Technological Innovation and Safety Outcomes on Ghanaian Construction Sites: A Role-Based and Project-Type Analysis

Authors

  • Adamu Wahab Applied Technology Department, Enyan Denkyira Senior High Technical School, Enyan Denkyira, Central Region, Ghana Author
  • Ghartey Isaac Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Author
  • Alexander Owusu Ansah Technical Department, Morso Senior High Technical, Kumasi, Ghana Author
  • Edward Acquah Department of Construction Technology and Management Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi Campus, Ashanti Region, Ghana Author
  • Marian Mozu-Simpson Department of Construction Technology and Management Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi Campus, Ashanti Region, Ghana Author
  • Aidoo Emmanuel Kwaku Felix Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Author
  • Dennise Amoako Antwi Agyemang Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Author
  • ADU-PPOK Justin Applied Technology Department, Enyan Denkyira Senior High Technical School, Enyan Denkyira, Central Region, Ghana Author
  • Alfred Osei Department of Construction Technology and Management Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi Campus, Ashanti Region, Ghana Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST251335

Keywords:

Construction Safety, Emerging Technologies, Wearable Devices, Drones in Construction, Occupational Risk Mitigation

Abstract

Ghana’s construction industry is critical to economic growth; however, it faces high accident rates due to poor site inspections, inadequate communication, and non-compliance with safety protocols. This study evaluates the potential of emerging technologies such as wearables, drones, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) to enhance worker safety on construction sites. Data were collected from 98 construction professionals in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana using a structured quantitative approach. According to statistical analysis, wearable technology (Mean = 3.17) and drones (Mean = 3.28) had the biggest effects on enabling site surveillance, health monitoring, and real-time hazard detection. Significant differences in safety performance across project types and years of worker experience were confirmed by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p < 0.001), with less experienced workers being at higher risk. Significantly, building projects outperformed civil projects in terms of safety (p = 0.001), highlighting the necessity of focused intervention. The validity of the results was further supported by the high reliability of the survey instruments (Cronbach's α = 0.886 – 0.963). Significant obstacles to adoption include high implementation costs, technical complexity, and resistance to change. Nonetheless, 65.6% of those surveyed agreed that technological advancements had reduced their exposure to hazards. This study concludes that while emerging technologies hold transformative potential, their success depends on strategic implementation, worker training, and organization readiness.

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Published

25-07-2025

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Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Technological Innovation and Safety Outcomes on Ghanaian Construction Sites: A Role-Based and Project-Type Analysis. (2025). International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 12(4), 634-654. https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST251335