Awareness of 4IR Technologies in Construction Health & Safety Lags Among Nigerian Professionals
Despite the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to enhance health and safety in construction, professionals in Nigeria demonstrate a significant lack of awareness regarding their application.
Frontiers in Built Environment · 2023
Key Findings
- 01There is no significant difference in professionals' awareness of 4IR technologies in H&S practices.
- 02Four key enabling technology factors for H&S in the 4IR era were identified: data and robotic technologies, process-based automation, output communication technologies, and wearable hazard detectors.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should prioritize user education and phased implementation of 4IR safety technologies, focusing on the identified key factors, to bridge the awareness gap.
How to apply
When designing safety solutions for regions with low technological adoption, include comprehensive user training modules and pilot programs to build familiarity and confidence.
Project actions
- 01When researching a new technology, always investigate the current user knowledge base.
- 02Consider how your design will be introduced and supported in practice, not just its technical features.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilized a quantitative approach to gather data from a specific industry and region.
- +Employed statistical methods like EFA to identify key technological components.
Limitations
The findings might not be generalizable to other regions or industries with different levels of technological development.
Reliability & validity
The study mentions data reliability and validity checks, suggesting a rigorous approach to data collection and analysis.
Think critically
How might the cultural context or existing infrastructure in Nigeria influence the adoption and effectiveness of these 4IR technologies, beyond just awareness levels?
Design Principles
"Technological adoption is contingent upon user awareness and understanding; design solutions must integrate knowledge transfer mechanisms."
This gap in knowledge hinders the adoption of advanced safety measures, leaving workers vulnerable to hazards. Designers and engineers must consider this awareness deficit when developing and implementing new safety technologies, focusing on education and accessible implementation strategies.
What This Means for Your Design
People in the Nigerian construction industry don't know much about new high-tech safety tools, even though these tools could help keep workers safer.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study to justify the need for user training and education in your design project, particularly if it involves advanced technologies.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2023). Enabling technologies of health and safety practices in the fourth industrial revolution: Nigerian construction industry perspective. Frontiers in Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1233028 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/c657f641-bd78-47e2-b5cb-b2cadc48981a/awareness-of-4ir-technologies-in-construction-health-safety-lags-among-nigerian-professionals
Paragraph starter
This research highlights a critical gap in the awareness of advanced health and safety technologies within the Nigerian construction sector, suggesting that the successful integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) tools requires a significant focus on user education and professional development. The identified factors of data/robotic technologies, process-based automation, output communication technologies, and wearable hazard detectors offer a framework for targeted interventions to improve H&S practices.
Source
Frontiers in Built Environment
Enabling technologies of health and safety practices in the fourth industrial revolution: Nigerian construction industry perspective
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about awareness of 4ir technologies in construction health & safety lags among nigerian professionals?
- Designers should prioritize user education and phased implementation of 4IR safety technologies, focusing on the identified key factors, to bridge the awareness gap. Evidence: Frontiers in Built Environment (2023).
- Why does "Awareness of 4IR Technologies in Construction Health & Safety Lags Among Nigerian Professionals" matter for design?
- This gap in knowledge hinders the adoption of advanced safety measures, leaving workers vulnerable to hazards. Designers and engineers must consider this awareness deficit when developing and implementing new safety technologies, focusing on education and accessible implementation strategies.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should prioritize user education and phased implementation of 4IR safety technologies, focusing on the identified key factors, to bridge the awareness gap.
- What were the main findings?
- There is no significant difference in professionals' awareness of 4IR technologies in H&S practices.. Four key enabling technology factors for H&S in the 4IR era were identified: data and robotic technologies, process-based automation, output communication technologies, and wearable hazard detectors.
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative research approach using surveys and statistical analysis..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Frontiers in Built Environment.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing safety solutions for regions with low technological adoption, include comprehensive user training modules and pilot programs to build familiarity and confidence.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was geographically limited to Lagos, Nigeria, and focused on a specific set of 4IR technologies.
- Is there evidence that health safety affects design outcomes?
- Professionals in the Nigerian construction industry have a low and undifferentiated level of awareness regarding the use of advanced technologies for health and safety, though specific categories of these technologies have been identified as potentially crucial. This gap in knowledge hinders the adoption of advanced sa Source: Frontiers in Built Environment (2023).
- Where does this technologies research apply?
- Construction industry in Lagos, Nigeria. It sits within user-centred design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
health safety design research · evidence on health safety · does health safety improve design outcomes · technologies studies for designers · health safety and technologies findings · user-centred design research evidence