Occupational Safety in Civil Construction

Civil construction has always been present in our lives. It is one of the oldest activities and where the highest number of accidents occur, mainly caused by a lack of control of the working environment and proper guidance for workers. The Programme for Working Conditions and Environment in the Construction Industry (PCMAT), which is included in Regulatory Standard No. 18, is the exclusive programme for the civil construction industry. It aims to adopt planning, predictability and management procedures regarding protective measures at each stage of the work due to the existing risks. Having a PCMAT developed within the construction site goes beyond the documentation related to the programme; the company must understand the real meaning of the procedures observed therein and also ensure that employees internalise the safety concepts to such an extent that they become routine habits. Analysing occupational safety practices from the perspective of both managers and employees helps to identify the measures that are being applied and that contribute to better management of the programme.