Safety Practices and Knowledge of Construction Workers on Hazards Associated with Working on Road Construction Sites in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State

Rotifa Stella,Eguvbe Anthony Okeoghene

doi:10.12691/jpm-5-1-3

Abstract

Background: The construction industry is considered as one of the most hazardous industrial sectors in many parts of the world wherein the construction workers are more prone to accidents. Statistics maintained by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), illustrate that the Construction Industry has a consistently poor record on workers health, safety and welfare relative to other industries. The construction industry is faced with unique safety and health problems that require special attention especially in a developing country like Nigeria. There is little or no data available on morbidity and work- related injuries and associated factors among road construction workers, and in the academic circle, few studies have been conducted among road construction workers. Objectives: To assess safety practices and knowledge of construction workers on hazards associated with working on road construction sites. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done amongst all construction site workers and their supervisors involved in road construction that have spent at least 6momths on the job in Egor LGA, Edo State. A one stage cluster sampling technique was used to select the study population. Data were collected using a structure questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Majority of the respondents 204(94.9%) had good knowledge of road construction site hazards. Age and duration of employment was not found to statistically, significantly influence knowledge in this study. However, educational level and hours of work per week greater than 48 hours were both found to influence respondentsâ knowledge of road construction site hazards positively. Conclusion: The study showed that road construction workers in Egor local government area of Edo state had good knowledge of road construction site hazards, although their knowledge did not translate to regular use of their safety devices. The study shows obvious need for thorough orientation, training and education of construction site workers in Egor LGA.

Highlights

The construction industry is considered as one of the most hazardous industrial sectors in many parts of the world wherein the construction workers are more prone to accidents
Statistics maintained by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), illustrate that the Construction Industry has a consistently poor record on workers health, safety and welfare relative to other industries
The study was conducted in Egor, one of 3 local government areas that make up the metropolitan city of Benin, the capital of Edo state, Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

The construction industry is considered as one of the most hazardous industrial sectors in many parts of the world wherein the construction workers are more prone to accidents. Objectives: To assess safety practices and knowledge of construction workers on hazards associated with working on road construction sites. Conclusion: The study showed that road construction workers in Egor local government area of Edo state had good knowledge of road construction site hazards, their knowledge did not translate to regular use of their safety devices. The construction industry is the process of building It involves many other types of work aside from the building process, such as painting, landscaping, electrical supply, telecommunications, plastering, and paving. All these types of work make up one industry, but each of them involves different exposure and differing health hazards. There are structures that appear to fall into both categories – for instance, an airport involves extensive buildings, as well as civil engineering in the creation of the airfield proper and a dock may involve warehouse buildings, as well as excavation of the dock and erection of the dock walls [2]

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