Ghanaian Construction Industry Research Articles

Exploring the multidimensional challenges in integrating Design for Safety (DfS) in the Ghanaian construction industry

Exploring the multidimensional challenges in integrating Design for Safety (DfS) in the Ghanaian construction industry

Critical success factors for cost overrun minimization in public construction projects in developing countries: the case of Ghana

Purpose It is widely accepted that one criterion for determining if a construction project is successful is whether it is completed within the expected budget. There have been advancements in the management of building projects throughout time but cost overruns remain a key concern in the construction sector internationally, particularly in emerging economies such as Ghana. This study aims to answer the question, “What are the critical success factors (CSFs) that can assist reduce cost overruns in public sector infrastructure projects in the Ghanaian construction industry?” Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative survey method. The questionnaire was pre-tested by interviewing 15 contractors to ascertain the validity of the content. Factor analysis and multiple regression were adopted to analyze the data. Findings This study discovered that the critical factors that can reduce cost overruns in construction projects in Ghana are directly linked to five themes: early contractor involvement in the project planning stage, adequate funding, good project team relations, competent managers/supervisors and project participant incentives/bonuses. This study identifies indestructible, empirically measurable important success criteria for reducing cost overruns in public building projects in Ghana. Practical implications When well thought through from the project initiation stage to completion, these critical successes can also be used to deal with damaging economic effects such as allocative inefficiency of scarce resources, further delays, contractual disputes, claims and litigation, project failure and total abandonment. Originality/value The uniqueness of this research resides in the fact that it is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, a first-of-its-kind investigation of the CSFs for reducing cost overruns in public building projects in developing countries.

Key attributes of designers’ competencies for design-for-deconstruction implementation

Successfully integrating design for deconstruction (DfD) principles into the construction industry will require articulated design guides and designers’ competencies. This calls for understanding the attributes of designers’ competencies essential for effective DfD implementation. This study explored the attributes of designers’ competencies for DfD implementation in the Ghanaian construction industry. The study adopted an exploratory sequential mixed-design method with an initial qualitative data collection phase followed by a quantitative data collection phase. Responses from the qualitative phase (through interviews) were thematically analysed, while data obtained from the quantitative phase were analysed using mean scores and standard deviations, the normalised value test and the Mann–Whitney U test. The study identified ten attributes of designers’ competencies for DfD implementation. The four key competencies were identified as, in order of importance, proper expertise and motivation, designers’ knowledge of material quality and durability, strong understanding of construction and effective coordination of element and component dimensions. The results of this study shed light on a less explored aspect of competencies for DfD implementation in the construction sector, particularly in the global south. It provides fresh data and new insights into the attributes of designers’ competencies for DfD implementation.

Modelling the relationship between circular economy barriers and drivers for sustainable construction industry

Circular economy (CE) is an emerging concept in the construction industry that focuses on maintaining materials in a continuous cycle to maximize their value. Although previous studies have explored CE in different contexts, there is a lack of studies investigating the relationship between CE barriers and drivers in developing countries. To address this gap, this study aims to identify a list of barriers and drivers of CE adoption and investigate their relationship. The literature review classifies 21 barriers into four constructs, including market policy and technology-related, legal and institutional, supply chain-related, and product design and waste management barriers. Through a questionnaire-based survey with respondents mainly from the Ghanaian construction industry, the research uncovers the most critical barriers within each construct and identifies 13 out of 16 drivers to be critical for CE implementation. The relationship between CE barriers and drivers is found to be significant and substantial, as demonstrated by the path coefficient (β = 0.723) and the p-value (<0.05). This study's outcomes offer both theoretical and practical implications for academic and industry practitioners, empowering them to craft evidence-based strategies that facilitate successful CE adoption in developing nations.

