Awareness and Implementation of Health and Safety (H&S) in the Nigeria Construction Industry

Abstract

A level of awareness and implementation of health and safety (H&S) in the Nigeria construction industry was investigated. A questionnaire survey was conducted on construction projects to establish the level of awareness and implementation of construction health and safety. Physical observation were also conducted on construction sites in order to relate questionnaire responses to what actually obtained on construction sites. The study covers the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria with a random sampling of one state from each zone. Findings from the research reveal that the level of health and safety awareness is low, health and safety legislation is not complied with, most sites do not posses the health and safety plan. Contractors are not committed to health and safety implementation. Health and safety management systems, procedures , and protocols in most of the construction companies are not proper, clients and designers do not participate in the implementation of health and safety. It was recommended that Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) should relax the Yardstick of admittance and open up for more people to become Professional Builders so that the Implementation of Health and Safety plan (documents) will be achieved.