Pattern of accidents in building construction sites in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.

Background: Building construction workers are engaged in a dangerous job, exposing them to an array of hazards. Construction accidents cause deaths, injuries and economic loss each year. The leading cause building site accidents include falls from unsafe working conditions and scaffolding. This study was to determine the pattern of hazards / accidents in building construction sites in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State Nigeria.

Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 400 consenting respondents (366 males and 34 females) using a multistage sampling system. They responded to closed ended, structured interviewer/self administered questionnaires which probed socio-demographics, occupational history, knowledge and behavior towards workplace hazards. There was also a walk-through survey of sampled work sites. Data collected in Excel spread sheet were analyzed and presented in descriptive and analytical statistics..

Results: This showed 278 (69.50%) of the workers agreed to being exposed to hazards at the work place. The hazards in order of prevalence include noise (31.46%), falling off from the ladder or height (29.25%), slips, trips and low falls (29.04%), dust (24.39%), heat (25.51%), flame/fire (24.94%), puncture wound (22.54%), struck by falling objects (19.18%), gases or vapors (17.27%), fumes (16.16%), cold (18.08). Injuries sustained in this study include musculoskeletal (46.85%), Puncture wounds (32.87%), Electrocutions (8.39%).

Conclusion: Hazards abound in building construction sites and efforts at prevention and control are at best poor and ineffective. There is need for institution of safety standards with training of workers on hazards they are likely to confront as they ply their trade.