Influence of Worker Health and Safety Behaviours on Safety Performance at Ghanaian Construction Project Sites

Numerous studies have been conducted on health and safety in Ghana, but little is known about how construction workers safety behaviour impacts safety performance at the sites. This study therefore explores construction site practitioners' (CSP) perceptions of workers' health and safety behaviours (WH&SBs), site safety performance (SSP), and the impact of WH&SBs on SSP by using mixed-methods techniques and non-probability sampling. Using IBM SPSS version 26 software, 534 valid questionnaires were analysed descriptively and inferentially. 36 interviews were thematically analysed using IBM Microsoft Word. The study revealed that workers generally have positive safety behaviours and strong commitment to safety activities, but areas like peer collaboration and compliance monitoring need improvement. Construction practitioners have typically positive impressions of safety performance, with high ratings for incident reduction and compliance, but there is some heterogeneity in opinions about equipment failures and economic losses, as well as mixed leadership commitment and occasional accidents. Timely reporting of risks and incidents, combined with safety meetings, training, and equipment usage, significantly reduces accidents, injuries, and equipment failures. Adherence to safety standards reduces economic losses, while attendance at meetings enhances compliance and fosters a safety-conscious culture. The study also indicates that safety compliance practices among Ghanaian construction workers partially enhance safety performance outcomes, with safety participation playing a crucial role in enhancing compliance effectiveness. This study offers valuable insights for construction workers, employers, policymakers, researchers, and safety experts to enhance safety behaviours, educate policy, and enhance safety performance on Ghanaian construction sites.