Chapter I

INTRODUCTION
CHA

Background of the Study

Construction industry is the largest sector to generate jobs but it is also

one of the largest contributor of grievous injuries and deaths of its workers in the

country. The construction area of civil engineering is one of the most hazardous

industries worldwide. Workers in construction site are categorized into three

groups namely the management and technical work force which is the personnel

with high educational qualification, the skilled work force which are the personnel

who possess extensive knowledge and experience in their construction activities,

and the semi-skilled and unskilled workforce which are the site laborers with little

or no construction knowledge according to (Vitharana, V.H.P., De Silva G.H.M.J,

De Silva, S. 2015)

A construction worker is a person who works on buildings, roads, bridges,

houses and others in a construction project. They are responsible for organizing

and preparing construction site each day by preparing materials, tools and

equipment in order to embrace time management and make tasks easier.

According to (Widajati, N, Tri Martiana, Mulyono, August 2017) Mostly of

accident in workplace is due to unsafe behavior and 73% due to unsafe behavior

it was reported by Bureau of Labor Training (BPTK 2010). The percentage of

cause’s accident, namely 3% for reason which cannot avoid such as natural

1
disasters, besides 24% due to environment or operators have many advantages

(Sum’mur 1989). According to study of (Jilcha, K June 2016) in total, nearby 1

milion workers will suffer a workplace accident and every year a total of 2.4

million people die as a result of unsafe or unhealthy workplace conditions.

Worldwide this situation causes an economic loss of 4% of global GDP (ILO

2010; ILO 2014). Philippine Statistic Authority Superficial injuries and open

wounds were the most common hazard in the workplace nationwide at 10,042 or

56.2% of the total reported cases in 2017. The share was down 5.5 percentage

points from 61.7% in 2013, (Reusora, R. March 2, 2018 )

In total, nearly 1million workers will suffer

a
workplace accident and every year a total
of
2.4 million people die as a result of unsafe
or
unhealthy workplace conditions.
Worldwide,
this situation causes an economic loss of
4%
of global GDP (ILO, 2010; ILO, 2014).
Rarely mentioned is the presence in

2
developed countries of a political
mechanism
that mediates the translation of scientific
findings into policies and regulations that
are
enforced by specialized agencies
Having an occupation in the construction industry is a very hard job as

they are exposed to heavy work, strenuous activities, and risk and dangers in line

with their work in the construction site. They handle heavy objects and

equipments, and are exposed to risks, dangers and accidents in the workplace.

Working in a construction site is dangerous because a person can be at risk of

fall from high buildings and heavy objects can fall on them. Some of the

construction workers are hired in other places making them work far away from

their family. They also experience lack of sleep, difficulty in adjustment and

adaptation in a new work environment, inadequate provisions such as food and

medications, high expenditure in terms of transportation, problems in cohesion

among new colleagues at work, and lack of support from family in terms of caring

for themselves and handling problems.

According to research (Beaker 2011), one of the causes of accident is the

source of job stress. One cause of work stress is the pressures of work that can

be decrease the body’s resistance. The most common type of accident at the

construction site is due to fall. This supported by (Ohdo 2011) which also stated

3
that the frequency of accident due to fall is the most critical problems in the

construction industry.

In order to avoid any accident in the construction site the project manager

or supervisors must be conducting seminars and proper training to the workers

before going to their assigned area. The workers must follow the rules,

regulations and protocols implemented in the construction site addressing issues

and concerns about occupational health and safety. The construction workers

should follow instruction for all health and safety regulation when operating

equipment and use tools to complete their daily task. They train on experienced

tasks and learn new task from coworkers despite of their hardworking job

experiences on the site.

According to (Larry 2012), he explained PPE is a passive safety device

because it does not protectively warn or provide feedback to the wearer. It is not

sufficient to prevent the occurrence of contact collisions between workers and

moving construction equipment. The example of PPE in a particular work

environment includes hard hats, safety, goggles, face shields, reflective clothing,

hearing protection, heavy or thin gloves, and respiration or filter masks.

According to (Roelofs 2011), there were cases where the workers were given

inadequate PPE. They were given dust musk instead of half-face respirators or

cloths to prevent breathing in dust.

The researcher is concerned about the lived experiences and attitude of

the construction workers in terms of different occupational health and safety

4
practices such as non adherence in terms of wearing Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) in the construction site despite the knowledge on the

consequences when not adhering to such safety practice. The researcher is

motivated to pursue this study in order to analyze and identify the lived

experiences and occupational safety practices of construction worker because

the researcher observed that some of the construction workers are not wearing

PPE properly due to ignorance, negligence, carelessness and over-confidence.

This study aims to improve safety occupational practices and will help the

construction workers to avoid accidents and injury in the workplace. This study

will be conducted in the nearby municipalities of Sultan Kudarat.

Objectives of the Study

General Objectives

Generally, this study aims to determine the lived experiences and

occupational practices of construction worker while they are in construction sites.

Specific Objectives

Specifically this study would like to answer the following questions:

1. What are the tasks and responsibilities of the construction

worker in relation to their line of work?

2. What are the different occupational practices of the construction

worker?

5
 3. What are the stress and challenges experienced by the

construction worker?

4. What are the actual injuries experienced by the construction

worker in relation to their job?

5. What are the means and safety measures employed and

utilized by the construction worker to enhance safety at work?

6. What are the common problems experienced of the worker?

7. What are the different coping mechanisms utilized by the

construction workers in dealing with the different challenges

encountered in the workplace?

Significance of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to determine and explore the lived

experiences and occupational safety practices of construction workers in Sultan

Kudarat.

Findings of the study are regarded to be of great help to the following:

Construction Worker

6
 This study will give them insight on their experiences and a deeper

knowledge about safety measures through utilization of PPE, adhering to safety

guidelines and protocols, and adequate knowledge, training and preparation in

line with one’s work. This will equip them knowledge on how to protect

themselves against the danger of injury, death through safe and healthful

working conditions. This study will aid them in providing them insights and

mechanisms to address concerns such as managing their occupational practices

in the construction site, relationship with their co-workers, frequent change of

workplace and environment, being far away from their family due to work and

safe and quality of life in the workplace.

Family

This study will give them deeper knowledge and insight on the

experiences and challenges experienced by their loved ones who are in line with

construction works and industry. It will help in developing within each member of

the family initiative to constantly motivate and remind their loved ones in

construction works to take precautions through adhering to guidelines and

protocols, utilizing PPEs, and equipping themselves with adequate knowledge

and expertise in line with their work.

