Appraisal of Safety Practices on Construction Sites in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Safety practices in projects are considered significant to successful project delivery in the construction industry. This research focused on the appraisal of safety practices on construction sites in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This is with a view to enhancing maximum productivity which is germane to timely project delivery. The study identified various safety practices employed on site and factors influencing safety practices among contractors on Nigerian construction sites. The data for the study were obtained using multiple-choice questionnaire administered on 43 construction sites in Ibadan, Oyo State. A total of eighty-five (85) copies of questionnaire were distributed to respondents out of which sixty (60) were returned representing 70.5% response rate. Data received were analyzed using relative importance index (RII). The study revealed that identification of hazard ranked 1st position with RII of 0.90, medical provision ranked 2nd with RII of 0.87, risk control ranked 3rd with RII of 0.83, Occupational safety and health practices ranked 4th with RII of 0.80, safety review ranked 5th with RII of 0.75 and revealed that lack of safety management committee is the utmost factor affecting the adoption of safety practices in the Nigeria construction sites The study therefore concluded that hazard identification, instant medical provision, occupational safety and health programme are paramount towards achieving safe project delivery as revealed by the study and recommended that contracting firms should device a strategy that would identify hazards inherent in a particular project and set up safety management committees who would always be concerned with the safety of all and sundry on site.