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Safety Practices in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: New Juaben Municipality
as a Case Study.
Ofosu, S. A.1, Boateng, P.
2 and Asah-Kissiedu, M.
2
1Department of Civil Engineering, Koforidua Polytechnic, Box 981, Koforidua, Ghana.
Email: [email protected]
2Department of Building Technology, Koforidua Polytechnic, Box 981, Koforidua,
Ghana
Received: 27th February, 2014 Revised: 25th March, 2014 Published Online: 31st March, 2014
URL: http://www.journals.adrri.org/
[Cite as: Ofosu, S. A., Boateng, P. and Asah-Kissiedu, M. (2014). Safety Practices in the Ghanaian Construction
Industry: New Juaben Municipality as a Case Study. Africa Development and Resources Research Institute Journal,
Vol. 6, No. 6(2), Pp. 42-58]
Abstract
Ghana’s construction industry is seen by many around the West African Sub-Region as one of the
hazardous industrial sectors with its workers more prone to injuries, accidents and many other fatalities. In
developed countries such as United Kingdom, United States of America and Japan, there is enforcement of
safety in the construction industry and the implementation of safety management systems which help to
minimize or eliminate accidents at work places. Occupational safety in construction industry is very poor in
developing countries such as Ghana. This study investigates the prevalent Health and safety management
practices and perceptions in the construction industry in the New Juaben Municipality of Ghana. The study
was conducted among construction contractors and government officials within Koforidua Municipality
through questionnaires, structured survey interviews, observations and discussion. The results of the study
revealed that there are many occupational safety problems in the construction industry in Ghana. These
problems include lack of adherence to safety regulations and standards, low priority of safety, lack of data
on safety at construction sites, lack of competent manpower, lack of safety training and promotion and lack
of documented and organized safety management systems. Finally, this study recommends some safety
measures for construction in Ghana.
Keywords: construction, safety, training, risks, injuries, accident
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INTRODUCTION
The construction industry remains a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) of all economies around the globe. The construction industry is the main provider
of structures, facilities and infrastructure upon which other sectors of economies depend.
With 11.8 million operatives directly employed in the sector, it is Europe's largest
industrial employer accounting for 7% of total employment and 28% of industrial
employment in the EU-15 (National Statistics UK, 2008)
An estimated 26 million workers in the EU-15 depend in one way or the other on the
construction sector. About 910 billion Euros was invested in construction in 2003,
representing 10% of the GDP and 51.2% of the Gross Fixed Capital Formation of the EU-
15. Construction is also an important sector of the economy in the Member States
(National Statistics UK, 2008).
The construction industry in Ghana provides jobs to over 900,000 people and has a
multiplier effect on other sectors of the Ghanaian economy such as the manufacturing,
financial, professional services, etc. The construction industry in Ghana undertakes both
residential and non-residential construction activities. Some of the products of this
industry could be seen in roads, water-related structures, telecommunication masts,
residential facilities, and so on.
According to the Ghana Statistical Services (2008), the construction industry contributed
about 4.7% of the GDP of the country. Again, the Government of Ghana (2009) indicated
that the rate of return on assets of the construction industry was about 8% while other
sectors had 3.4%. The construction industry in Ghana has about 128 000 active
businesses. New businesses are joining the sector.
In the midst of this high economic performance of the construction industry, the industry
has been noted to be the most hazardous. Site injuries in many developed countries like
the UK, JAPAN and the USA is very alarming. For instance, fatal accidental injury rates
in the United Kingdom and Japan are reported to be four times higher in the construction
industry compared to the manufacturing industry.
Construction is often classified as a high-risk industry because it has historically been
plagued with much higher and unacceptable injury rates when compared to other
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industries. In the United States, the rate of accidents in the construction industry is
reported to be twice that of the industrial average. According to the National Safety
Council, there are an estimated 2,200 deaths and 220,000 disabling injuries each year
(NSC USA, 1987).