Project Manager

This will help them to provide safe and healthy working environment for

their workers. This will aid them in determining the appropriate needs of their

7
workers specifically in designing the needed training and seminars which will

address the issues and concerns in the workplace. This will also help in

formulation of guidelines, protocols and programs that will improve the

occupational and environmental safety in the workplace which will result to

significant decrease in the number of work related accidents, injury, and death.

Clinical Instructor/Classroom Instructor

They can use this study as an example in their lecture, especially when

discussing about occupational health and safety. This could be utilized as sample

case studies which could be utilized by students in order to analyze and develop

management and programs to address the different problems identified. This

could be a basis of instructors in emphasizing among the students the

importance of safety measures, programs, guidelines and protocols in enhancing

the safety of the personnel in the workplace which would be beneficial among

future Nurses who might be in the field of Industrial Nursing working as a

company nurse or occupational safety nurse/officer.

Future researcher

The result of this study may aid in providing basis and additional

information among future researchers who will pursue researches that are in line

with such study. It is hoped that the present study may provide the basis for

further study which aims to enhance the health and safety of personnel in the

workplace.

8
Scope and Limitation

This research study aims to provide information regarding lived

experiences and occupational safety practices of construction workers in Sultan

Kudarat.

This study is a qualitative in nature. The respondents were limited in to 5

persons who are construction workers and presently working on the site. The

respondents of the study will be constituted by (1) Foreman, (1) electrician, (1)

carpenter, (1) mason, and (1) laborer.

The study will be conducted among the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat

during the Academic Year of 2018-2019.

Operational Definition of Terms

The following terms are operationally defined as used in this study:

Construction worker - A tradesperson, laborer or professional

employed in the physical construction of the

built environment and its infrastructure.

Construction site - The place where the construction workers

performs their jobs and tasks in line with their

work.

Project Manager - The person who is in charge of the overall the

planning and execution in a construction

project.

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Risk Factors - Pertains to something that increases a

person’s chances of incurring injury and work

related illness and infirmities.

Coping Mechanism - The ability of a person to solve a problem

(stressor) in the workplace.

Occupational Safety - The legal right to work in conditions that are

free of known danger.

Occupational health - Pertains to controlling risks and the adaptation

of work to people, and people to their job.

(WHO 1950)

Hazard - Pertains to something which could impose

danger to a person.

PPE - (Personal Protective Equipment) Any device or

appliance designed to be worn or held by an

individual for protection against one or more

health and safety hazard.

Safety Management - An organizational function, which ensures that

all safety risks have been identified.

Sultan Kudarat - A province in the Philippines located in the

SOCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao.

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 Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED
CH LITERATURE

This literature research present related and concepts which are found and

relevant to the present study and it is mainly focused on the safety practices and

experiences of the worker. This literature will help as a guide for this study.

According to (Solis-Carcano, R. and Francoo-Poo, J 2014) Construction

industry is one of the most hazardous work place. The workers of the

construction company are generally spread and assigned over a wide area on

different projects. There would be other characteristics of construction work that

have influence on the work place such as the system of temporary employment,

payment per job and work instability. This characteristic make it more difficult to

prevent accidents, the workers must be train and supervised in order to ensure

safety to their task.

Workers in construction site are categorized into three groups

namely the management and technical work force which is the personnel with

high educational qualification, the skilled work force which are the personnel who

possess extensive knowledge and experience in their construction activities, and

the semi-skilled and unskilled workforce which are the site laborers with little or

no construction knowledge according to (Vitharana, V.H.P., De Silva G.H.M.J, De

Silva, S. 2015) Occupations include, amongst others, house builders,

stonemasons, carpenters and joiners, roofers, plasterers, plumbers, floor layers

and tile setters, glaziers, and painters. (CEDEFOP 2018)

11
Occupational Safety and Health

According to (Jilcha, K. June 2016) World Health Organization (WHO)

considered to priority the health promotion in 21 st century (Jakala 1999, WHO

2010). The International Labor Organization and WHO reports about the global

status indicated that many employees suffer from workplace injuries and property

damage. Every 15 seconds, there was 153 workers dies from a work related

accident or disease. Everyday 6,300 people die result of occupational accident

more than 2.3 million deaths per year in a total of 317 million accidents occurs in

the job.

In order to avoid or prevent human error and accident there should be an

education and training conducted with a repetitive skilled task performance of the

workers according Paringga (2010). The most effective tools is the safety

trainings to mitigate safety hazards, it improves workers skills and abilities to

identify hazards. (Lai 2011). Safety infection is one of the most main tools in

maintaining safe conditions and monitoring unsafe practices of workplace. They

should be comply the management standards as a requirements for the safety

adults and should be conducted with examination and evaluations to meet the

prescribe standards with safety inspections.

One of the important practices is guidance and supervision during

work progress. It includes safety meetings on danger prediction on safety sites

that would help workers to be safe during their work. In additional (Roelofs 2011),

Supervision is the critical role in setting the expectations for safety sites. It is

12
important to provide PPE at work in order to maintain safety and health condition

in construction site. (Paringga 2010)

Experience/Challenges Encountered

Hazard and Risk

Hazard is an adverse health effect to the persons and risk is suffered from

adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard. Therefore, risk can be minimized,

although the hazard is there.

According to (Abdul 2015) there would be a two major hazard that are

common in construction site. The one is the physical injury that can cause by

equipment used such scaffolds, power access equipment, ladders, machinery for

excavation and the other one is the manual handling and the roof work. This

hazard is directly injured the workers physically and even it can cause death.

There would be a mechanical energy that can cause also a physical injury

hazard it is the vibration, radiation and noise. Noise is the one of the risk factor in

the construction site that can cause hearing loss it was study by (Archier 2015).

The second hazards that was found in construction work is the chemical hazards

which are the asbestos, cements and adhesives that can caused adversely effect

to the health of their workers. There would be some affects of a health hazards

which are the chronic and some are acute. Chronic effect is usually develop

slowly and shall cause sickness or death as a certain period. However, if the

workers inhales small amount of chemicals there would be a chance of getting a

disease like lung cancer will increase. Exposure to hazardous substances is

13
identified as a risk factor in a several previous study. There are workers are not

aware of wearing Personal Protective Equipment, the workers who are being

exposed to that certain area. The workers was fall from the height, electric

shocked, ladder, roof work, lifting, carrying and moving heavy tools materials,

harmful chemicals, machinery, tool usage, fire and emergency excavating in

deep trenches and protective clothing are the risk factor and can be considered

as acute effects.

The most common cause of accidents at the work place is due to fall this

statement is supported by Ohdo (2011) that the frequency of accidents due to fall

is the most critical problems in the construction industry. That’s why proper safety

zones and training around construction is very important and it should be

provided to avoid harm from accidents.

