An Investigation into Vibration on Construction Activities to Human Health in Accra, Ghana

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-970-4_5How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Vibration; Construction; Activities; Impact; Human Health

Abstract

In buildings, vibration is a common concern that produces unacceptable displacement levels and can increase airborne noise levels, as well as affect people’s comfort and well-being. The study aims to investigate the impact of construction activities on human health in Accra, Ghana, in terms of vibration. This research adopts a quantitative method, and a structured questionnaire was developed based on lessons learnt from the empirical literature review. A purposive sampling technique was used to solicit respondents from buildings and road contractors, as well as community members, in areas where construction activities have a significant impact on vibration. A total of 102 responses were retrieved from the survey and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study has uncovered significant insights into the impact of vibration on human health, revealing that respondents are highly aware of how pain and muscle weakness can affect grip strength and overall hand function. Back pain is a condition that can cause irreversible damage, impacting a worker’s ability to perform their job and daily tasks. In severe cases, nerve damage can contribute to further nerve damage in the spine. Again, the study reveals that the significant impact of construction vibration includes musculoskeletal health (Back Pain in Workers), respiratory health (Dust and Lung Cancer), and structural impacts (Cracks in Buildings).Authorities and construction firms must prioritise strict enforcement, monitoring, and education as central strategies, alongside technical and structural controls, to mitigate the risks of vibration activities in affected communities. The present study was limited to the Accra Region; however, given the population increase and the prevalence of vibration, it could have been broadened further to cover the entire country. The study’s findings are significant for the Environmental Protection Agency, which is mandated to enforce laws related to construction activities and vibration. The outcomes of this research have demonstrated that vibrations are not widely monitored in the country, making it imperative to enforce the law. Based on the results of this research, it contributes to the knowledge and understanding of the impact of construction activities on human health in Ghana, in terms of vibration.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Mark Pim-Wusu
AU  - Orlick Otute Otu
AU  - Timothy Adu Gyamfi
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/31
TI  - An Investigation into Vibration on Construction Activities to Human Health in Accra, Ghana
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering, Science, and Urban Sustainability (ICESUS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 49
EP  - 59
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-970-4_5
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-970-4_5
ID  - Pim-Wusu2025
ER  -