Obiozo, R N and Smallwood, J J (2015) Biophilic construction site model: Enhancing the motivational and humanistic value of the green construction site. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 141(3), ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
85% of a construction worker's work-day is spent on the construction site. This means that a large part of a worker's health and wellbeing could depend on the construction site and its environs. Construction work, which is inherently stressful due to the ever present threat of fatalities and injuries, compromises the ergonomic reality and human sustenance on construction sites. This necessitates the need to create a beneficial and comfortable environment that is motivational, inspirational, and healing. The biophilic construction site model (BCSM) which involves methodology of 'greening construction sites', is proposed as a healthy means of tapping into the natural resources of the construction site environment. It is intended to create a comfort zone on the construction site that would generate a symbiotic benefit to enhance its humanistic value and engender the health and wellbeing and creative performance of workers. The paper reports on a case study in the form of a focus group study and a comparative analysis of two similar construction sites in the Northern Cape region of South Africa. The findings present the healthy inter-nurture existing between a living construction site and its human occupants as a cost effective psychotherapeutic intervention in sustainable sites initiative and ergonomics, which according to research findings is as of yet missing in the construction management body of knowledge (CMBOK). The paper conclusively recommends the 'greening of construction sites'; specifically the inclusion of plants within site offices, welfare facilities and worksite premises; as a relevant means of harnessing nature's healing and rejuvenating essence towards a more productive goal in construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | biophilia; ergonomics; labor and personnel issues; performance; sustainability; wellbeing |
| Index terms: | natural resource, case study, biophilia, fatalities, construction worker, biophilic, comfort, construction work, health and wellbeing, construction site, comparative analysis, personnel, injury, greening, focus group, South Africa, body of knowledge, methodology, well-being, ergonomics |
| Subjects: | occupational health and safety management, health conditions and diseases, Geography, sustainable design, management, health risk and incident analysis, research methods, knowledge management, data analysis and analytics, work location, operations management, environmental resource management, design incorporating nature, practitioner, human factors and perception, data collection methods, mental health and wellbeing |
| Topics: | Site Management, Human Resources, Design Practice, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Information Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Health and Safety |
| 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