CBPM 2025 · Vol. 2025, Issue 1

Developing a Safety Competence Evaluation Framework for Artisans in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Mubarak Reme Ibrahim, Usman Sulaiman Jibril and Mu’awiya Abubakar

Keywords: Artisans, Competence Evaluation Framework, Construction Industry, Safety, Safety Competence

Abstract

The construction industry is recognised worldwide as one of the most dangerous industries related to accidents, especially in developing countries. This is because the artisans, who play a crucial role in construction activities, have inadequate safety competencies, thereby contributing significantly to these unsatisfactory safety outcomes. However, despite considerable efforts to improve the safety competencies of construction artisans, initiatives aimed at evaluating safety-related competencies remain limited. Consequently, this research aims to address this deficiency by developing a safety competence assessment framework specifically for artisans in the Nigerian construction industry. A crosssectional survey approach was used to gather data from 470 safety managers and supervisors, followed by exploratory factor analysis to identify factors influencing safety competence regarding knowledge and practical skills. The findings emphasise the complex nature of safety competence, providing insights into practical safety skills, decisionmaking, and the interpersonal and communication dimensions of safety competence. In addition, the framework presents a visual-based method for assessing competencies across the corresponding dimensions. The framework must be tailored to enhance safety outcomes on construction sites. Consequently, the study offers theoretical insights for improving artisan training, which would ultimately reduce the incidence of accidents, along with practical applications that would benefit safety managers significantly.