Guest editorial

Fidelis Emuze

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology

ISSN: 1726-0531

Article publication date: 3 January 2022

Issue publication date: 3 January 2022

451

Citation

Emuze, F. (2022), "Guest editorial", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-02-2022-549

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited


Impact of COVID-19 on construction

This special issue (SI) of the JEDT is a collection of 19 articles that showcase the impact of COVID-19 on construction. In the first article of the SI, show that established firms have incorporated aspects of COVID-19 guidelines into their site health and safety practices in South Africa. The qualitative results indicate that most contractors included policies related to site access, handling of COVID-19 cases, induction, screening and social distancing. But only a few among the study cohort have guidelines in place to ensure compliance to the new normal on the worksite as it affects sanitisation, sick leave, wearing of personal protective equipment (PPEs), audit and risk assessment and lunchtime rules. In neighbouring Zimbabwe, factor analysis helped surface aspects that significantly affected H%S on project sites in the pandemic period (). The highlighted factors are change and innovation, monitoring and enforcement, production, access to information and health services, on-site facilities and welfare, risk assessment and mitigation, job security and funding, project cost and COVID-19 risk perceptions. These factors should help contractors formulate context-specific interventions that benefit field workers in developing or developed countries. The third article of the SI takes the reader from the South African perspective to West Africa. In the article, the barriers to implementing pandemic-related H%S regulations on construction sites in Ghana were outlined. The significant obstacles observed by include the cost of implementing COVID-19 H%S measures, which is made worse by the lack of compliance and ignorance. The authors also observe the dynamics of superstition, lack of PPE supply and theft of COVID-19 materials in the study.

Although relatively common in the construction management lexicon, words such as adaptation, resilience and flexibility increased with the advent of COVID-19. With the goodbye to business-as-usual on construction sites, present lessons for improving safety and worker effectiveness in the new normal in the UK. Using data from interviews that explored work experiences on-site during the pandemic, contend that improved planning and work sequencing have made sites COVID-secure, apart from the notion that better worker effectiveness and housekeeping were observed. Securing the life of people in construction (PiC) today cannot be effectively implemented without due consideration for technology. The following article in the SI thus presents real-time health telemonitoring using Internet of Things systems (). Risk management concerning H&S is never more critical on-site than now. In the following article, observe from a study conducted in Nigeria that some PiC had misconceptions about COVID, misused COVID-19 PPE, and lacked adequate information about the virus. These qualitative results suggest that risk assessment and control may be marginalised. In effect, lack of proper knowledge may perpetuate the lack of situation awareness on-site to the detriment of workers and the general public. Such instances have to be addressed.

The following article addresses COVID-19 protocol implementation. expedited a survey at the end of the imposed lockdown following Nigeria’s upsurge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey’s outcome shows that preventive measures on sites were mainly PPEs, good etiquette/manners (social relations), and contact precautions. However, it is notable that the PiC involved in the study has a worrying disposition towards the preventive measures despite recognising the implications of noncompliance to protocols. Another concept that has gained higher popularity came into the picture in the following article of the SI. The idea is “vaccine”. used quantitative data and structural equation modelling to advocate for Construction 4.0 tools and vaccines to evolve the resilience of the construction supply chain. Resilience, which is about changing coping mechanisms in a complex system, is the main feature of Safety II. In the following article of the SI, one can see that contractors have evolved coping mechanisms in the pandemic era to keep their sites and businesses alive. They are using restricted site access, support for bubbling of office and site staff, enhanced hygiene and social distancing, contract risk identification and mitigation, self-isolation measures and heightened construction site H&S to cope with current realities ().

