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The Guatemalan Construction Industry: Approach of Knowledge Regarding Work Risks Prevention

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Listed:
  • Francisco Arturo Hernández-Arriaza

    (Escuela Mecánica Industrial, Faculty of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Edificio T-1, Ciudad Universitaria Zona 12, Guatemala C.A. 01012, Guatemala)

  • José Pérez-Alonso

    (Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (CeiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Marta Gómez-Galán

    (Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (CeiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Ferdinando Salata

    (Department of Astronautics, Electrical and Energetics Engineering, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00184 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

In the present work, the results are presented for the characterization of work risk prevention in the Guatemalan construction industry. This characterization has been carried out using a simple random sampling technique, employing a questionnaire that was structured into 3 groups of variables: 1. General company data; 2. Prevention and management activities regarding health and safety in the company and on the worksite; and 3. Health and safety in the contractor companies. Following the sampling phase, the data were introduced in a database format, and a preliminary analysis was performed on the studied variables, followed by a descriptive analysis and a multiple correspondence analysis. The main findings of the study emphasize that companies in the Guatemalan construction sector are characterized as dedicating most of their activity (52.0%) indistinctly between civil engineering work, building construction and other specialized construction, mainly working as contractors (47.5%). These are “medium-sized” companies, employing an average of 81.1 on-site workers, having an average of 6.8 on-site work crews, and grossing an average turnover of 1.29 million euros annually. Likewise, it found that the larger construction companies adopt better prevention and management measures for worksite health and safety the larger companies are correlated with a high awareness of experiencing worksite accidents, while medium-sized companies have medium-level awareness. Companies with fewer workers manage workplace risk prevention worse, with low accident risk awareness. This correlation between these indicative variables of company size and workplace risk management and prevention is clearly reflected in the four company “clusters” that have been identified as having homogenous characteristics using the multiple correspondence analysis technique. Companies in the Guatemalan construction sector should make a greater effort to improve manager and worker training regarding workplace risk prevention to increase the effectiveness of company prevention management.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Arturo Hernández-Arriaza & José Pérez-Alonso & Marta Gómez-Galán & Ferdinando Salata, 2018. "The Guatemalan Construction Industry: Approach of Knowledge Regarding Work Risks Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-28, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2252-:d:175664
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huakang Liang & Ken-Yu Lin & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su, 2018. "The Impact of Coworkers’ Safety Violations on an Individual Worker: A Social Contagion Effect within the Construction Crew," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Jingfeng Yuan & Wen Yi & Mengyi Miao & Lei Zhang, 2018. "Evaluating the Impacts of Health, Social Network and Capital on Craft Efficiency and Productivity: A Case Study of Construction Workers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Berry, A.J. & Coad, A.F. & Harris, E.P. & Otley, D.T. & Stringer, C., 2009. "Emerging themes in management control: A review of recent literature," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 2-20.
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    1. Mohanad Kamil Buniya & Idris Othman & Serdar Durdyev & Riza Yosia Sunindijo & Syuhaida Ismail & Ahmed Farouk Kineber, 2021. "Safety Program Elements in the Construction Industry: The Case of Iraq," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-13, January.
    2. José Pérez-Alonso & Marta Gómez-Galán & Marta Agüera-Puntas & Julián Sánchez-Hermosilla & Ángel-Jesús Callejón-Ferre, 2021. "Approach for Assessing the Prevalence of Psychosocial Risks of Workers in the Greenhouse Construction Industry in South-Eastern Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-29, April.
    3. Bo Shao & Zhigen Hu & Dawei Liu, 2019. "Using Improved Principal Component Analysis to Explore Construction Accident Situations from the Multi-Dimensional Perspective: A Chinese Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.

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