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STRATEGIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITES.

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Abstract

Risk mitigation is recognized as an important exercise in order to achieve better performance of construction projects. Success in construction project is indicated by its performance in the achievement of project time, cost, quality, safety and environmental sustainability objectives. Construction projects in and generally in the region and the world run a high risk of being well over budget and significantly late. While some degree of cost and time schedule risks is inevitable in construction projects, it is possible to improve risk mitigation strategies to minimize their negative impact. The objective of the study was to identify the level of importance attached to risk identification practices during planning in construction projects in Abuja metropolis. The risk mitigation practices at construction project planning phase include: risk identification and profiling, builder/engineer selection; site selection and validation, needs identification and validation and cost and schedule

INTRODUCTION

Construction, like all industries today is looking to improve business efficiencies. However, it faces unique challenges due to the complexity of construction projects. These complexities create greater risks for efficiencies than those faced by other industries. We believe or it is believed that providing research into construction, risk mitigation is particularly critical in order to help the industry become more successful in overcoming its challenges. Construction is a key activity in any economy, it influences and it is influenced by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any nation. Compare to the other industries, the construction industry is at near the top in the annual rate of business failure and resulting liabilities (Enshassi et al., 2006) construction project involve numerous unpredictable and complex processes and as such are plagued with risk. Size can be one of the major causes of risk so can change in political or commercial planning. Other factors carrying risk with them include complexity of construction projects, locations. Speed of construction and familiarity with the types of work (Thompson and Perry, 1992). Risk in construction can be described as exposure of construction activities to economic loss due to unforeseen events or forseeing events for which uncertainty was not properly accommodated. Risk in construction has been the object of attention because of time and cost overrun associated with construction projects. (Akintoye and Macleod, 1997). Too often, these risks are not dealt with satisfactorily and the industry has suffered poor performance as a result (Tah and Carr, 2000).

From the review of literature, several attempts have been made to proffer solution to the problem of risk. There are proliferation of techniques and packages designed to provide risk analysis and management facilities. Although they have not offered a satisfactory solution to the risk problem as a whole. In so far as construction risk cannot be eliminated. There is therefore the need to explore the various strategies available to control and mitigate their adverse effects. As such, the aim of this paper or research work is to identify the key factors inherent in construction projects and evaluate measures to mitigate their effects. It also, investigates risk allocation and response techniques as perceived by the stake holders in the Nigerian Construction Industry. This study examines the opinions of the industry at large and of leaders in risk mitigation to provide insights on the impact of risk in the construction industry and the strategies used by the owners, building project contractors to mitigate risk they face in order to improve their bottom lines and increase project productivity.

I chose to focus this research on a building project construction project because of the number of risks and challenges faced on construction projects. The top line recommendations that emerge from the research findings offer practical solutions that I hope the construction industries will find helpful as they seek to avoid risk and improve their bottom line performance such as;

1. To address early in the project to reap its full benefits.
2. To communicate with other team members throughout the project.
3. To implement a rigorous risk assessment and mitigation process.
4. To embed risk management into the firms culture.
5. To engage in activities that reduces the likelihood of litigation.
6. To build a strong team and access the value of more former collaboration, such as integrated design.

Ultimately, this result demonstrates that good project management must include good risk management.

1.1 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1.2 AIM

The aim of this subject is to identify the key risk status inherent in CO structure projects and evaluate measure to mitigate their effects.

1.3 OBJECTIVES

1. To identify the level of importance attached to risk identification practices during planning stage in construction projects in Abuja.
2. To establish the effect of the Architects and Builder’s selection process on the project performance.

• To determine the effect of the site selection and validation process on the project’s performance.

1. To determine the effect of the needs identification and validation process on the project performance.
2. To identify the effect of preliminary budget and schedule on project performance.

1.4 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The construction industry has high rate of work accidents and poor reputation for coping with problems and success in any construction project is indicated by its performance in the achievement of project time, cost, quality, safety and environmental sustainability objectives (Zhon, Zhang & Wang, 2007).

One of the reasons of the bad performance is that the construction industry is one of the riskiest of all business types (Clough, Sears & Sears, 2005). While some degree of poor cost and time schedule performance is inevitable in construction project, it is possible to improve risk mitigation strategies to maximize their negative impact in thus improve the project performance.  Some of the key problems in any construction project includes,  accidents such as fire outbreak, fall either by slipped or as a result of working at height which may result to injuries or even lost of lives.  And if we know that risk are certain to materialize in every construction projects (even if we don’t know what they are),  we can accept problem or uncertainties as part and parcel of any project and deal with them in a measured way instead of Overreacting and assuming the project is doomed to failure just because it has hit a bump in the wad.

1.5 STUDY METHODOLOGY

A descriptive research method was adopted as observation techniques (through opinion surely) was used as the primary data collection method (Mbachu, 2011). This involved questionnaire survey of stakeholders in the industry including contractors,  quantity surveyors and project managers.  A qualitative scoping study was first conducted amongst convenience samples of the stakeholders through purposive sampling.  This helped to identify risk factors and mitigation measures.  In the questionnaire survey, respondents were then asked to rate the relative levels of the impact of the identified risk factors as well as relative levels of effectiveness of the identified risk management measures.

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the level of importance attached to the process of risk identification practice during construction project planning?
2. How does the Builder and Engineer selection process influence a construction project performance?
3. What are the likely risks involved in any construction project and the possible solutions to solve the risk identified.
4. What is the effect of the needs identification and validation process on the project performance?
5. How does the preliminary budget and schedule affect the perception cost and schedule performance.

1.7 STUDY AREA

The study area of this research work is the construction industry in Abuja metropolis. The research only investigated risk management at the planning stage and not during the other construction phases. The research measured cost and schedule performance in construction projects.  The respondents were the professionals in the construction industry working in Abuja, selected major developers and the industry regulators. The research targeted on joining and complete projects.

 

 

 

 

DEFINITION OF TERMS

• RISK: Is exposure to the consequences of uncertainty. In a project context, it is the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives. It includes the possibility of loss or gain, or variation from a desired or planned outcome, as a consequence of the uncertainty associated with following a particular course of action. Risk thus has two elements: the likelihood or probability of something happening, and the consequences or impacts if it does.
• RISK MANAGEMENT; refers to the culture, processes and structures that are directed towards the effective management of potential opportunities and adverse effects.
• THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS; involves the systematic application of management policies, processes and procedures to the tasks of establishing the context, identifying, analysing, assessing, treating, monitoring and communicating risk.
• RISK IDENTIFICATION; is the process of determining what, how and why things may happen.
• RISK ANALYSIS; is the systematic use of available information to determine how often specified events may occur and the magnitude of their consequences. It may use any of a wide variety of mathematical and other models and technique.
• RISK EVALUATION; determines whether the risk is tolerable or not and identifies the risks that should be accorded the highest priority in developing responses for risk treatment.
• RISK TREATMENT; establishes and implements management responses for dealing with risks, in ways appropriate to the significance of the risk and the importance of the project.