Abstract
Construction worksite health and safety in Nigeria has remained a source of concern despite several efforts to addressing the issues. This study therefore examined the perceived level of influence of components of human environment on the construction workers' health and safety behaviour, based on social ecological and social cognitive theories. Data collected through questionnaires and distributed to the construction workers were statistically analysed. The Mean Score Index and standard deviation, and ANOVA of the weighted responses were computed to ascertain the level and significance of influence of components of human environment on the health and safety behaviour of construction workers. On the average, it was found that the perceived level of influence of components of human environment on the health and safety behaviour of construction workers was very high and significant. Individually, Organisational norms (4.8652), National, state and local laws (4.8539), Ethos (4.7266), Work environment (4.6742) and Culture characteristics (4.6067) were found to be the five most influential human environment variables that affect health and safety behaviours of construction workers, while public policy components (4.4095) exert the greatest influence on health and safety behaviours of construction workers when the variables are grouped. This implies that work environment as part of organisation psychology is indispensable in shaping the behavioural pattern of construction workers. Thus, to improve construction workplace health and safety, workers' human environment and personal attributes need to be assessed before engagement.
Highlights
The construction work environment has been recognised as one of the most hazardous workplaces due to the unique nature of construction products, and complexity of its process in addition to the gamut of network of people working in it
All identified components are very influential in shaping the health and safety behaviours of construction workers in the construction work environment, the result of the average mean score indicates that public policy components are the most influential components, followed by the individual components and the organisational components
The fact that the components of human environment have influence on the health and safety behaviours of construction workers requires that such components need to be considered and evaluated before a worker is engaged to work at site so as to prevent accidents which might occur as a result of unsafe acts which invariability could undermine the success of the project
Summary
The construction work environment has been recognised as one of the most hazardous workplaces due to the unique nature of construction products, and complexity of its process in addition to the gamut of network of people working in it. The construction work environment is complex, dynamic and challenging, it comprises a diverse mix of races, socio-economic groups and cultures interfacing and interrelating at all times, which make it to be accident prone. The interaction of components of human environment with construction workplace makes the industry more complex. The physical and social environments at which the industry operates are highly unpredictable. Okoye and Okolie [3] observe that workers at construction sites have to face constant changes in the nature of work, work environment, and work with new workers and new technology
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
