Impact of Sustainable Construction on Environmental and Health Risk in Nigerian Construction Industry

摘要

Construction workers are exposed to a variety of health hazards every day. Health risks associated with a job are either inherent or created by the work. These construction health risks can be classified as chemical, physical, biological hazards. Construction stakeholders are obligated to anticipate, recognize, evaluate and control health hazards at the course of operation. Meanwhile, healthy workforce will give birth to healthy industry. This work aim at determine the key health and environmental risks brought by construction activities; its impact and mitigating mechanisms. Questionnaire was used to sample the opinion of the construction workers and professionals. The data collected was analysed using mean weighted value and presented in a table. Identified health risks in construction includes; lung diseases, haring loss, skin irritation and rashes, cumulative trauma disorders, cancer, lifetime disability and occasionally fatality. Meanwhile, effective site planning, layout and management identified under physical categorization was ranked first as a sustainable safety mechanism with a mean of 4.32 followed by usage of protective wears with a mean score of 4.01. Sound health that reduces sickness on-the-job thereby preventing absenteeism was highest mean score of 4.48 was identified as the major impact of sustainable health followed by cost saving with a mean score of 4.22. The work therefore recommended collaboration between health workers and the industry as well as health and safety training for all construction companies.