According to (Ismail and Ghani 2015) in construction workplace scaffolds

are the one also which contributed accidents. Near miss, incident, and accident

are the three level of defendant that may lead to injury. If the scaffold collapses in

the construction site, it is called “incident”. It is introduced “near miss”, if there is

no injuries and damage to the workers from collapsing of scaffold and if the

incident may lead to damage and injury it is called “accident”.

According to the study of (Wu, X. et. al Oct. 2018) Job stress is refers to

an extension of general stress and it can threatens the health of the workers and

affect their job performance. This study have shown that prolonged high level of

job stress can cause mental fatigue which is the construction worker is the

highest one who can experience this stress due to their high complexity of their

14
tasks, many of this, is conducted in a harsh and dynamic environment. Stress in

a job can also affect the relationship to their family due to lack of communication

and also to their long term job or burden of low income. In work site they would

be experience also occupational development cause by poor job stability,

organizational style cause by some guaranteed rights, interpersonal relationship

resulted to not enough understanding of the colleague. This are all causes of job

stress in construction site.

According to (Jacobsen, H. B. et al.) the industry faces occupational

health challenges higher rate of work-related injuries and high condition of both

acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The injuries in construction are reported

severe cases had the highest number of fatal occupational injuries of all U.S.

industries in 2010. The construction workers and other working populations have

show that mental distress is strongly associated with both musculoskeletal

pain and work-related injuries and the most reported musculoskeletal complaint

is low back pain. For almost 40% of construction workers older than 50 report

chronic back pain. The salient of creating chronicity is the mental distress and

pain.  According to (Wen Yi* and Albert Chan 2016) Global estimates by the

International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that more than 60,000 fatalities

annually have occurred in the construction sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics proclaimed that the highest count of fatal injuries among all sectors

during the period of 2014 happened in construction sites, with at least 899 fatal

work injuries. Meanwhile, construction workers in the United Kingdom had 217

fatal injuries between 2010 and 2014. In Hong Kong, the number of accidents in

15
the construction industry stood at 3467 and the total number of fatalities was 20

in 2014. In Spain, construction is the most dangerous industry, with

approximately 350 fatalities per year. These statistics reveal that construction

has indeed a high rate of accidents, which result in deaths and financial losses.

According to (S. Kanchana et al. 2015). There are several factors

responsible for health problems and construction site accidents. From the result

of Occupational Safety and Health Administration examination on the causes of

construction fatalities, it was shown that 39.9% of fatalities in construction were

caused by falls, 8.4% were struck by objects, 1.4% was caught in between

incidents, and 8.5% were electrocution. The safety organization and

management, safety policy, safety organization, safety training, safety

committees, site layout, first aid, lighting, personal protective equipment, and

welfare facilities are several techniques that can be adopted for labour safety.

Poor Safety Practices

According to (Solís-Carcaño, G and Franco-Poot, R. March 2014) Worker

behavior is an important fact in construction site safety practices; many accidents

occur as a result of not firmly fix actions, in which the worker conduct a play role,

such as: overconfidence, lack of concentration, lack of motivation and

irresponsibility; other factors that must be considered are, physical problems,

lack of ability and the absence of satisfactory supervision. It would appear

convenient, the company administrators must address the problem of safety,

based on a deeper understanding of the psychology of worker behavior as well

16
as the theories of human error; this would allow the company to appreciate the

importance of factors such as: motivation, work habits, attitudes, state of alertness,

boredom, fatigue, etc. These factors must facilitate the generation of a social

capital which favors the ability to collaborate and share knowledge within the

organization; this in turn, if it is well managed, can lead to safer worker behavior

in the construction site. In Mexico, as in other developing countries, there are

many small construction companies—mainly involved in housing construction—

each one of which employs only a few workers. Thus, in practice, these

companies do not provide even minimum conditions of safety or sufficient

training, nor do they establish risk prevention programs.

The most major problem in worksite is the attitude of the worker that they

strictly enforce of the regulations. It will state in the regulations that it is a

mandatory that they need to wear the Personal Protective equipment (PPE). The

common problems in worksite are ignorance, negligence and over confident of

the worker. Some of the country has a low level of safety awareness on

construction site by not wearing safety shoes, helmets and using leaked welding

sets and etc. especially for the unskilled workers. They are at risk of being injured

and death and a various illnesses in a construction site. In the study of (Roelofs

2011), construction worker is perspective regarding the factors that impact

worksites safety and risk. He also found that a lot of worker felt that training is

favorable but none of them pay attention it as they focus to finish their work and

get their wages. This shows that the worker has a lack of awareness on safe and

health culture. Safety and health trainings are the significant role in the

17
enhancement of safety in construction industry. In order to manage the day to

day operations providing a safety training, personal protection equipment, safety

and health trainings should provide by the contractors and should have a specific

budget for it.

Most possibly accidents that they found in a construction site is being

dislike to wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) and also low level of

awareness towards using PPE. Unskilled worker also is the main reason that will

cause accidents due to poor education and also lack of availability of PPE

supply. Hard hats and safety boots are often using to construction site but some

of the PPE equipment and rarely use such as safety gloves, earplug and safety

glasses.

They should also appoint a safety officer. However, safety Attitude and

safety training should also implement to avoid accidents. A skilled worker has a

special skills, training and knowledge that can easily contribute to a construction

site. Safety manual also should be provided by the safety management to

enhance the safety practices in construction site.

Minimum PPE is required in this area are safety boots, glasses, helmet,

and long sleeve jackets. Any worker should wear this to protect being risk and

safety, health condition and any additional accessory designed while performing

the task. Therefore, fall protection should be supplied and used it in any place

where is at risk of fall of two meters or more in a construction site and it is a must

also to a worker to wear it always once you get into the work site.

18
Safety Management

In construction site safety is needed to be a highly considered in

order to reduce the risk of being injured at work. International Labour Office (ILO)

in Geneva state that a high rate of accidents occurs in construction industry

compared to the other manufacturing sector. They would be published a training

manual for safety, health and welfare on construction site. Safety is also as the

one of the major factor affecting the image of the project manager and also to the

organization. Personal Protective Equipment is required to use by a construction

worker to lessen accident. And there will be an emergency drill which conducted

every one’s in three months. All the workers should be given a briefing on a

emergency procedures. Once there is an emergency siren, a worker requires to

leave and not to be panic. There should also a designated assembly area where

their attendance will be recorded by the appointed wardens and there will be a

brief by the chief wardens.

