Idoro, G I (2011) Effect of mechanisation on occupational health and safety performance in the Nigerian construction industry. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 16(2), pp. 27-45. ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
The need to improve productivity, quality standards, efficiency and performance in construction projects has brought about increased use of Plant and Equipment (P&E). This study evaluates the level of mechanisation and its relationship to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance of the Nigerian construction industry. The purpose of the study is to ascertain the influence of mechanisation on OHS performance and raise the commitment of contractors to effective OHS management. To achieve this, a questionnaire survey involving 45 projects was conducted. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires and analysed by percentages, means, t-tests and Spearman's correlation tests. The results indicated that increased mechanisation leads to increased rates of accident and injury and that the level of mechanisation varies from one operation to another. The study concludes that mechanisation can worsen the OHS performance of the industry when it is not effectively managed. The findings suggest that stakeholders should put effective measures in place aimed at controlling OHS performance before using new or additional P&E. They also suggest that stakeholders of specific contractors should provide more attention when setting up an OHS management plan, particularly a hazard management plan regarding the on-site use of P&E.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | concreting; excavation; mechanisation; occupational health and safety |
| Index terms: | productivity, quality standard, efficiency, plant and equipment, construction industry, survey, commitment, occupational health and safety, injury, questionnaire, excavation, concreting, construction project |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, psychology, construction operations, performance management, management, manufacturing engineering, production management, health conditions and diseases, building construction, occupational health and safety management, quality assurance, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Site Management, Organizational Design, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice |
| 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