Adaptive selection and behavioural conditioning framework for the attitudinal change of construction workers towards the use of safety helmets and goggles
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Date
2020-10
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KNUST
Abstract
Construction workers are constantly faced with several hazards due to the nature of their work
environment. Head traumas and eye injuries on construction sites are of great concern to
industry stakeholders in the efforts to improve health and safety performance of the
construction industry. Like most PPE, Safety helmets and goggles are a statutory requirement
in most countries to protect the head and face regions which are the most vulnerable in the
event of an accident. Safety helmets protect the head against the impact of lateral objects or
the impact of falling objects on construction sites. Similarly, safety goggles protect the eyes
and the face region from severe injury from flying particles and or other hazards encountered
during construction work when used appropriately. Despite their importance, construction
workers are reluctant to use safety helmets and goggles due to several discomforts experienced
and thus are continuously faced with exposure to several hazards at the workplace. While using
these PPE may prevent injury and or fatalities on the construction site, providing workers with
poor fitting PPE may introduce other forms of strain that may contribute to avoidable incidents
on site. This research employed a combination of adaptive selection and behavioural
conditioning principles to remedy the discomforts associated with safety helmets and goggles
to improve their use on construction sites. A preliminary investigation was initially conducted
through the personal administration of questionnaires to one hundred and twenty-three (123)
construction operatives to find out why construction workers do not use given PPE. Data for
the main study was obtained through semi-structured interviews and a physiological strain field
experiment (using physiological indicators of heart rates and body temperatures) involving
sixteen (16) male construction workers, a comparative analysis of linear anthropometric head
and face measurements of one hundred and twenty-seven (127) male construction workers and
dimensions of construction helmets and goggles available in Ghana within a multiple case
study. A questionnaire survey of seventy – four (74) large construction firms in the country
was also conducted to identify selection considerations made in the procurement of helmets
and goggles. A content analysis on interviewee data indicated that hotness and poor fit are the
top two discomforts associated with safety helmets while blurred vision and poor fit are
prevalent among safety goggle users. Workers were found to experience little or no
physiological strain while using uncomfortable safety helmets in hot weather, when values of
physiological indicators were entered into a physiological strain equation and interpreted on a
universal scale. A two-sampled T-Test indicated statistically significant differences between
helmet and head dimensions, as well as safety goggles and face measurements. Descriptive
analysis of the likert data indicated that construction firms consider several factors aimed at ensuring the procurement of comfortable safety helmets and goggles. The study recommends
a behaviour-based framework with a three – tier intervention plan, that combines a selection
criteria consisting of anthropometric characteristics, ambient temperature, consideration of
standards (aimed at improving the comfort experience of users), with activities such as user-
involvement in the procurement process, safety inductions with audio-visuals, participatory
toolbox meetings and selection of safety champions to stimulate the preferred behaviour of
appropriate use of the PPEs. The conditioning theory is then applied in Tier three of the
framework to maintain the acceptable behaviour. The proposed framework is intended to
ensure the procurement of comfortable safety helmets and goggles for construction work and
simultaneously improve the attitude of workers towards these PPE.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT