A Systematic Review of ChallengesUndermining the Efficacy of ConstructionHealth and Safety Regulations in Major AfricanCountries
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Date
2024
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ConstructionEconomics andBuilding
Abstract
Construction operations in most African countries are marred by accidents and fatalities, resulting in significant human casualties and financial setbacks. These issues stem, in part, from shortcomings in the construction health and safety regulations in the region. While existing research on construction health and safety regulations in African countries predominantly focused on individual nations, there is a conspicuous dearth of studies examining these regulations across African countries collectively. This investigated the primary obstacles impeding the efficacy of construction health and safety regulations across five major African countries. The study addressed the gap in research by offering a comprehensive understanding of the broader African context concerning challenges that undermine the effectiveness of health and safety regulations, rather than solely focusing on individual countries. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, an extensive literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and the Journal of Research databases. Initial screening identified a total of 198 articles, of which 51 were published between 2014 and 2023. These 51 articles were considered and reviewed. The research findings underscored social, political, legal, and environmental factors as the main barriers to effective construction health and safety practices in representing African countries. A significant challenge lies in the fragmented nature of safety regulations, with the African nations often lacking dedicated legislation or operating under disjointed laws, thereby impeding adherence to global best practices. The insights gleaned from this study are imperative for policymakers to devise targeted strategies aimed at bolstering health safety practices on construction sites, thereby curtailing both human and financial costs. The research findings are limited to the five African countries studied, while future research should ensure the inclusion of more African countries to compare results and justify the generalizability of the findings.