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Mind the Gap: Professionalization is the Key to Strengthening Safety and Leadership in the Construction Sector

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  • Álvaro Romero

    (Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas y su Control, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28007 Madrid, Spain)

  • María de las Nieves González

    (Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas y su Control, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28007 Madrid, Spain)

  • María Segarra

    (Department of Civil Engineering & Construction, University of Castile-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain)

  • Blasa María Villena

    (Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas y su Control, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28007 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ángel Rodríguez

    (Department of Architectural Constructions & Construction Engineering and Land, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the reality of risk prevention in construction sector companies in Spain, from the perspective of training, management, and risk prevention, as well as the amount of resources that are allocated to those budget headings. An in-depth comparative review has been conducted, using the data obtained from two focus groups that were expressly created for the study, in conjunction with the Second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emergent Risks (ESENER-2) and its Spanish counterpart (ESENER-2 Spain). The focus groups were formed with agents and entrepreneurs involved in the construction sector, from both the public and the private sector, in order to provide greater impartiality to the resulting data. The principal strategic indicators that served as a guideline for the moderators of the different focus groups were analyzed. The results obtained show great similarity between the data from the focus groups and the data from ESENER-2 and ESENER-2 Spain; which demonstrates the idiosyncrasies that surround this productive sector in the European setting, so badly treated by the economic crisis. All of these points highlight the imperative need to professionalize the construction sector, implementing a “ risk prevention culture ” among all of the agents involved in the constructive-preventive processes that surround construction activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Álvaro Romero & María de las Nieves González & María Segarra & Blasa María Villena & Ángel Rodríguez, 2019. "Mind the Gap: Professionalization is the Key to Strengthening Safety and Leadership in the Construction Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:11:p:2045-:d:238484
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gonzalez-Diaz, Manuel & Arrunada, Benito & Fernandez, Alberto, 2000. "Causes of subcontracting: evidence from panel data on construction firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 167-187, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Álvaro Romero-Barriuso & Blasa MaríaVillena-Escribano & María de las Nieves González-García & María Segarra-Cañamares & Ángel Rodríguez-Sáiz, 2019. "The Registry of Accredited Companies in the Construction Sector in Spain: An Administrative Instrument for Risk-Prevention Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.

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