ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY DEVIANCE NORMALIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Deviance refers to rule breaking behaviour which fail to conform to the norms and expectation of a particular society. In sociology deviance describes an action or behaviour that violates social norms including a formally enacted rule. Normalization of Deviance is the process where clearly unsafe practice becomes considered normal if it does not cause harm immediately. Hence, this study assessed health and safety deviance normalisation of construction projects in Abuja, Nigeria, with the view of suggesting strategies for eliminating health and safety deviance normalisation. A total of 155 copies of the questionnaire were administered, and 150 copies were returned and used for data analysis, with a response rate of 97%. The analysis of the data was carried out with the use of percentage, mean item score, and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. The study identified fourteen (14) major causes of health and safety deviance normalization. All fourteen causes had a mean score (MS) ranging between 4.52 and 2.94, with an average mean score of 3.67, which implies the identified causes are important. The study identified six (6) levels of application of health and safety practices in construction projects undertaken by the workers and management (average MIS = 3.85). The findings revealed that safety communication among workers was the most effective level of effectiveness in the application of health and safety practices (MIS = 4.54). The result of Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that there exists a positive, fairly strong and significant relationship between the causes of health and safety deviance normalisation and labour performance, at the 5% level of significance (p = 0.01; r = 0.567). The study identified six (6) strategies for eliminating health and safety deviance normalisation by the workers and management which are safety communication among workers and safety training among workers (average MIS = 4.09). The study concludes that there is a low level of occupational health and safety policy application and performance in the construction industry. This poor health and safety performance is caused by HS risk normalization promoted by factors such as prioritization of production over safety at construction sites and lack of training of labor, employees' attitude towards work. As a result of the conclusions made in this study, the study recommended the use of a well-thought-out and comprehensive health and safety management strategy. This would guarantee a safe job execution plan, lower health and safety costs as a consequence of fewer incidents, and management should bear the responsibility for safety for all the construction workers.