Fatal occupational harms have profound and far-reaching impacts, extendingbeyond the directly affected workers. These incidents often result from violationsof occupational health and safety regulations, particularly in the constructionindustry—a crucial driver of the global economy characterized by its dynamicwork environment. Despite their significant impact, occupational harms rarelyreceive public attention and are seldom discussed within criminological discourse.However, the prevention of occupational harm is mandated by law, highlightingtheir nature as higlhy preventable. This study investigates fatal occupationalharms in the Swedish construction industry, focusing on the enforcementmeasures employed by occupational health and safety inspectors. It aims to assessthe impact of these measures on achieving compliance and to identify theunderlying factors contributing to these fatal incidents. Using qualitative contentanalysis, this pilot study examines a sample of 20 reported occupational harmswithin the construction industry reported to the Swedish Work EnvironmentAuthority. The analysis revealed that improvement notices are the most frequentlyused and impactful enforcement measure. Furthermore, a range of unsafe actionsand conditions were identified as underlying factors contributing to the fataloccupational harms reported. While preliminary, the findings provide valuableinsights that can inform more comprehensive future research. Treatingoccupational harm with the same seriousness as street-level crime incriminological discourse is essential for promoting corporate accountability,safeguarding worker well-being, and preserving community welfare. Thisapproach is crucial for enhancing occupational safety and preventing future harmin the construction industry.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:mau-67952 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Blazic, Tjasa |
| Publisher | Malmö universitet, Fakulteten för hälsa och samhälle (HS) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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