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Understandings of occupational health and safety risk control in small business construction firms: barriers to implementing technological controls

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  • Helen Lingard
  • Noni Holmes

Abstract

The construction industry poses a particular challenge for the making of occupational health and safety (OHS) risk control decisions which are equitable to all parties involved in the construction process. Typically, small business construction firms are engaged as subcontractors in the construction industry and are located at the lower end of the inter-organizational hierarchy in a construction project. As such, their ability to exert an influence on decision-making in the construction process is limited, despite their employees' day to day exposure to OHS risks. A qualitative study of understandings of OHS risk control was conducted among a sample of small businesses engaged in the Australian construction industry. Two OHS risks relevant to the construction industry were selected for study. One risk (falls from height) represented an immediate consequence while the other (occupational skin disease) represented a long-term health effect. Understandings of control for these OHS risks were explored during in-depth interviews. The results suggest that, at the small business end of the industry, there is a fatalistic resignation to OHS risks being an unavoidable part of the job. This leads to an emphasis on individual rather than technological controls for OHS risk. The implication of these findings for the effective management of OHS risk is discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Lingard & Noni Holmes, 2001. "Understandings of occupational health and safety risk control in small business construction firms: barriers to implementing technological controls," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 217-226.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:19:y:2001:i:2:p:217-226
    DOI: 10.1080/01446190010002570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hollander, Roberta B. & Lengermann, Joseph J., 1988. "Corporate characteristics and worksite health promotion programs: Survey findings from fortune 500 companies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 491-501, January.
    2. Fielding, J.E. & Piserchia, P.V., 1989. "Frequency of worksite health promotion activities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 79(1), pages 16-20.
    3. Spilman, M. A., 1988. "Gender differences in worksite health promotion activities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 525-535, January.
    4. Witte, Kim, 1993. "Managerial style and health promotion programs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 227-235, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raed Eldejany, 2017. "Work Health and Safety, Competitive Advantage, and Organisational Performance in Small Construction Firms: Research Proposal," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 7(1), pages 11-18, March.
    2. Helen Lingard, 2002. "The effect of first aid training on Australian construction workers' occupational health and safety knowledge and motivation to avoid work-related injury or illness," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 263-273.
    3. Raed Eldejany, 2018. "Work Health and Safety in Small Business-A Pilot Study in the Australian Construction Industry," International Journal of Business Administration, International Journal of Business Administration, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(4), pages 103-109, July.
    4. Graeme D. Larsen & Jennifer Whyte, 2013. "Safe construction through design: perspectives from the site team," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 675-690, June.

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