Impact of stress management on the productivity of workers on Nigerian construction sites

Abstract

Productivity in the construction industry to a large extent is influenced by the performance of the workers in the industry. Poor construction output or productivity is as a result of varying factors such as type, complexity, construction method, weather, stress, etc. The objectives of this study are: to identify the determinant, effects and management of stress in the construction industry. The opinion of respondents on the causes of stress, effects and management of stress as indentified in the literature reviewed were obtained by administering a well structured questionnaire. The respondents include the workers (professionals, tradesmen and labourers) in the Nigeria construction industry. This study employed the use of mean score and percentile as statistical tools to rank the degree of potency of each factors identified. The study revealed that out of the causes of stress, inadequate temperature control in the most occurring factor, time pressure and ambitious deadline were also common while poor communication is not a common factor. The study showed that most of the construction workers in Nigeria feel headache and get angry due to issues relating to their job. Also it was observed from the respondents opinion on the ways by which stress can be reduced that the industry do not have a well designed payment scheme for work done. It was however concluded from the study that weather condition is the major causes of stress and that good payment scheme would reduce the psychological effect of stress. It was recommended that construction works should be carried out under a condition that favours both the construction and the workers and the trade union should rise up to issues relating to welfare of worker in the industry