Assessment of Basic Measures Instituted to Curtail the Spread of COVID-19 on Construction Sites in Lagos, Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered every industry’s operation and safety requirements, including that of the construction industry. Different measures are thus required to mitigate the spread of the disease among construction site workers. This article explores the basic measures construction organisations have instituted at construction project sites to curb the spread of the virus among construction site workers. A qualitative research method was adopted for the study, while data were collected through open-ended questions. Summative content analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data and determine the frequency of keywords that were further translated to quantitative measurements. The study determined that construction organisations have largely instituted some basic measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 on sites, whereas most organisations were lacking in the area of social distancing. COVID-19 is still new; therefore, the body of knowledge is still in the infancy stage. To date, there is no evidence of empirical studies that addressed the compliance level of Nigerian construction organisations with basic measures for curtailing the spread of COVID-19. Policymakers could adopt the interventions arising from this study to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Abrey, M. and Smallwood, J.J. (2014). The effects of unsatisfactory working conditions on productivity in the construction industry. Procedia Engineering, 85: 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.10.522
Abubakar, S., Eru, E.J. and Okoye, O.J. (2020). Implications of the Covid-19 global oil crash on the Nigerian oil-based economy: The punitive cost for nondiversification and the way out. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 22(6): 62–73. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-2206096273
Alok, S., Raveendran, J. and Shaheen, M. (2014). Conflict management strategies used by Indian software companies: A summative content analysis. The IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 8(4): 47–61.
Alozie, C.E., Ideh, A.O. and Ifelunini, I. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, economic consequences and strategies for ameliorting macroeconomic shocks in Nigeria’s economy. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3697109
Akinlolu, M., Haupt, T.C., Edwards, D.J. and Simpeh, F. (2020). A bibliometric review of the status and emerging research trends in construction safety management technologies. International Journal of Construction Management [Latest article]. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2020.1819584
Business Day (2020). COVID-19: Group writes NPA, calls for fumigation of ports to prevent spread. 3 June. Available at: https://businessday.ng/maritime/article/covid-19-group-writes-npa-calls-for-fumigation-of-ports-to-preventspread/ [Accessed on 13 August 2020].
BPP (Bureau of Public Procurement) (2012). BPP to classify contractors according to capacity. Available at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/bpp-toclassify-contractors-according-to-capacity/
Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (2019). Coronavirus is a pandemic: What that means for you. Available at: www.cnet.com/howto/pandemicwhat-it-is-and-how-it-affects-you/ [Accessed on 23 April 2020].
Chang, M.C., Park, Y.K., Kim, B.O. and Park, D. (2020). Risk factors for disease progression in COVID-19 patients. BMC Infectious Diseases, 20(1): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05144-x
Construction Leadership Council (2021). Construction sector: Site operating procedures protecting your workforce during coronavirus (Covid-19). Available at: https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Site-Operating-Procedures-Version-7.pdf [Accessed on 9 April 2021].
Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. 4th Ed. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Ebeid, A.G., Selem, E. and Abd El-kader, S.M. (2020). Early detection of COVID-19 using a non-contact forehead thermometer. In A.E. Hassanien, A. Slowik, V. Snášel, H. El-Deeb and F.M. Tolba (eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Systems and Informatics 2020. Cham: Springer, 314–323.
Federal Ministry of Education (2020). Guidelines for schools and learning facilities reopening after COVID-19 pandemic closures. Available at: https://education.gov.ng/covid-19-guidelines-for-safe-reopening-of-schoolslearning-facilities/#1 [Accessed on 17 August 2020].
Fernandes, N. (2020). Economic effects of coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) on the world economy. IESE Business School working paper no. WP-1240-E. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3557504
Gamil, Y. and Alhagar A. (2020).The impact of pandemic crisis on the survival of construction industry: A case of COVID-19. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 11(4): 122–128.
Guner, H.R., Hasanoglu, I. and Aktas, F. (2020). Prevention and control measures in community. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 50: 571–577.
Harinarain, N. (2020). Despair during the COVID-19 lockdown for the South African construction industry. Journal of Construction, 13(1): 52–63.
Hinze, J. and Giang, G. (2008). Factors associated with construction worker eye injuries. Safety Science, 46(4): 634–645.
HM Government (2020). Working safely during COVID-19 in construction and other outdoor work, COVID-19 secure guidance for employers, employees and the self-employed. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb961bfe90e070834b6675f/working-safely-during-covid-19-construction-outdoors-041120.pdf [Accessed on 9 April 2020].
Hsieh, H.F. and Shannon, S.E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9): 1277–1288.
International Labour Organisation (2015). Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage. Geneva: International Labour Organisation.
