TAKORADI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF WORK PRESSURE ON EMPLOYEE SAFETY

PERFORMANCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE SEKONDI
TAKORADI METROPOLIS

KOOMSON, JAMES

NOVEMBER, 2023

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 CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter of the study, which presents and elaborates on the results of the objectives, interviews
and questionnaires, etc., was distributed to construction companies in Sekondi-Takoradi. To
achieve the objectives of this study and to answer the research questions posed, hypotheses were
formulated and tested. Raw data from the administered questionnaires were processed and
analyzed using SPSS version 20.

4.2 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS

This part of the program presents the frequency distribution of number of years working in the
organization and job title of respondent.

Table 4.1 Respondents Skill Level

Respondents Frequency Percentage %

Foreman 9 18%

Artisan 10 20%

Consultant 6 12%

Untrained laborer 20 40%

Site engineer 5 10%

Total 50 100%

Table 4.1 shows that most workers in the construction industry in Sekondi Takoradi are untrained
workers. Indeed, 40% of respondents said they were untrained workers. The second largest group
of workers includes artisans, trained in some or more skilled aspects of construction work,
accounting for 20%. out of 50 respondents. Another 20 respondents indicated that they were
foreman, engineer or consultant on site.

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Table 4.2: LENGTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Many studies have shown that work experience influences employee safety behavior. Therefore,
the study asked respondents to report the number of years they had worked in the construction
industry. Their responses are shown in Table 4.2.

Length of service Frequency Percentage %

Below 1 year 3 6%

1-5 years 20 40%

5-10 years 15 30%

10-15 years 8 16%

16 years and above 4 8%

Total 50 100

Table 4.2 above shows the distribution of respondents by seniority.

As shown in Table 4.2, the majority of respondents served their organization because period from
1 to 5 years (40% of the sample). 30% of respondents had maintained positions for 5 - 10 years.
16% of respondents have served their organization for a period of 10 to 15 years while 16% of
respondents have served their organization forever 16 years old. 6% of respondents have worked
for their organization for less than a year. The summary results clearly show that the majority of
different technical workers have relatively new to their organization.

4.3 WORK PRESSURE IN SEKONDI TAKORADI CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

This section reveals some of the factors that lead to job stress on the job site. It's about whether
workers in the construction industry in Sekondi Takoradi are exposed to work pressure. The
section ends with a discussion about work pressure exposure rates of workers in the construction
industry in Sekondi Takoradi. To achieve this, respondents are required to disclose the nature of

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their work environment. It's about whether certain workplace factors on construction sites expose
workers to pressure or stress. Their responses are shown in the group bar graph in Figure 4.1.

Figure 4.1: Worker Assessment of Their Physical Working Environment

Figure 4.1 shows that construction sites in Sekondi Takoradi are neither too noisy nor too quiet
and regularly well lit. However, the numbers show that most respondents feel that their work
environment is rather disorganized, with materials and tools often laid out around the construction
site, increasing the risk of accidents. Additionally, respondents stated that they participate in
activities with people who are potentially exposed to dangers and work in places where they
encounter insects and snakebites. The study, as part of its main objectives, attempts to find out
how many respondents in the sample often encounters work pressure at work. Therefore, the
respondents were asked to disclose it by answering questions on the topic. They were asked to
indicate whether they feel they are trying hard enough at work.

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 Table 4.3: Respondents Assessment of the Adequacy of Their Effort At Work

Responses Frequency Percentage %

Yes 22 44%

No 18 36%

Not Sure 10 20%

Total 50 100%

Table 4.3 shows that most of the respondents think that they have tried hard enough at work. Indeed,
about 44% of respondents said that they feel they have done enough at the workplace. However,
about 36% of respondents revealed that they didn't do their best at work and about 20% said they
were unsure. The study also asked respondents to disclose what they think their superiors think
about them about their efforts at work. This is shown in Table 4.4.