Inquiry into channels of health and safety knowledge communication across the boundaries of the construction industry

Purpose Effective safety communication facilitates the sharing of relevant knowledge that helps to improve safety behaviours, such as superior hazard identification and compliance. This study aims to explore channels by which construction companies can effectively communicate health and safety (H&amp;S) among communities of their operations. Design/methodology/approach Based on a quantitative research approach, this study addressed the knowledge gap through a cross-sectional survey of 250 contractors (comprising 155 building and 95 road contractors) involved in various projects in the Ghanaian construction industry. These contractors were selected by using a stratified simple random sampling technique. Data obtained from the survey was analysed through descriptive (i.e. frequencies, mean and standard deviation) and inferential (i.e. exploratory factor analysis) statistical analyses. Findings The findings from the mean scores revealed that all the 12 communication channels identified in the literature, confirmed through piloting and examined by the respondents, were important channels through which construction companies can effectively communicate H&amp;S amongst communities of their operations. The exploratory factor analysis revealed a clustering of the 12 channels of communication into 5 components: “safety demonstration in the community”; “social media”; “mass media”; “community engagement”; and “opinion leaders”. Research limitations/implications This study offers construction project managers the means of managing one of the major stakeholders of a construction project (the community). It provides an actionable opportunity that can be leveraged strategically to integrate community members into projects to promote synergy and local content inclusion while gaining a peaceful atmosphere to achieve their project goals. Practical implications Practically, this study provides construction project managers with a means of managing one of the major stakeholders of a construction project (the community) and also demonstrates the integration of community members into projects to promote synergy and local content inclusion. This would give construction organisations a peaceful atmosphere to accomplish their project objectives. Social implications The social implication of this study is that the study offers society a means of creating safer Ghanaian communities by offering them the knowledge of identifying hazards and avoiding risky behaviours, creating a good safety atmosphere in these communities. Originality/value This study presents construction organisations with a unique opportunity to transfer and share novel external knowledge within a different social system (the community). It contributes to the state-of-the-art knowledge in H&amp;S communication by providing channels through which H&amp;S can be communicated in a developing country such as Ghana.

Exploring the contributions of circular business models towards the transition of green economy in the Ghanaian construction industry

PurposeIn recent times, both academics and industrialists have undertaken research into various areas of circular business models (CBM) in a bid to promote a green economy. Yet despite numerous studies conducted, the ensuing discourse contains scant information regarding the contributions of CBM towards the transition of green economy in the construction industry. This present study therefore aims to explore the contributions of CBM in the transition towards a green economy in the Ghanaian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review was first conducted to identify the contributions of CBM towards the transition towards a green economy. A quantitative research strategy was then adopted to collect primary questionnaire data from professionals with knowledge of CBM and the green economy from 104 participants for the study. The data gathered was analyzed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis viz. Principal component analysis.FindingsThe contributions of CBM towards the transition towards a green economy were found to be: value contributions (i.e. lower carbon footprint, lower emission of waste by the industry, value creation for clients, innovation in construction materials and methods, reduced maintenance cost, creation of energy efficient infrastructures, improved value proposition for firms, improved sustainability of the industry and reduced pressure on finite resource.); green contributions (i.e. recycling and reuse of construction waste, promotion of green building technology, increased potential for economic growth, increased resource efficiency and creation of green building market) and longevity contribution (i.e. increased life span of buildings). It was evident that CBM make significant contributions in the transition towards green economy and as such, policymakers and other stakeholders within the construction industry must adopt these models to maximize their green credentials and accrue inherent benefits associated with transitioning towards a green economy.Originality/valueThis paper presents a novel and comprehensive study that explores the contributions of CBM towards engendering a green economy. The study’s results provide construction industry stakeholders and policymakers with clear insight into the contributions of CBM towards the transition into a green economy. In practice, this study provides much needed guidance to support construction practitioners to transition towards a green economy in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Examining the barriers to implementing design for deconstruction in the construction industry of a developing country

Purpose Despite endeavors to alleviate construction and demolition waste and the indications that the process of deconstruction has the potential to steer waste reduction initiatives, there has not been a progressive increase in the adoption of Design for Deconstruction (DfD) in the global south, especially Ghana. This paper aims to identify and analyze the barriers to implementing DfD in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire survey was used to solicit the views of 240 design professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). The questionnaire was developed by reviewing pertinent literature and complemented with a pilot review. Data were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Findings The findings revealed ten (10) significant impediments to implementing DfD within the construction industries in developing economies. These impediments revolve around cost, legal matters, storage, incentive and design-related matters. Key among these barriers is “For recovered materials, there are little performance guarantees,” “The absence of strict regulations regarding design for deconstruction,” “Lack of a large market enough for components that have been recovered,” “The need for building codes that address how to design with reused materials” and “Lack of effective design for deconstruction tools.” Originality/value The results of this research shed light on a relatively unexplored area within the construction sector, particularly in a developing country like Ghana. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study contributes fresh and supplementary knowledge and perspectives regarding the challenges in implementing DfD practices.