Construction is a risky business, with nearly 13 workers per 100 000 being killed in
construction, as against five per 100 000 in the all-sector average (Eurostat 2001). In the
preparations for hosting the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, fourteen (14) workers
lost their lives on projects directly related to the Olympics while an estimated twenty-six
(26) in the building of supporting transportation infrastructure (London Assembly 2005).
In Ghana the construction industry is second most hazardous industry after manufacturing
(Government of Ghana (GOG) 1987). In 2000, the Labour Department (2000) reported
that the construction industry in Ghana accounted for the highest rate of occupational
deaths in comparison to other industrial sectors. According to the Labour Department
(2000) report, 56 out of a total of 902 occupational accidents that occurred in construction
in the year 2000 were fatal.
The aim of this research is to evaluate the health and safety practices of the construction
industry in the New Juaben Municipality.
The specific objectives of the research are as follows:
i. To identify the Health and Safety practices in the construction industry in the
United Kingdom (UK).
ii. To identify the Health and Safety practices in the construction industry in
Ghana.
iii. To assess the Health and Safety practices in the construction industry in the
New Juaben Municipality.
iv. To recommend the best Health and Safety practices for players in the
construction industry in the New Juaben Municipality.
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As the developed countries are aiming at making their construction sites incident free, the
Ghanaian industry needs to follow suit with strategies that would be congruent with our
environment. Though there is limited documentation on incidences of construction
accidents and fatalities, there is a need to bring out some of the practices that would
enhance the safety of employees in the construction industry of Ghana.
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
Health and safety management practises in many developing countries evolved from
institutional and legal frameworks developed by colonial administration to manage the
safety, health and welfare aspects of industrial settings at the time. In Ghana, a labour
department, established in 1938, was responsible for implementing the Factories
Ordinance passed in 1952 to provide a code of protection for factory workers (Visano and
Bastine 2003).
Past studies on health and safety management practises in construction in developing
countries provide ample evidence of lapses in the management of safety and health at
construction sites. These studies have identified key problems associated with safety and
health at construction sites and are summarised in Table 1. Their findings reveal
weaknesses in occupational health and safety administration, economic conditions,
climatic conditions and the characteristics of the construction industry of developing
countries influence safety and health at construction sites. Also, the effective
implementation of safety and health programs is absent in most construction businesses in
developing countries. The construction industry of Ghana shares in many of these
features of safety and health management in the construction industry of developing
countries.
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Table 1: Health and safety in developing Countries
Author(s) and
Year
Summary of research
Key constraints to effective safety
and health management
Suazo and
Jaselskis (1993)
Compared the occupational safety
and health administration system
of a developing country
(Honduras) and that of a
developed country (US).
The study found that the
occupational safety and health
administration of the developing
country Honduras was
incomprehensive and limited in
coverage.
Koehn et al.,
(1995)
The study examined problems in
health and safety management of
construction projects in a
developing country India.
The study identified ignorance on
the part of workers, bureaucracy
and time pressures as factors
militating against effective safety
and health management in the
construction sector.
Koehn and
Reddy (1999)
The study explored safety
problems and labour requirements
in the construction industry of
India.
The findings of the study indicated
certain characteristics of
construction in developing countries
contributed to poor safety and
health performance of the industry:
availability of cheap labour
means workers are compelled
to take unacceptable risks
because of fear of being
dismissed;
workers cannot afford the
cost of proper nutrition
because of low wages leading
to fatigue and slow rate of
work; and
Poor health and safety
attitudes.
Haupt and
Smallwood
(1999)
Study examined health and safety
practices on community projects in
South African Construction
industry.
The findings of the study indicate
that health and safety practices are
rarely adopted on community
projects: typically, no inductions are
conducted; workers are not
consulted on health and safety
issues; PPE is seldom provided; and
policies, rules and health and safety
programs are not implemented.
Peckitt et al.,
(2002)
Compared health and safety risk
management between a developed
country (UK) and a developing
The study found that:
positive influences on the
safety culture of the British
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countries (Caribbean countries).
construction industry include;
relatively high levels of
regulation, resources and
formal health and safety
management systems;
Positive influences on the
safety culture of the
construction industry of the
Caribbean include: strong
personal locus of control for
safety, high risk perception and
slow pace of work.