Table 4.4: Respondents Views About Superiors Assessment Of Their Effort At Work

RESPONSES FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE %

Yes 11 22%

No 30 60%

Not always 9 18%

Total 50 100%

Table 4.4 shows most site supervisors make their workers feel that they are not investing enough
hard work to complete the work on time. This is because 60% respondents indicated that their
superiors made them feel that they were not working hard enough at the workplace. Only 22% said

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their boss made them feel like they worked hard enough at work. The remaining 18% said they
appreciated their efforts, but not always.

Respondents were asked to indicate whether they were under pressure at work regularly. Their
answers are cross-referenced with certain types of respondents to see if certain types of
respondents are under more pressure at work in the construction industry in Sekondi Takoradi.
Table 4.5, presenting cross-referencing results for groups of respondents exposed to work pressure
shows that artisans and foreman’s as well as untrained workers are under more work pressure than
with other groups of workers in the construction industry. Their responses are shown in table 4.5.

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Table 4.5: worker exposure to work pressure and respondent category

Respondents category Work Totals

Pressure

Yes No

Untrained laborer Frequency 15 5 20

Percentage 75% 25% 40%

Site Engineer Frequency 3 2 5

Percentage 60% 40% 10%

Consultant Frequency 2 4 6

Percentage 33.33% 66.66% 12%

Artisan Frequency 7 3 10

Percentage 70% 30% 20%

Foreman Frequency 5 4 9

Percentage 55.56% 44.44% 18%

Total Frequency 32 17 50

Percentage 65.31% 34.70% 100%

Table 4.5 shows that 70% of artisan’s experience work pressure. Followed by managers, they
revealed that 55.56% of them are under work pressure while 75% are untrained who often face
pressure at work. In addition, 60% of site engineers said that they feel pressured at work. However,
most Consultants say they don't often face a lot of pressure at work in the construction industry.

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4.3.1 SOURCES OF WORK PRESSURE
The study asked respondents a number of questions about their daily working hours and work-
related outputs to enable research to identify the main sources of work pressure among

respondent. With this in mind, respondents were asked to give their assessment of own daily
workload. Indeed, several studies have revealed that work overload is a main source of work
pressure in workers. Their answers showed that most construction workers have more to do in a
day than their schedule allows them to do. Figure 4.2 shows that most workers are given too many
jobs to do.

Figure 4.2: Assessment of Daily Workload in The Construction Industry

90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
Percentage

60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
artisa untrai site forem consul totals
n ned engin an tant
labore eer
r
insufficient workload 4.44% 1.04% 27.27% 38.10% 57.14% 11.77%
sufficient workload 44.44% 16.67% 54.14% 47.62% 42.86% 31.02%
excess workload 51.11% 82.29% 18.18% 14.29% 0% 57.22%

From Figure 4.2, it can be seen that if 57.14% of the consultants in the sample feel their workload
is not enough; Most workers often feel overworked every working day. Indeed, overall, 57.22%
of the 50 respondents indicated that they have an excessive workload. However, this is more of a
problem for artisans and untrained workers. Figure 4.2 shows that 82.29% of untrained workers
are overworked on a regular basis while 51.11% of artisans said that they were often overworked.
However, most site engineers (54.55%) said their workload is just enough for them to handle. To
better understand the problem of work overload, respondents were asked to indicate what they
believed the reasons were for having excess workload. Figure 4.3 presents their responses.

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Figure 4.3: Reasons For Work Overload

Figure 4.3 reveals that limited number of employees is the most common reason for work overload
on construction sites in Sekondi Takoradi. This is because 90 percent of the workers indicated
worker shortage as one of the reasons for work overload among construction site workers. This is
followed by a desire of project managers to reduce project execution cost. This was indicated by
82 percent of the 50 respondents as a major cause of work pressure in the industry. Also, late
commencement of project was indicated as the third major cause of work overload in the
construction industry in Sekondi Takoradi. The other reasons given included; lack of appropriate
tools on site and pressure from project financiers for quick output. The effects of workload on
work pressure exposure was investigated by cross tabulating workload responses with the
responses about work pressure exposure. This is shown on Table 4.6.

