Abstract:
kground: Work-related injuries in the construction industry is a public health problem in
Tanzania. Different causes of work-related injuries are known but factors for work-related
injuries in the construction industry are not well known in Dar es Salaam City. Therefore, this
study intended to explore factors for work-related injuries, the available prevention strategies and
construction workers experience on the available prevention strategies of work-related injuries in
the construction industry in Dar es Salaam City.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore factors for work-related injuries, explore the
available prevention strategies and analyze construction workers experiences on the available
prevention strategies of work-related injuries in the construction industry in Dar es Salaam City.
Method: A cross-sectional explorative study design using a qualitative approach was used. A
purposive sampling method was used to sample construction workers and supervisors in three
selected construction industries in Dar es Salaam City for the study. In-depth interview guides
and focus group discussions guides were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using content
analysis with the aid of NVivo qualitative data analysis computer software.
Results: The study found factors of work-related injuries in the construction industry in Dar es
Salaam City to be laser fair behavior of construction workers, falls from higher heights by
construction workers, substance abuse among construction workers and capacity inadequacy of
construction industry.
The study also found that available prevention strategies for work-related injuries in Dar es
Salaam City to be available health and safety education, ensuring the good working environment,
provision of personal protective equipment and other measures and peer to peer initiatives.
The study uncovered the following in terms of construction workers experiences on the available
prevention strategies of work-related injuries in the construction industry in Dar es Salaam City.
Concern on the quality of the prevention measures offered, feeling on the decline in the
magnitude of work-related injuries and a sense of underestimated values on workers welfare.
Conclusion: Work-related injuries in the construction industry are mainly caused by both human
factors (factors which are caused by construction workers such as carelessness) and non-human
factors (factors which are not caused by construction workers such as lack of safety rules and
policy). There are different preventions measures that are employed to prevent injuries in the
construction industry. The available prevention strategies employed in the construction industry
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are perceived to be of low quality. Despite being perceived to be of low quality, they still prevent
work-related injuries in the construction industry. Therefore, the quality of prevention measures
offered should be improved.
