No abstract

This study examined the determinants of COVID-19-related safety behavior (SB) on construction sites in Nigeria. Specifically, the effect of perceived COVID-19 safety risk (PCSR) on SB, the interacting (moderating) effect of firm size (FS) on the relationship between PCSR and SB, and the mechanism through which PCSR leads to SB through the firm's safety climate (SC) were examined for a sample of 312 construction site workers in Nigeria. The partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that PCSR has no significant effect on SB. SC fully mediated the effect of PCSR on SB, while FS moderated the relationship between PCSR and SB, with a stronger effect observed for small firms. It is recommended that a deliberate effort should be made to inculcate a change in the behavior of workers in small firms because of the inverse relationship between PCSR and SB in such firms. This study's findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge by equipping construction project managers and engineers with much-required information to create a good SC aimed at fostering an acceptable level of SB among construction workers in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on construction sites. The study also advances the academic literature on health and safety performance in the construction sector, particularly during pandemics such as COVID-19.

PurposeThe COVID-19 health crisis has brought about a set of extra health and safety regulations, and procedures to the construction industry which could influence projects' economic performance (EP). The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of adopting COVID-19 safety protocols on construction sites on the economic performance (EP) of construction projects.Design/methodology/approachEmploying the survey method using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from small- and large-sized construction projects in Nigeria and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings reveal that job re-organization and sanitization have negative significant effects on EP, while social distancing and specific training have no effect on EP. Furthermore, project size moderates the relationship between job re-organization, sanitization, specific training and EP with the stronger effect on the relationships observed in big projects, except for the relationship between sanitization and EP where the moderating relationship is stronger in small projects. However, there is no significant moderating effect of project size on the relationship between social distancing and EP.Practical implicationsAs construction project sites continue to operate amidst strict safety protocols, this study offers theoretical and practical insights on how construction projects can adhere to the safety protocols while performing economically.Originality/valueThe originality of this study's findings stems from the fact that it is among the first to provide greater insight on how construction projects have fared economically considering the impact of the various COVID-19 protocols.

Purpose This study aims to assess the impact of adopting selected green construction site practices on the health and safety performance of the construction projects. The impact of storm-water management, energy management and construction waste management on projects health and safety performance was also examined. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted to collect information from Class A contractors in Nigeria, and 168 usable responses were received. The data were analysed using the partial least squares (PLSs) structural equation modelling technique. Findings The findings indicate that energy management and waste management practices have significant effects on the health and safety performance of the construction projects, while storm-water management has no effect. Practical implications Project and site managers need to take into consideration the skill set of their workforce when attempting to adopt new innovative construction strategies the workers are unfamiliar with in a changing construction environment. There is also a need for more training of workers on generic and specific green skills to avoid health and safety challenges on site. Originality/value The findings of this study make significant contribution to the debate on the health and safety performance of green projects, as only a few studies have been conducted on this topic. The empirical relationships between the constructs of energy management, waste management, storm-water management and health and safety performance are unique in the context of other related studies and have advanced the body of existing knowledge.

No abstract

No abstract

The characteristics of a project that makes it hard to understand, predict, and manage its general behavior despite the availability of required information relating to the project dynamics is referred to as project complexity. A good knowledge of project complexity at the construction phase of a project, as well as a well thought out plan to manage complexity will determine how proficiently construction projects are planned, managed, and executed in an environmentally friendly manner. The level of complexity of construction projects to a large extent determines the performance or otherwise of the projects with regards to achieving specific environmental standards. At construction sites, the effects of adopting green site practices on environmental performance is largely dependent on the level of complexity inherent in the project’s construction processes. This study investigates the moderating effects of project complexity on the relationship between various green construction site practices and environmental performance of construction projects. A survey was conducted on class A contractors in Nigeria and 168 usable responses were received. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique. The results show that project complexity moderates the relationship between waste management and environmental performance, and the relationship between materials management and environmental performance. But project complexity does not moderate the relationship between energy management and environmental performance. The study provides important theoretical and practical information for construction managers in understanding the dynamics involved in managing of projects with different degrees of complexity, while adopting certain green site practices with the aim of delivering projects with high degree of environmental performance.

The study aims to investigate the preferred daylighting availability ranges for the best visual and thermal comfort in office workspace through optimal modifications light-shelve parameters, grounded on parametric design and optimization, with a focus on its visual and thermal indices. To identify the final optimal solutions, single and multi-optimization scenarios were used. The findings revealed that optimizing for a single objective might obstruct the attainment of other goals. In other words, the first scenario, optimization only for daylight availability, results in an increase in temperature. While optimizing for indoor thermal performance solely, none of the preset daylight availability acceptance requirements were met. However, multi-objective optimization solutions were the final optimal solutions nearest to the ideal. Final optimum solutions of the best design parameters of light shelves can improve the total average of daylight availability by 56.25%, 50.63%, 57.50% and 71.88%, and the indoor thermal performance was improved by decreasing the average temperature for thermal environmental performance indicators by 4.15%, 3.27%, 3.17% and 4.76%, respectively, in March, June, September and December. The study concludes that daylighting levels of 500 lux to1300 lux provide the best range of optimal daylighting for visual and thermal comfort indicators for office spaces in the tropics.