Assessment of Occupational Hazards and Risk on Construction Sites in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study assessed the occupational hazards and risk on construction sites in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State with a view to identifying occupational hazards and risk prevalence, determining the effect of exposure to occupational hazards and risk on construction site and determining the workers awareness of occupational hazards and risk on construction sites among others. A survey design was adopted which personal interviews and questionnaires were administered to obtain information used for the study.  Descriptive statistics were used and employed for the data analysis. The findings showed that there was high(68.8%) level of awareness on prevalence of  a but low level of compliance(29.6%), to safety rules/control as well as provision and use of personal protective equipment. The need given enough insight of the risk at work and observe, monitor and periodically check employers and employees compliance with Health and Safety regulation especially the provision and use of PPE on construction sites is necessary considering its hazardous nature. From the study, workers on the construction sites have poor educational and socioeconomic background which is manifest in the hazard knowledge may be diminished and they may be complacent to the hazardous nature of the occupation. It is therefore recommended that Enforcement teams should also be instituted to ensure regular monitoring and periodic checks on employers and employees on their level of compliance to safety regulations considering its hazardous nature of the construction industry.