Authors :
Gbenga Fayose; Dr Kukoyi Patricia; Love David Adewale; Ibrahim Iyiola Salami; Abdultawab Ademola Aderibigbe; Emmanuel Damilare Ogundare
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 12 - December
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/5eakxeay
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/yc32w48y
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14533492
Abstract :
Purpose-
The research project is an assessment of the health
and safety behavior of construction masons in Lagos state.
Health and safety is a safety risk mitigating mechanism
that must be implemented to ensure a hazard-free
construction work experience and increase productivity
in the construction industry. The construction masons
play an important and arguably the largest role in the
construction industry which makes them more accident-
prone than the other workforce in the industry. This
necessitates that the poor health and safety behavior of
construction masons be studied. This study aims to
ascertain the behavioral patterns of construction masons
towards health and safety so that there would be an
awareness of the essence of health and safety practices on
the construction site.
Research Methodology-
With regards to this, 113 construction professionals
who work along with the masons in Lagos state were
selected and issued well- structured questionnaires to get
responses on the health and safety behavior of
construction masons in Lagos state along with focus-
group-based interviews of construction masons. The
derived data was analyzed through the use of descriptive
and analytical scientific methods (frequencies, mean, and
percentages).
Findings-
The research study revealed that many of the
construction professionals coupled with the construction
workers (masons) are aware of the necessity of the
implementation of the health and safety concepts in the
construction industry. Also, many of the respondents
agreed that dust and fumes from cement and falling
objects are the commonest hazards faced by construction
masons. In addition to that, it was observed that lack of
adoption of safety measures by construction
organizations, ignorance about the importance of safety,
and overconfidence on the part of the workers are the
major factors contributing to poor safety behaviors
among workers.
Limitation-
Some important limitations encountered in the
course of this research are averseness of organizations to
disclose relevant safety information and lack of adequate
records of safety issues in Nigeria.
Recommendation-
In line with this, the research recommends that there
should be adequate delivery of safety equipment to
construction sites, adequate safety supervision, adequate
site safety meetings, and functional health and safety laws
in the state.
Social Implications/Value-
This research has been able to contribute to the body
of knowledge by evaluating the level of safety awareness
of construction professionals, identifying the common
hazards among construction professionals, unearthing
the factors discouraging good safety behavior among
masons, and identifying the factors that can promote a
good safety behavior among masons to develop a more
effective construction industry.
Keywords :
Accidents, Awareness, Behavior, Construction Masons, Construction Site, Hazard And Health And Safety.
References :
- A, A., Umanah, I. I., Adewale, A. K., & Egege, C. C. (2018). Analytical Study of Casualtiesin The Construction Industry in Nigeria With a View to Provide Remedial Measures: ACase Study of Lagos State. International Journal of Engineering Research and Advanced Technology.
- Abrams, H. K. (2001). A Short History of Occupational Health. Journal of Public Health Policy, Vol. 22.
- Alli, B. O. (2008). Fundamental Principles of Occupational Health and Safety. Geneva: International Labour Office.
- Arijeloye, T. B., & Ijieh, T. (November, 2020). Assessment of Health and Safety Tools Used on Construction Projects in Lagos State, Nigeria. Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors: 5TH Research Conference- NIQS RECON5-9th-10th nOVEMBER, 2020. NIQS.
- BCF GROUP. (2020). Retrieved from History of Health and Safety in The Workplace: https://www.thebcfgroup.co.uk/health-and-safety-pages/history-health-safety-workplace.php#:~:text=The%20first%20real%20beginnings%20of,being%20suffered%20at%20the%20time.
- BSC. (2014). The Business Benefits of Health and Safety.
- Coppee, G. H. (2012, April 10). ILO. Retrieved from Occupational Health Services and Practice: www.ilo.org
- Diugwu, I. A., Dorothy Li Baba, & Egila, A. E. (2012). Effective Regulation and Level of Awareness: An Expose of The Nigeria's Construction Industry. Open Journal of Safety, Science and Technology, 140-146.
- Faremi, O., Adenuga, O., John, B., & Adetayo, O. (2016). Workmen Health and Safety on Indigenous Construction Contractors Sites in Lagos State. International Conferenceon Infrastructural Development in Africa.
- Florez, L., & Castro, D. (2014). Labor Management in Masonry Construction: A Sustainable Approach. The 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction and Mining.
- HSE. (2006). Health and Safety in Construction. Crown.
- Ikechukwu, O. E. (2020). Causes of Accidents and Benefits of Safety to Local Masons in Wukari, Abuja, Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Engineering, Sciencesand Applications, 19-23. Construction Research Journal Volume X, Issue Y; Month, 20xx
- ILO. (2016). Nigeria Country Profile on Occupational Safety and Health. Abuja.