Given that the world was unprepared for the pandemic, it is not surprising that the reaction of contractors to it from the business perspective mirrors what is done in other industries. For example, show that construction firms implemented a complete travel ban that halted business operations on sites and offices in a bid to curb the spread of the virus in South Africa in 2020. The near paralysis disrupted project delivery and increased fears of job losses among PiC. Although contractors at every level of the supply chain were affected by the pandemic, there is a reason to fear the survival of small firms in the industry. Such a concern is outlined by , who examined the influence of the pandemic on the viability of local construction firms in Nigeria. The study flagged the factors that lower the viability of small firms in Nigeria. These factors may find expressions in similar developing countries. For example, in Ghana, discovered that contractors encountered decreased work rates, delays in payments and increased materials costs arising from border closure. These issues may bankrupt small firms without savings for rainy days.

The following article in this issue shows that the impact of COVID-19 on construction in Africa is not so different from the experience in the Middle East. In the article, Rehman et al. (2021) observe that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) industry faced schedule delays, disrupted cashflows, delayed permits, late approvals and inspections, travel restrictions, serious H&S concerns, material and equipment shortages. Similar to reports from Africa, these challenges hindered the realisation of expected project performance. flagged the plight of small contractors in the COVID era again. They noted that indigenous contractors encountered time overrun, profit loss, and disputes, exposing them to financial ruin. presents ways in which collaboration can be enhanced despite the need for social distancing in their article. The authors used immersive virtual reality applications to map out innovative ways to remove design errors.

The use of technology does not come cheap to contractors facing financial problems. From East to West, the articles in the SI show that uncommon issues occurred in varying degrees. A study that relies on data collected from five continents affirms that overhead cost reduction, remote working environment, focus on H&S, improved productivity and sustainability goals were priorities for firms (). The same study also highlights the negative impact of COVID in the form of low business turnover, delayed payment and production, apart from home and job losses. The situation also surfaces a paradox.

On the one hand, there are job losses. On the other hand, there is a shortage of skills among a specific category of artisans in Scotland (). In keeping with other sectors within the built environment, Alhusban et al. (2012) show how the COVID-19 pandemic would affect the future of architecture and urban design in the East and the West. Although they mooted potential innovations, the article did not shy away from the dynamics of the disciplines’ “lockdown” situations. The final article of the SI returns the reader to the impact of COVID on construction, particularly in the UAE. In the UAE, report that reduced productivity, low foreign direct investment (FDI), decreasing orders for work, and disruption to supply chains were particularly evident. More importantly, reduced FDI in the construction industry and the related shortfall in work demand significantly impact small-medium enterprises than large enterprises.

Thus, from administrative practices to technologies, from Africa to Europe, from the Middle East to Asia, the articles in this JEDT SI have demonstrated how the pandemic impacts the business and project of construction management. However, the overwhelming negative impact should not cast a shed on innovation potentials. These articles are published ahead of print on the Emerald homepage. The ahead of print options allows the community faster access to new content. The information shared in these articles is relevant to both academia and industry. Most of the themes addressed the need to pay closer attention to workplace well-being, health and safety in construction. The authors’ calls also have implications for managing the business of construction.

References

Agyekum, K., Kukah, A.S. and Amudjie, J. (2021), “The impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry in Ghana: the case of some selected firms”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-11-2020-0476.

Aigbavboa, C.O., Aghimien, D.O., Thwala, W.D. and Ngozwana, M.N. (2021), “Unprepared industry meet pandemic: COVID-19 and the South Africa construction industry”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-02-2021-0079.

Chigara, B. and Moyo, T. (2021), “Factors affecting the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-01-2021-0053.

Jones, W., Gibb, A.G.F. and Chow, V. (2021), “Adapting to COVID-19 on construction sites: what are the lessons for long-term improvements in safety and worker effectiveness?”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-11-2020-0473.

King, S.S., Rahman, R.A., Fauzi, M.A. and Haron, A.T. (2021), “Critical analysis of the pandemic impact on AEC organisations: the COVID-19 case”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-04-2021-0225.

