An exploratory study of the problems faced by women graduates mentees in the construction sector : a literature review
- Authors: Nkomo, Morena William , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Construction industry , Construction workers , Mentoring in business
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/71793 , uj:18197 , Citation: Nkomo, M.W. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. An exploratory study of the problems faced by women graduates mentees in the construction sector : a literature review.
- Description: Abstract: Women have a limited advancement in the construction industry due to lack of structured mentorship programme. Mentorship has been used as a tool to advance women in their careers. Previous research has shown that the successful mentorship of women was insufficient. In South Africa the construction industry is currently economically active and has a shortage of qualified and skilled professionals. This paper assesses problems to female graduates’ mentoring in the South African construction industry, recommends measures to promote their mentoring, retention and participation in infrastructure development and examine perceived career barriers of women in entry level and mid-level positions who were formally and informally mentored. The study was mainly a literature review, qualitative with a special focus on women mentoring problems of employees within organizations. The results indicated only one significant finding, informally mentored protégés rated lack of mentoring as more of a barrier to advancement than who reported being formally mentored. The study contributes to social change by providing empirical support for the importance of formal mentoring in empowering women for future career advancement and a guide for policy changes for government and strategies for industry, education and society to solve the problems women graduates experience in South Africa.
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A factorial analysis of safety performance measures: a study among construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Okoro, Chioma Sylvia , Musonda, Innocent , Agumba, Justus Ngala , Exploratory factor analysis
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction workers , Safety performance
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/377046 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/94004 , uj:20418 , Citation: Okor, C.S., Musonda, I. & Agumba, J.N. 2016. A factorial analysis of safety performance measures: a study among construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: The health and safety (H&S) of construction workers has been a subject of much deliberation for decades. However, there is scant literature focusing on aspects of workers’ safety performance (SP) relating to their unhealthy and unsafe eating behavior. The paper presents findings on an exploratory factor analysis of H&S performance measures. A 10- item questionnaire which was developed after an extensive literature review was used to collect empirical data on SP of construction workers in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Results showed that SP could be reasonably measured by two constructs. The two constructs were clearly defined as trailing and prevailing. The emerged trailing measures were named lagging indicators while the prevailing ones were designated as leading indicators. The results lend support to extant literature which advocates the use of both leading and lagging safety performance indicators for effectively assessing construction workers’ safety performance. The study provides evidence which could be beneficial in psychometric evaluation of construction workers’ safety performance and behaviours on construction sites.
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A principal components analysis of safety performance measures: a study among construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Okoro, Chioma , Musonda, Innocent , Agumba, Justus
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction workers , Exploratory factor analysis , Gauteng
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/216627 , uj:21531 , Citation: Okoro, C., Musonda, I & Agumba, J. 2016. A principal components analysis of safety performance measures: a study among construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: The health and safety (H&S) of construction workers has been a subject of much deliberation for decades. However, there is scant literature focusing on aspects of workers’ safety performance (SP) relating to their unhealthy and unsafe eating behavior. The paper presents findings on a principal components analysis (PCA) of H&S performance measures. A 10-item questionnaire which was developed after an extensive literature review was used to collect empirical data on SP of construction workers in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Results showed that SP could be reasonably measured by two constructs. The two constructs were clearly defined by the PCA as trailing and prevailing. The emerged trailing measures were named lagging indicators while the prevailing ones were designated as leading indicators. The results lend support to extant literature which advocates the use of both leading and lagging safety performance indicators for effectively assessing construction workers’ safety performance. The study provides evidence which could be beneficial in psychometric evaluation of construction workers’ safety performance and behaviours on construction sites.
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Assessing safety performance of construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Okoro, Chioma Sylvia , Musonda, Innocent , Agumba, Justus
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction workers , Safety performance , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/367394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/216608 , uj:21530 , Citation: Okoro, C.S., Musonda, I & Agumba, J. 2016. Assessing safety performance of construction workers in Gauteng, South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: Purpose of this paper The health and safety (H&S) of construction workers has been a subject of much deliberation and justifiably so, since construction workers are invaluable in construction processes. The paper presents findings on an assessment of safety performance of construction workers in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Methodology A field questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data regarding safety performance on sites. Participants were selected using heterogeneity and convenience sampling techniques. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 22 software. Mean values and standard deviation were computed. Findings The results of the study indicated that medical treatment beyond on-site first aid and limited work days were minimal among the participants. It was also found that poorer safety performance with regard to risk assessment before engaging in tasks and accepting any kind of work prevailed...
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Development of a scale for assessing determinants of construction workers’ food choices
- Authors: Okoro, C. , Musonda, I. , Agumba, J.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction workers , Factors , Food choice
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/214963 , uj:21347 , Citation: Okoro, C., Musonda, I & Agumba, J. 2016. Development of a scale for assessing determinants of construction workers’ food choices.
- Description: Abstract: Research on the factors influencing construction workers’ food choices and overall nutrition is limited, in South Africa and indeed Africa. The aim of the present paper is to develop and validate a questionnaire of factors influencing construction workers’ food choices. A quantitative, purposive approach was used in the study. Fourty-two items, divided into six constructs, were used to develop a field survey questionnaire after an extensive literature review. Principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted to examine the structures and validity of the constructs. Cronbach’s alpha test and mean inter-item correlations were used to examine internal consistency reliability. After repeated factor analysis, the questionnaire of food choice factors revealed seven different factors: food context, biological factors, nutritional knowledge, personal ideas and systems, economic factors, resources and cultural background. These factors explained 60.09% variance. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.62 to 0.85, indicating good internal consistency reliability. The factors which influence construction workers’ food choices are important considerations when designing and implementing nutrition interventions in the South African construction industry. Future research can adopt the instrument when conducting psychometric assessments of construction workers’ food choices.
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Identifying worksite intervention strategies to improve construction workers’ nutrition : a review of literature
- Authors: Okoro, Chioma Sylvia , Musonda, Innocent , Agumba, Justus Ngala
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Construction workers , Health and safety , Nutrition
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/241749 , uj:24919 , Citation: Okoro, C.S., Musonda, I. & Agumba, J.N. 2017. Identifying worksite intervention strategies to improve construction workers’ nutrition : a review of literature.
- Description: Abstract: The nutrition of construction workers appears to be understudied despite anecdotal evidence that suggests that it is closely linked to health and safety (H&S) performance and productivity of the workers on construction sites. The objective of this paper is to identify possible worksite interventions to improve the nutrition of construction workers. A review of literature based on both South African and international context was conducted from journal, conference proceedings, books, magazines, theses and dissertations. Findings revealed that supplementary feeding programmes, nutrition education and environmental and/organizational changes could beget better nutritional behaviour among construction workers, whose food choices comprise mainly of fast-foods and fizzy drinks. The study emphasizes the need for nutrition of construction workers to be given adequate consideration on worksites.
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