- Isah, H. (2019). Health and Safety Issues in The Nigerian Construction Industries/Prevention And Mitigation. 4th International Conference on Rebuilding Place.
- Kiganda, A. (2021, August 2). Construction Review. Retrieved from Construction Related Accidents in Africa-Where Do The Risks Lie?: https://constructionreviewonline.com/management/construction-related-accidents-in- africa-where-do-the-risks-lie/
- Koko, D. N., Tsedo, T. Y., Abdullahi, N. A., Yakubu, D. N., & Aguwa, J. J. (2018). Analysis of Safety Performance in Nigerian Construction Industry. Nigeria Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
- Leppink, N. (2015). Socio-economic costs of work-related injuries and illnesses: Building Synergies between Occupational Safety and Health and Productivity. INAIL. Bologna: ILO.
- Manpower, M. o. (2022). Work Place Safety and Health Report. Singapore: Ministry of Manpower Services Center.
- Mba, O. A., & Hildah, E. O. (2014). Fatalities in The Nigerian Construction Industry: A Case of Poor Safety Culture. British Journal of Economics, Management and Trade, 431- 452.
- Nayanthara, D., & Mangala, N. (2013). A Study on The Factors Affecting Safety Behaviourof Construction Workers. 7th FARU International Symposium.
- Nweke, K. I., & Nouban, F. (2020). Enforcement and Education of Health and Safety in The Construction Industry in Nigeria. Academic Research International, December.
- Okoye, P. U., Ezeokonkwo, J. U., & Ezeokoli, F. O. (2016). Building Construction Workers' Health and Safety Knowledge and Compliance on Site. Journal of Safety Engineering, 17-26.
- Statista. (2021). Retrieved from Number of Work-Related Deaths in The Construction Industry in The United States: https://www.statista.com/statistics/525799/number-of- work-related-deaths-in-construction-us/
- Subha, T., Sathya, M., & Prakash, A. (2018). A Study on Occupational Hazards among Construction Workers with Special Reference to Coimbatore City. International Journal of Research in Engineering, IT and Social Sciences., 27-33.
- Construction Research Journal Volume X, Issue Y; Month, 20xx
- The Safety Maintenance Company. (2023). Retrieved from Why Health and Safety is Important in The Construction Industry: https://www.thesmcl.co.uk/why-health-safety-is-important-in-the-construction- industry/#:~:text=Health%20%26%20safety%20measures%20protect%20the%20wor kforce&text=Injuries%20and%20fatalities%20typically%20occur,machinery%2C%2 0or%20during%20an%20excavation.
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Purpose-
The research project is an assessment of the health
and safety behavior of construction masons in Lagos state.
Health and safety is a safety risk mitigating mechanism
that must be implemented to ensure a hazard-free
construction work experience and increase productivity
in the construction industry. The construction masons
play an important and arguably the largest role in the
construction industry which makes them more accident-
prone than the other workforce in the industry. This
necessitates that the poor health and safety behavior of
construction masons be studied. This study aims to
ascertain the behavioral patterns of construction masons
towards health and safety so that there would be an
awareness of the essence of health and safety practices on
the construction site.
Research Methodology-
With regards to this, 113 construction professionals
who work along with the masons in Lagos state were
selected and issued well- structured questionnaires to get
responses on the health and safety behavior of
construction masons in Lagos state along with focus-
group-based interviews of construction masons. The
derived data was analyzed through the use of descriptive
and analytical scientific methods (frequencies, mean, and
percentages).
Findings-
The research study revealed that many of the
construction professionals coupled with the construction
workers (masons) are aware of the necessity of the
implementation of the health and safety concepts in the
construction industry. Also, many of the respondents
agreed that dust and fumes from cement and falling
objects are the commonest hazards faced by construction
masons. In addition to that, it was observed that lack of
adoption of safety measures by construction
organizations, ignorance about the importance of safety,
and overconfidence on the part of the workers are the
major factors contributing to poor safety behaviors
among workers.
Limitation-
Some important limitations encountered in the
course of this research are averseness of organizations to
disclose relevant safety information and lack of adequate
records of safety issues in Nigeria.
Recommendation-
In line with this, the research recommends that there
should be adequate delivery of safety equipment to
construction sites, adequate safety supervision, adequate
site safety meetings, and functional health and safety laws
in the state.
Social Implications/Value-
This research has been able to contribute to the body
of knowledge by evaluating the level of safety awareness
of construction professionals, identifying the common
hazards among construction professionals, unearthing
the factors discouraging good safety behavior among
masons, and identifying the factors that can promote a
good safety behavior among masons to develop a more
effective construction industry.
Keywords :
Accidents, Awareness, Behavior, Construction Masons, Construction Site, Hazard And Health And Safety.