The Construction Industry

Abstract

The industry was selected for several reasons. For many years it has been associated with a relatively poor health and safety performance, accounting for one in three of work-related deaths, one in three HSE prosecutions and one in two prohibition notices. This performance, as well as resulting from the many hazards of the industry, is widely regarded as the consequence of a number of underlying features of poor management arrangements for health and safety and a ‘risk tolerant’ attitude in the sector. In addition, the organisation of work in the industry undoubtedly presents many serious challenges to the implementation of contemporary prescriptions for systematic health and safety management. Temporary and multi-employer worksites, complex supply chain relationships and responsibilities in project commission, design and completion, large numbers of casual and relatively low-skilled workers and low levels of trade union organisation all contribute to these challenges. All of these factors are known to the industry and its regulators, and achieving better health and safety management arrangements that take them into account has been their stated aim for many years.