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Table 4.6: Daily Workload and Work Pressure

View About Daily Work Work Totals

Overload Pressure

Yes No

Insufficient Workload frequency 4 10 14

Percentage 28.57% 71.43 28%

Sufficient Workload frequency 11 5 16

Percentage 68.75% 31.25% 32%

Excess Workload frequency 13 7 20

Percentage 65% 35% 40%

Totals frequency 28 22 50

Percentage 56% 44% 100%

Table 4.6 shows clearly that 91.59 of the employees who indicated they were given excess
workload at work experience work pressure on a regular basis. However, the table also reveals that
even the respondents who indicated they receive sufficient work experience work pressure on a
regular basis. This is because, 56 percent of these respondents revealed that they experience
pressure at work. However, those who indicated their work was not sufficient indicated that most
of them do not often experience pressure at work on a regular basis. The study further sought to
find other possible explanations for work pressure in the construction industry in Sekondi Takoradi.
Therefore, the study participants were asked to state whether their work schedules matched their
skills set and how this affected their exposure to pressure at work.

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. Figure 4.4 displays their responses on their skill-to daily task compatibility.

Figure 4.4: Worker Assessment of Skill Compatibility with Daily Task Schedules
The pie chart above indicates that most workers in the construction industry in Sekondi Takoradi
are either doing work that is above their knowledge, skills, and abilities or doing work below their
skills set. Only 42 percent of the sampled workers stated that they are well equipped for the jobs
they were regularly given at work. The remaining 58 percent of the respondents revealed that their
daily schedules were either above their skills (38 percent) or below their skills set (20 percent). A
mismatch between an employee’s skills and given tasks often leads to increased anxiety and
pressure. Therefore, the study cross tabulated the responses with their exposure to work stress.
Table 4.7 presents their views on this matter.

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Table 4.7: Worker Skill-to-Tasks Compatibility and Work Pressure
Reasons Work Pressure Totals
Yes No
Fits my skills 14 7 21
66.66% 33.33% 42%
Above my skills 16 3 19
84.215 15.79% 38%
Below my skills 4 6 10
40% 60% 20%
Totals 34 16 50
68% 32% 100%

Table 4.7 reveals that most construction industry workers in Sekondi Takoradi who experience
work pressure are people with a mismatch between their skills set and the task they are allocated
at work. This is because out of the 34 respondents who indicated they experience work pressure;
20 respondents believe their work is either above their skills (16 out of the 50) or below their skills
(4 out of the 50). However, the table also reveals that though about 14 percent of the respondents
revealed that their skills sufficiently match the tasks they are required to perform at work, most of
these people still experience pressure at work. This might be due to the work overload problem
identified above.

Figure 4.5: Worker Ability to Complete Task on Schedule

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Figure 4.5 shows that most workers in the construction industry regularly struggle with task
completion on schedule. This is because, 56 percent of the respondent indicated that they
often are unable to complete their daily schedules on time and an additional 66 percent
revealed they were sometimes encounter schedule delays and sometimes finish their work on time.
Only 40 percent of the workers indicated that they mostly finish their work on schedule. The
respondents were further asked to indicate the factors responsible for the delays in task completion.
Their responses are displayed on Table 4.8.

Table 4.8: Causes of Delays in Tasks Completion

Causes Frequency Percentage %
Delays in Receiving Some Inputs 25 50%
Unclear task allocation 31 62%
Lack of appropriate equipment for given tasks 40 80%
Breakdown of equipment or tools 29 58%
Work overload 47 94%
Request for rework of previously completed 15 30%
task

Table 4.8 reveals that work overload is the most common reason for delays in daily work
completion on construction sites in Sekondi Takoradi. This is because 94 percent of the 50
respondents in the sample stated this as a common cause of their inability to finish their daily tasks.
This was followed by a lack of appropriate tools for given tasks which were indicated by 80 percent
of the respondents in the sample. Also, 58 percent of the respondents indicated equipment
breakdown as a major factor leading to delays in work on construction sites in Sekondi Takoradi.
Other factors identified included unclear task allocation, delays in receiving some inputs, and
request for rework of some previously completed.

