CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
to the study
Throughout the world, the
construction industry stands out among all other industries as the main
contributor to severe and fatal-work related accidents. In the United Kingdom,
for example the industry accounts for one third of all work-related fatalities
and, five construction workers are killed every two weeks. Emerging economies
and less developed countries are no exception to high fatality rates.
Construction workers are five times more likely to suffer a permanent
disability than those in other industries (Chinda and Mohammed, 2008).
Health and
Safety Executive (2002) asserts that, over the years a great deal of effort has
gone in to reducing the number of people who were killed or injured as a result
of construction work.
Initiatives from
all sides of the industry have produced a long term reduction in the number of
injuries and fatalities, but recently their effects have diminished and the number
of deaths has increased (HSE, 2002).
The situation in
developing countries like Nigeria is worst than what prevails in developed
countries because of lack of statutory regulations on health and safety.
According to
Grant (2002), safety legislation alone cannot change this situation. What is
needed is a change in the inbred attitudes of all involved with construction
operation, manual workers, management, designers and client. This change can be
helped by implementing legislation but it also requires higher levels of
awareness of safety problems and how they can be reduced.
Although several
health and safety standards exist, the extent to which construction firms
adhere to this standards differs. It is important to understand the extent to
which they comply with the standards.
According
to Lepe et al (2008), accidents in the
construction industry represent a substantial ongoing cost to the employers,
workers and society. The costs of accidents incurred by contractors on account
of accident are divided in to three (3) sections:
i. The cost of construction health and
safety measures, that is expenses invested directly by contractors in safety
measures to prevent accident.
ii. Direct costs: this define as those
actual costs that can be directly attributable to injuries and fatalities. Is a
cost caused by accidents arising from occurrence of accidents despite the fact
that safety measure were in place. It refers to expenditure on insurance,
damage to building and equipment or vehicles, cost of health or expenditure on
medical care, cost of investigation, legal cost, death, permanent associated
with accidents.
iii.
Indirect costs: it refer to costs that may not be covered by insurance
and are the less tangible costs that result from accident. They are classified
by HSE as those costs incurred by the diversion of time to deal with the
consequences of an accident, which also can affect productivity and these
include, cleaning up, hire consulting experts, time lost, sick pay, overtime
working and temporary labour.
1.2
Need for the study
Over the years, a high number of people were
killed or injured as a result of
construction work (HSE, 2002).
It is
therefore necessary to investigate the
degree to which construction industry adhere to health and safety regulations
on construction site in Nigeria.
1.3
Statement of research problem
Due to the fact
that high rate of accident do occur on construction sites.
Alfred
et al (2008),in an attempt to evaluate
health and safety performance of Nigerian construction sites, found that
the tool problem, health problem,
workmanship and material standard factor, contingencies and corporate code of
health and safety management are the major factors causing occupational
hazards.
Bako (2008),
highlight the possible provision of health and safety facilities on
construction site and ways of improving safety measures. He found that the
commonest accidents on construction site are, people stuck by falling object,
people falling/slipping from walkways, scaffold and stepping on dangerous
object. He also found that lack of provision of safety facilities has resulted
to accident and loss of life to workmen and to the economy and also to the
employer.
With all effort
of researchers to tackle the problems of health and safety, it is observed that
accident still happen on construction site. It is also observed that no one has
made an effort to undertake research on the extent to which health and safety
regulations are adhered to on construction site. Thus it is highly desirable to find out whether
health and safety regulations are being adhered to on construction sites.
1.4
Aim and Objectives
1.4.1 Aim
The
aim of this research is to evaluate the extent to which construction firms adhere to health and safety regulations on
construction sites in Nigeria.
1.4.2 Objectives
1.
To identify the
health and safety regulations.
2.
To examine the extent to which construction firms in
Nigeria, adhere to health and safety regulations.
1.5 Scope and Limitation
This research covers
construction sites in Abuja (FCT) and Niger State only.
Due
to time constraints, there was difficulty in collecting sufficient data from
the survey and also the research is limited to Abuja (FCT) and Niger State of
Nigeria. Also some respondents may be bias in their answers.