CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The relevance of the construction industry to national economies all over the world cannot be over emphasized. According to Michael (2011), by 2020 construction will account for 13.2% of world GDP suggesting an upward trend. This is seen in the provision of basic facilities such as road networks, industrial and residential buildings and facilities to the other sectors of economies. Likewise, construction's sizeable amount of economic growth is with backward and forward linkages since construction activities use goods and services from other industries. Employment creation by construction activities is another essential facet in economic growth. In the Nigerian's economy construction sector represents 5% of the country's GDP and employs about 1 million people with an approximated annual wage bill of 2.2 billion according to current findings of the first quarter of 2011 by Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics (NNBS).
Ayangade (2000) suggested that the industry is a project-based companies that comprises lots of parties working together to accomplishing common objective. Furthermore, the means of achieving this objective is characterised by hazards which pose threat to workers’ life. Muiruri and Mulinge (2014) noted that the complexities of activities needed in the building production process pose different challenges to workers’ health inherent dangers in the production phase. (Smallwood and Haupt 2002) viewed accidents as part of the building production procedure that is inevitable since construction industry is naturally dangerous, for that reason, compliance or not to safety practices will forfeit the effect of safety regulations. Factors contributing to occurrence of construction fatalities were known as the uniqueness of the sector that distinguish it from other industries. This originality consists of: short life span of projects, locations differ periodically, workers’ turnover is high, huge number of unseasonal workers which are not familiar with construction processes, workers’ turnover, high rate of small firms and self-employed workers (Safety Manual for Construction Handbook). These accidents do not only lead to pain and physical damages to the workers however also reduce productivity, time, and quality performance, thus pose treat to project success and escalate production cost (Muiruri and Mulinge, 2014).
Several codes and regulations have been in existence to offer succor in management of health and safety at work. Just lately, Nigerian National Building Code empowered registered builder to prepare health and safety strategy among other builder's document in reducing and managing reasons for accident throughout the construction stage. In the same vein, there are stand out obligation clearly highlighted in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations on the stakeholder's engagement in implementation of project management, and also look for the assistance of the client, designer, CDM coordinator, and principal coordinator on construction projects. The objective and significance of establishing safety practices' code and regulations on construction site is to concentrate on preventing, eliminating, suppressing, restricting and overall eradication, preferably, the incident of accidents and injuries throughout and after the construction processes and also train site operatives on safety programmes that will put all these into place. The level of confidence that accidents will not occur throughout the duration of construction projects might not be determine from the inception, however conformity with these specified safety methods will improve site safety, it will eliminate the causes and reduce the unfavorable effect as well as the level of damage to parties involves. Hinze (1997) asserted that enabling operate setups enhances workers’ efficiency at a reduced cost yet increase in revenue margin.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in an attempt to enhance and maintain safe working environment at work places has held general conferences with the years since 1937 deciding and adopting conventions and suggestions tailored to health and safety in construction works. One such is convention C167 cited as the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 which revised and adopted the Safety Provisions (Building) Convention of 1937.This Convention carries provisions which apply to all construction activities. Accordingly, each Member Country which ratifies this convention undertakes that it will, on the basis of an assessment of the safety and health hazards involved, adopt and maintain in force laws or regulations which ensure the application of the provisions of the Convention with technical standards or codes of practice, or by other appropriate techniques consistent with national conditions and practice. Articles 8 and 10 of the convention require that the principal contractor, or other individual or body with real control over or primary responsibility for overall construction site activities will be responsible for coordinating the prescribed safety and health measures and, in so far as is compatible with national laws and regulations, for ensuring compliance with such measures.
The significance of these convention provisions is further highlighted by findings of a study carried out by Wilson D.J. et al (2007), the Ratification status of ILO conventions Related to Occupational Safety and Health and Its Relationship with Reported Occupational Fatality Rates which confirms that non-ratifying countries generally have higher fatality rates compared to ratifying ones. For that reason, all countries ought to promote ratification of ILO conventions targeted at enhancing Health and Safety conditions. It is regrettable to note that although Nigeria is a member country of the International Labour Organization (ILO), to this day it has not ratified C167 convention of 1988 and this sign of low commitment to issues of health and safety in the construction industry by the regulating authority resulting to more accidents, injuries and deaths.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
There is a growing interest on Health and Safety in Nigeria following enactment of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, (OSHA, 2007). Most of the business enterprises in Nigeria which were formerly operating without institutional and individual capability for occupational health and security management now need to develop that capacity in order to improve the top quality of the working environment and prevent costly liabilities.
