Scholarlink

Background <p>Construction work is inherently risky, exposing workers to multifaceted threats that encompass health and safety hazards and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges disrupting managerial activities and limiting opportunities for professional growth. To understand the impacts of the pandemic on construction workers, this research was conducted in the Sylhet City Corporation area of Bangladesh.</p> Methods <p>Using purposive sampling, data were collected through 26 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with construction workers and 12 key informant interviews (KIIs) with contractors, subcontractors, building owners, and government officials in the study area. IDIs and KIIs were conducted using an interview checklist and interview guideline respectively, and a deductive coding approach was used to analyze the data.</p> Results <p>Findings revealed four themes, including increased risks in occupational health, difficulties in workforce management, skill deficiencies, and integrated impacts of the pandemic on construction workers' health. Construction workers experienced severe physical and mental health issues, exacerbated by unsafe working environments and inadequate protective measures during the pandemic. The pandemic intensified management failures by limiting contractor guidance and supervision, widening communication gaps, reinforcing power dynamics in the workplace, and perpetuating fatalistic beliefs alongside religious misinterpretations. Despite structural constraints limiting skill development opportunities, workers usually develop skills on the job through observation, peer support, and practice. However, the pandemic significantly hampered these strategies, reducing peer interactions and contractor engagement.These workplace conditions, management failures, and skill constraints jointly undermined workers’ health and performance by compromising safety practices, disrupting workflow and materials supply, and ultimately reducing productivity and work efficiency.</p> Conclusion <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified many pre-existing challenges and generated additional concerns related to mental health and competency requirements. To foster a safe construction industry in Bangladesh, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders should undertake coordinated and evidence-informed initiatives.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Impacts of COVID-19 on occupational health, workforce management, and skill development in the construction sector in Bangladesh

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月2日

查看全文
  • Iftakhar Ahmad,
  • Md. Ismail Hossain

摘要

Background

Construction work is inherently risky, exposing workers to multifaceted threats that encompass health and safety hazards and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges disrupting managerial activities and limiting opportunities for professional growth. To understand the impacts of the pandemic on construction workers, this research was conducted in the Sylhet City Corporation area of Bangladesh.

Methods

Using purposive sampling, data were collected through 26 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with construction workers and 12 key informant interviews (KIIs) with contractors, subcontractors, building owners, and government officials in the study area. IDIs and KIIs were conducted using an interview checklist and interview guideline respectively, and a deductive coding approach was used to analyze the data.

Results

Findings revealed four themes, including increased risks in occupational health, difficulties in workforce management, skill deficiencies, and integrated impacts of the pandemic on construction workers' health. Construction workers experienced severe physical and mental health issues, exacerbated by unsafe working environments and inadequate protective measures during the pandemic. The pandemic intensified management failures by limiting contractor guidance and supervision, widening communication gaps, reinforcing power dynamics in the workplace, and perpetuating fatalistic beliefs alongside religious misinterpretations. Despite structural constraints limiting skill development opportunities, workers usually develop skills on the job through observation, peer support, and practice. However, the pandemic significantly hampered these strategies, reducing peer interactions and contractor engagement.These workplace conditions, management failures, and skill constraints jointly undermined workers’ health and performance by compromising safety practices, disrupting workflow and materials supply, and ultimately reducing productivity and work efficiency.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified many pre-existing challenges and generated additional concerns related to mental health and competency requirements. To foster a safe construction industry in Bangladesh, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders should undertake coordinated and evidence-informed initiatives.