Kukoyi, P.O., Simpeh, F., Adebowale, O.J. and Agumba, J.N. (2021), “Managing the risk and challenges of COVID-19 on construction sites in Lagos, Nigeria”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-01-2021-0058.

Lawani, K., McKenzie-Govan, S., Hare, B., Sherratt, F. and Cameron, I. (2021), “Skill shortage of bricklayers in Scotland”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-12-2020-0503.

Mahmood, A.F. and Rafaa, M.M. (2021), “Designing a collection of two IoT-Systems for real-time health telemonitoring”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-12-2020-0542.

Ogunnusi, M., Omotayo, T., Hamma-Adama, M., Awuzie, B.O. and Egbelakin, T. (2021), “Lessons learned from the impact of COVID-19 on the global construction industry”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-05-2021-0286.

Oladimeji, O. (2021), “Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on local construction firms’ viability”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-11-2020-0471.

Olatunde, N.A., Awodele, I.A. and Adebayo, B.O. (2021), “Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on indigenous contractors in a developing economy”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-11-2020-0480.

Olukolajo, M.A., Oyetunji, A.K. and Oluleye, I.B. (2021), “Covid-19 protocols: assessing construction site workers compliance”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-03-2021-0131.

Osunsanmi, T.O., Aigbavboa, C.O., Thwala, W.D.D. and Molusiwa, R. (2021), “Modelling construction 4.0 as a vaccine for ensuring construction supply chain resilience amid COVID-19 pandemic”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-07-2021-0384.

Salami, B.A., Ajayi, S.O. and Oyegoke, A.S. (2021), “Coping with the covid-19 pandemic: an exploration of the strategies adopted by construction firms”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-01-2021-0054.

Simpeh, F. and Amoah, C. (2021), – “COVID-19 guidelines incorporated in the health and safety management policies of construction firms”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-01-2021-0042.

Simpeh, F., Bamfo-Agyei, E. and Amoah, C. (2021), “Barriers to the implementation of COVID-19 safety regulations: insight from ghanaian construction sites”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-03-2021-0153.

Tea, S., Panuwatwanich, K., Ruthankoon, R. and Kaewmoracharoen, M. (2021), “Multiuser immersive virtual reality application for real-time remote collaboration to enhance design review process in the social distancing era”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-12-2020-0500.

Further reading

Alhusban, A.A., Alhusban, S.A. and Alhusban, M.A. (2021), “How the COVID 19 pandemic would change the future of architectural design”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-03-2021-0148.

Sami Ur Rehman, M., Shafiq, M.T. and Afzal, M. (2021), “Impact of COVID-19 on project performance in the UAE construction industry”, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, doi: 10.1108/JEDT-12-2020-0481.

About the author

Fidelis Emuze has done his PhD and is Professor and Head of the Department of Built Environment at the Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa. Lean construction, health, safety and well-being and sustainability constitute the primary research interest of Emuze, who is a National Research Foundation C-rated researcher that has published over 250 research outputs and received over 25 awards and recognitions in the past eight years. Emuze is the editor of Value and Waste in Lean Construction (published by Routledge), Valuing People in Construction (published by Routledge) and co-editor of Construction Health and Safety in Developing Countries (published by Routledge). Emuze authored Construction Safety Pocketbook for South Africa in 2020 (published by Sun Media in three languages – English, Sotho and Afrikaans). Emuze is a member of editorial advisory boards of international journals, including the ISI indexed Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineering – Municipal Engineers. He is a member of the Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He has mentored over 30 M+D graduates and three post-doctoral fellows. With diplomas and degrees spanning multiple disciplines (civil engineering, construction management and higher education), Emuze proposed and led the development of nine accredited university qualifications in South Africa. Emuze is the International Coordinator of CIB W123 – People in Construction Working Commission. Primary Affiliation: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Secondary Affiliation (Honorary): Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Web Profiles: website: www.fidelisemuze.com; Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fidelis_Emuze/publications; Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=rfY-gW4AAAAJ&hl=en

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