Smallwood
(2002)
Study examined the link between
religious believe systems and
safety and health.
The study’s findings showed that
religion puts emphasis on the need
for conservation of life and the
environment.
Peckitt et al.,
(2004)
Examined the role of societal
culture in influencing safety
culture of the construction
industries of UK and the
Caribbean.
The findings of the study
demonstrate that societal cultural
biases have an impact on safety
culture. Societal orientations to
power relationships, time, human
relations, materialism and risk
taking were found to be important
factors influencing safety culture of
the Caribbean both countries.
Mwombeki
(2005)
Study investigated the
implementation of health and
safety on construction sites in
Tanzania
The study found that majority of
Tanzanian contractors, small or
large, appear to understand the
importance of health and safety
programs but did not implement
such programs to improve the poor
health and safety performance of the
construction industry.
Gibb and Bust
(2006)
The study investigated the
implications on safety and health
of carrying out engineering and
construction projects in
developing countries.
The study identified a number of
factors having a negative impact on
health and safety management in
developing countries:
Poor infrastructure;
Problems in communication;
Unregulated practices;
Adherence to traditional
methods of working;
Non availability of
Construction equipment;
Extreme weather conditions
and corruption.
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Kheni (2008)
Health and safety in the
construction SMEs in developing
countries a case of Ghana
Lack of skilled human resources,
inadequate government support for
regulatory institutions and
inefficiency in institutional
frameworks responsible for health
and safety standards are some of the
challenges affecting the health and
safety in the construction industry in
Ghana.
In Ghana, Addo-Abedi (1999) reported that virtually all domestic construction businesses
operate as small scale contractors managed by owner/managers and their spouses and in
some cases, their children. These Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are constrained
by limited access to financial and information resources as well as regulations and
procedures which make it difficult to effectively manage the safety and health aspects of
their operations. The quality of working conditions within SMEs is therefore relatively
unsatisfactory when compared with working conditions in large construction businesses
within the country. Considering that a sizeable proportion of the labour force in
construction is employed within construction SMEs, this raises the level of concern for
safety, health and welfare within the SME sector in construction as many workers are
exposed to hazards on site. However, there are laws that seek to address the health and
safety management issues in the construction industry. Table 2 outlines some of these
laws.
Table 2: Implementation of safety and health legislation
Government
Department/Agency
Health and safety law
mandated to implement
Summary of applicability
to construction sites
Factory Inspectorate
Department
Factories, Offices and Shops
Act 1970
Sections 57, 6-8, 10-12, 19,
20, 25-31, 33- 40, 43-54
and 60-87 are applicable to
building and civil
engineering works
Labour Department Labour Act 2003 Workmen’s
Compensation Law 1987
Part XV of the Labour Act
concerns health and safety
and applies to workplaces
including construction
businesses Workmen’s
Compensation Law 1987 is
applicable to construction
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businesses
Environmental Protection
Agency Environmental
Protection Agency Act (Act
490) Pesticides Control and
Management Act (Act 528)
Both Acts are applicable to
building and civil
engineering works and
therefore of relevance to
construction businesses
Mines Department Mining Regulations 1970
Building and civil
engineering works carried
out under the ambit of
mining companies are
affected by the regulations
Town and Country Planning
Department
Planning and Building
Regulations
Applicable to all physical
developments.
National Road Safety
Commission
National Safety Commission
Act (Act 567)
Applicable to road
construction works
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area
Koforidua serves as the administrative capital of both the Eastern Region of Ghana and
the New Juaben Municipality. According to the Ghana Statistical Services report (Ghana
Statistical Service, 2001), the population of the New Juaben Municipality is about 87315.
The Municipality shares boundaries with East-Akim Municipal on the North-East,
Akwapim North District on the East and South and Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District on the
west. Obour Tabiri remains a major feature of the New Juaben Municipality.
