, 2018).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The construction industry is an important sector of any national economy. Besides that, awareness of contractors on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management systems also one of important things to be consider to make sure all ofprojects can be done successful without any problems such as accidents and injuries at construction site.
The lack of awareness of contractors on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management systems in construction may contribute to the accident at construction site. Many of the injuries at the workplace are a direct result of the attitude and actions of the individual themselves (Hassan A. et. al., 2009). Besides that, the high rates of injury are primarily due to inadequate or non-existence of an OSH management systems. Many occupational accidents and injuries are due to a breakdown in the existing OSH management system (Ahmadon Bakri et. al., 2006).

Awareness of contractors on OHS management systems in construction industry still in unsatisfactory record. It is because the OSH management system is a neglected area and a function that has not been pursued systematically in the construction industry (Ahmadon Bakri et. al, 2006). Furthermore, the most critical hazards on construction sites are lack of safety-forward attitudes, a lack of awareness of safety regulations, poor safety awareness of projects managers and a lack of knowledge (Samaneh Zolfagharian et. al., 2011).

Innocent Musonda, (2008) Stated that awareness level of safety and health is low where legislation is not complied with the management of contractors is not committed to safety and health implementation. This is a lack of OSH management procedures and protocol, in addition the client and designers also not committed in these contexts.
Due to the above problems, this research will be done to study the level of awareness of contractors on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management systems in construction industry. Many occupational health and safety professionals believe that the application of effective occupational health and safety management systems will lead to a better OHS performance (John Lin et. al., 2001).

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to assessing contractors awareness on occupational safety and health management system in construction industry.

The study has the following specific objectives.

Ascertain contractors’ level of awareness of the occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site.
Find out contractors’ level of knowledge on the components of the occupational safety and health management training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among workers.
Find out contractors’ level of knowledge on the problems affecting the implementation of occupational safety and health management in the construction industry.
Ascertain contractors’ level of knowledge on the strategies for promoting effective occupational safety and health management in the construction industry.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions were formulated to guide the study based on the research objectives;

What is the level of awareness of occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site among contractors.
What is the knowledge of contractors on the components of the H&S training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among construction workers?
What is the knowledge of contractors on the problems affecting the implementation of occupational safety and health management in the construction industry?
What is the knowledge of contractors on the strategies for promoting effective occupational safety and health management in the construction industry?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: The level of awareness of occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site among contractors is low.

Ha: The level of awareness of occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site among contractors is high.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will provide an overview to understand the concept of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management systems in construction site. Besides that, this research will also determine the level of awareness of contractors on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management systems. Overall, the safety and health awareness can be improved among the contractors which involved in civil engineering projects. The contractors are compulsory required to comply with contract specific OSH requirements. OSH is likely to be improved if contractors are committed to ensuring that their workers use the safety equipment namely management commitment. In relation to the problems that have been encountered in safety practices at construction site, at the end this study it is expected to summarized the most possible strategies that can be promote to tackle issues and challenges faced during implementation of OHSMS in construction sites. As a result, the implementation of safety practices should be treats as important issues in construction industry. So that the objective of the safety department to achieve zero death accident including eliminate accident can be achieved.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study borders on assessing contractors awareness on occupational safety and health management system in construction industry. The study will by extension assess contractors’ level of awareness of the occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site, find out contractors’ level of awareness on the components of the occupational safety and health management training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among workers, find out contractors’ level of awareness on the problems affecting the implementation of occupational safety and health management in the construction industry, and ascertain contractors’ level of awareness on the strategies for promoting effective occupational safety and health management in the construction industry. The respondents for this study will be obtained from Association Of Nigeria Construction Companies (ANCC), Lagos, Nigeria.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

This research project, like all human endeavors, had some challenges that threatened to derail the study’s completion. One of the reasons is that the time allotted for this work was so limited that the researcher did not have enough time to complete the task thoroughly. During data collection, the researcher also had to put forth extra effort to understand the respondents’ interview schedules, several of whom fell into the incomprehensible age group. Also, there were financial and transportation constraints to deal with. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, interview).

1.9 Definition of Terms

Safety:

This is a state of being safe and protected against.

Management:

It is the discipline of planning co-coordinating, organizing, controlling, leading, forecasting, securing and managing resources to being about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives.

Occupational Safety and Health:

Occupational safety and health, also commonly referred to as occupational health and safety, occupational health, or occupational safety, is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work.

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on contractors awareness on occupational safety and health management system in construction industry. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was on assess contractors awareness on occupational safety and health management system in construction industry. The study is was specifically carried out to ascertain contractors’ level of awareness of the occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site, find out contractors’ level of knowledge on the components of the occupational safety and health management training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among workers, find out contractors’ level of knowledge on the problems affecting the implementation of occupational safety and health management in the construction industry, and ascertain contractors’ level of knowledge on the strategies for promoting effective occupational safety and health management in the construction industry.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 141 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent were members of the Association Of Nigeria Construction Companies (ANCC), Lagos State.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that;

The level of awareness of occupational safety and health management practices required in a construction site among contractors is high.
Contractors has adequate knowledge on the components of the H&S training practices capable of enhancing safety awareness among construction workers.
Contractors has adequately aware of the problems affecting the implementation of occupational safety and health management in the construction industry.
The knowledge of contractors on the strategies for promoting effective occupational safety and health management in the construction industry include; supervision, health and safety warning signs, risk management, effective communication, safety incentives, and proper equipment.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

Government should promulgate OHS policies and establish the Department of Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) with the strong terms of punishment for those who make safety violation. The stakeholders of the construction sector also shall design and commence systems to increase the awareness of all the actors of the industry.
The country has should have legal frameworks for compulsory insurance systems for occupational injuries. Due attention has to be given to employment injury benefits.
Consultants shall give advice to clients and contractors on the importance of OSH management. They also need to include the subject of health and safety during bid document preparation.
Strict inspection of scaffolding installation and working platforms shall be made to minimize the risk of falls from heights. Design of scaffoldings shall be compulsory. The use of eucalyptus poles for scaffolding shall be avoided, especially for high rise buildings.
The government shall monitor the safety performance of construction sites during the entire construction period. The number of labor inspectors has to be proportional to the extent of the OSH related problems in the country. Moreover; there should be a unified labor inspection system.
The poor safety culture of the construction site workers has to be improved by conducting OSH trainings immediately as they are hired to work in construction sites. The workers need to be provided with appropriate PPE with equivalent trainings how to use the equipments.