The occupational Safety and Healthy Act (2007) came into being after a number of revisions to the Factories Act (1951), amending and prolonging its scope of application to places of work other than factories. It relates to all work places where any person is at work, whether temporary or permanently. The Act seeks to secure the safety, health and welfare of individuals at work and protect individuals other than persons at work against dangers to safety and health occurring from, or in connection with, the activities of the persons at the office. Under the Act the employer has a duty to comply with any safety and health rules, regulations instructions and procedures in the act by taking all necessary safety measures to ensure his own safety and health and that of any individuals in his work place and at all times use suitable safe systems of work, precautionary and control steps. The employee at the office place has a responsibility to ensure his own safety and health and that of other individuals that might be affected by his acts or omissions at work place and to comply with the safety and health procedures, requirements and instructions given. The contravention of the provisions therefore makes up an offense. The Act provides for the appointment of a director and work safety and health officers to oversee the implementation of the provisions, however this notwithstanding, accident continue to occur in construction sites some with fatal implications (Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2007).
The suffering caused by such accidents and illnesses to workers and their families is incalculable. In economic terms, the ILO has estimated that 4% of the world's annual GDP is lost as a result of occupational diseases and accidents. Employers face expensive early retirements, loss of skilled staff, absenteeism, and high insurance premiums as a result of work- related accidents and diseases. Yet, a lot of these tragedies are avoidable with the implementation of sound prevention, reporting and inspection methods (Engineers against poverty report, 2008).
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to investigate the safety procedures and accident prevention methods selected in building construction sites in Imo State. The specific objectives therefore, include:
1) To understand the current state of safety practices on selected building construction sites in Imo State.
2) To highlight the factors that are preventing site operatives from using safety wears on construction sites
3) To determine the safety improvement measures and control systems available for safety practices and compliance on construction sites.
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions that guided the study inlude;
1) What is the current state of safety practices on selected building construction sites in Imo State?
2) What are the factors that are preventing site operatives from using safety wears on construction sites?
3) What are the safety improvement measures and control systems available for safety practices and compliance on construction sites?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will help bring to the attention of the stakeholders in the building construction industry and more so to the building construction firms the importance of occupational health and safety culture in work places, in this case the construction sites.
The study will also help in alleviating the effect of work hazard and risk because workers are always at the receiving end and vulnerable to accidents in a bid to ensure their daily target are met. Therefore, this study when concluded will be addition to past researcher’s effort in addressing safety practices during the execution of construction projects in Lagos State and as well will provides lasting solutions to the challenges confronting compliance with safety practices in management of building production process. It will also provide further suggestion and solutions to construction stakeholders on measures to upgrade safety practices on construction projects. The recommendations proposed at chapter five of this research work will enable government and construction experts to look into sustainable methods to enforce compliance with builder’s document of project health and safety plan and other safety control systems in enhancing workers’ compliance with safety practices and also in ensuring that construction works are carried out in a safe manner from the planning stage up to handing over stage.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study aimed at investigating the safety procedures and accident prevention methods selected in building construction sites in Nigeria. However, it was narrowed down and focused on Imo State thus targeting those building contractors registered with the Ministry of Public Works carrying out building construction business in the country.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
The researcher encountered a number of challenges in the process of carrying out the study;
Time frame for the preparation of the research proposal document was squeezed hence proper time management was essential in order to meet the set time target.
The spread of respondents identified in the sample over Imo State presented access problems in terms of transport and communication. This was overcome by use of e-mail communication as much as was practicable.
The costs involved in transport, stationary, communication, typing, photo copying and binding were fairly high. This necessitated borrowing from my employer to offset the high costs.