The management plays the important role in determining the safety and

health of the workers as well as the workplace. The key to a successful project

are not only depends on the time and cost and quality of the projects but there

also major consideration for health and safety of the workers.

According to (Peter Uchenna Okoye et al 2016) a effective safety

management system should express the essential feature of the actions

managers at all levels in order to create an organisational setting in which

19
workers will be trained and motivated to perform safe and productive construction

jobs. Effective safety management is both functional (involving management

control, monitoring, executive and communication subsystems) and human

(involving leadership, political and safety culture sub-systems paramount to

safety culture. Al-Kilani suggested that safety management must be through

applicable to all aspect of a job from the estimating phase of a project until the

last worker has left the premise at completion of the project. It should be the

advocate of the organizational shift from the safety management approach.

According to (Kanchana,S et al 6 December 2015) Construction projects

implement in large scale are following good safety measures as a separate

safety department is available in these companies compared to a small scale

projects adopt by local contractors are not aware of the safety requirements that

could prevent construction site accidents. Primary concern to all employers is to

prevent labour accidents, occupational illness, and injuries in a work place.

Safety Attitude of the Workers

Attitudes is a very important for increasing safety performance and

declining risk that will causes of construction hazards and accidents, and

manipulating proper precautionary tools and equipment related to the type of

construction project and site condition. (Charezehi and Ahaankoob)

Failure to appoint safety officer was often identified as a cause of scarcity

of site safety. However, the effect of Safety attitude and Safety training of a

20
construction workers is not been study but it will be avoid the workers from

accident.

(Larry 2012) explained that (PPE) is a passive safety device, not a

sufficient device to prevent the occurrence of contact collisions between workers

and moving construction equipment. There is a strategy to reduce problems in

safety practices in order to overcome problems in safety practices, action against

errant contractors and workers should be carried out continuously. According to

(MohdKhairolden and Zhou 2011) that administrative penalties should be

imposed and any person in charge in this penalty includes, warning charges of

correction, confiscation of the legal income charges to stop production temporary

detainment or even detention.

Safety Training

Organizational safety training for the workers are most necessary

and conduct daily toolbox safety and advice to conduct weekly formal safety

meetings at the project level always secure safety protection at the jobsite,

always provide PPE to the worker, post safety signs and posters conduct weekly

safety inspections, rewards the worker for their safe behavior, personalized for

their unsafe behavior, encourage them to make use of secure equipment and

reduce labour turnover rates less than 25% based on the study of

(Vitharana,V.H.P.et. al 2015 )

It is very important that the new worker on project site should give an

appropriate orientation regarding safety and safety inspection.

21
 In some cases, (Husin and Hassana 2015) safety is a part of Total

Management (TQM). Good organizational commitment and communication are

highly associated effective accident reporting. Active personal role to safety and

health is a greater influence among workmates and low obstacle to safety

behavior. Based on the related experiences opinion, some of other staff

members or workers are sometimes under influence of alcohol and drugs during

activities in construction site and it is related by causing accidents at the

construction site. Workers aware of any consequences happen about this kind of

behavior it will be helpful to enhance safety practices in construction site.

According to .(Skeepers, N and Mbohwa, C. 2016) workers must engage

through a variety of conditions which training is one way. They need to be trained

properly in the use of safety equipment for example fall arrest system, safety

procedures and the need to know the appropriate company rules and

regulations. At a very minimum, the fall arrest plan, the plan should address each

task, where a fall exposure exist; the hazard associated with the task, and the

control that will be implemented to mitigate the exposure and the safety training

that will be provided to each worker.

Methods to Improve Site Safety

Based on the study of (Vitharana, V.H.P, De Silva, G.H.M.J, De Silva, S.

2015) successful managing of a project is not only specification a budget fund

but also safety. One of the essential steps for safety management in construction

sites is hazard identification, this the most unmanageable risk. To improve the

22
safety, contractors in construction sites should have an organizational safety

policy for the proper administration of safety to be provided and implemented.

According to ( Izudi, J. et al. 2017) the injury rate for Kampala district was

3,797 per 100,000 workers and the fatality rate was 84 per 100,000 workers

mainly from mechanical hazards (struck by machines, vehicles, hand tools, and

cutting edges), hit by falling objects, and falls from heights in the year 2014. In

the building construction sector, good compliance to use of personal protective

equipment (PPE) like gloves, hardhats, overalls, safety boots, ear plugs, face

shield, and safety harness with lanyard alongside other safety measures is

critical in reducing the incidences of injuries and deaths. For instance, face

shields (such as nose masks, safety glasses, and safety googles) protect the

face and eye, work shoes (gumboots) with slip and puncture resistant soles

protect the foot, hardhats protect the head and face, earplugs (earmuffs) protect

the ears, and hand gloves of the right size (preferably heavy-duty rubber gloves)

protect the hand.

According to (Okoro, C. feb 2017) state that training and education of the

workforce should be continuous and satisfactory with the increases the ability of

labourers to gain more knowledge from practical on-the-job training sessions,

which in turn increases productivity. Management practices in terms of quality in

work are influenced to increase employees’ belief that managers are supportive

of employees. In ensuring improved performance of workers has an ability to

handle misunderstandings between labourers and supervisors, and provision of

periodic meetings with workers are also necessary.

23
Quality of Life

Quality Work Life is usually related to “hours and wages, compensation

benefits, work environment, and career development which was relevant to

workers “satisfaction and motivation, work ethics, and work conditions, The

element are: employees’ involvement, job improvement, clash resolution,

interaction, health, job protection, equal compensation, safe environment, and

sense of honor emphasized by Narehan (2013). According to (Mirkamali and

Thani 2011) was tries to improve job satisfaction that will lead to organization

development by studying every aspect of Quality Work Life and trying to

manipulate them in order to achieve their ultimate benefits.

Coping Mechanism

Based on the study of (Widajati, N. et al. Aug. 2017) The demands of works

between workers are well known as the coping. This is the way to balance the

emotions of individual and resolve the problem in a stressful situations. Most of

the workers their coping mechanisms are tend toward the emotion are more like

to have an impact on unsafe behavior in the workplace, such as smoking, taking

drugs during work, listening to music in mobile phones and frolic. This condition

occurs in the site of heavy of heavy equipment are all at risk for work accidents.

According to (NEKORANEC,J. et al. 2015) the best way to cope with stress is to

change the problem in workplace such as elimination of stressors, and it included

24
the reduction of noise and dust, setting a proper temperature in workplace and

using personal protective equipment. Their showing of knowledge the

engineering psychology and ergonomics leads to those changes of machines’

and devices’ construction and operation that optimize job performance and

decrease fatigue of the employees. It must be important also to pay attention to

the elimination of overcrowding and violation workplace that will cause accident.

