Description
ABSTRACT
Given the hazardous nature of the construction industry world over, the need for an effective safetymanagement system which aims at forestalling the risks and hazards inherent on site has been reiterated byrecent studies and applicable laws. Studies however show that level of effectiveness differs from country tocountry; industry to industry and from company to company. This study therefore undertakes both qualitativeand quantitative investigation into the safety management system of a Nigeria-based construction company inAbuja. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for data collection. The mean score method wasused to analyse the most hazardous work items in building construction projects, resultrevealedthatliftinstallation,electricalwork,roofwork,andsteelstructure,withmeanscoresof4.03,4.00,3.40,and3.80,respectivelyweretheriskiestworkitems.Theriskprioritizationnumber were used to analyse safety risk assessment, result revealed that the highest mediumrisk level was installation of electrical work, roof work, and installation of lift, with averagerisk scores of 11.48, 11.01, and 10.74, respectively. It was concluded that most buildingconstructionactivitiesinAbujaaredeemedtobeofmediumrisk;nonetheless,employeesarestill at risk of injury and accidents on sites that are tolerable. It is recommended that allconstruction safety plans include an acceptable risk assessment technique, with proper riskidentificationandprioritizationbeingarequirementfor effectiveriskmanagementandcontrol.Itisexpectedthatstakeholderunderstandingoftheconstructionsectorwillextendinterms of identifying work items with high or low severity or frequency of risk, henceimproving constructionsafety.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWELDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
- PROBLEM STATEMENT
- AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY
- LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
- CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF THE STUDY
- THEORITICAL REVIEW OF THE STUDY
- RISKMANAGEMENTPROCESS
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
- RESEARCH DESIGN
- POPULATION OF THE STUDY
- SAMPLE AND SAMPLING METHOD
- METHODOFDATA COLLECTION
- DATAANALYSIS
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 RESULTS ANDDISCUSSION
CHAPTER FIVE
- CONCLUSION
- RECOMMENDATION
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Oneofthesignificantvitalfactorsinacountry’sdevelopmentistheconstructionindustry.Thisisbecausetheprovisionofinfrastructuresandamenitiesneededforthegrowthofthecountrycannotbe established without the industry (Yimam, 2011). Despite the benefit of the industry, it is ladenwithriskswhencomparedtootherprojectsduetotheverynatureoftheactivitiesthatareinvolvedin construction projects. Fadun and Saka (2018), posited that a risk is an unforeseeneventthat preventsthecompletionofaconstruction projectat thestipulatedtimeand cost.
According to Mahamid, (2013), two significant factors have always attracted attention in theconstructionindustry;thesetwoaretimeandcostoverrunshenceprojectscompletedwith significant overruns has been linked to the construction industry (Abdul-Rhaman et al., 2015).AbderisakandLindahl,(2015),reportedthattheinitialbudgetsofmanyconstructionprojectshadbeen exceeded with an increase in the cost up to the range of 50 -100% and sometimes beyond100%insomecases.The inabilitytoachievethedesiredobjectivesoftheconstructionprojects isusually the aftermath of the occurrence of risks in construction works. Delays, cost overruns andashortfall in qualityarethemostexperienced adverseeffectsof risk inconstruction projects.
The importance of providing safe workplace has been reiterated by various related studies because oftheintrinsichazardandriskfactorsthatundoubtedlyunderlieeveryworksituationandtheirnegativeimpactona company’s overall performance. While riskis the chance or probability that a person will be harmed orexperience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard, hazard on the other hand refers to the situation orsource (which could be biological, chemical, physical or ergonomic) of potential damage to somebody, propertyor equipment. It is believed that some industries are more hazardous that some others. The construction industryworld over, is however considered as one of the most hazardous industry. The International Training Centre oftheInternationalLabourOrganisation(2011)claimsthatoneinsixfatalaccidentsatworkoccuronaconstruction site. It further stated that no less than 60,000 fatal accidents occur on construction sites around theworld everyyear.
