Building News
Construction Sector Reports the Highest Industry Accident Rate
in the World of Work
Construction sector reports the highest industry accident rate in the
world of work. Construction workers are also those who perceive more
clearly the lack of job safety. In all, 97.8% of them, according to the
Department of Employment. In fact, one of every three work accidents
takes place in a building site.
With things as they are, scientific work on the subject is almost nonexistent.
We have found an exception in the Higher Technical School of
Civil Engineering of the University of Granada. The area of Construction
Engineering, and specifically the group which works with Professor María
del Carmen Rubio, has set in motion a research line called Occupational
hazard prevention (PRL) in building sites.
Workers´ training is very limited, almost non-existent. “Although in the
last years awareness has raised significantly on the part of the parties
concerned (promoters, building contractots and subcontractors,
workers) there is still a lot to do. In fact, regulations are being observed
at a formal level, but they are not always put into practice”, UGR
professor points out.
Professors Menéndez Ondina and Andreu Abela have directed the
research work and it has taken place in the construction work carried
out in Andalusia in the first quarter of 2001. A representative sample of
the building works has been selected according to criteria like company
size, construction work siting, budget, execution time and typology.
Survey and results
The implementation of the Royal Decree 1627/97, which states the
minimum health and safety provisions applicable to construction sites,
has been analysed by means of a survey aimed at construction
directors, safety and health coordinators, site managers, subcontractors
and workers.
Among the results obtained, one could emphasize the deficiencies in the
observance of several provisions of the construction rgulations, such as
those relating to the safety and health coordinator, the accident book,
safety and health plans or training and information for workers.
Subsequently, in the period from August of 2002 and January of 2003,
this research group has carried out a study subsidized by the Ministry
for Public Works [B.O.E. (Spanish Congressional Record) no. 43,
Ministerial Order FOM/312/2002) with the object of analysing the
incidence of suncontracting in occupational hazard prevention in the
contruction of transport infrastructure in Andalusia. This work carried
out by professors Menéndez Ondina, Rubio Gámez, Rubio Romero and
Pérez Pérez, has allowed to know the current situation of occupational
hazard prevention in the construction of roads and the AVE (high speed
train).
“The situation has improved quite a lot from the first scientific work, but
there is still a lot to do”, Prof. Rubio points out; she thinks that it is
necessary to promote this kind of studies with independent researchers,
experienced in construction and with training in PRL. Such research
works allow to have an impartial view very appreciated by the agents
who take part in the productive process, especially by workers, the
most affected.
The ex-president of the Spanish Economic and Social Council (CES),
Federico Durán, author of a report on work safety commissioned by the
Government two years ago, regrets that Public Administration has not
applied the suggestions of the report presented in March of 2001, like
training in PRL.
Expert “Coordinator of Safety and Health in Construction Work”,
officially approved by labor authorities as “Advanced Expert in
Occupational Hazard Prevention from the School of Civil Engineers, to
promote construction experts training.
Prevention is still a matter pending for the Spanich system, especially in
construction, with figures much higher than other countries members of
the EU, even though they have common regulations.
Posted 10th November 2006
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