Health and safety measures for managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the construction industry : a comparison study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented loss of life, economic slowdowns, and business disruptions. There has been growing interest in examining how the construction industry coped with the pandemic to minimise its negative impacts. However, health and safety (H&S) measures can vary depending on context. This study examines the implementation of H&S measures in the COVID-19 era in two developing countries, China and Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with the management staff of construction companies in China and Nigeria, and data collected were subjected to content analysis. It was deduced that H&S measures employed on construction sites included checking body temperature, wearing face masks, disinfecting offices, and sensitisation of employees. When both countries are compared, unlike in Nigeria, construction firms in China engaged sophisticated technologies such as big data analysis, onsite tracer app, and health QR code to prevent the onset and spread of COVID-19 on their sites. The research findings amplify the importance of deploying H&S measures to facilitate pandemic planning and management on construction sites. This study recommends that further studies probe the impact of COVID-19 on the bidding process and health and safety plans for construction projects.