Work responsibility should be clearly stated and those whose responsibility

changes need the proper training. If there is problem occur in the workplace the

management should arrange and find what the cause of the problem.

Topic

Experiences and occupational safety practice of a construction

worker.

Construction workers work on all construction sites, doing a wide range of

tasks from the very easy to the extremely difficult and hazardous. Although many

of the tasks they do require some training and experience, most job usually

require little skill and can be learned quickly.

Subtopic

Work experiences considerable to help a person to behave in the

workplace including the behavior of adherence to health and safety. Someone

with years of work experience and are quite able to learn mistake made in the

work.

25
 Lack of awareness by using Personal Protective Equipment is due to

injury and risk and it should be rely to the attitude of a worker.

Conceptual Framework

Construction Coping Occupational

Worker Mechanism Safety

Practices

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study

The figure illustrates the conceptual framework of the study. The study will

view the different experiences and occupational practices of construction workers

in Sultan Kudarat. The result of the study will present and yield the different

coping mechanisms and occupational safety practices appropriate in a specific

aspect of practice of their occupation.

26
 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the process on how the study will be conducted.

This study includes the research design, locale of the study, respondents of the

study, the sampling technique, data gathering procedure, and the data gathering

instruments, which will be used to make effective data collection about Lived

experiences and Occupational Safety Practices of Construction Workers in

Sultan Kudarat.

Research Design

This study is qualitative in nature. It will utilize descriptive design and case

study method in order to acquire an in depth account on the experiences and

occupational safety practices of the construction workers. The study will employ

interview method in order gather the desired data relevant in the completion of

the study.

27
Locale of the Study

The study was conducted among the nearby municipalities of Sultan

Kudarat. It was conducted during the first semester of Academic Year 2018-

2019.

Respondents of the Study

The study will utilize (5) five respondents who are construction workers by

occupation. The respondents of the study will be constituted by (1) foreman, (1)

electrician, (1) carpenter, (1) mason, and (1) laborer.

The inclusion criteria in conducting this study includes construction

workers who have construction industry field work experience of at least five

years, currently working at a construction site, and must be able to understand

and communicate verbally.

28
 Sampling Procedure or Experimental Design

Purposive sampling will be utilized to select the respondents for the study.

The researcher had purposively targeted construction workers who have been

working in the construction industry for five years and above to participate

voluntarily in this study.

Data Gathering Procedures

In every research, a procedure must need to be followed by the

researcher to promote proper sequence in data gathering.

The researcher will give a letter to the instructor to give permission and

the researcher will make also letter of consent for the respondent. First, is the

researcher will establish rapport to the respondent and introduce herself and

explain the purpose of conducting the study.

When the chosen respondent agrees for the consent given to them the

researcher will schedule a date of interview on their house for one on one

interview. The researcher will formulate a semi-structured research questionnaire

for the interview. This type of questionnaire is a qualitative in nature which is

appropriate for accurate and credible answer. Before conducting an interview the

researcher provides an audio recorder or video recorder for a back-up data. This

English questionnaire will be translated into tagalog or any dialect that will

appropriate to the respondent and to be easy to understand.

29
 After the interview and all the data is gathered, the video recorder or audio

recorder will be used as a back-up in order to complete the data and avoid errors

in transcription of data acquired by the researcher from the respondent of the

study.

The data will then be consolidated and analyzed in order to generate

accurate result intended of that study to bring into being.

Data Gathering Instruments

In order to acquire the necessary information from participants, one type

of data collecting will be use.

The questionnaire in the data gathering consisted of two (2) parts.

Part one (1) of the questionnaire will comprise the socio demographic data

of the respondent which will include the name (optional), age, birth date, marital

status, years of marriage, educational attainment, occupation/job specification,

daily income, and health insurance and support.

Part two (2) of the questionnaire will comprise the lived experiences

encountered by a construction worker on the site, the attitude of the respondent

towards their safety measures, and the quality of training and services given by

the company.

30
 Chapter IV
RESULTS AND
CHDISCUSSION

This part is an introductory paragraph for the results and discussion

This chapter shows the result of the study method through determination

and understanding of the lived experiences and occupational practices of

construction worker in Sultan Kudarat. The researcher presented, analyzed and

interpreted in order to understand the data well.

The data interpreted in this chapter is to identify the stress experiences of

workers in relation to their job, to identify the actual injury experiences, to identify

the safety equipment used by the worker, to determine the common problem

experiences of the worker and the last is to identify the coping mechanism of the

worker.

Case Study #1

The first case study subject/ respondent of the research study is a 39 year

old male and was born in Barangay Poblacion, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. He is

a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. He is the eldest

among their 7 siblings, single and an elementary level. He is a laborer and with

estimated salary of 150-200 per day and not yet guaranteed wages

31
 Their house is a full kalakat, wherein the kitchen and comfort room

is separate from their house. Their source of water drinking, laundry and for

cooking is a deep well. He is a pure Ilocano and an Iglesia ni Christo by religion.

He took his elementary at Esperanza Central School and he’s not finished due to

financial problem. He was decided to work for helping her mother for the financial

support.

He started to work at the year 1993 and a total of 25 years of working as a

laborer. According to him this job is one of the easiest way to find money, no

matter how hard it is he said “kakayanin ko para lang magkapera at

masuportahan ko mga kapatid ko at ang nanay ko”. He said that he learned his

ability of doing work in construction site through observation and doing actual

work together with his relatives. According to him, he is not well-skilled worker

and the important is to do his job well without any complaints. For all the

buildings and houses, he worked as a laborer, the respondent verbalized that he

hasn’t joined and experienced any training under his work; all he can do is to

take care of his self in order to avoid any danger or accidents.

In doing his work as a laborer the respondent said that he was using any

safety gears such as jacket and cap but he used it seldom and he said “Nakaka-

sagabal lang lalo na’t nagmamadali ako sa trabaho at nakakalimutan ko rin

minsan”. He said the company is not obliged in giving or supplying any safety

equipments to their workers but he is patiently waiting in response of the

company to provide them safety equipments because through him, the safety

32
equipments are necessary upon handling their jobs in order to protect

themselves from injury, dust and UV rays of the sun.

Being a laborer he said, it was not easy for him; he was lifting sacks of

sands, gravels and cements from the ground up to the 3 rd floor of the building

constantly. Sometimes due to the allotment of work they forgot to eat, they also

experience stress and exhausted in doing their job. The respondent also said

that having a temporary work and job, he does a lot of adjustments such as in the

environment, companion in work, bosses but in order to have money to sustain

and provide for their daily needs, he endured the difficulty of his work, he also

said, in his situation of being far from his family, he doesn’t mind it at all for he is

single and he get used to it in the said situation for he said since he was young

he engaged his self in work and he gone through a lot of places in his work. In

speaking of their salary as a laborer he said that it was not enough for he receive

below to his expected salary, he gets his salary in a maximum of 200php.

