Health Risk Assessments for a Remote Construction Project

Overview

When a leading global engineering and construction firm set out to launch a major project in some of the most remote and medically underserved regions of Nigeria, they faced a significant challenge. They needed to protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce in an environment with limited access to quality healthcare and the threat of infectious diseases like malaria.

Problem

The client was preparing to deploy international and local teams to project sites far from urban centers. These areas presented significant health risks, including:

• Limited access to reliable healthcare infrastructure
• High prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly malaria - Nigeria accounts for 27% of the global malaria burden
• Environmental hazards and logistical challenges in emergency response

Their top priority was ensuring that every worker had access to timely, effective medical support in the event of an emergency, while also reducing the day-to-day health risks.

Solution

Our medical experts conducted a comprehensive health risk assessment of the project sites, and visited nearby medical facilities to assess their medical capabilities and ability to transport patients off-site. They then developed a bespoke health risk management plan that included:

• Preventive health strategies tailored to the local disease landscape
• Emergency response protocols to ensure rapid medical intervention
• On-the-ground medical support, including the deployment of our remote medical services with trained personnel and an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance
• Access to our International SOS Nigeria Clinic membership, providing primary and emergency care, and a Medical Transportation Plan (MTP) for each site, integrated with international evacuation capabilities
• Integrated malaria vector control programs and health awareness sessions to educate the workforce on infectious disease prevention

Impact

By implementing these measures before project mobilization, the client was able to:

• Strengthen on-site workforce wellbeing
• Minimise health-related disruptions and maintain business continuity
• Fulfill their Duty of Care obligations to both international and local staff

This proactive, people-centred approach ensured that health risks are managed effectively - allowing the client to focus on delivering their project with confidence and resilience.