Simpeh, F and Amoah, C (2023) Assessment of measures instituted to curb the spread of COVID-19 on construction site. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(3), pp. 383-391. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health issue that is ravaging every aspect of human life. Various countries, thus, institute many measures to prevent the spread of the disease among the citizenry. This article investigates measures that are put in place at construction project sites to curb the spread of COVID-19 among construction site workers. An open-ended questionnaire was used as an instrument to collect qualitative data from construction companies. A purposive sampling method was used to distribute the interview questions. The collected data were analyzed with content analysis. The findings show that most construction companies have instituted prescribed and appropriate measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 on-site. Moreover, some construction companies had implemented extra measures and developed new protocols to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on-site. However, few construction companies were lacking in the provision of some of the recommended measures. The study identified three categories of measures (i.e. screening, site access and handling of material and equipment deliveries on-site) where improvement is required. Construction companies could use the recommendations provided to improve upon the approach adopted to curb the spread of COVID-19 on-site. The study could also inform policymakers on COVID-19 measures that are unsatisfactorily implemented on site for which more attention and oversight is required. Research on construction site health and safety measures during this COVID-19 season are still being developed. Thus, this article contributes to advancing the body of knowledge in this area of study. Data were collected from grades 6 to 9 construction firms; therefore, the research findings may not be applied to smaller construction firms. A study that focuses on lower grades is recommended.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction site; COVID-19; health; measures; safety; workers |
| Index terms: | screening, pandemic, purposive sampling, construction company, construction firm, content analysis, construction site, health and safety, COVID-19, interview, body of knowledge, questionnaire, construction project |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, knowledge management, work location, data collection methods, organization, health safety and environment, production management, management, health risk and incident analysis, research methods |
| Topics: | Site Management, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here