The respondent story his nightmare experienced, he said he was lifting a

sack of sand bound to 3 rd floor, while he’s walking he suddenly get troubled with

his balance and the most crucial part, he felled on the live wire and he gets

electrical shock that causes his skin to blister in his legs and both sides of his

arms and lost his consciousness. He’s companion in his work bring him to the

nearest hospital, in regards of the hospital bill the owner of the Department Store

he’s working doesn’t give him any support but one of his colleague that he

consider as a skilled worker of their team, help him, who deposit his machine to

have money to pay his bill. In order to get through to his experience, he said, he

33
do nothing but rather he accept the situation he has now and to be more careful

and responsible in handling his job, like engaging his self in training facilities and

to be aware in danger sign boards in order to get rid from any accidents.

Case Study #2

The second case study subject/ respondent of the research study is a 57

year old male and was born in Tacurong City and a resident of Barangay

Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat. A married man and an elementary graduate. He is

from a laborer to carpenter, and now a foreman and with estimated salary of

20,000php per month and with 33 years of working experienced.

The respondent learned his work from his father who is also a carpenter

and let him go along with him since he was young. He said it is easy for he

learned it only a year by observation and actual learning. In entering his job he

said that the company doesn’t require any educational attainment and training

only they do an interview and after that they will be assigned to their task and

areas. In doing his work he doesn’t used any safety equipment for it causes

distraction and will addends up the heat. He said, the company offers safety

equipments but due to their habitual attitude of not wearing any gears he doesn’t

used any of it. Safety gears that the company issues are such as, boots and

hats. According to him the essentials of using safety equipments will prevent

them from harm and danger.

34
 In being a foreman he said, it is not a piece of cake but rather it is

complicated and difficult for he needs to be hardworking and allotment of

patience and perseverance for he used to break bones and endured pain but for

the sake of the family is the reason why he do his work “Para sa mga anak,

walang bagay na hindi mo kaya, lahat kakayanin mo para sakanila at sa

pamilya”. Being far from his family is not okay for him and for the sake of their

own good and to provide support from his children, they endured the feeling of

being not together, he feels pity for his family who hasn’t eat some meals due to

shortage of money, he experience a four months of being not with his family but

also there are some cases he comes home.

In this kind of work he said, it is common for the workers to get upset due

to miss-understandings and miss-communications but he said it only last for a

moment, he also add, that it is common to commit mistakes and to be reminded

for not doing it again in formal manner not in shouting for he believes everything

falls from a good communication between the higher position and to his allies.

In regards of the salary he receives as a worker he said, he is okay with it

and contented, for his minimum wage of 20,000php as a foreman and a daily

salary of 1,000php sometimes there are some cases that he gets a job which is

abrupt and needed a worker for big job he gets 40,000php. The company doesn’t

give insurance or any help assistance to the workers like, Philhealth, they only

finance themselves if there’s trouble.

Being a foreman and worker it is normal to get injured he said, but the

most memorable experience that he has is he climb in a said gambara and

35
suddenly he fell from it and he gets his medication in a therapist “mang-hihilot” of

Paglas. After that accident, he can’t walk alone due to the swollen in right side

leg to be exact. In order to get through to his experience he said, we need to look

on the positive side with greater hope and faith and to his work he verbalized that

he shall be more careful and observant on to the environment, he’ll be going to

learn some safety precautions about his work and he will always put and wear

safety equipments in order to protect himself against danger and accidents.

Case Study #3

In this case study it talks about the life and experience of a 53 year old

private electrician residing at the Barangay Tayugo, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. A

married man and blessed with 4 childrens. A college graduate with a course of

Maritime. In terms of his salary he receives worth 300php per day and a monthly

of 24,000php. He started working as an electrician since November 24, 2007 up

to this present. The respondent said that he learned his job through his subject in

marine during his college days. By applying those knowledge he learn in his

subject makes him a professional and well-skilled repairman since 1987. He has

been an electrician of SUKELCO but aside from that he has an outdoor jobs

requested by some private persons to fix and maintain their houses and

buildings. After he is done with his job in SUKELCO a school recommended him

to be their electrical technician in their new constructing building in school.

The respondent also said that the school conducted a 15 days training

about electrical wiring, safety precautions and handling proper equipments

36
before they do their task. He also mentioned that he used safety gears such as

safety belt, helmet upon doing some restoration in pole of electricity and in the

installation of wiring he use gloves, goggles and also helmet. The importance of

using safety equipments for him, it is indeed essential for it helps him to protect

himself from severe damages if any accidents will happen.

According to him, being an electrical technician and also a repairman it is

not easy yet it is difficult, but it depends on the damage of the object, for

example, in wiring, there are times he experience electrical shock in his bare

hands, he also experience his hands smashed or been hit a hammer cause of

lost control and this things are the common accidents for being an electrician. He

also mentioned that by his work, he gone through a lot of places like Lebak,

Columbio and to some part where there is an in need job. The thing that makes

him stop accepting or entertaining job opportunities from different places which is

far from his local is the travel and financial expenses for he used to come home

after he’s done with his work. In terms of his group in his works, it is really

important to adjust on their individual differences, to the environment in order to

prevent miss-understandings and conflict between both sides. In many years of

being an electrician he said, there are times he thought of stop and get rest

within his job for it is dangerous and it is really not easy than to the work of some

person but he said “gagawin ko parin itong trabaho na ito para sa aking pamilya”.

The respondent also shares his memorable experience of being an

electrician. It is when he was installing some wire but accidentally a current

shock hits his body that causes him to fell down on the ground. His elbow on the

37
right side, his leg on the left side and his waist get fractured and there are also

bones that crossed between its alignments. His body completely healed within

6months and that causes him to continue his work again but there are changes

between his self, how he walks and he also has scars made by the accident. In

terms of his hospital bill he mentioned that the school he’s working that time of

the accident helped him and he was very thankful for the school issues a Phil

health support benefits to its constituents.

After his accident he’s conditioning his self to toughen up because

everything has its own purpose, he is also now more careful to his self for he

believes we can’t stop accidents but we can prevent it to occur and also have a

greater trust and faith in our God Almighty.

