Analysis of Safety Performance in Nigerian Construction Industry

Abstract

The quest for the provision of adequate housing for all has translated to the increase in activities of Building construction industry in Nigeria. This growth is accompanied however with cases of poor safety performance which at times leads to structural failure. This study investigates and analyses safety performance in Nigerian construction industry. Investigatory survey research method (work study) was adopted to appraise the aim and objectives of the study through field and questionnaire approach. Questionnaire survey consisting of a five point Likert scale was conducted to solicit information from the respondents, and a total of 120 questionnaires were issued to construction professionals and workers on the sites visited. 92 questionnaires representing 76.67% response rate were retrieved and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Communalities test, Principal Component Analysis along with ANOVA were utilised for data analysis. A total of thirty-two (32) factors influencing safety performance were identified from literature, subsequently principal component analysis was utilised to reduce the list to nine (9) significant principal factors. The top nine principal factors influencing safety performance determined from the research are: Relationship between Supervisors and Employees on site, Geographical Location (Environmental Factors: Natural and Working Environment), Working Procedure, Ear defenders not worn (while working under noisy equipment), Talk by Management on Safety, Tidy Site, Safety Communication, Operatives job experience and Ladders used without being tied secured. These factors were further incorporated into a regression model. The adjusted coefficient of determination of the model was 0.98; this shows that the model has the capability of explaining 98% of variability in the data under consideration. This implies that the model is adequate in evaluating safety performance. It is therefore recommended that key industry professionals and stakeholders should channel available resources to the determined nine (9) principal safety performance factors.