Evaluation of Construction Site Accidents Recorded in Minna Metropolis

Abstract

The rate of injuries and illnesses recorded in the construction industry show that the industry is one of high-risk hazardous occupation. Studies also show that every year, new storey buildings are added to Minna Metropolis, necessitating the use of more workers and machines which makes the risk of accidents higher. The study evaluated the rate of occurrence of building construction related accidents in Minna Metropolis. Quantitative data on construction sites accidents for a period of 11 years (2010-2020) were obtained from the records at Forensic Pathology Unit of Minna General Hospital. A survey research approach was adopted and 24 copies of well-structured questionnaires were administered to project managers of 24 purposively selected construction sites about the clients’ willingness to implement effective safety measures on site. The analyses of data were undertaken using frequency counts, percentage and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. The result of the correlation analysis shows a weak, positive and significant relationship between client’s willingness to implement construction site safety standards and site safety management system (p = 0.01; r = 0.219). Therefore, it was concluded that as the number of construction activities increases, the rate of construction site accidents also increases, and the increasing rate of accidents could be tied to low level of willingness of clients to embrace and implement effective safety standards on their projects. It was thus recommended that the adoption and implementation of safety-conscious contractors supported by experienced and trained employees should form part of contract conditions.