Limitations of the conventional project delivery (CPD) approach in producing quality design documentation: insights from the Ghanaian construction industry

The selection of a project delivery method significantly impacts design documentation quality. Among various methods globally, the Conventional Project Delivery (CPD) is the most common but criticized for limitations. While previous studies criticize the CPD for causing project delays, compromised quality, and increased costs, there is a paucity of research on the specific limitations of this approach, particularly during the design phase. This study focuses on Ghana’s construction sector, aiming to identify CPD’s specific limitations particularly during design documentation. Using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, data was collected. IBM SPSS analysed questionnaire responses, while QSR Nvivo 12 Pro dissects interview data. Findings uncover CPD’s limitations: lack of designer coordination, insufficient commitment to objectives, prioritizing individual gains, and disregarding quality standards. Exposing these issues will drive a fundamental shift in the construction industry, fostering greater efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall success. This will significantly impact projects execution, leading to better outcomes.

Establishing the Economic Sustainability Criteria for Assessing Tenders in the Procurement of Building Works

As the global construction industry expands, it is imperative to prioritize economic sustainability due to the consequential effect on procurement practices. The procurement of building works, a pivotal phase in the realization of construction projects, requires a comprehensive framework to assess tenders that emphasise economic viability and align with sustainability principles. While traditional procurement processes primarily focus on cost considerations, the contemporary construction landscape necessitates a paradigm shift towards sustainable practices encompassing the economic dimension. Several studies have been conducted on public procurement and sustainability. Nevertheless, most of these studies focused on the environmental side of sustainability, leaving the social and economic dimensions unexplored. Hence, this study explores the sustainable economic criteria for assessing tenders in procuring building works. The study adopted the mixed research method; therefore, qualitative and quantitative data were employed in collecting the data for the study. The analysis deduced that the criteria for assessing the economic sustainability of tenders were categorized into management-related, technical, and commercial-related criteria, with the most significant variables being competitiveness, resource management skills, resource requirement assessment and profitability. The study’s findings can potentially influence the assessment tenders of construction firms for building works. Thus, it suggested that the management practices of the bidders must be thoroughly evaluated as it is a crucial factor in ensuring economic sustainability from the onset of the project processes. This study presents a novel to ascertain the criteria for assessing the sustainable economy of tenders in procuring building works in the Ghanaian Construction Industry. The results of this study can be a source of data to guide the evaluation of tenders in the construction industry in Ghana and other developing countries within the Sub-Saharan Region.

Drivers for design for deconstruction (DfD) implementation among design professionals

PurposeThe design for deconstruction (DfD) technique, a contemporaneous solution to demolition by optimizing disassembly activities to enable reuse, has recently emerged with several promises to promote the circular economy. However, little attention has been given to its implementation among design professionals, especially in the Global South. Therefore, this study aims to explore the drivers for DfD implementation among design professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a mixed research approach (explanatory sequential design) with an initial quantitative instrument phase, followed by a qualitative data collection phase. Data from the survey were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, one-sample t-Test, and normalization value (NV) test after a review of pertinent literature. These data were then validated through semistructured interviews with ten design professionals with in-depth knowledge of DfD.FindingsThe findings revealed that although all ten drivers are important, the eight key drivers for the DfD implementation were identified as, in order of importance, “Availability of computer software applications regarding DfD,” “Inclusion of DfD in the formal education of design professionals,” “Increasing public awareness of the concept of DfD,” “Organizing workshops/seminars for design professionals on the concept of DfD,” “Availability of DfD training,” “Regulation regarding DfD,” “Industry guidance regarding DfD” and “Establishing a market for salvaged construction components.”Originality/valueThis study's findings provide insights into an under-investigated topic in Ghana and offer new and additional information and insights into the current state-of-the-art on the factors that drive DfD implementation.

