Appraisal of Construction Health and Safety Risk Management in Nigerian Construction Industry – a case study of the Building Industry

ABSTRACT The study examined the state of health and safety risk management practices in the building sector of the construction industry and has the objectives to: evaluate the construction risks inherent in the building sector of the construction industry; examine the health and safety risk management processes adopted by the construction industry in Nigeria; validate the existence of identified factor(s) militating against the implementation of health and safety practices in the construction industry in Nigeria; and investigate if there are established frameworks for effective health and safety risk management in the construction industry of Nigeria. The study adopted the survey and case study research design. It employed the use of Delphi’s technique in the distribution of questionnaire and made use of chi-square analytical technique for the analysis of gathered data. The findings revealed that: most of the parties involved in construction projects do not have any significant health and safety risk management process in place; the identified factors militating against the implementation of health and safety risk management practices are still valid; there is no existing established framework for effective regulation of health and safety risk management practices. Various improvement strategies have been suggested.

Table of contents

Pages

Title page i

Declaration ii

Approval iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Abstract vi

List of Tables x

List of Figures xii

List of Appendices xiii

Chapters

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.0 Background of the Study 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem 4

1.2 Aims and Objective 5

1.3 Research Questions 5

1.4 Research Hypotheses 6

1.5 Scope of the study 6

1.6 Significance of the study 6

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 8

2.0 Introduction 8

2.1 Concept of risk 8

2.1.1 Risk in construction industry 10

2.2 Risk Management 12

2.2.1 Risk Management in construction industry 13

2.2.2 Risk management processes 15

2.2.2.1 Risk identification 15

2.2.2.1.1 Risk checklist and matrix 15

2.2.2.1.2 Brainstorming 18

2.2.2.1.3 Risk breakdown structure (RBS) 18

2.2.2.2 Risk assessment 22

2.2.2.2.1 Quantitative risk Assessment 24

2.2.2.2.1.1 Simulation method 25

2.2.2.2.1.2 Modeling Technique-sensitivity analysis 25

2.2.2.2.1.3 Diagramming Technique 26

2.2.2.2.2 Qualitative Analysis 26

2.2.2.2.2.1 Risk probability and impact assessment 26

2.2.2.2.2.2 Probability/impact risk rating matrix 27

2.2.2.2.2.3 Risk data quality assessment 28

2.2.2.2.2.4 Risk urgency assessment 29

2.2.2.2.2.5 Risk categorization assessment 29

2.2.2.3 Risk Response 29

2.2.2.3.1 Risk retention/ acceptance 30

2.2.2.3.2 Risk reduction/mitigation 30

2.2.2.3.3 Risk Transfer 30

2.2.2.3.4 Risk Avoidance 31

2.2.2.3.5 Risk Control 31

2.2.3 Advantages of risk management 32

2.3 Overview of the construction industry 33

2.3.1 Role of the construction industry in the developed countries 34

2.3.2 Role of the construction industry in the developing countries

(Nigerian) 36

2.4 Health and safety 38

2.4.1 Background of health and safety: Global perspective 39

2.4.2 Health and safety: Nigerian perspective 40

2.4.3 Overview of health and safety practices in construction industries 42

2.4.4 Health and safety responsibility 45

2.4.5 Factors Militating against health and safety practices in Nigerian

construction industry 49

2.4.6 Employee assistance programs (EAPs) in Nigerian construction

industry 53

2.4.7 Frameworks for successful Health and safety management in

construction industries. 55

2.5 Summary 58

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 59

3.0 Introduction 59

3.1 Research design 59

3.2 Delphi’s technique 60

3.3 Research study area 62

3.4 Data collection 63

3.5 Technique for analysis 64

3.6 Limitations 64

4 PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 66

4.1 Data gathering 66

4.2 Data presentation 68

4.3 Analysis of data 70

4.3.1 Test of hypotheses 71

4.3.1.1 Test of hypothesis 1 71

4.3.1.2 Test of hypothesis 2 74

4.3.1.3 Test of hypothesis 3 76

5 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS 78

5.1 Summary and discussion of research findings 78

5.2 Conclusion 80

5.3 Recommendation 80

5.4 Suggestion(s) for further research 81

5.5 Contribution to knowledge 81