Analysis of Labour Outputs of Selected Substructural Blockworks in Nigeria. (A Case study of Abuja, North –Central zone of Nigeria)

Abstract

This paper aims to determine empirically the labour outputs for selected masonry works at substructural level in ongoing construction sites in Abuja, the north central zone of Nigeria. The absence of empirical standard of masons’ outputs on construction sites which usually generates conflicts when preparing unit rate for labour item necessitates the study. 70 gang size of masons were purposively sampled in randomly sampled ongoing construction sites in Abuja. The site influencing factors on labour outputs (geographical and physical location, wages, and years of experience and site weather) were taken into consideration during observations of gang of masons on sites. The observations were taken with the aid of stop clock, visual recording and measurement of work done per day. The output of masons was determined based on the quantity of work done vis a vis the actual time taken to perform the task with due consideration of above- mentioned site factors. This study concludes that gang size (number of mason and unskilled labourer) plays a major role in determining the daily labour output in substructural operations on Nigerian construction sites provided all influencing factors remain constant.