ABSTRACT
Management has a great effect on the job-site performance of construction
skilled workers. This paper discusses "An assessment of the impact of work
environment on the construction skilled workers in Imo State, Nigeria. It was
carried out with the aim of assessing the efficiency and productivity of
skilled workers on construction environment. The questionnaires and field
approach was the method of study used. Data for the study were collected
through secondary and primary sources and were analyzed by means of simple
percentage, severity Index (likert scale) and productivity formula. The study
found that certain groups of skilled workers are more productive on public
construction work environment while others are more productive on private
construction work environment. The study also found out that the percentage
agreement between public and private skilled workers in the ranking of
productivity improvement factors on construction work environment is very low
(16.67%). The study equally identifies and documented productivity improvement
factor of skilled workers on building construction site. The study concluded
that skilled workers on building construction site environment are productive
and recommended good motivation/incentives scheme, quality professional
management, inspection/supervisions and adequate supply of tools/materials as
criteria factor for improvement of productivity on construction work
environment.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF STUDY
Productivity has become the buzzword
of the time as it is generally agreed that the more productivity the
better. However, productivity in
construction industry is discouragingly low. The effect of this cannot be
overemphasized.
Aboyade (1966) believed a country's
development process depends on the capacity of the country's construction
industry, which accounts for half of the country's fixed capital accumulation.
Horneir (1987) confirmed the importance of construction industry by asserting
that 10% increase in construction labour productivity will represent an enormous
annual saving.
Productivity reflects a
variety of factors acting together to increase the value of output faster than
the cost of input. Mc Beath (1974), Nwaroh (1987) and Kendrick (1977) found
Mali's (1978) definition of productivity acceptable. Mali (1978) defines
productivity as "the measure of how well resources are brought together in
organization and utilized for accomplishing a set of results" that is
productivity is reaching the highest level of performance with least expenditure
of resources. Riggs and Felix (1983) and Bain (1982) said as much when they
stated that productivity Is not a measure of output produced; rather it is a
measure of how well resources are combined and utilized to accomplish desirable
results. It is, therefore, apparent that construction industry in Nigeria is a
major contributor to the gross national product (GNP)
Nwachukwu (2002) classified this industry
under four main segments
(i)
The
building segment
(ii) The civil segment
(iii) The mechanical/electrical segment
(iv) Industrial/heavy Engineering segment
According to him, Nwachukwu (2002),
the building industry segment in Nigeria constitute about 67% of the total
construction activities in the country. Unfortunately, building construction
site in Nigeria are currently passing through gloomy and difficult time as
oppose to what used to be the boom situation in the early seventies, many
factors such as high dependant of foreign building material and technology,
lack of adequate finance, unfavorable government policies etc, have been
identify as some of the problem of lack of productivity in construction work
environment which has resulted to project abandonment, project failure, project
delay.
Another major problem that has
recently attracted the attention of building stakeholders in the industry is
the issue of "UNSKILLED" in the construction environment which has
resulted to low productivity on building environment. This state of affairs
does not represent a good image for the industry, hence the need to ask
question "What can be done" it is against this background that this
research an assessment of the impact of work environment on the productivity of
construction skilled worker. A case study of Imo state Nigeria was conserved.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Most construction
project site in Nigeria is being managed by unqualified person who lacks the
requisite capacity to identify test of work environment. Investigation have
shown that there is serious declined in the number of young men and women taken
up vocation or apprenticeship in specialized construction place. This has
created a situation where most men and women (unskilled construction workers)
who don't have proper and adequate training on the construction work
environment and its procedures, such scenario constitute a serious problem to
the building process not only in term of poor quality work, delay or
abandonments of project but also term of low productivity which hinder national
development.
Many factors are internally generated this controllable by management,
some factor are however beyond management control (e.g. nutrition type of
workers, change in climatic condition etc) and their impact are beyond the
scope of the present discourse.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to assess the efficiency and productivity of
construction skilled workers in Nigeria with Imo state as a case study.
The objectives of the study are as
follows
1.
To identify productivity factor in the construction work environment.
2.
To what extent can skilled workers contribute to the productivity and
successful
project delivery?
3.
To determine whether construction skilled workers are productive or not.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
The study would consider the following question.
1. What are the major factors that contribute
to productivity on the construction
environment?
2. What strategies can be adopted for measuring
productivity and performance on
site?
3. To what extent can skilled workers contribute
to the productivity and successful
project delivery?
4. How does this factor contribute to
achievement or non achievement of project
target on site?
5. To what extent can unskilled workers
contribute to waste of resources, failure
or unsuccessful project delivery?
6. How effective are these factors when applied
This study would attempt to provide
answer to the above question.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Productivity has a great significance
in construction labour productivity constitute a significant part of production
input for construction project. In the construction industry, many external and
internal factors are never constant and are difficult to anticipate. This
factor leads to continuous variation in labour productivity. It is necessary to
make sure that a reduction in productivity does not affect the plan and
schedule of the work and does not cause delay. The consequences of these delays could result in
serious money losses. Further, considerable cost can be saved if productivity
is improved because the same work can be done with less manpower, thus reducing
overall labour
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study would be of immense value to all the construction skilled
workers in the construction work environment in Nigeria. It hopes to suggest
way for improvement of performance, permit efficient utilization of resources
as well as to promote knowledge and research general issue of productivity on
construction industry in Nigeria. Above all the study would contribute to the
growth of construction industry in Nigeria and then strengthen the nation
economy.
1.6 THE LIMITATION OF STUDY
Although the focus of the study is Nigeria, the study is limited to
southeast Nigeria. It is believed that construction skilled workers are not
illiterates and have the same character nationwide. Therefore the
situation/workforce behaviors are the same. Productivity assessment for the
purpose of this study is only limited to construction and work environment. It
is hoped that the study would achieve the intended aim and objectives.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
PRODUCTIVITY: it is the relationship
between goods produced or a service provided and the resource consume in doing
it (TOFFIAR 1981)
ASSESSMENT: the value or amount at which
something is calculated; it is the judgment or opinion of something.
SKILLED WORKER: it is also known as tradesmen,
these are any worker who has some special skills, knowledge or ability in their
work especially in the construction industry.
CONSTRUTION SITE: Pieces of ground were building
construction or construction works/activities takes place.
ENVIRONMENT: This the sum total of all internal
and external influences and condition affecting construction in developing
activities.