Construction Sites as Shared Workplaces – An Occupational Safety and Health Profile Based on Workplace Inspection Reports

Abstract

A shared workplace, according to Finnish legislation, is a workplace in which one employer exercises the main authority while additional employers or self-employed workers operate simultaneously or successively in such a way that their work may affect the safety or health of other employees. This study aimed to form a holistic view of the occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges facing shared workplaces within the construction industry. The material consisted of randomised OSH inspection reports (N = 79) from the Regional State Administrative Agency. Reports were analysed to gain information about the observed deficiencies. In the analysis, the reports were categorised based on the holistic work system model (ISO 6385, 2016). The analysis carried out in this study resulted in the recognition of common challenges at shared workplaces within the construction industry. Using this method, an individual observation profile for each industry branch can be formulated. Such profiles can be used in the planning of industry-specific inspection checklists for the supervision of OSH as well as in developing the OSH management at shared workplaces.