Emotional Intelligence Competencies Relevant to Construction Workers' Safety Management in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: A Case Study of Abuakwa South Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the competencies of emotional intelligence most relevant to construction workers’ safety management in the Ghanaian construction industry, specifically focusing on the Abuakwa South Municipality. Despite the recognized importance of emotional intelligence in enhancing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in project environments, its specific influence on construction workers' safety behaviors has not been extensively studied. To address this gap, the study adopted the quantitative research method. A closed-ended questionnaire was distributed to 143 respondents, including architects, quantity surveyors, civil engineers, project managers, contractors, and site supervisors. The data collection yielded a 74% response rate, and responses were analyzed using SPSS to compute Cronbach's alpha and descriptive statistics. The study revealed that construction personnel within the municipality are relatively well-read, this improves their capacity to comprehend and implement emotional intelligence principles in their safety practices on the construction site. Also, the study concluded that the Key components of emotional intelligence such as self-awareness, self-regulation/ management, social awareness/ empathy, social skills/ relationship management, motivation, and job satisfaction are vital for construction workers’ effectiveness in their safety management on sites underlining it as an important asset in managing safety in the Ghanaian construction industry. The study recommends further research into the effect of construction workers’ emotional intelligence on safety management in the Ghanaian construction industry, also research into the specific emotional intelligence competencies that most significantly affect safety management across different contexts within the construction industry.