The Cost of Managing Occupational Injuries Among Frontline Construction Workers in Ghana

Abstract

Background: The cost burden of occupational injuries has significant effects on the social well-being of workers. Although there seems to be growing evidence on the cost burden on other public health issues, little is known about occupational injuries, especially in low- to middle-income countries including Ghana.

Objective: This study, therefore, sought to estimate the cost burden of managing occupational injuries among frontline construction workers.

Methods: A prevalence-based cost of illness approach was used to estimate the cost burden of construction injuries. A structured questionnaire was used to collect cost-related data from 640 frontline construction workers. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate direct and indirect cost of injuries using Microsoft Excel and STATA version 14.

Results: Overall, a worker spends an average of GHC 104.84 ($24.52) and GHC 180.89 ($42.31) as direct and indirect costs, respectively. Compared with other injuries, fracture had the highest average cost, GHS 343.33 ($80.30), and concussion and internal injury recorded the lowest cost. Also, compared with other trade specialties, carpenters had the highest average cost burden and laborers had the lowest burden.

Conclusion: There is high direct and indirect cost for managing occupational injury among construction workers. Advocacy and awareness about workplace insurance and regulatory policies should adequately be strengthened and prioritized through periodic monitoring and evaluations.

Keywords: cost burden; frontline construction workers; indirect cost; occupational injury.