A Systematic Review of Challenges Undermining the Efficacy of Construction Health and Safety Regulations in Major African Countries

Construction activities in many African nations are characterized by accidents and fatalities, leading to substantial human casualties and financial losses. This situation is partly attributed to the inadequacies within the construction health and safety regulations in the region. This study investigates the key obstacles undermining the effectiveness of construction health and safety regulations in African countries. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and Journal of Safety Research databases. Initial screening identified 198 articles, with 51 articles published between 2014 and 2023. The 51 articles, published between 2014 and 2023, were reviewed. Findings reveal social, political, legal, and environmental factors as primary barriers to effective construction health and safety practices in African countries. A significant impediment is the fragmented nature of safety regulations, with African countries lacking dedicated legislation or operating with disjointed laws, hindering adherence to global best practices. The challenges reported in this study are crucial for policymakers to formulate targeted strategies to enhance health and safety practices on construction sites, and ultimately mitigate human and financial costs. Research on construction health and safety regulations in African countries typically explores the prevailing situations within individual nations. However, there is a notable lack of studies examining health and safety regulations across major African countries as a collective entity. This study provided insight into the broader African reality rather than focusing solely on individual countries.