Jaja, I.F., Anyanwu, M.U. and Iwu, C.J. (2020). Social distancing: How religion, culture and burial ceremony undermine the effort to curb COVID-19 in South Africa. Emerging Microbes and Infections, 9(1): 1077–1079, https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2020.1769501
Jallow, H., Renukappa, S. and Suresh, S. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 outbreak on United Kingdom infrastructure sector. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 10(4): 581–593. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-05-2020-0068
Kukoyi, P.O. and Adebowale, O.J. (2021). Impediments to construction safety improvement. Journal of Engineering, Project and Production Management, 11(3): 207–214. http://doi.org/10.2478/jeppm-2021-0020
Lan, F.-Y., Wei, C.-F., Hsu, Y.-T., Christiani, D.C. and Kales, S.N. (2020). Work-related COVID-19 transmission in six Asian countries/areas: A follow up study. PLoS ONE, 15(5): e0233588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233588
Leedy, P.D. and Ormrod, J.E. (2015). Practical Research: Planning and Design. Global Edition. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Limited.
Legg, S.J., Olsen, K.B., Laird, I.S. and Hasle, P. (2015). Managing safety in small and medium enterprises. Safety Science, 71: 189–196.
Lemke, M.K., Apostolopoulos, Y. and Sönmez, S. (2020). A novel COVID-19 based truck driver syndemic? Implications for public health, safety and vital supply chains. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 63: 659–662.
Matovu, J.K., Kabwama, S.N., Ssekamatte, T., Ssenkusu, J. and Wanyenze, R.K., (2021). COVID-19 awareness, adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures and effects of COVID-19 lockdown among adolescent boys and young men in Kampala, Uganda. Journal of Community Health, 46(4): 842–853. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-00961-w
Ma?ecka, M., Ogrodzi?ska, K., Salczy?ska, G. and Ciepiela, O. (2020). Laboratory work safety rules and guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic in Polish clinical laboratories: Do our laboratories work according to a recent IFCC Taskforce recommendations? Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 58(10): e205-e208. https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2020-0764
Mohajan, H.K. (2018). Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1): 23–48. https://doi.org/10.26458/jedep.v7i1.571
Murie, F. (2007). Building safety: An international perspective. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 13(1): 5–11. https://doi.org/10.1179/107735207800244974
Naijasurf (2020). COVID-19: House of Reps want fumigation of schools before reopening. Available at: https://naijasurf.com.ng/2020/05/25/covid-19-houseof-reps-want-fumigation-of-schools-before-re-opening/ [Accessed on 13 August 2020].
Namey, E., G. Guest, K. McKenna and M. Chen. 2016. Evaluating bang for the buck: A cost-effectiveness comparison between individual interviews and focus groups based on thematic saturation levels. American Journal of Evaluation, 37(3): 425–440. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214016630406.
NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) (2020). First case of corona virus disease confirmed in Nigeria. Available at: https://ncdc.gov.ng/news/227/first-caseofcorona-virus-disease-confirmed-in-Nigeria [Accessed on 2 June 2020].
Oginni, O.A., Amiola, A., Adelola, A. and Uchendu, U. (2020). A commentary on the Nigerian response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 12(5): 553–556.
Ohia, C., Bakarey, A. S., Ahmad, T. (2020). COVID-10 and Nigeria: Putting the realities in context. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 95: 279–281
Okorie, V.N. and Musonda, I. (2020). An investigation on supervisor’s ability and competency to conduct construction site health and safety induction training in Nigeria. International Journal of Construction Management, 20(5): 357–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1531808
Okoro, C., Musonda, I. and Agumba, J. (2016). Safety performance evaluation of construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa. Journal of Construction, 9(2): 1–6.
Osunsanmi, T.O., Aigbavboa, C.O., Oke, A. and Onyia, M.E. (2020). Making a case for smart buildings in preventing corona-virus: Focus on maintenance management challenges. International Journal of Construction Management, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2020.1842960
Pinto, A., Nunes, I.L. and Ribeiro, R.A. (2011). Occupational risk assessment in construction industry: Overview and reflection. Safety Science, 49(5): 616– 624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2011.01.003
Polit, F.P. and Beck, C.T. (2017). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. 10th Ed. Philadelphia, NY: Wolters Kluwer.
Quezon, E.T. and Ibanez, A. (2021). Analysis of influential factors affecting workers’ productivity on highway construction projects during Covid-19 pandemic in Cagayan Valley Region, Philippines. Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 6(2): 74–89. https://doi.org/10.30574/gjeta.2021.6.2.0019
Rosemberg, M.A.S. (2020). Health and safety considerations for hotel cleaners during COVID-19. Occupational Medicine, 70(5): 382–383. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2021.1874678
Simpeh, F. and Amoah, C. (2021). Assessment of measures instituted to curb the spread of COVID-19 on construction site. International Journal of Construction Management, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2021.1874678
Schutt, R.K. (2012). Investigating the Social World, The Process and Practice of Research. 7th Ed. Boston: SAGE Publications.
Trading Economics (2020). Nigeria GDP from construction. Available at: https://tradingeconomics.com/nigeria/gdp-from-construction [Accessed on 30 August 2020].
WHO (World Health Organization) (2020). Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses [Accessed on 19 March 2020].
Yadeta, A.E. and Pandey, D. (2020). Analysis of the global impact of the pandemic (COVID-19) on construction industry: Possible scenarios. Current Trends in Civil and Structural Engineering, 6(4): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.33552/CTCSE.2020.06.000641
Zheng, L., Chen, K. and Ma, L. (2021). Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among construction industry practitioners in China. Frontiers in Public Health, 8(8): 599769. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.599769