Compliance with welfare facilities and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements on construction sites in Ghana

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to assess the level of compliance with health and safety management requirements on welfare facilities and Personal Protective Equipment by construction firms in Ghana. The study was conducted using a survey and participant field observation as the data collection approaches. The observation was done using an observation checklist developed from the welfare facilities and PPE requirements of the International Labour Organization on 35 construction sites selected across 7 regions of Ghana. The survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire with construction workers (n = 201). The results showed a high level of non-compliance with the provision of sanitary, accommodation, washing facilities, changing rooms and dining facilities. The results also showed that the only welfare facilities prioritised by construction firms were drinking water. Findings on compliance with the provision and use of PPEs showed that most construction firms failed to provide PPE for their workers. Also, the few firms who had them did not comply with the user directives. Therefore, construction firms must implement and enforce compliance with welfare facilities and PPE use. There is also the need for the development of a regulatory framework on occupational health and safety for the Ghanaian construction industry.