THE VULNERABILITY TO OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AMONG

WORKERS AT THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE:CASE

STUDY OF NAIROBI.
Student Name:JULIET NABAYI KHISA
Project Supervisor(s):DR PIUS.M. MUTIE
ABSTRACT There is no doubt that shelter is a basic need for man. The rising urbanization coupled with an
already high urban population has seen a strain of basic amenities in major cities across the world against
enhanced construction activities struggling to meet the rising demands. As variety of shelters continue to shape the
Nairobi skyline, rising property markets in the city have attracted the glare of the media towards the rewarding
investments in construction industry. Workers behind these buildings have been left out of the glare, earning the
spotlight only when massive catastrophic events occur at their site of work. Such negative spotlights have occurred
on several occasions sometimes with serious fatalities to the workers that have even required external assistance
and rescue efforts far beyond the ability of our country. Driven by the need to establish a holistic look at the
construction industry, this study sought to focus on the human dimension of the industry, by examining 'safety
and care' issues of the workers on the construction site. It recognizes that a complete picture is only possible by
taking a scrutiny of the working environment both internal and external that surrounds the construction workers at
their site of work. It therefore analyses the occupational hazards and also the legal issues and policies that
surround the safety of the workers. This study's source of data was a questionnaire based survey of ninety workers
on the construction site and key informant interviews from twelve respondents of high level groups involved in the
construction industry as those drawn from disaster response teams. The findings of the research are astonishing,
exposing serious plights and concerns of the workers on the construction site at their places of work. They are not
only prone to many accidents at the site but that most accidents that occur are never reported. There is also little
awareness among the workers on the construction site regarding their safety and health issues. While the findings
may attribute most accidents to neglect of workers by employers and contractors, some of the accidents at the
construction sites were as a result of carelessness by the workers. There are findings depicting poor management
of the site, poor working conditions, lack of warning signs at the site which exposed workers to all dangers and
hazards especially injuries from falling objects, slipping and falling, falling from heights, cuts and burns, noise and
dust pollution. According to most respondents the problem is accelerated by lack of protective gear and medical
cover. Although the responsible bodies such as the Nairobi City Council, Ministry of Housing and the architects
acknowledge that their employers or contactors are responsible for the workers at the site and should meet medical
expenses arising from injuries, most workers admit they often have to undertake personal initiatives and seek
medication. Findings showed that the Nairobi City Council is aware of the existing conditions. Similarly some of
the architects, the Public Health official and Natural Disaster officers agree that something needs to be done to
safeguard the workers. The situation is not irreversible, but a lot needs to be done, for example making sure that
among many others necessities, protective gear is available to the workers at the construction site. Secondly if the
authorities make regular impromptu visits at the construction sites, they can update themselves with real issues
instead of entirely relying on briefs from their appointees. The drive to better policies should certainly be all
inclusive and should bring all the stakeholders in the industry such as the government, workers and their
contractors. Such considerations may go along way in transforming the construction industry to be more proactive
in disaster management than previous reactive strategies observed in the construction industry with respect to
workers vulnerability to occupational hazards at the construction site.