CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background To The Study
The construction industry constitutes one of the
industry with the highest number of hazardous nature of work which requires the
implementation of safety policy and safety management so as to mitigate the
inherent risk and hazards in the construction industry. The term safety is
defined as the mitigation of risk to a level that is reasonably low as
practicable. Therefore, Safety management systems (SMS) constitute a detailed
management system formulated to implement safety policy in the organization.
The SMS consist of plans, objectives, policy, procedures, responsibility,
organization etc. The essence of SMS is to identify hazard and mitigate risk in
the organization and also ensuring that these risk controls are effective
SMS is a measure adopted as an explicit, rational and detailed process for
managing safety risks.
The significance of ensuring safety in the work
environment is fundamentally upheld by different studies as the work
environment is exposed to intrinsic hazard and risk factors which exact negative
influences on the firm’s overall performance. Consequently, the construction
industry constitutes as one of the most hazardous industry. According to the
International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (2011)
The ratio of one to six fatal accidents takes place at the construction site. Also,
a further estimate indicates that about 60,000 fatal accidents takes
place annually on construction sites around the world. Keller &
Keller, (2009) and Injuries Board (2009). In Nigeria estimated hundreds of
construction employees are incapacitated and killed as a result of accident
at the construction sites. Awodele & Ayoola, (2005) and Smallwood &
Haupt (2005) .The reason being attributed to poorly
implemented safety management system and lack of adequate policy
measure which covers all the relevant safety issues involved in each
construction project and site. Therefore, the research seeks to investigate the
effect of safety management on project performance in a construction company.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The level of incidents of hazards in the
construction industry is enormous resulting in increased rate of deaths and
permanently disabled citizens of construction employees. This repeated cases of
accidents emanates from falls from height, trapped by collapse building ,
accident from a moving vehicle, electricity or electrical burns, contact
with operating machinery or material being machined, exposure to hot or harmful
substance or fire
The significance of ensuring safety in the
work environment is fundamentally upheld by different studies as the work
environment is exposed to intrinsic hazard and risk factors which
exact negative influences on the firms overall performance. Consequently
the construction industry constitute as one of the most hazardous industry.
According to the International Training Centre of the International Labour
Organization (2011) The ratio of one to six fatal accidents takes place at the
construction site. Also a further estimate indicates that about 60,000 fatal
accidents takes place annually on construction sites around the
world. Keller & Keller, (2009) and Injuries Board (2009). In Nigeria
an estimated hundreds of construction employees are incapacitated and killed as
a result of accident at the construction sites. Awodele & Ayoola,
(2005) and Smallwood & Haupt (2005) .The
reason being attributed to poorly implemented safety
management system and lack of adequate policy measure which
covers all the relevant safety issues involved in each construction project
and site. Therefore the research seek to investigate the effect of safety
management on project performance in a construction company.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
i. To investigate the effects safety
management on project performance in construction firms.
ii. To
determine the challenges to safety management in Nigeria.
iii. To
examine the level of implementation of safety laws
in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
i. What are the effects safety
management on project performance in construction firms?
ii. What
are the challenges to safety management in Nigeria?
iii. What
are the level
of implementation of safety laws in Nigeria?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study proffers the need to ensure an effective
implementation of a safety management system in the construction industry to
ensure optimal performance.
The significance of ensuring safety in the work
environment is fundamentally upheld by different studies as the work
environment is exposed to intrinsic hazard and risk factors
1.6 Research Hypothesis
Ho: The effect of safety management on project
performance in a construction company is low.
Hi: The effect of safety management on project
performance in a construction company is high.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the appraisal of the effect of
safety management on project performance in a construction company.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
Logistics and geographical factors were some of the
constraint faced in the research.
1.9 Definition of Terms
RISK DEFINED
RISK is the unfavorable circumstances that may occur
in the process of an event or exercise of job function that could lead to
damage or destruction of life or property or ill health.
HAZARD DEFINED
The situation or source from where a potential
damage or harm could originate. Such sources could be chemical in nature,
biological physical or ergonomic. This implies that some industries are more
hazardous than others.
SAFETY DEFINED
Safety is defined as the mitigation of risk to a
level that is reasonably low as practicable.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT DEFINED
Safety management system (SMS) constitutes a
detailed management system formulated to implement safety policy in the
organization. The SMS consist of plans, objectives, policy, procedures,
responsibility, organization etc. The essence of SMS is to identify hazard and
mitigate risk in the organization and also ensuring that these risk
controls are effective SMS is a measure adopted as an explicit, rational and
detailed process for managing safety risks.