WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Dr. Evans Chazireni* and Dr. Tanyaradzwa Chigonda

ABSTRACT

Workplaces can have various undesirable social, physical and mental impacts on the wellbeing of workers. Thus, workers in Zimbabwe and the world over are exposed to numerous occupational safety and health challenges. The current study sought to examine the occupational safety and health challenges encountered by workers in the construction industry in Masvingo City, Zimbabwe. Research methods included key informant interviews and a questionnaire survey. The results from the study showed that there are numerous occupational safety and health being experienced in the construction industries in Masvingo city. It emerged from the study that the occupational health and safety in the construction industries in Masvingo City include: problems bones, joints or muscles, stress and depression, breathing or lung problems, heart and circulatory system related problems, eye problems, infectious disease, hearing problems and skin problems. It also emerged from the study that there are various causes of the occupational safety and health problems in the construction industries in the city. The causes include: lack of functional occupational safety and health management policy, poor condition of machines and equipment, insufficient Personal Protective Equipment, lack of training programmes, lack of attention to ergonomic/human factors and pollution and poor hygiene conditions. Various recommendations are suggested to minimise the occupational safety and health challenges in the construction industries in the city. These include: management commitment to introduce and implement an effective occupational safety and health management policy, maintenance of machinery and equipment, the regular supply of personal protective equipment, frequent training programmes on minimization of occupational accidents.