TITLE:
Work-Related Accidents on a Hospital Construction Site in Benin
AUTHORS:
Adjobimey Mênonli, Mikponhoué Rose, Dégbey Cyriaque, Hountohotègbé Esdras, Guédou Alexandre, Lawani Affousath, Ayélo Paul, Hinson Antoine
KEYWORDS:
Occupational Injury, Building and Civil Engineering, Construction, Environment
JOURNAL NAME:
Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine,
Vol.12 No.2,
May
27,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Work-related accidents are frequent and serious in the construction sector. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with occupational accidents on the construction site of a referral hospital in Benin. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample size was calculated using the Schwartz form adjusted for the number of workers on site and was 129 workers. Random sampling was used. The dependent variable was work-related accidents. The other variables were socio-demographic and occupational characteristics. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Medians and proportions were calculated. An association was sought using Chi-square and Fisher tests with a threshold of p Results: A total of 132 workers were included. Their median age was 30 years with an ITQ of [27 - 38]; men were the most represented 126 (95.45%) with a level of education higher than or equal to high school in 101 (76.52%) and in the majority with a permanent status 85 (64.39%). Seniority of more than 5 years was observed in 92 (69.7%). Workers working more than 8 hours of overtime per week numbered 57 (43.18%). Exposure to vibrating objects was 49 (37.12%). In terms of psychosocial constraints, 82.58% had high psychological demands; 79.53% low decision-making latitude; 50.76% low social support. The frequency of work-related accidents was 6.82%, and the only associated factor was the type of worker (p = 0.016). On the other hand, there were 10.2% accidents among workers handling vibrating objects versus 4.98% among those not using them. With regard to psychosocial constraints, the following frequencies were recorded respectively: 6.42% among those with high psychological demand versus 8.7% among those with low psychological demand; 7.62% among those with low decision-making latitude versus 3.7% among those with high decision-making latitude; 8.96% among those with low social support versus 4.62% among those with high support. Conclusion: Work-related accidents on construction sites must be avoided by all possible means including the management of psychosocial constraints.