Work Health and Safety Issues in the Construction Sector of Bangladesh: A Review of Challenges and Improvement Strategies

Abstract

The construction industry is a major contributor to economic growth in developing countries such as Bangladesh; however, it remains one of the most hazardous sectors due to persistent workplace health and safety (WHS) challenges. This study aims to examine the key factors influencing construction safety in Bangladesh critically and to identify strategies for improving safety performance. A qualitative systematic literature review approach was adopted, drawing on peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024 from major academic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The collected literature was analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and key determinants of safety performance. The findings reveal that construction safety issues in Bangladesh are driven by the interaction of four major factors: weak management commitment and safety culture, unsafe worker behaviour and inadequate training, ineffective regulatory enforcement, and resource and technological constraints. These factors are highly interrelated and collectively contribute to unsafe working conditions and high accident rates. The study further highlights that fragmented and isolated interventions are insufficient to address these challenges. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a structured and context-specific synthesis of construction safety issues in a developing country context. It also offers practical implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders by emphasising the need for an integrated approach that combines organisational commitment, worker training, regulatory strengthening, and technological adoption. The study concludes that improving WHS in the Bangladeshi construction industry requires coordinated efforts across multiple levels to ensure sustainable and effective safety outcomes.