Prioritizing the principles of circular economy among built environment professionals

PurposeCircular economy (CE) is guided by principles, the key being the R-framework. All R-frameworks have a hierarchy. Although several studies have prioritized these principles, there is still an urgent call for country-specific prioritization. This study prioritized circular economy (CE) principles among Ghana's built environment (BE) professionals.Design/methodology/approachAn explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was adopted. Six principles of CE were identified through a review of related literature and incorporated into a questionnaire. In total, 162 questionnaire responses were received. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential analyses. The data were further validated via semi-structured interviews with eight interviewees of different professional backgrounds in the BE.FindingsThe findings revealed that BE professionals in Ghana highly perceived CE principles as important. The findings further revealed the order of prioritization of the CE principles as follows: (1) recycle, (2) reuse, (3) repair/remanufacture, (4) renewable energy usage, (5) redesign and (6) reduce. To further elaborate on these prioritized principles via the qualitative phase, the interviewees agreed to and confirmed the importance of the identified principles through their verbatim comments.Originality/valueAlthough there is a growing interest in research regarding CE in the Ghanaian construction industry, its principles have yet to be prioritized and ranked by professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry. This study unearths why, in terms of prioritization of the CE principles, the construction industry in Ghana does not follow the well-known hierarchy (i.e. reduce, reuse and recycle) in the order of high to low level of circularity.

Stakeholder views of prevalent unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry

PurposeThis study aims to investigate stakeholders' perception of the most prevalent unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachData used for this study came from a cross-sectional survey (questionnaire), which was administered to 273 stakeholders in the construction industry using convenience sampling technique. The data were analyzed using statistical software package SPSSv17 to determine the most prevalent unethical practices. The ranking factor was calculated based on relative importance index (RII) value.FindingsThe results of this study reveal that corruption was perceived by major stakeholders as the most prevalent unethical behavior (RII = 0.82) followed by bribery (RII = 0.79). Political interference and kickback came third (RII = 0.77) and fourth (RII = 0.74), respectively. However, the least prevalent unethical behaviors were extortion (RII = 0.56), workplace violence (RII = 0.57), alcohol abuse (RII = 0.59) and harassment (RII = 0.59). The findings suggest that when the various groupings were taken into consideration separately, the differences in their perceptions were obvious.Research limitations/implicationsData for this study were collected from construction stakeholders in Ghana who were conveniently sampled. As a result, in reference to the sampling framework which focused on major stakeholders in only two regions of Ghana does not sufficiently ensure full generalization of the results.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study provide significant information for construction organizations and practitioners regarding unethical practices, which are most prevalent in the Ghanaian construction industry. Construction organizations and practitioners seeking to mitigate the negative effect of unethical practices on their performance should focus on educating construction workers on how to avoid corrupt practices and report same to the authorities. Also, ethics training programs must be instituted for staff coupled with constant and random inspection and checking of ethical compliance, verbal promotion and praise for ethical conduct and in some cases increase in employees pay.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to have accessed the views of broader stakeholders, i.e. consultants, contractors, professionals, suppliers, regulators, clients and construction workers in the construction industry regarding the most prevalent unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry in one study. This study, therefore, enriches the current literature by providing additional dimension to the understanding of unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Capabilities required of the conventional project delivery (CPD) approach in producing quality design documentation: the Ghanaian construction industry perspective

Purpose The conventional project delivery (CPD) approach has been reported in the literature as the most widely used project delivery method in the construction industry globally compared to other delivery methods. However, researchers and practitioners have argued that the approach, specifically during the production of design documentation under the CPD, lacks certain capabilities that ensure quality and enhance project delivery. Therefore, this study aims to use the Ghanaian construction industry to identify the capabilities required of the CPD in practice, particularly during the production of design documentation. Design/methodology/approach The study design follows a pragmatist philosophy and uses mixed methods based on a deductive approach. Data collection involved a questionnaire survey, followed by semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative data analysis used content analysis with the assistance of IBM SPSS and QSR Nvivo 12 Pro. Findings Findings indicate that there should be incentives for producing good design documentation quality; mandatory coordination of design documentation; improving collaboration among designers; and allowing contractors to make input during the design stage. Practical implications The results indicate the need for the identified capabilities to be introduced in the CPD approach to improve design documentation quality. Originality/value This study offers a significant insight into the specific capabilities that are required of the CPD approach in practice particularly, in the production of design documentation

A framework for smart building technologies implementation in the Ghanaian construction industry: a PLS-SEM approach

