pISSN ISSN-L: 2343-6662 VOL. 6,No.6(2), pp 59-79, March, 2014

AFRICA DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ADRRI) JOURNAL

ADRRI JOURNAL (www.adrri.org)

pISSN: 2343-6662 ISSN-L: 2343-6662 VOL. 6,No.6(2), pp 59-79, March, 2014

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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

mailto:[email protected]




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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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