Adaptability of COVID-19 Safety Guidelines in Building Construction Sites in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

<jats:p>Aim: The study evaluates how COVID-19 safety rules were applied in construction sites in Anambra state, Nigeria.&#x0D; Study Design: The study being a survey research was effected through literature review, a well-structured questionnaire and interview.&#x0D; Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in Anambra State, Nigeria for a period of 6 months.&#x0D; Methodology: Being a survey research, questionnaire containing information relating to COVID-19 guidelines were randomly administered to selected construction practitioners in Anambra State, Nigeria. Accordingly, a total of 84 questionnaires were administered while 81 copies were completed, returned and found useful. This corresponds to a response rate of 96%. The data were analyzed using Relative importance index and ranked appropriately.&#x0D; Results: The study found out that maintaining stay at home policy if one is sick (0.827), use of face covering/face mask (0.793), placing wash stations or hand sanitizers in multiple locations at construction sites (0.714), maintaining a daily attendance log for all staff and visitors (0.689) and use of provision of personal protective equipment (0.679) are the commonly used covid-19 safety guideline in the study area. The study also, observed that greater percent of the COVID-19 safety guidelines are rarely applied in the study area.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study concluded by recommending that construction sites in the study area should integrate the recommended safety guidelines in its daily operations and/or activities despite the fact that such practices may attract extra cost and disrupt site activities were contacts are necessary as well as take more time to adjust to the new normal in construction.</jats:p>

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

“…For instance, some interviewees criticized that the implementation of anti-epidemic measures increased costs (Participants 4D, 6F, 10I, 14L) and the workload of site personnel (Participants 17N, 20O). Findings agreed with Ezeokoli et al [ 62 ] that enforcing these guidelines to the construction sites could induce extra costs to the project and might disrupt the normal site operations. Some workers even did not strictly follow the COVID-19 rules (Participant 17N).…”

Covid-19 protocols: assessing construction site workers compliance

“…Afkhamiaghda and Elwakil (2020) investigated the preliminary indexes that can help spread the virus in the construction industry, found that the volume of work, the job site location and the worker's daily activities can speedily spread the virus. Ezeokoli et al (2020), while investigating the application of Covid-19 safety rules amongst construction workers in construction sites, affirmed that maintaining stay-at-home policy when sick, using face-shields, placing hand sanitisers and wash hand basins in different and strategic locations are essential on construction sites. They revealed that maintaining a daily attendance log for staff and visitors and using personal protective equipment are common measures to Covid-19 safety guidelines on construction sites.…”

“…Also, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) (2020) came up with prevention measures for managing Covid-19 risks on construction sites to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. These guidelines were also emphasised in the studies of Ezeokoli et al (2020) and Wong et al (2020), as that which needs to be practiced on construction sites to minimise the spread of the diseases and promote health and safety, including but not limited to: Social distancing should be practiced. This could be achieved by maintaining 6-feet apart physical/social distancing between people.…”

“…The term that standout amongst those used is "social distancing". Although COVID-19 broke out in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, the first case in Nigeria was recorded in Lagos State on the 27th of February 2020, with many cases recorded after that (Ezeokoli et al, 2020). The menace of Covid-19 cannot be overemphasised as many are dying daily, even amongst health workers.…”

“…However, those on construction-related research studies, which is the focal point of this study, are found in developed and developing nations. Such developed countries, for instance, include Germany (Liekefett and Becker, 2020) and the UK (Abdussalam et al, 2020;Stiles et al, 2021), while in developing nations such as South Africa (Afkhamiaghda and Elwakil, 2020;Amoah and Simpeh, 2020;Simpeh and Amoah, 2021), Philippines (De Asis, 2020), Jordan (Bsisu, 2020), Yemen (Gamil and Alhagar, 2020) and in Nigeria (Ezeokoli et al, 2020;Kabiru and Yahaya, 2020;Ebekozien and Aigbavboa, 2021).…”