AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BARRIERS OF ADOPTING ERGONOMICS PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

 Construction industry is a high risk industry for Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) which has been identified as a drain to construction health, safety and productivity. Ergonomics is one of the solutions to reducing Musculoskeletal injures in the construction industry. Ergonomics have been successfully implemented in developed countries like America, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden and in South Africa in improving health and safety on construction sites. The aim of the paper is to investigate the challenges of adopting ergonomics in the Nigerian building industry with a view to enhancing health and safety management. The research also seeks to know why it has not been adopted in Nigeria and find ways to enhance adoption. This was achieved through administration of Two hundred and eighty questionnaires to Professionals, Safety Officers, and Craftsmen on construction sites within the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna and Kano states. Data were analysed using mean and percentage. Findings reveal that the level of awareness of ergonomics in the Nigerian building industry is low. The study also found out that back injury, discomfort in the shoulder and discomfort in the knee are the most common ergonomic injury on building construction sites. The study concludes that inadequate knowledge and understanding of ergonomics in the industry, lack of legislation enforcing ergonomics practices, high cost of procuring ergonomic equipment and ergonomics not considered during design phase are the factors militating against adoption of ergonomics. The study recommends training of stakeholders (professionals, craftsmen and labourers) on construction ergonomics at all levels in the construction industry. The study recommends introducing ergonomics in the syllabus of construction related courses in tertiary institutions, continuous professional development of professional bodies and apprenticeship training of craftsmen. It is also recommended that Government should pass the national building code and Ergonomics should be included in Health and safety plan which would form part of contract documents.