The role of project managers (pms) in construction health and safety implementation in Ghana

Agyekum, K; Ghansah, F A; Tetteh, P A and Amudjie, J (2021) The role of project managers (pms) in construction health and safety implementation in Ghana. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 19(1), pp. 245-262. ISSN 1726-0531

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of project managers (PMs) in construction health and safety in Ghana. Purposive sampling technique was used to select licenced PMs in Ghana where data was collected with the use of structured questionnaires. Mean score analysis, Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance, Relative Importance Index and Cronbach's alpha were used to analyze the data. The study discovered that most PMs on construction firms in Ghana allocate between 1% and 5% of the total project cost to health and safety. According to the study, client satisfaction is the most important parameter to consider in construction project management. Structural frame, method of fixing and edge of materials were the key design activities that caused PMs to make frequent reference to health and safety. It was revealed that PMs refer to health and safety when confronted by all the procurement-related situations. The research is limited to the built environment professionals in Ghana. The findings cannot be generalized and extended to other developing countries; however, it could serve as a lesson to them. The findings of the study are anticipated to provide information about the critical role of PMs in promoting health and safety throughout the project life cycle. The novelty of the study sought to delve into the complex nature of construction to identify the role of PMs in relation to the health and safety practices in the construction industry.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: built environment; client satisfaction; construction firms; construction project; developing countries; health and safety; life cycle; project cost; safety; client; professional; project manager; Ghana
Index terms: project manager, Ghana, life cycle, built environment, client satisfaction, construction project management, structural frame, implementation, purposive sampling, construction industry, health and safety, developing country, project cost, construction firm, relative importance index, questionnaire, construction project, health and safety practices
Subjects: occupational health and safety management, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, architectural elements, research methods, economics, production management, Geography, health safety and environment, development economics, project management theory and practice, contractual arrangements, data collection methods, risk assessment, profession, organization, client relations, value management
Topics: Design Practice, Urban Studies, International Construction, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Procurement, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management
Descriptive scope: 4 PCTA

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