Simpeh, F; Bamfo-Agyei, E and Amoah, C (2022) Barriers to the implementation of COVID-19 safety regulations: Insight from Ghanaian construction sites. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 20(1), pp. 47-65. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: The new normal introduced by COVID-19 has ushered in new safety regulations that are required to be implemented by all organisations, including the construction industry. The implementation of the COVID-19 regulations, like any health and safety regulation, is not without hindrances. Consequently, this study aims to explore factors hindering the implementation of COVID-19 safety regulations at construction sites in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative research method using an open-ended questionnaire as a data collection instrument. The set of questionnaires were distributed by means of purposive and snowball sampling methods. The collected data were analysed by means of the thematic analysis technique. Findings: It became evident that several factors militate against implementing COVID-19 safety regulations at construction sites. Cost of implementing COVID-19 safety measures, lack of compliance and ignorance were identified as the most hindering factors, whereas superstition, lack of personal protective equipment supply and theft of COVID-19 materials were reported by fewer respondents. Research limitations/implications: The set of questionnaires were limited to small construction firms who were operating on site within the Central, Western and Greater Accra regions of Ghana during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the findings may be applicable to firms outside these regions because most of the small construction firms in the country share similar characteristics. Practical implications: The recommendations proffered could help construction organisations devise strategies to overcome the barriers that hamper the implementation of COVID-19 safety regulations on site. Moreover, the findings could inform policymakers on what is required to enforce compliance on site. Originality/value: COVID 19 is still new, and as a result, the body of knowledge is at the infancy stage. This article contributes to advancing the body of knowledge in the area of COVID-19 implementation challenges on construction sites.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | challenges; COVID-19; safety measures; site; site workers |
| Index terms: | personal protective equipment, sampling, implementation, construction industry, construction organization, pandemic, safety measures, small construction firm, Ghana, methodology, thematic analysis, regulation, questionnaire, body of knowledge, Accra, COVID-19, compliance, theft, health and safety, construction site, strategy, qualitative research method |
| Subjects: | political science, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, methods and analysis, health safety and environment, Geography, research methods, management, health risk and incident analysis, contractual arrangements, knowledge management, work location, criminal law, research design and methodology, organization, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Procurement, Governance, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Site Management, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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