Case Study #4

This case study explains the life experience of a 35 year old and a happy

married man to his beautiful wife for almost 9 years. Residing at the Baranggay

Sagasa, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. After he graduated his elementary level he

began to immerse his self to work in Manila. He became a machine operator of a

construction site for almost 10 years with a wage of 14,000php per month. After

his 10 years he came home to his province in Mindanao to stay for a living

together with his family and this time he became a carpenter with a wage of 150

per day and sometimes it gets up to 300php. He said, he worked as a carpenter

for almost 5 years since 2013-2018.

38
 He mentioned that he learned his skills and ability as a machine operator

for the said construction site conducted a 15 days training before them to start

their work and it has also training for safety precautions at work. He learned his

carpentry skills in his Angkle by offering help and he began to observe until such

time he learned the technique and tactics on how to work as a carpenter. His

friend and also his baranggay chairman contracted him to work his/her house or

building. He said he learned it for only 3 months until he became expert in his

job.

Being a carpenter for him doesn’t require any training it is on your interest

to learn by doing it actually. He also add that if you’re been contracted to be their

carpenter there’s no safety precautions are being said but rather you’ll start your

work immediately.

In handling is work when he was in the company where he work as a

machine operator he used some safety equipment offered by the company such

as steal toe, mask, jacket, boots, safety belt but in his carpentry work he only

used only jacket and cap for he said there is a big difference between your

working in a company who is responsible in providing equipments than a self

employed worker for you are oblige to provide your own safety equipments for he

believes this things will protect his self to get injured.

There is no easy work or job in order to gain money he said everything

has its own difficulties he said, because since he is a machine operator he avert

his self in any accidents. He also feel the intensity of the heat of the sun when he

is on his work the same feeling in his job as a carpenter, the stress and tiredness

39
is also present. He also mentioned that in his work he experience malfunctions

and troubleshoot of the machine that causes his work to be delayed when he is

in the company and he also experienced being yelled and criticized by some

people to his work as a carpenter if there’s mistake or miss-alignment and also a

miss-understanding between co-workers but in order to gain money he endured

the pain he received.

Since he started his work he never experience being far from his family for

he sure his self to go home after his work. He also state that there are time he

thought of giving up on his work it is because of the weather but for the sake of

his family to have food to consume and for the allowances of his children he

continue do hi work. When he is in the company in terms of the payment of the

workers he said, it is enough to sustain the need of his family but when in his

carpentry job the money he gets is not enough and this thing forces him to look

more opportunities in terms of constructing houses or any kind of work that

needs a carpenter, he also accepts TV repair and so much more.

The respondent stories his unforgettable experience in his working time.

There is a restoration of a building in his baranggay and such moment of his

work he loses his balance and fell into the ground and before he dropped his

body but his head bump first in a height of 7 feet and he said, blood runs from his

mouth and ears that cause him to be unconscious according to those person who

help him rushed to the hospital. He said, he was being comatose for 15 days, to

the ICU and he was very thankful for his body responsed into the medication

done by his doctor and by the grace of our God if it does not he’s no longer alive

40
and kicking after all. According to his family, they lose their hope and chances for

him to be awake for the hospital told them, they need to provide a half of million

in orders to conduct an operation to his head. After the surgery, the doctor cut his

part of skull that has been damage by the accident and preserved it in his left

part of a stomach, he said, he undergone 3 operations.

On his 3rd operation the doctor wanted to put his skull back again on his

head but under the operation the doctor notice pus on his skull that makes the

doctor to decide to cancel the restoration. This make his right head form

asymmetrical and his left part of the body is paralyzed. In order for him to be

washed up and cleansed his wife lifts him and helps him to do the task.

According to him, in regards of his operation, the baranggay took a part and help

them on financing and paying their bills in the hospital.

In overcoming his problem the respondent proudly utter his statement that

by having a stronger faith in God and believing its own plan for him. He also

doesn’t think about the accident, he said “kakayanin ko parin ang lahat kahit na

mahirap at minsan nagiging irritable ako” for he experienced un-explainable ache

forces him to be awake till morning. He also mentioned that he has a

maintenance medicine named Keltican Forte and Baclofen.

According to him, if there will be a chance for him to be back again to his

work he will always use safety equipments and if there is a thing that will guard

his head for there is a part of his head that has no longer have bone to protect

his head. Even now he doesn’t lose hope on getting his self be healed because

41
someone told him that he is still young and his paralyzed part of the body will be

okay if he engaged his self in massage therapy.

Case Study #5

This Case Study explains the experience of 43 years old, a married man

residing at the Baranggay Poblacion, Esperanza Sultan Kudarat and a high

school graduate. A skilled-worker for mason and he sometimes do carpentry in

order to increase his income. He started working at the year 2002 up to this

present. According to him, his interest in carpentry mold sine he was a child for

his Father and Auncle is also a carpenter and one of reason why he skip classes

and he stop going to school for he wants to join in the work of his Auncle in order

to gain money to support and supply for his needs and to this family.

In skipping and not attending classes’ gives he allotted time to learn more

about the work of a carpenter but for him the work he really like most is to work

as a mason. When he started working as a mason, at first he admit he’s not

really good in it but when he reaches 3 years on working he became expert in his

field. He get paid worth 450php per day it depends if he got additional job or we

say sideline and in training of being a mason he said, he doesn’t experience it for

he said in working as a carpenter all you have to do to finish the right on time and

he said training is a waste of time in actual work because when someone

requested him to do his finishing wall or to do some work you should finish it on

the expected time.

42
 In terms of safety equipments, the respondent approved that he uses

safety gears such jacket, helmet, dust mask and sometimes he used gloves,

safety belt upon working on elevated area such ceiling for he used to do some

finishing touch on that area. The company provides some safety built but the

most of the equipments falls on us workers he said because for him safety

equipments serve as defense for our body the one that I mentioned, safety built it

is indeed necessary in working if we accidentally we lost our of balance and

proportion specially when working on elevated areas and helmet in order to

protect our head from falling particles for some of his colleagues work upstairs.

According to the respondent, as a mason operator, it’s not that difficult,

and to be consider sometimes a game, only he felt strain in his hand and

tiredness after his working. He also mentioned, that in his working place he also

experience being corrected and yelled by someone who is ahead from him and it

is normal and natural in working. He added also that you only need a lot of

patience and performance, and being good to the co-workers in order to prevent

conflict from both sides. The respondent also experience being away from his

family, for example he has a work in school and after they finished building

infrastructure they proceed on another opportunities being offered only Sunday is

their day off in order to save a lot , he comes home only after two weeks.

Sometimes loneliness interfere in order for him to avoid this feeling, he divert his

self into work.

