Framework for Successful Implementation of Health and Safety Practice on Construction Site in Abuja

Abstract

The need to provide safety work environment for construction workers calls for effective implementation of health and safety management practice (HSMP) on construction sites. Effective implementation of HSMP creates safe work place, thus reduce accident rate and enhance workers productively. This research work is aimed at providing a safe work place for construction workers on site. This was achieved through the use of structured questionnaire on selected project sites in Abuja, Nigeria and development of frame work for effective implementation of health and safety practices on construction site. Data were analyzed and ranked through the use significance importance index (SI) on the ranking scale, absence of provision for the cost of health and safety measures from tender document, lack of commitment to health and safety ay work place by stakeholders of construction project and designers not taken into consideration health and safety problems associated with subsequent maintenance and up keep of building at design stage were first three most significance factors affecting effective implementation of health and safety practice on site, with a significance index , 0.913, 0.862 and 0.821 respectively, while lack of regular safety audit was the least on the ranking scale with SI of 0.526. On the contrary, adequate provision for cost of health and safety measures in tender document, management commitment to health and safety measures (HSM) at work and adequate safety training were ranked as the first three most influential factors that moved effective implementation of health and safety practices on construction sites. The frame work developed was tested for its effectiveness and the respondents strongly agreed that the frame work has the potential for implementation of health and safety practice on construction sites.