INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING, MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS) ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XII, Issue IV, April 2023 www.ijltemas.in Page 30 Analysis of Hazards on Building Construction Sites: A Survey of Construction Artisans in Small and Medium-sized Construction Firms in Ghana Emmanuel Asiedu * , Frederick Owusu Danso, Gloria Osei-Poku, Andrew Nii Nortey Dowuona Department of Building Technology, Takoradi Technical University, P. O. Box 256, Takoradi, Ghana * Corresponding Author DOI: https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2023.12404 Received: 10 April 2023; Accepted: 18 April 2023; Published: 17 May 2023 Abstract: Eliminating hazards on construction sites has been a challenge for small and medium-sized contractors. This has contributed to the high rate of incidents that have resulted in injuries, emotional stress, and even fatalities among construction artisans. To avoid these incidences on construction sites, hazards need to be easily identified by these workers. This study sought to analyse hazards that artisans in small and medium-sized construction firms in Ghana are exposed to during project delivery. A cross-sectional design was adopted in this study. In total, one hundred and twenty (120) construction artisans were involved in the study. Data analysis revealed that several hazards exist on construction sites, and experienced workers are more likely to identify hazardous situations on construction sites than inexperienced workers. The study categorized the identified hazards on construction sites into task-induced, site-induced, and human-induced hazards. Most of the identified hazards were related to task-induced hazards. Even though contractors implement measures to eliminate hazards, most of these measures are geared towards making the working space safe rather than addressing hazards that occur during the performance of tasks. It was recommended that teamwork and collaboration among workers be encouraged to ensure safe and hazard-free sites during project execution. It was also recommended that contractors allocate resources to tackle hazards that occur during the performance of tasks and provide psychological training and counselling for their skilled workers. Keywords: Hazards, Construction site, Task-induced, Site-induced, Human-induced I. Introduction The construction sector is an important contributor to the socioeconomic development of Ghana. It accounts for approximately $8 billion, which is more than 15% of Ghana’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). The sector employs about 437,870 people, which translates to 3.7% of the country’s working-class [1]. It is however characterized by several small and medium-sized firms, since there are fewer restrictions on the registration and operationalization procedures for new contractors [2]. Although Ghana has cheap labour, the demand for construction skills is relatively high as most of the needed expertise are partially met. This is especially true for construction artisans, where the majority are either unskilled or semi-skilled [3]. Most of the activities in this sector are manually executed on the sites. A construction site is any piece of land where all physical construction activities related to a proposed project are carried out, whether new building or repair works. During project execution, construction sites become increasingly active with several activities. Artisans who work on construction sites regularly use tools, heavy machinery, and cranes to lift and transport objects from one place to another, while others work at heights, in confined spaces, and in difficult environments, exposing them to numerous hazardous situations. Construction sites can be dangerous to both workers and third parties during project execution [4], [5]. A lot of construction artisans have suffered several injuries; others have been maimed, while others have died, as reported in several studies [6] – [8]. In 2014, the construction industry in Africa was ranked as the most hazardous sector, with a fatality rate of 16.6 per 100,000 persons in the labour force [8]. To forestall such incidences, contractors are being encouraged to enforce hazard identification and elimination strategies during the execution of projects. This position was clearly emphasized by Hoła and Szóstak [9] when they posited that proper understanding and a sequential mode of identifying construction hazards can ensure safety on construction sites. Tobias [10] revealed that hazard identification has several indirect benefits. This includes a reduction in construction-related costs such as healthcare bills and lower insurance premiums. Other benefits include an improved public perception of the construction industry, which can attract a healthy, safe, and satisfied workforce. As building construction activities surge on sites after the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global