Stephen K I N G S F O R D Boamah

Abstract
In the construction industry, employers use heavy equipment for their operations. Some of such equipment are loaders, various types of haul trucks, dozers and scrapers. The operators of these equipment experience rough and uneven road surfaces, vibrations, noise and smoke (carbon monoxide) inhalation. These exposures could lead to elevated ergonomic discomfort, resulting in musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory complications. The approach of ergonomics in this regard is to reduce musculoskeletal injuries during equipment operations, which automatically require static sitting, awkward postures, jarring and whole body vibration. Effective seat design, cab layout, maintenance, operator work habit, equipment suspension technique and work rotation and schedules should be considered by the user. These, if well thought through and effectively managed, is likely to improve the health and safety of the operator, as well as performance.

In the construction industry, employers use heavy equipment for their operations. Some of such equipment are loaders, various types of haul trucks, dozers and scrapers. The operators of these equipment experience rough and uneven road surfaces, vibrations, noise and smoke (carbon monoxide) inhalation. These exposures could lead to elevated ergonomic discomfort, resulting in musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory complications. The approach of ergonomics in this regard is to reduce musculoskeletal injuries during equipment operations, which automatically require static sitting, awkward postures, jarring and whole body vibration. Effective seat design, cab layout, maintenance, operator work habit, equipment suspension technique and work rotation and schedules should be considered by the user. These, if well thought through and effectively managed, is likely to improve the health and safety of the operator, as well as performance

Construction contributes greatly to a country’s gross domestic product. This makes it critical to ensure that the health and safety of the workers of the industry are secured. This study therefore, focused on examining the effectiveness of the implementation of health and safety management system in road construction. The sample size was 277. This study used questionnaires, interview guide and observation guide in the collection of data. The analysis of data involved descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Mann Whitney U test, and descriptions. The study found that the potential hazards in the road construction sector in the Cape Coast Metropolis are injuries from equipment and machines, noise, flying objects and dusts. It was further discovered that accident situations, law suits, need to improve productivity, stress, influence from other competitors, agitation from workers, and compulsion regulatory authorities accounted for the institution of health and safety measures. Finally, the study found out that large scale road construction companies were more likely than small scale ones to have a reduction in workplace accidents levels as a result of their health and safety systems. The study concludes that health and safety systems are crucial in the reduction of accidents at the workplace. It is therefore, it is recommended for the enforcement of implementation of health and safety systems.