Analysis of construction worker’s perception on safety outcomes of construction sites a study of building projects in the Ashanti Region

Abstract

Health and safety performance of construction sites is of great importance to many construction companies because of the social and economic implications of accidents. Many construction companies have safety culture that has positive impact on safety outcomes. Strengthening the safety culture of construction firms will go a long way to improve safety performance of construction sites. The aim of the study was to assess construction sites worker’s unsafe behaviour and safety outcomes of construction sites in Ghana using selected building projects in the Kumasi Metropolis. The study adopted a quantitative research design involving the development and administration of survey questionnaires to a sample of 438 construction workers of 12 construction sites. The findings of the study revealed that the key determinants of safety climate on the construction sites studied were; safety management systems, commitment to health and safety, availability of health and safety information, health and safety awareness, effective communication of health and safety issues and safety performance. Also, the critical factors that influenced unsafe behaviours included; lack of management commitment, absence of rules and regulation, poor health and safety education, economic conditions and inadequate personal protective equipment. Furthermore, the findings of the study suggested that the dominant unsafe behaviours on the construction sites studied were; poor workers attitude, workers’ non-compliance with safety procedures, bad practices of workers, wrong use/handling of equipment and tools and lack of rest causing fatigue, burnout or drowsiness. Additionally, the findings of the study revealed that unsafe behaviours that strongly correlate with safety outcomes of the construction sites studied included; lack of rest causing fatigue, burnout or drowsiness had significant negative correlation with best work practices; Secondly bad practices of workers had significant negative correlation with safety policies, procedures and training, thirdly lack of rest causing fatigue, burnout or drowsiness had significant negative correlation with safe practices at workplace and fourthly wrong use/handling of equipment and tools was significantly negatively correlated with top management involvement. It was concluded that unsafe behaviour negatively influences safety outcome of workers on construction sites in Ghana. Therefore, the study has recommended the strengthening of safety interventions such as safety inductions, training and toolbox aimed at addressing the aforementioned unsafe behaviours.