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Table 4.9: Task Completion Delays and Work Pressure
Worker Ability to Complete Work Totals
Tasks on Schedule Pressure
yes No
Yes, Mostly Able to 7 13 15
35% 65% 40%
No, Mostly not able to 30 4 34
88.24% 1.76% 68%
Sometimes, can’t tell how often 10 8 28
35.71% 28.57 56%
Totals 47 25 50
94% 50% 100%

Table 4.9 displays the results of cross tabulating the work schedule completion delays and
experience of work pressure. The table reveals that 88.24 percent of those who are not able
to complete their task on time, feel some form of pressure on a regular basis. Also, 35.71
percent of those who indicated they sometimes complete their schedules on time and
sometimes not, experience some form of pressure at work. However, most of the
respondents who are able to work within their scheduled time indicated that they do not
experience a lot of pressure at work on a regular basis. This is because 65 percent of this
group of respondents indicated that they do not often have pressure at work.

The study further required respondents to rank the solutions they mostly resort to in dealing
with schedule delays at work on a scale of 1 – 5. Respondents were informed that a score of
5 meant particular solution was the most frequently used and that a score of 1 meant the
least used solution to work delays. Table 4.10 presents the statistics on their responses. The
Table reveals that the most common solution adopted by construction industry workers
when they have a delayed schedule is to do work extra hard to complete the task before
going home. This is because it scored the highest rank index using a scale of 1 – 5. It was
followed by worker’s decision to add the uncompleted task to the following day’s schedule.

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Table 4.10: Solutions to Delayed Tasks Completion

Worker Ability to Complete Tasks on Work pressure Totals

Schedule
yes No
Yes, Mostly Able to 7 13 15
35% 65% 40%
No, Mostly not able to 30 4 34
88.24% 1.76% 68%
Sometimes, can’t tell how often 10 8 28
35.71% 28.57 56%
Totals 47 25 50
94% 50% 100%

However, this is often not acceptable in the industry as an accumulation of delayed tasks
leads to delay in project completion. The third solution used by most workers is to do
overtime in order to complete the task allocated for each day. The table also reveals that
workers sometimes resort to using their experience to complete the task when they feel
following given guidelines is delaying their completion of the task. The least but equally
important solution was to accept the delay and move on.

4.4 Effects of Work Pressure on Safety Behavior of Construction Workers

The third goal of the study is to examine the consequences of work pressure on the safety
behavior of workers in the construction industry. This section presents the results of the
questions that were asked on this subject matter. Firstly, respondents were asked to indicate
whether they use appropriate tools for their work when they are under pressure to complete task
on time or when dealing with work overload or other causes of work pressure

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Table 4.11: Work Pressure and Employee Use of Right Tools
Response frequency Percentage %
Most often do 12 24%
Quite often do 9 18%
Often do 6 12%
Often don’t 15 30%
Most often don’t 8 16%
Totals 50 100%

Table 4.11 shows that most construction workers in Sekondi Takoradi do not use the right
equipment and tools for their work when they noticed they are behind schedule or feel they have
been given excess work load. This is because 30% of the respondents revealed that they often fail
to use the right tools and equipment for their work when they are under pressure. This is a recipe
for accidents and poor quality of output. They were further asked to indicate whether or not they
follow laid down guidelines and procedures in getting work done when they are under pressure.
Figure 4.6 presents the statistics on respondents‟ use of right procedures for task completion when
working under pressure.

