Abstract:
COVID-19 had badly affected all the industries around the globe. One of the most
affected industries is the construction industry because of its nasty and workers
intensive environment. The construction industry faced many challenges regarding
supply chain disruptions, project delays, cost overrun, health and safety issues and
shortage of workers. Occupational health and safety has remained a major concern of
the construction industry and Covid-19 exacerbated the OHS concern. COVID-19 has
made a significant impact on workers and workplaces all over the world. The study
aims to find out preventive strategies and measures to overcome issues and challenges
that has impacted the OHS of construction workers and to mitigate the transmission
risk among workforces. First, 26 factors were finalized through combined score of
literature and experts’ opinion by conducting a questionnaire survey. Anova and
Cronbach alpha tests were conducted to check the reliability and consistency of
questionnaire responses. A total of 35 interviews were conducted to calculate the
transmission risk due to determined factors, for pre and post implementation of
strategies and find out the measures and strategies to overcome the issues of OHS of
workers and mitigate the transmission risk among workers. Interviewees includes HSE
managers, Safety officers, Safety engineers, Project engineer and Site supervisors. The
risk matrix method was used to calculate the transmission risk. According to input given
by interviewees, 15 factors contributed to a very high risk of transmission, 5 factors
were at high, and 6 factors were at medium risk level. The different measures and
strategies adopted by the interviewees with respect to each factor resulted in all factors
being categorized as medium risk level. The collected measures and strategies were
analyzed with thematic content analysis. All the measures and strategies were
disseminated in Six themes “Training, communication & education”, “Enforcement &
Supervision”, “Administrative Actions & Policies”, “Worker’s engagement &
Support”, “Management & Control”, “Positive Community & well-being”. It is
asserted that determined measures and strategies can contribute to creating a safe
environment at sites to mitigate the transmission risk of COVID-19 and effectively
address concerns of OHS of workforce.