The respondent mentioned, he never tend to stop this work, for it is

his interest or like a kind of a job he had and also it is really important for him to

43
work for the daily needs of his family and support his children in this studies for

this is the only thing he can give to them before he dies.

The only accident he experienced is when he fell from height 10 feet

above from old wood that he used to step on upon finishing the wall. After this

accident he feels ache in his waist until now and causes him to avoid lifting

objects which is too heavy. The respondent said that “Hindi man lang nagbigay

ng tulong ang aking pinagtatrabahuan kahit gamot wala man lang silang binigay”

so he manage his self to go in therapist/faith healer. In order to get through his

problem , he always think about his family and he said “hindi dapat dapat ako

magpatalo sa aking problema dahil nakasalalay sa akin ang kinabukasan ng

pamilya ko”. He also said that from now on he will be much more careful and

equip his self in safety gears in order to get rid from any accidents.

Ability to learn their skill as Construction Workers

Regarding to their ability and skills as a worker, most of them learned it

through observation and actual performance. In this way, they can gather ideas

and techniques in which they can apply it in their working fields, through their

learning process makes them well-skilled workers and there is some of my

respondent under gone studies and trainings in school or in the company which

they worked.

Attitude of Workers using Safety Equipments

44
 In summing up all the results gathered from the interview, most of them

are not applying the essentials of safety equipments due to their attitude for

some reasons, they are not fond to use it, they found it distractive and the most

common of all is they forgot to wear those equipments for they tend to cop-up

with the expected date. Some of the respondent used to equip their self with

safety gears for them absolutely knows the benefits and consequences if

unexpected moment like accident happened. In their working place such as

houses and small buildings, most of them provide their own safety equipment

whereas some of them who work in big construction site they provide and supply

the equipments they need. According to the interviewee’s workers who work in

houses and small buildings doesn’t issue equipments and it is different from the

big areas of construction site.

All of them said that, safety equipments help and protects ourself from any

danger and harm.

According to .(Skeepers, N and Mbohwa, C. 2016) workers must

engage through a variety of conditions which training is one way. They need to

be trained properly in the use of safety equipment for example fall arrest system,

safety procedures and the need to know the appropriate company rules and

regulations. At a very minimum, the fall arrest plan, the plan should address each

task, where a fall exposure exist; the hazard associated with the task, and the

control that will be implemented to mitigate the exposure and the safety training

that will be provided to each worker.

45
Experiences/Challenges towards their Work

Most of the respondents said that one of the exhausting and painful

occupations is to be a construction worker but in order to sustain the needs of

their family and to support their children in their studies. All of them experienced

being yelled in their working place and had miss-communication and miss-

understanding among their companion/co-workers and adjustment is the only key

in order to maintain a harmonious relationship in their field. One of them

experienced being destined far from his family and the rest come home every

rest day of their work. All of them mentioned that transportation has taken a big

part of their money. In terms of salary most of them are not satisfied to their

salary especially to the unskilled worker and only few had said that it is enough to

support and feed their own family. With regards to the accidents most of them

experienced falling from their working place in unexpected moment only two

experienced hit by electric shock, because of their negligence in using proper

equipments, their too much confident without thinking its consequences as a

workers.

Benefits/Support for the Workers

During their accident, most of them said that they don’t received any

support or medical assistance coming from those in-charged person in their

working place, but rather they support themselves in order to be healed and get

back and continue their work, for some of the person they supposed to work with

any issue health benefits.

46
Opinion towards using Safety Equipments

All of the respondent mentioned that using safety equipment is very

important for it to protects and keep ourselves safe from any accidents especially

in working areas and to be careful in every steps and actions that will going to

partake in order to prolonged the existentiality of life.

Coping Mechanism

They surpass those incidents through believing and have faith in God in

heaven, patience and perseverance for their family in order to have a better life.

47
 Chapter V
CHAND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION,

This chapter presents the summary, conclusion and recommendations of

this study entitled “Lived Experiences and Occupational Safety Practices of

Construction Workers” in Sultan Kudarat.

Summary

This study is conducted to identify the lived experiences and occupational

safety practices of construction worker in Sultan Kudarat in the First Semester of

Academic Year 2018-2019. The respondents of the study were 5 who are

experiencing actual injury, stress, challenges toward their work and the attitude

by using proper safety equipment in construction site who were chosen via

purposive sampling from the province of Sultan Kudarat. It consist of (1) labourer,

(1) electrician, (1) carpenter, (1) mason, (foreman) working in construction site.

Regarding to the knowledge of the workers they learned their skills

through their observation to their co-workers and get idea from them and also to

enhance their skills and one of them learned from his education. Most of the

respondent cannot experience any training before doing their task as long as

they have their skills they can start on but one of respondent had experience

training and medical assistance.

Regarding to their attitude of using safety equipment most of them are not

using safety equipment through their negligence, overconfidence, hitch while

working and rush to work right away even they know the consequences happen

to them. The respondent knows also the advantages of using proper safety

48
equipments that they said using proper safety equipment will protect you in any

accident or injury. Most of the respondents provide their own safety gear before

doing their task and the few was provided by the company.

Challenges and experiences of the respondent in their work are all of them

being yelled by the seniors, stress brought by pressure at work and muscle pain.

One of the respondents is not able to get home to his family due to costly

transportation. Transportation is the problem of all respondent.

Most of the respondent had fall from the height to unexpected accident

and two has experienced electric shock and they are all survived but few of them

has an injury that cannot restored to normal. Respondent stated that they can

overcome the problem through prayers and trust to the Lord who created us.

They said that to avoid accident or injury you must be take care of yourself and

use a proper safety equipment.

Conclusion

In light of the findings of the study: the following were drawn, it was

concluded that most of the respondent working as a construction workers in

Sultan Kudarat were not receive any training and benefits or medical assistance

from their work. They learned their skills through observation and getting idea

from other workers.

The problems regarding to the respondent are their attitude, most of them

are not using safety equipment during their work due to negligence, over

confidence, lack of knowledge that’s why they are prone to accidents.

49
Recommendations

Bases on the results of the study, the researcher recommends the

following:

1. The local government of Sultan Kudarat must be strictly conduct an

inspection to the construction site in order to prevent accident in the working

area.

2. The local government must give a memorandum of punishment for the

construction industry that will not provide PPE to the workers and also to the

workers that cannot use any PPE in working site.

3. The local government will give a rule to the construction industry or any

buildings and houses to increase salary at the same rate and it depends to

their skills.

4. The local government will give a protocol to anyone who builds their building

and houses to required giving medical assistance, insurance or any benefits

to the workers.

50
 LITERATURE CITED

Journals (Published/Unpublished) / article

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54