| Summary: | Abstract Occupational safety in the construction industry has improved during the past few years with the help of target setting. Still, the accident frequency rate is doubled compared to other industrial sectors. The aim of this study is to clarify the mind-set of the actors in the building and construction trade towards occupational safety. Furthermore, identifying the factors affecting occupational accidents and the possibility of their prevention are investigated. There have been ample studies conducted on occupational safety and attitudes towards it, whereas research into construction safety perceptions has been scarce. The research is a Mixed Method Case Study in which the data consist of three cases. Case 1: Interviews of the workers (n=10) severely injured in falling from heights at the construction sites. Case 2: Interviews of construction professionals (n=20). Case 3: A two-phase (before and after) questionnaire to construction students in a HSEQ Training Park (Rudus) in Espoo (n=128) and in Northern Finland, Oulu (n=44). On the basis of this study it can be stated that the actors in the building and construction business consider occupational safety a matter of the utmost importance. On the other hand, while deemed desirable, workplace safety issues also create a great deal of cognitive dissonance. The mind-set for occupational safety is challenging. The actors in the construction industry demand investments in occupational safety but also flexibility. The conflicts are caused by the requirements for efficiency, high quality, and safety in construction, yet, for which there are, limited resources available. Safety measures are defied because of schedules, for instance, and risks may be ignored. Accidents are regarded as self-inflicted. According to the professionals, the construction business has been polarized into the companies that either pay attention to or neglect occupational safety and educated versus uneducated workers. Qualified workforce with a high standard of training is desired in the ...
|
|---|