The main occupation of the economically active population in the Eastern Region is
Agriculture and its related activities. Sales, production, transportation etc are also the
account for the employment of the active population. Within the New Juaben
Municipality, Professional and Technical Services, Sales, Production, Construction etc
form the dominant occupation of the economically active part of the population.
The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG),
Koforidua Branch has forty (40) members who undertake works in the related fields.
These contractors employ staff to undertake construction works for their clients. Some of
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the works include the Koforidua Water Project, construction of residential and
commercial facilities, roads, bridges, etc.
Research Method
The following research methods were used:
Literature Review
Works done by other researchers in the area of health and safety in the construction
industry and other relevant documents were reviewed. This guided the research team in
selecting the best methods for the research from which salient conclusions and
recommendations were drawn.
Site Visits
The team visited thirty (30) construction sites to observe condition prevailing there. The
team made two visits per site.
Data Collection
The following methods were used in the data collection process –
Interviews – some stakeholders in the construction were interviewed to seek
information on health and safety practices. Some medical centres were contacted
on number of cases from the construction industry.
Questionnaires – a structured questionnaire were disseminated to some
stakeholder.
Focus Group Discussion – a meeting was held with some stakeholders in the
construction industry to discuss some of the findings from the interviews and
questionnaires.
The parameters that were assessed are listed below
Table 3: Safety Parameters Assessed
Safety Parameter Safety Parameter
Hoarding Helmets
Safety boots Goggles / Eye protection
Gloves High visibility vests
Safety markings / safety signs Hygiene on site
Scaffolds First Aid
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Data Analysis
Data obtained from the stakeholders and other sources were analysed using statistical
methods. This helped the research team draw a more scientific conclusion from the
research work.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
According to Hughes and Ferret (2007), the health and safety requirement for a
construction site include workers’ welfare, hygienic working environments, handling of
tools and equipment, etc. It is imperative for site supervisors and safety officers to ensure
the training of workers.
Health and Safety Practices in the United Kingdom (U.K.)
London Assembly (2005) reported that in terms of occupational health, 4,100 out of every
100,000 London construction workers suffer from work-related health problems. Health
hazards include noise, vibration (29% of all vibration white fingers occurs in
construction) and skin diseases (as many as 10% of construction workers are thought to
be allergic to cement). The construction industry also has the highest rate for
musculoskeletal disorders which account for 8% of major injuries, 34% of 3-day injuries
and 26% of Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
(RIDDOR) reported accidents.
Construction Intelligence Report over a twelve-year period (1997/1998 to 2008/2009)
revealed that fall from height was a major cause of fatal injuries on the construction site.
This is followed by the worker being struck by a moving object – flying or falling. Figure
one (1) below gives details on the other construction injuries.
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Figure 1: Fatal Injuries to Workers in Construction (Source – Construction Intelligence
Report, 2009)
The construction labourers in the UK are more susceptible to injuries and construction
fatalities. This is followed by the operators of construction equipment. Figure 2 details a
pictorial representation of the injuries to construction workers in the UK. The total
reported major injuries to employees for 2008/09p was 3286. The rate of major injury to
employees decreased to 254.1 per 100,000 employees; this incidence rate is lower
(12.9%) than 2007/08 which was the lowest since the definition of major injury was
changed in 1996/7.
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Figure 2: Injuries to Workers in Construction (Source – Construction Intelligence Report, 2009)
Falls from a height now account for more than a quarter of all major injuries in
construction, with more low falls than high falls. The other main causes were slips and
trips, struck by moving object and manual handling. Over the last 9 years, there has been
a significant reduction in the number of reported fall accidents in construction.
Some of the major causes of the injuries discussed above are:
Poor housekeeping on-site
Materials (packaging, weight, storage etc.)
Poor Health and Safety supervision
Personal Protective Equipment (overuse, poor, risky, etc.)
Untreated ill-health and fatigue
The UK construction industry has set up a consultative framework to encourage greater
worker participation in the Health and Safety Issues.
Construction injuries and fatalities rarely make the news headlines and families who
suffer construction bereavement and come up against ‘the system’ for the first time find
themselves virtually unsupported.