ABSTRACT This study sought to identify the dimensions and the significant critical factors capable of enhancing Smart Building Technologies' (SBTs') implementation for smart building projects in developing countries. A desk literature review is first conducted to identify and categorize the potential factors. It is further analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) based on 227 valid data from experts in Ghana. The study revealed four underlying dimensions (i.e., ‘processes and control'[PC], ‘people and skills'[PS], ‘methods and techniques'[MT], and ‘knowledge sharing'[KS]) consisting 14 significant critical factors capable of enhancing SBTs implementation for smart building projects, with the top three comprising ‘appropriate procedures/practices for managing smart building projects (MT3)', ‘appropriate tools/techniques to guide smart building projects to their delivery (MT2)', and ‘skills and experience required to pick project team members for smart building projects (PS1)’. Further analysis with PLS-SEM revealed a significant positive effect of the four underlying dimensions and their positive interrelationships toward framework development. Besides the unique contribution of this study to the knowledge body, it also provides project managers and a construction design team with a structured knowledge of the skills, expertise, attitudes, decision-making, processes, control mechanisms, and effective delivery of smart building projects in developing countries.

Local government institutions in Ghana: Core partners in health and safety performance in the construction industry

The potential contribution of district assemblies to improving health and safety in Ghana's construction industry has not been investigated. This paper attempts to identify the local government responsibilities that could influence health and safety performance in the construction industry and to develop a confirmatory factor model based on these responsibilities. The paper adopted a positivist philosophy and a deductive methodology. A literature search was conducted to identify the local government factors that could potentially impact health and safety performance in the Ghanaian construction industry. These factors were adapted and designed into a questionnaire, and the generated questionnaires were distributed to respondents for their feedback. It was identified using the relative importance index that “the development of sanctions for violating occupational health and safety statutory obligations,” “the institution of local government occupational health and safety approval and certification for new projects,” and “the creation of occupational health and safety departments and committees that are adequately resourced to assist the Department of Factories Inspectorate” were the three most important roles that district assemblies could play as partners to improve health and safety in the construction industry. Conversely, the multivariate analysis identified the evaluation of the safety policies and risk management plans of contractors and suppliers as the most important role local government institutions could play in improving health and safety in the construction industry. The result of the study suggests that local government efforts, when given the needed attention and support, could advance health and safety in the industry. The practical implication of the study is that it identifies the roles of district assemblies that could enhance health and safety in Ghana's construction industry. All district assemblies should consider implementing these health and safety initiatives in their districts and ensuring they are regularly enforced and evaluated.

Implementing the principles of circular economy in the construction industry: exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of strategies

Purpose This study aims to examine the strategies that can be adopted to enhance the practice of circular economy (CE) principles among built environment (BE) firms operating in the Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI). Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire survey was used to solicit the views of 162 BE professionals working in construction, consulting, and developer firms on the issue under investigation. The questionnaire was developed through a review of related literature and complemented with a pilot review. Data were analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings The findings revealed four major categories of strategies (i.e. systems and technical related strategies, market orientation and operational strategies, knowledge dissemination and awareness-related strategies, and environmental and regulatory strategies) to promote the practice of the principles of CE among BE professionals in the GCI. Originality/value This study’s findings provide insights into an under-investigated topic in the construction industry, especially, in a developing country such as Ghana, and offer new and additional information and insights into the current state-of-the-art on CE implementation.

Explaining the lower usage rate of indigenous construction materials in Ghanaian public buildings using bounded rationality

Judicious use of Indigenous Construction Materials (ICM) contributes to sustainability of a local construction industry. Why has the use of ICMs not contributed to the sustainability of the Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI), and how can the use of ICMs engender the sustainability of GCI and that of similar developing countries? This paper uses bounded rationality and mixed-method strategy to explain the ICM usage rate in the GCI, and describes measures for improving the sustainability of the local construction industry through ICMs use. Relatively high ICM cost and non-availability of alternatives have been found as factors largely responsible for constrained ICMs usage. This paper is one of the first to draw on a synergy of the bounded rationality theory and empirical findings to give advanced insight into factors constraining the use of ICMs, as well as provide a measured usage rate of local building materials using real building projects cases. The research has carved a path for nurturing sustainable construction industry in developing countries through indigenous resources.

