Assessing the impact of occupational health and safety needs on the lives of construction workers.A case study at Abasa General Enterprise Limited-Kumasi

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Date
2012-07-12
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Abstract
Occupational health and safety issues are concerned with protecting employees and other people affected by what the company produces and does, against the hazards arising from their employment or their links with the prevention of ill-health arising from working conditions. Construction sites are seen to be accidents prone areas because of the machinery and equipment they use in their daily operation. Contractors most often downplay on the health and safety of workers at the workplace. No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Welfare facilities, training and protection are offered workers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is the only regulatory body plays an insignificant role when contractors fail to provide a healthy and safe environment for workers. Using simple random sampling technique, 60 questionnaires were distributed to administrators, project Engineers, Project managers, Site Foremen, Drivers, Artisans and Labourers. All questionnaires were retrieved representing a hundred percent response rate. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and scale ranking. The findings indicate employers of Abasa General Enterprise Limited in the Kumasi Metropolis provide few welfare facilities and safety materials to workers. The findings also indicate that first-aid equipments, safe drinking water, sanitary facilities, provision of personal protection equipment (PPE) and training of workers on safety procedures, were the measures needed for addressing the occupational health and safety issues confronting workers on construction sites. The absence of health and safety gadgets and welfare facilities cause a lot of injuries on site, the end result is lost of job and ultimately, death. It is recommended that Safety Officers from Ghana Labour office should liaise with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and in conjunction with the Association of Civil Engineering and Building Contractors, regularly visit construction sites to ensure the enforcement of laws governing the provision of welfare facilities and safety materials, employment, and rights of casual workers. It is also recommended that contractors should be encouraged to set up Human Resource and Safety Departments for the purpose of executing safety education campaigns and training programmes to all workers.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Managerial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Business Administration.
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