A STUDY OF BARRIERS HINDERING CONTRACTOR’S COMPLIANCE WITH H&S STANDARDS IN GHANA

Abstract

In general, the construction industry is one of the world’s occupational settings that has high incidents of fatalities and injury rates. Developing countries, Ghana inclusive are faced with much more challenges to effective management of occupational health and safety due to the increasing rate of industrialization and weak occupational health and safety framework. The study aims to examine barriers faced by construction companies while implementing health and safety standards. The study adopted a quantitative approach. Two hundred and one (201) members of construction companies and One hundred and forty-three (143) officers of Regulatory Institutions (RIs) responded to the questionnaires distributed. The findings indicated that construction firms while implementing health and safety standards face barriers including lack of H&S officers on sites, higher cost, lack of contractor’s safety awards scheme, lack of clarity of instructions, lack of motivational package, lack of suitable health and safety education, and related cost. The study put forward various recommendations to overcome such challenges.  Keywords: Health and Safety, Compliance, Construction, Contractors, Projects, Ghana.