Assessment of health and safety of workers on construction sites in Kawempe division.

Abstract

Over the past ten years, the construction industry in Uganda has been characterized by a spate of fatal accidents on construction sites, and cases of defective designs that fail to preserve the environment. This unwelcome situation has largely been a result of professional negligence and poor construction practices (Irumba & Jackson, 2007). This shows that sites do not follow strict health and safety practices which means limited or no monitoring work-related incidents thus no way forward to mitigate their causes which leads to continuous exposure of workers to occupational hazards (Besigye, 2020). This research aimed at assessing the health and safety of workers on construction sites so as to check the compliance health and safety practises on these sites. This check was done by use of variables that directly affect the practise of health and safety measures. They include; conducting safety trainings, use of personal protective equipment, holding of toolbox talks, employment of risk assessment, provision of first aid facilities, monitoring staff safety performance, and emergency response plan. The study mainly focused on building projects in Kawempe division and questionnaires, interviews and observations were used to collect data. From the data collected, it was observed that forty percent (40%) of the selected sites are constructed under construction companies and these companies are responsible for ensuring the practice of health and safety precautions, whereas sixty percent (60%) of the selected sites are constructed by sole engineers under no construction company. For those sites under construction by companies, there is a better knowledge and compliance with safety standards, whereas those under sole engineers are terribly lagging behind.