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The Health and Safety Office, Local Authority Building Control (LABC) and the
Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors (ACAI) representing private sector
consultants are drawing up a joint working protocol to further develop information
sharing aimed to improve standards on site and reduce accidents.
Health and Safety Practices in the Ghana
Kheni (2008) posit that health and safety in the construction SMEs in Ghana revealed
some problems. Lack of skilled human resources, inadequate government support for
regulatory institutions and inefficiency in institutional frameworks responsible for health
and safety standards are some of the challenges affecting the health and safety in the
construction industry in Ghana.
Laryea and Sarfo (2010) concluded in their research that, there is lack of strong and
appropriate legislation governing the construction works and site operations in Ghana.
The Labour Act, 2003 and the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970, provide some
form of regulation for ensuring health and safety on construction sites.
Laryea and Sarfo (2010) therefore, recommend that
Clients, contractors and consultants of the construction sector in Ghana should
ensure that every construction contract takes comprehensive account of health and
safety requirements for the project, environment and the workers.
Construction workers and civil society should ensure the provision of adequate
health and safety policies, procedures and provisions to govern construction work.
Government should take the lead in enacting appropriate legislation relating to
Health and Safety in the construction industry and enforcing this by resourcing the
appropriate Ministries, Agencies and Departments of Government to do their jobs
well.
Comparative Assessment of the Health and Safety Practices in U.K. and
Ghana
The research revealed that the construction industry in both UK and Ghana are prone to
various forms of health and safety challenges. Even though these challenges abound in
the industry, the UK has put in place measures to help minimize the problems that may
arise from construction related issues.
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The UK construction sector have set in place polices that help in monitoring construction
accidents on various construction sites. This includes the construction intelligence reports
and the Health and Safety offices for construction related issues. These are laudable ideas.
The above scenarios do not apply to Ghana. There is no adequate laws and regulations
relating to Health and Safety issues on construction sites. The ministries and Departments
responsible for the monitoring of construction projects have always been complaining of
logistical constraints.
Health and Safety Practices in the New Juaben Municipality
The research focused mainly on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), used on
construction sites in the New Juaben Municipality. Some of the parameters assessed are
discussed below.
Hoarding
From the site visits conducted, it was observed that about 67% of the sites had no
hoarding and about 33% made provision for it. The reasons given by some of the site
supervisors for the absence of hoarding include:
Lack of funds for provision of the hoarding.
The project is a small one.
Majority of materials and equipment are kept off-site.
The hoarding needs to be adequately constructed to provide protection for the public,
resist impact damage, resist anticipated wind pressures and adequately lit at night.
Safety Boots / Footwear
These are boots made for the safety of construction workers in the line of duty. It has the
safety of the user in mind. The results from the site are shown in table 4 below:
Table 4: Type of footwear worn by some workers
Boot Assessment Number of Workers
Right Footwear 15
Incorrect Footwear 60
No Footwear 25
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Fifteen of the workers interviewed had approved safety on during working hours. These
workers are better protected from foot injuries and other related problems. Unfortunately,
twenty-five (25) of the workers were working without any footwear (barefooted), while
sixty (60) of the workers used any other. Some of them were using slippers (‘Charlie
wote’), old shoes, canvases, etc.
Apart from the workers which used the approved safety boots, the others are at risk of
foot related injuries and diseases. Figure 3 shows some workers working barefooted.
Figure 4 shows some workers in wellington boots while mixing concrete manually.
Figure 3: Construction Workers without footwear
Figure 4: Construction workers with footwear
Helmets
Helmets are protective equipment worn to protect the worker against head injuries. It is
sometimes referred to as hard hat. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the workers encountered
during the research were working without helmets. Only fifteen percent (15%) were
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judicious in the use of the hard hat. The workers complained of discomfort when working
with helmets. Some others griped of harsh weather conditions leading to the generation of
heat in their hairs. Figure 5 shows a worker in helmet ready to cast a column.
