A review of factors influencing construction workers’ nutritional uptake
- Authors: Okoro, Chioma , Musonda, Innocent , Agumba, Justus
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Construction workers - Nutrition
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4889 , ISBN 978-0-86970-782-1 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12603
- Description: Purpose: Nutrition is linked with construction worker health and safety (H&S) performance. Some accidents, injuries and in some cases, deaths on construction sites are direct or indirect results of physical and psychological distresses (chronic health conditions and mental instability) arising from poor nutrition of construction workers. This alarming situation could gravely affect construction workers, their families, the industry and the economy as a whole since health will be adversely affected, performance will be hindered, avoidable on-site exigencies, injuries and sometimes deaths will occur, resulting in lost working hours or days, lost wages, increased healthcare costs, and decline in productivity and Gross Domestic Product. This study therefore reviews the factors which influence the nutritional uptake amongst construction workers and possible interventions. Methods: This study is based on review of previous literature on the construction industry and its H&S performance, as well as factors influencing nutritional uptake and nutrition interventions in the construction industry. The literature review was based on both international and South African context. Findings: The study revealed that construction workers’ nutrition is influenced by personal factors and environmental factors. The study also established feasible nutrition interventions based on these factors. Nutrition promotion initiatives need to target the different influences on construction workers’ nutritional uptake. Value: The study highlights construction workers’ nutrition influencers and reveals feasible strategies to improve nutrition and thus safety performance on construction sites. Practical implications: Findings from this study will inform development and implementation of programmes and policies targeted towards nutritional uptake tailored for construction workers.
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Nutritional awareness in the construction industry
- Authors: Okoro, Chioma , Musonda, Innocent , Agumba, Justus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Construction workers - Nutrition , Construction workers - Health and hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/55372 , uj:16285 , Citation: Okoro, C., Musonda, I. & Agumba, J. 2015. Nutritional awareness in the construction industry. Proceedings of the International Conference on Infrastructure Investments in Africa (DII-2015), September 16-18, Livingstone:383-390. , ISBN: 978-0-86970-787-6.
- Description: Abstract: Nutrition is linked with construction worker health, wellbeing and productivity improvements. Unhealthy eating may result in reduced immunity, increased proneness to developing chronic diseases, reduced concentration and alertness and reduced productivity. Improving the nutrition of construction workers is therefore of paramount concern. Although it is generally acknowledged that improving nutrition requires an understanding of the factors which influence construction workers‟ food choices, it has also been shown that the first step in achieving healthy eating is through increasing nutritional awareness and knowledge which will help in inculcating positive nutritional behaviour. The present paper therefore aims to highlight the state of nutritional knowledge among construction workers and possible ways of increasing nutritional awareness. A review of literature related to nutritional knowledge of workers, as well as health, safety and productivity of construction workers, was conducted. Sources included web- based journal and conference articles, magazines and reports. The distillation of literature through thematic analysis revealed that construction workers are aware of the benefits of nutrition in improving their health, safety and productivity, albeit it is seldom reflected in the food choices they make. The study also established that nutrition education programmes which target specific audiences and go beyond disseminating information to creating an enabling environment, ultimately beget long-term positive nutritional behaviours. The study concludes that increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition education and similar interventions could primarily improve construction workers‟ nutrition and in turn, health, safety, wellbeing and productivity. It is recommended that construction stakeholders view nutrition education as an integral aspect of health and safety training on sites. It should be mandatory for companies to have nutrition training sessions for employees on a continuous basis.
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