A Multivariate Analysis of the Variables Impacting the Level of BIM Expertise of Professionals in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industries of the Developing World Using Nonparametric Tests

Building information modeling (BIM) mandates are becoming more widespread because BIM allows design and construction teams to operate more productively and also enables them to collect the data they generate during the process for use in operations and maintenance tasks. As a result, professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries are expected to possess excellent BIM expertise. Despite the fact that the developing world has largely not adopted BIM, many studies have been conducted on BIM usage, awareness, drivers and barriers with a focus on the developing world. Numerous studies have pointed to the professionals’ lack of BIM expertise in the developing world’s AEC sector as a major barrier to BIM deployment. Nevertheless, no research has been conducted to assess the variables impacting the level of BIM expertise among professionals. After a detailed review of the literature, the study developed five study hypotheses and created a conceptual model to help assess the variables impacting the level of BIM expertise of professionals in the AEC industry in the developing world. After that, a questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from 103 seasoned professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry. Nonparametric tests, such as the Kruskal–Wallis, pairwise post hoc Dunn, Mann–Whitney, Pearson’s correlation and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM) tests, were adopted to assess the relationships between the level of BIM expertise of professionals (BE) and the following variables: (1) profession (P), (2) the frequency of BIM use by professionals (BF), (3) the highest dimension of BIM adopted by AEC firms and companies (BD), (4) professionals’ perception of BIM (PB) and (5) the BIM implementation barriers (BIMIBs). P, BF, BD and PB were found to have a substantial impact on the level of BIM expertise acquired by professionals. With regards to professionals’ perception of the BIM software and process, only one (PB3–BIM is not useful to our company at the moment) out of ten of them was found to have a significant impact on BE, highlighting the impact of employers on the level of BIM expertise of professionals. In addition, the study discovered that any resolution made in an attempt to tackle the lack of/insufficient level of BIM expertise among professionals would prove futile without significant effort from the higher education sector (HES) of the developing world and the entire world at large. The study’s conceptual, empirical, managerial and theoretical implications and findings would serve as a roadmap for researchers, professionals and academics in developing nations as they endeavor to seek more ways of increasing BIM expertise among their professionals and to encourage BIM usage throughout the project lifecycle.

Utilization of simulation tools for building performance assessment among design professionals

PurposeThis study explores the utilization of simulation tools for building performance assessments among design professionals in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was used to obtain responses from 104 design professionals in Ghana through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was generated through a critical review of the related literature on the subject matter. Data from respondents were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsResults from the analysis indicated that design professionals in Ghana possessed a low level of awareness of the simulation tools used for building performance assessments. Subsequently, the findings also revealed that the design professionals' level of usage of the simulation tools was low.Practical implicationsPractically, the establishment of this study informs design stakeholders, educational institutions and researchers in Ghana. For design professionals, these findings will focus on enhancing their use of simulation tools for evaluating building performance in Ghana. For educational institutions, these findings will enable them to implement the necessary strategies for incorporating the concept of building performance simulation into their curriculum in order to boost awareness and utilization. Finally, researchers will also use the study's findings to identify any research gaps for future studies.Originality/valueThe findings from this study pioneer knowledge on an under-investigated topic within the Ghanaian construction industry. It also provides insight into the developing state-of-the-art technology employed in the built environment.

A Relative Importance Index Approach to On-Site Building Construction Workers' Perception of Occupational Hazards Assessment.

The construction industry has a percentage of work-related injuries and fatalities. Workers' perception of occupational hazards exposure can be a proactive management tool in knowing the state of construction site safety performance. This study aimed to assess the hazard perception of on-site construction workers in Ghana. Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 197 construction workers at live building sites in the Ho Municipality. The data were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) approach. The study revealed that on-site construction workers perceived ergonomic hazards as the most frequent, followed by physical, phycological, biological, and chemical hazards. The importance level of RII revealed that long working hours and bending or twisting back during task performance were perceived as the most severe hazards. Long working hours had the highest overall RII ranking, followed by bending or twisting back during task performance, manual lifting of objects or loads, scorching temperatures, and lengthy standing for prolonged periods. Given the adverse health effects of working for long hours, the management of Ghanaian construction industries needs to reinforce the legislation on working hours to safeguard workers' occupational health. Safety professionals can use the study's findings to improve safety performance in the Ghanaian construction industry.