Figure 5: Construction worker with helmet
Site supervisors interviewed stated that, the workers were provided with the helmets but
some of the workers do not use them. Some of the helmets were seen scattered around
some of the sites. In spite of the reasons given by the workers, it is expedient that site
supervisors ensure that the workers used them.
Gloves
These are coverings for the hand that includes separated sections for the thumb and the
fingers. Gloves extend to the wrists or may go a little further than the wrist. Gloves help
protect the fingers from getting into direct contact with chemicals, dirt, harmful solutions,
etc. Majority of the workers encountered worked with their bare hands.
Goggles / Safety glasses
One construction site visited was found to be doing welding. Five (5) workers and a
supervisor were on duty. The worker performing the operation used welding shield.
Unfortunately, the other workers had no form of protection for their eyes. This can have a
very harmful effect on their eyes.
High Visibility Vests
High visibility vest is a type of PPE that has a highly reflective properties or a colour that
is easily discernible from any background. Three construction sites that were involved in
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activities close to a road network had some of their staff using these vests. The
supervisors explained that the cost of the vests is very high and therefore the firms were
unable to provide for all the staff members. Also, the staffs were fond of misusing the
vests. Figure 6 shows a worker in visibility vest, pouring concrete into a mould.
Figure 6: A construction worker in a High Visibility Vest
Safety Signs / Safety Markings
One construction site was found to be using safety markings on site. The safety board
directed workers and visitors on the necessary precautions to be taken as they go to the
working area. The team was highly impressed.
Scaffolds
A scaffold is a temporary framework of poles and planks used to support workers and
materials during construction activities – erection, repair or decoration of structures. From
the field investigations and interviews conducted, three (3) sites were using very strong
scaffolds. The other twenty-seven (27) sites were using weak scaffolds.
Some reasons given by the site supervisors for the usage of the weak scaffolds are as
follows:
The operations that needed scaffolds were for short periods.
The cost of acquiring strong scaffolds was high.
The installation of the strong scaffolds requires expertise.
The projects are single-storey and it is less profitable to go for strong scaffolds.
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It is expedient for the site supervisors to consider the health and safety of their staffs
during working periods. Weak scaffolds can give way easily causing injuries to the
worker and other relating staff members.
Figure 7: Workers using a strong scaffold and related safety gadgets
First Aid
About eighty-five percent (85%) of the sites visited did not have basic first aid equipment
for staff members. This was observed to be a very serious situation, considering the
hazardous nature of construction sites. Various forms of injuries could be sustained in the
course of the operation and therefore it becomes very necessary to have a first aid
treatment before referral is made to a health centre. This pre-supposes that these sites do
not have first aid officer.
Hygiene on Site
All the sites visited observed a high level of hygiene on site. Debris were properly put
together to be carted to spoil. There were few sites where broken blocks were found
scattered around. All the supervisors indicated their strict adherence to hygienic working
environments.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusions
From the above research, the following are the conclusions drawn:
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1. Health and safety practices on construction sites in the New Juaben Municipality
are unacceptable.
2. There is the lack of training for construction workers on the use of safety gears
and the benefits that would be accrued from its usage.
3. Safety of the construction worker is dependent on the carefulness of the worker on
site.
4. Regulatory agencies rarely carry out site inspections due to logistical constraints.
5. Site supervisors do not ensure the usage of the Personal protective equipment.
Recommendations
The following are recommendations which would help in improving the health and safety
of construction activities:
1. Employees are to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and
others affected by their acts or omissions.
2. The construction workers should be trained on construction safety and related
issues.
3. Regulatory agencies should be resourced to conduct their activities very well.
4. Site supervisors and contractors should ensure strict usage of PPE on site through
awards and motivation.
5. The Government and its Allied Agencies must ensure that Government
construction projects adhere to health and safety issues outlined in the conditions
of contract.
6. The Legislative Arm of the Ghana government must enact a law that would
protect the health and safety of construction worker, considering the contributions
of the construction sector to the GDP of the country.
7. Further research into the cost indices of safety gears and contract delivery.
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