Health and Safety Information Management on Construction Sites in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Management of health and safety information helps to achieve a safe work environment by educating construction participants on risks and hazards on sites. This study therefore identified and assessed health and safety information on construction sites with a view to enhancing safe work environment. Data for the study were collected from site operatives on construction sites of registered construction organisations in Lagos State, Nigeria. On each site visited, three (3) site operatives were randomly selected from bricklayers, carpenters, iron benders, and so on working on the identified sites. This gave a sample size of one hundred and sixty-five (165). Questionnaire administration was adopted for data collection. The total number of copies of the questionnaire retrieved was one hundred and twenty-six (126) -76% response rate. Mean score and standard deviation were the analytical tools used to rank the information, while Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance was used to determine the degree of agreement among the respondents. The analysis revealed that the most frequent health and safety information on construction sites were first aid procedures, safety signs and symbols, protective equipment. Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance revealed strong agreement among the respondents on the ranking. The safety of operatives should be considered the number one priority; hence, the contractor should ensure the provision of adequate and well-equipped first-aid boxes on every site. Posters, safety, and warning signs indicating different hazardous working conditions should be provided on the sites. When these operatives are healthy, work can go smoothly on construction sites.