Identifying factors influencing construction workers’ food choices in Gauteng, South Africa: A pilot investigation

Abstract: Background: Nutrition is linked with health and safety performance of workers. However, there is scant literature focusing on the nutrition of construction workers, especially in South Africa. Methods: This pilot study investigated the factors that influence the nutrition of construction workers. A survey was conducted and data were analysed using Microsoft Excel to determine mean scores and to rank the factors. Results: Nutritional knowledge, economic factors and physiological factors were identified as influencing construction workers’ food choices. Conclusion: These findings provide information that can be used for targeting construction workers’ nutrition which could, in turn, improve health and safety performance on construction sites. Identifying nutrition-influencing factors allows for the design of intervention programmes for construction workers