Approaches to Improving Occupational Health and Safety of the Nigerian Construction Industry

Abstract

The alarming figures of occupational accidents in the Nigerian construction industry, which accounted for 39.24% of the fatal accidents between 2014 and 2014, called for the subject matter. Therefore, occupational accidents mentioned earlier prompted this study on the way forward toward the approaches to improving occupational health and safety as well as the prevention of occupational accidents in the Nigerian construction industry. The quantitative method was adopted for this study. The result-revealed approaches to improving occupational health and safety are as follows: the Establishment of the Nigerian Construction Industry Development Board (NCIDB), technical assistance and collaboration among construction professionals, skill development in the management and communication of occupational health and safety, awareness-raising and advocacy on occupational health and safety, Use of International Labour Organization (ILO) mechanism on occupational health and safety, international collaboration with other professional bodies on health and safety, proper monitoring and recording of all injuries, and adequate allocation of resources (human, financial, and technology) on Occupational Health and Safety. The study called for better participation of all stakeholders in the construction industry toward improving occupational health and safety in the workplace and ensuring necessary measures in the prevention of occupational accidents.