Health and safety management in developing countries: a study of construction SMEs in Ghana

Nongiba Kheni, Andy Dainty and Alistair Gibb

Construction Management and Economics, 2008, vol. 26, issue 11, 1159-1169

Abstract: The construction industry plays a significant role in the economy of developing countries. The sector is, however, also one of the most hazardous with frequent accidents and health-related problems. The health and safety practices of construction small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana are examined with a view to improving the health and safety performance of the sector. A survey questionnaire was administered to owner/managers of SMEs, with a response rate of 32% of the sampling frame. Few of the SMEs adopted proactive health and safety practices. However, health and safety practices identified as being particularly associated with firm characteristics were: accident investigation procedures; accident reporting procedures; use of health and safety posters; documentation of method statements; and health and safety inductions. The diversity of health and safety practices associated with different size categories of SMEs and constraints to improving health and safety are highlighted. A positive change is needed in the attitudes of owner/managers which takes into account size-related constraints in order to improve the health and safety performance of Ghanaian SMEs.

Keywords: Developing countries; health and safety; SMEs; survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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DOI: 10.1080/01446190802459916

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