ABSTRACT
This study investigates the causes, effects, and strategies for minimizing man-hour losses on construction sites in Edo State, Nigeria. Four key objectives were explored: identifying the major causes of man-hour losses, determining the average duration of losses from different causes, assessing the impacts on project cost and time delivery, and evaluating strategies for mitigating man-hour losses. Data were collected from construction professionals through a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The research identified adverse weather conditions, equipment downtime, material delays/shortages, labor shortages, and health/stress issues as the top causes of man-hour losses. Adverse weather, scope changes, and labor/material constraints resulted in the highest average weekly man-hour losses. Significant impacts on cost delivery stemmed from equipment issues, inadequate planning/coordination, labor shortages, scope changes, and absenteeism, while time delivery was most affected by absenteeism, material delays, planning gaps, labor shortages, and weather conditions. Widely adopted strategies for minimizing losses included effective project management, overtime utilization, worker motivation initiatives, resource management, and employing a skilled workforce. Detailed planning, regular supervision, risk management practices, and technology adoption were also recognized as effective approaches. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive risk mitigation, robust planning, skilled resource management, and fostering an organizational culture focused on efficiency to address man-hour losses effectively. Recommendations include implementing detailed contingency plans, optimizing resource allocation, cultivating leadership and continuous improvement, and promoting cross-functional collaboration within the construction industry.
