THE IMPACT OF POST ACCIDENTS AND HAZARDS AT CONSTRUCTION SITE ON THE SOCIO ECONOMIC LIFE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKER AND THEIR FAMILY (A CASE STUDY KUMASI METROPOLIS).

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research is to examine the various types of accident and hazards that construction workers are exposed to at work, the causes of accident and hazards at industries can be reduced and prevented. Six (6) construction industries in Kumasi metropolis were selected to identify impact of post-accident and hazards on construction sites on the socio economic life of workers and their families. The same structured and non-structured interview were used to collect data. Twenty-eight (28) construction workers, 2 managers and 2 supervisors were interviewed by using snowball sample test, to identify only accident in six (6) industries. Findings that the rate of accident at construction industries was not regular since the researcher had only 28 participants in 6 construction industries. The main causes of accidents were identified to be ignorance and complacency of employees’ unsafe behavior and working conditions. Measures were also adopted by management to curtail these causes. Health and safety is linked to the economic progress of the country. It is therefore economical and cheaper to maintain a healthy working environment and manage risk than to administer loss due to job related injuries and illness. Recommendation that there should be well established and abreast safety sections in each construction industry. Again, there is the need to intensify training methods, in-service training, safety regulations and the need of using the protective devices, to reduce and prevent accident and hazards at the construction industries. It is concluded that the main causes of accident and hazards are identify to be ignorance, negligence and complacency of workers, unsafe working environment and conditions. The management are to adopt measures to educate workers to reduced accident and hazards in construction sites.