Figure 4.6: Work Pressure and Employee Use of Right Procedures for Tasks Execution

Figure 4.6 shows that the respondents who indicated they mostly follow laid down
procedure and guideline in getting work done even when they are under pressure were the majority.
This is followed by those who often don’t and subsequently by those who
indicated they mostly do not use appropriate guidelines and procedures in getting work

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completed when they are under pressure. This is because 12 percent of the 50 respondent said
they follow guidelines and laid down procedures even when under pressure, 30 percent
indicated they often do not while 24 percent said they most often do not follow laid down
procedures and practices in completing task. However, a commutation of the respondents who
act positively under stress in this regard is lower than those who act negatively. This is because,
cumulatively, 46 percent of the 50 respondents do not follow the laid down procedures when
they are working under pressure compared to 54 percent who still follow laid down procedures
and guidelines even with pressure at work.

Respondents where further asked to indicate whether or not they use their personal
protective equipment when working under pressure to either meet a deadline or complete
excess workload. Table 4.12 is a summary of their answers.

Table 4.12: Work Pressure and Employee Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Response Frequency Percentage %
Yes I always do 7 14%
Yes I mostly do 10 20%
Yes but not always 16 32%
No I mostly don't 12 24%
No I never use under pressure 5 10%
Totals 50 100%

Table 4.12 shows that most construction workers use their PPE when they feel it is
convenient to do so when pressure mounts up at work. This is because, out of the 50
respondents, 16 indicated they sometimes continue using their PPE even when they are
under pressure. However, 12 respondents indicated they do not and an additional 5 respondents
indicated they never use PPE when they are under pressure. A critical analysis of Table 4.12
reveals that 34 percent of workers mostly ignore the use of their PPE as opposed to only percent
who either mostly or always wears their PPE when they are under pressure at work. The desire to
complete task either by putting in overtime or working extra hard often leads workers to use certain
substances to boost their energy or help them deal with work pressure and enhance their
performance at work. The study therefore asked respondents to indicate whether or not they use
any substance to boast their performance when they are under pressure and need to deal with it.
Their responses are displayed as:

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Figure 4.7: Work Pressure and Use Of Alcohol, Drugs, Energy Drinks And Other
Substances

Figure 4.7 shows that 30 percent of construction workers never use any substances to
help them deal with work pressure. However, 25 percent indicated that they often use
some form of „boaster‟ to help them deal with work pressure. Additionally, 20 percent of
them suggested that at times they use these substances to help them deal with pressure at work.
The workers were also asked to reveal how they behave with recourse to their personal safety when
working under pressure. Most of them revealed that they are not very careful about their personal
safety when working under pressure. This is displayed on table 4.13

Table 4.13: Work Pressure and Employee Care for Personal Safety

Response Frequency Percentage %

Always care 8 16%
Mostly careful 12 24%
I try to be careful but not always 30 60%
Totals 50 100%

The participants were asked to inform the study of any recent exposures to accidents or other forms
of injury at work. Table 4.13 displays a cross tabulation of their responses with work pressure.

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This is to examine the relationship between work pressure and accident occurrence. This helps
assess whether work pressure has a direct effect on employee accidents.

Table 4.14: Work Pressure and Exposure to Accidents

Worker Ability to Complete Tasks Recent Totals
on Schedule Exposure to
Accident/
Injury
Yes No
Yes 20 11 31
40% 22% 62%
No 4 15 19
8% 30% 38%
Totals 24 26 50
48% 52% 100%

Table 4.14 shows that work pressure increases the tendency to get injured at work. However,
the table also shows that work injury is present in both workers experiencing pressure at work and
those that do not. However, the probability of injury increases with exposure to work pressure.
This is because, 48 percent of the 50 respondents indicated they got recently injured at work.
However, whiles 40 percent of those experiencing work pressure on a regular basis indicated they
recently got injured or exposed to an accident, only 8 percent of those who said they had no
pressure had any injuries or got into an accident.

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