Factors affecting the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of construction professionals relative to factors that affect the delivery of optimum health and safety (H&S) on construction projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative design which entailed the distribution of a web-based questionnaire among construction professionals, namely, architects, construction/project managers, engineers, H&S managers and quantity surveyors working for contractors and construction consultants in Zimbabwe. The data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Factor analysis was used to reveal interrelated significant sets of factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S. Findings Factor analysis revealed nine components/factors: change and innovation-related, monitoring and enforcement-related, production-related, access to information and health service-related, on-site facilities and welfare-related, risk assessment and mitigation-related, job security and funding-related, cost-related and COVID-19 risk perception-related factors as the significant factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. Research limitations/implications The results highlighted the need for social dialogue among construction stakeholders to support initiatives that will enhance the delivery of H&S on construction projects. Construction stakeholders may find the results useful in highlighting the areas that need improvement to protect workers’ H&S during the pandemic. However, the small sample limits the generalisability of the results to construction sectors in other regions. Originality/value The study investigated factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 to inform interventions to enhance H&S.

Project Performance in the Global Construction Industry during the Covid-19 Era

“…The most commonly utilized safety measures included the provision of personal protective equipment for the workers (Alara, 2021;Amoah & Simpeh, 2021;Olanrewaju et al, 2021), educating workers about Covid-19 (Agyekum et al, 2022;Chigara & Moyo, 2022;Kukoyi et al, 2022), ensuring physical and social distancing on the construction site (Gan & Koh, 2021;Nnaji et al, 2022;Olukolajo et al, 2022), daily sanitization of construction equipment and work sites (Chigara & Moyo, 2022;Onubi et al, 2022; and staggering start times, break times and finish times to avoid congestion on sites (Nnaji et al, 2022;Onubi et al, 2022;Simpeh & Amoah, 2023) Once construction firms ensured that workers were protected as much as possible from the Covid-19 virus, the next issue was to develop strategies to continue construction activities amidst the safety restrictions put in place, and that was the focus of 14 of the 54 articles reviewed in this study. Four distinct coping strategies were identified, with the most prevalent being construction firms collaborating with one another to share expertise, building materials and personnel in order to successfully complete projects (Salami et al, 2023;Sutterby et al, 2023;Yan & Li, 2022).…”

Opportunities and Challenges for Construction Health and Safety Technologies under the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chinese Construction Projects

“…The use of H&S technologies could help reduce, mitigate, or control the risks of the pandemic [ 39 , 40 ]. There are many H&S technologies used on construction sites under the pandemic.…”

Global trends of the research on COVID-19 risks effect in sustainable facility management fields: a bibliometric analysis

“…According to AIHA (2020), the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection in the construction sector increased rapidly due to the nature of construction work that requires the proximity of workers and sharing of ordinary workplaces, such as elevators, lunch break areas, and sanitation complexes. Chigara and Moyo (2021) explored factors influencing the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. The researchers used factor analysis to reveal nine factors: change and innovation, monitoring and enforcement, production, access to health information and services, on-site facilities' management associated with well-being, risk assessment and mitigation, job security, financing, cost, etc.…”