Abstract:
It is important that construction site workers are involved in health and safety decision
making since they are physically and psychologically affected by accidents on
construction sites. The aim of this research was to examine construction site workers’
direct or indirect involvement in health and safety decision making in some selected
Districts (Asutifi North and South) from the perspective of D1K1 and D2K2 contractors.
A quantitative research strategy was adopted using a deductive approach. The target
population of the study was made up of construction site workers employed by D1K1 and
D2K2 category of construction companies in Asutifi North and South District
Assemblies. Purposive sampling (Non-Probability) technique was used to select the
respondents. Questionnaire was the main instrument used to gather primary data. Data
collected for the study was analysed with the Version 16 of the Statistical Package for
Social sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study showed that the ways in which
construction site workers are directly or indirectly involved in health and safety matters
included; suggestions and opinions of the workforce being inculcated in the overall health
and safety management systems in most of the companies, and that they were allowed to
make suggestions that sought to improve upon their own safety on site. Management was
also seen as showing greater commitment of involving workers by coming out with
Involvement Programmes to ensure a sustainable involvement in health and safety
management in some companies. Overall, the level of involvement of workers in health
and safety matters was consistent with their awareness about health and safety issues,
Specifically, the study found that level of awareness of workers in health and safety
issues relating to the work environment was commendable in the sense that, they could
tell some of the basic provisions in the regulations regarding health and safety in the
country. In relation to that, they were not afraid to be victimised by management when
there was the need to raise issues against management about certain health and safety
decisions, which in the workers’ opinion could affect their operations negatively in one
way or the other. Even though workers may possess limited knowledge in health and
safety on site, they nevertheless could express satisfaction or otherwise when certain
decisions by management would affect them eventually. Based on the stated findings, the
study has made recommendations towards greater involvement of workers in health and
safety management in D1K1 and D2K2 construction firms in the study districts.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of CONSTRUCTION/WOOD TECHNOLOGY,
Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION, submitted to the Graduate Studies,
University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
award of Master of Technology Education (Construction Technology) Degree
AUGUST, 2018