Almén, L and Larsson, T J (2014) Health and safety coordinators in building projects. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 4(3), pp. 251-263. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose – In order to reduce the number of injuries on construction sites, a European Directive prescribes that the clients shall appoint safety and health coordinators in their projects. The purpose of this paper is to find out who are appointed to be health and safety coordinators for the design and planning phase and what they do in order to prevent injuries on sites. Design/methodology/approach – Since the 1st of January 2009, there shall be a coordinator for the design and planning phase in Swedish construction projects. Telephone interviews were made with the coordinators in 42 Swedish building projects. Findings – The coordinators' education and experiences varied widely, as well as their descriptions of their duties: no duties, administration and active injury prevention. The coordinators who were classified as most active had at least one additional leading role in the projects. Research limitations/implications – The study is qualitative for an increased understanding, not a statistical reflection of the coordinator population. Practical implications – The legislation needs to clarify whether the early conceptual phase of the project is included in the coordinator’s commission and whether she/he is supposed to participate in identifying, assessing and reducing risks through design changes. These clarifications will have an influence on when the coordinator should be appointed and what competence she/he needs. Originality/value – The study increases the understanding of how the health and safety coordinators of the planning and projecting phase of building projects perceive their mission and what factors, according to them, have an influence on what they do.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | design co-ordination/co-operation; health and safety; legislation; occupational health/safety; planning; qualifications |
| Index terms: | prevention, duty, construction project, population, reflection, competence, methodology, design change, construction site, occupational health, legislation, interview, injury, qualification, health and safety |
| Subjects: | health conditions and diseases, occupational health and safety management, demography, financial risk, personnel development, professional development, health safety and environment, production management, educational resources, research methods, legal systems, contractual arrangements, work location, contractual role, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Site Management, Contract Administration, Education, Legal Issues, Urban Studies, Human Resources, Procurement, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Project Management, Research Practice, Information Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here