Estimating the costs of health and safety for building construction projects in Abuja

Abstract

Accident records in the construction industry is so pronounced that it cuts across developed and developing economies and so the industry is known as one of the industries with very high rate of accident. The costs of accident in any project impacts on the financial success of the construction organizations and affects the overall costs of construction. the aim of the study is to estimate the costs of health and safety for building construction projects in Abuja. One hundred (100) well-structured questionnaire were distributed to quantity surveyors who prepared bills of quantities for the QS firms in Abuja. A total of fifty-three (53) questionnaire were retrieved making a response rate of 53% and fifty-three (53) bills of quantities was obtained. Findings on the Health and Safety cost item in construction project that was the most estimated for by all respondents was Scaffolding, Plant and Equipment, Temporary electricity, first aid and Temporary Water with frequency rate of 100%, 98.11% and 88.70%. Result revealed that the percentage of health and safety cost (HSC) to the total project cost was approximately 3.19% and health and safety cost per unit area was approximately N13,777.56/m2 It is therefore concluded that if approximately 3.19% of the project sum will save life and property, stakeholders should embrace the notion of budgeting for OHS in every project embark on.