Abstract
Abstract:
Nutrition is known to be linked with worker health and safety (H&S) performance. Literature suggests that construction workers have poor nutrition and this adversely affects their safety performance on construction sites. However, little attention is being given to the nutrition of construction workers in South Africa and indeed Africa, both in research and in practice. This paper presents findings on the nutritional intake of construction workers and the determinants which contribute to the predominant intake amongst construction workers. Empirical data were collected through a field questionnaire survey conducted on site construction workers in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Participants were selected using heterogeneity and convenience sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 22 software. Mean values and standard deviation were computed. The rank of the foods and determinants was established. Findings revealed that construction workers’ nutrition consisted mainly of meat and corn meal. Other frequently consumed food items were found to be fruits and vegetables. The study also found that nutritional knowledge, as well as economic and physiological factors were significant determinants of food choices and intake amongst construction workers. The study will increase awareness about the contribution of nutrition in H&S performance improvement. In addition, design of explicit nutrition intervention programmes will be guided, taking cognizance of the determinants of construction workers’ food choices. By highlighting the nutritional intake of construction workers and the determinants of their food choices, relevant and effectual intervention programmes can be designed for nutrition improvement and in turn, construction health and safety performance improvement. In addition, nutrition will be given more attention in health and safety considerations on construction sites.