Risk response in handling building materials on construction sites in Kenya

Abstract

construction site up to the point of fixing them. Material handling represents a major portion of total costs and may account for 10-80% of total cost. Construction sites are exposed to various risks such as workmanship, storage, transit, theft, damage. Such risks affect material handling hence increasing the cost of production. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to site managers at on-going construction sites in Nairobi. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as proportions, charts and spearman’s correlation. It was established that both workmanship and theft (88%) posed the biggest risk and that risk retention was found to be the most preferred response method. A recommendation was made that sub-contracting; transfer of theft risk through insurance and employment of professional security firms could address the issue of risk response. The hypothesis of the study was: “the proportion of building material losses increases as risk response measures in the handling of building materials decreases tested positive. Risk response methods should be used intensively in the handling of materials on construction site in order to minimize losses.