The fact that a construction job or work environment is considered as highly risky and hazardous doesnot mean that its susceptibility to accident is not controllable – this largely depends on “work situation” which ishumanly controllable. Safety records in the same construction industry in most advanced countries have proventhis to be true according to Idoro (2018)
The main rationale behind construction risk management is not the total elimination of the risksthat occur but having proper control over the whole risks (Dallas, 2016). Risk management in theNigerianconstructionindustryisstillintheinfancyphasewhichisunlikethedevelopedcountries (Odusamietal.,2012).HarmonisingthethoughtsofOdeyinkaetal.,2017),theNigerianconstruction industry is known for cost overruns, subsequent delays and project abandonment.Consequently,thisstudyseekstoappraisethepresentlevelofriskmanagementpracticeinNigeria.The findings of Odusamiet al., (2012) & Fadun and Saka (2018) also suggest that it is expedientto assess the factors responsible for the present state of risk management practice in the Nigerianconstructionindustry.ThereforethisstudyaimstoevaluatethepracticeadoptedformanagingriskintheNigeriaconstruction industry.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The nature of building projects has exposedworkerstomultipledangersandsafetyrisks, potentially leading to a high rate ofoccupational mishaps, injury, and death onjob sites (Abas et al., 2020). Workers onconstruction sites engage in a wide range ofactivities,eachofwhichcomeswithitsownset of risks. As a result, they are exposed todangerssuchasphysical,psychological,biological,andchemicaldangers(Mershaetal.,2017).AccordingtotheCensusofFatalOccupationalInjuries(CFOI,2017),avarietyoffactorscanputconstructionworkers at risk for occupational injury duetomultipleoperatives’activitiesonconstruction sites that can lead to injuriesanddeath,suchasconstructing,assembling, dismantling, and repairing. Because of thelabour-intensive nature of the constructionprocess, it has a significant level of risk. Atthe same time, occupational accidents costtheconstructionsectoralotofmoney.Occupational accidents cause major socialand economic problems for workers as aresultof bodilyinjuriesand death.
AccordingtotheInternationalLabourOrganization (ILO, 2012) the constructionindustry accounts for 25 to 40 percent of alloccupationalfatalitiesworldwide.AccordingtotheILO,60,000fataloccurrencesoccuryearlyonconstructionsites worldwide, and a worker dies in anoccupationalaccidentevery10minutes(Park et al., 2020). According to a 2016reportfromtheBureauofLabourStatistics (BLS),theconstructionbusinesshadamortality rate of 10.1 fatalities per 100,000workers,whichwashigherthanotherindustriessuchasforestry(0.91),transportation(0.75),andfishing(0.24deaths per 100,000 workers). In 2016, theconstructionindustrywasresponsiblefor19percentofallindustrialdeathsintheUnitedStates, and it was also discovered to have ahigherfatalityratethanotherindustriesaroundtheworld(Chanetal.,2018).AccordingtotheHealthandSafetyExecutive (2017), the construction industryintheUnitedKingdomhasadeathrateof 1.37fatalitiesper100,000workers,whichismorethanthreetimeshigherthanthenational average. The yearly occupationalfatalityrateinNigeria,accordingtoHamalainenetal.(2009),is24fatalitiesper100,000employees.Thesituationindeveloping countries like Nigeria is muchworse than it is in developed countries likethe United States. Abubakar et al. (2015)further revealed that work-related fatalitiesareontheincrease inNigeria.
Work-relatedinjuriesposemajorpublichealthanddevelopmentchallenges,withserioushealth,social,andeconomicconsequencesforworkersandtheiremployers(Tolera,2016).Inthedevelopingnationssafetyissuesreceiveinadequate attention and provision, this isowingtocost,lackofenforcementofhealthandsafetyrulesandignoranceofthestakeholders (Idoro, 2011).Windapo(2014)furtherassertedthattherisks associated with construction activitiesthat have the greatest potential for causinginjuries on site are being overlooked. This study is proposed to assessthelevelofsafetyriskassociatedwithbuildingconstructionworkitemsinAbuja
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Theaim of the study is to assess the safety risklevel associated with specific work items inAbujaconstructionprojects.
The objectives of the study are;
- To examine the major causes of injury in construction companies.
- To examine the relationship between construction workers and work injuries.
- To make a recommendation on construction safety plans
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will provide a means of enlightening construction workers on how important is it to work safely and to make them know all the necessary safety measures.
This study will also be of immense benefit to students and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter.
Finally, the study shall make a recommendation on construction safety plans which include an acceptable risk assessment technique, with proper riskidentificationandprioritizationbeingarequirementfor effectiveriskmanagementandcontrol effectiveriskmanagementandcontrol.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this work covers assessthelevelofsafetyriskassociatedwithbuildingconstructionworkitemsinAbuja.Purposive sampling technique was adopted for data collection. The mean score method wasused to analyse the most hazardous work items in building construction projects.
1.6 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work
